Category Archives: I Know Whom I Have Beleived

It’s Not Easy??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #490

11 Sunday Oct 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Come And Worship?, Come to Jesus, Come To Worship HIM, His Mercies Are New Every Morning, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, If I be lifted up---, IN HIS TIME!, In Jesus name--means what?, Iron Sharpening Iron, Iron Sharpens Iron, It's All About The Cross, The Word

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It’s Not Easy??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #490

We often think following Jesus is simply easy; after all it just means “claiming” to know Him and using His name to get our own way!  What I’d like to share is the truth that Jesus Himself confronted and that is that people will follow as long as they “get it”, but when the road gets difficult, or when Jesus asks something hard of us, or when we realize that we are called to take up “our cross” and that the cross is an instrument of death to self, and life to Jesus.  Paul said it best, yet we so often make this something other than what Paul is calling us to (in reality it’s Jesus’ call to death to self and life in Him alone; and we’ll look at that also.)!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

As Jesus said, He came that we “might have life and have it more abundantly”!  That means the life of Jesus—that life which walks by The Spirit and not the flesh!  Yet we live in a culture that has removed the crucified life from Christianity!  Let’s consider what Jesus declares as truth.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

 let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

“And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.”  Luke 9:23

These statements remind us of what Jesus has called us to; but He said even more that I want us to focus on today; a passage that many overlook, for it challenges our ‘easy-believe-ism’.  Jesus call sus to commitment and devotion when we accept and believe in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin.  And before we take off into this passage, I want to make a very cursory observation in regard to Jesus’ blood and His flesh; verse 63 is worthy of our consideration; and remember that “quickeneth” means to give life—go back and reconsider Paul’s declaration in Galatians 2:20 above.

“44 No man can come to me,

except the Father which hath sent me

draw him:

and I will raise him up at the last day…

… 45 It is written in the prophets,

And they shall be all taught of God.

Every man therefore that hath heard,

and hath learned of the Father,

cometh unto me.

46 Not that any man hath seen the Father,

save he which is of God,

he hath seen the Father.

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you,

He that believeth on me

hath everlasting life.

48 I am that bread of life…

….53 Then Jesus said unto them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Except ye eat the flesh

of the Son of man,

and drink his blood,

ye have no life in you.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh,

and drinketh my blood,

hath eternal life;

and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For my flesh is meat indeed,

and my blood is drink indeed…

…58 This is that bread which came down

from heaven:

not as your fathers did eat manna,

and are dead:

he that eateth of this bread

shall live for ever.

59 These things said he in the synagogue,

as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Many therefore of his disciples,

when they had heard this, said,

This is an hard saying;

who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself

that his disciples murmured at it,

he said unto them,

Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see

the Son of man ascend up

where he was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth;

the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you,

they are spirit,

and they are life.” Portions of John 6:44-63

I pray that you will read and take in this passage, and use it to assess what we are following; and are we living on Jesus’ broken body and blood or our own ways? The people who had been following Him, found these words too hard to accept.  How about you and me?  Will we hold on to the truth or give in to something else because it’s hard?  May we ponder Jesus’ words of truth and choose wisely.

It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!  And Jesus IS the only right answer!

Amen and Amen!!!

If I Be Lifted Up??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #460

17 Wednesday Jun 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, If I be lifted up---, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all

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If I Be Lifted Up??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #460

Today I want us to consider a simple statement of Jesus, that I think we often misunderstand and perhaps even misuse.  It is part of one of the most important passages that John recorded for us in his gospel.  I pray that this will be a       help and an encouragement to each of us.

“There was a man of the Pharisees,

named Nicodemus,

a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night,

and said unto him,

Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher

come from God:

for no man can do these miracles

that thou doest,

except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.

 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth,

and thou hearest the sound thereof,

but canst not tell whence it cometh,

and whither it goeth:

so is every one

that is born of the Spirit.”  John 3:1-8

Jesus had a visitor from the Pharisees; note that they were the main ones persecuting and rejecting Jesus, and yet this leader of the Jews came to question Jesus and yet couldn’t comprehend what Jesus was trying to tell him.  While Nicodemus called Jesus, Rabbi, and then he acknowledged that Jesus was a “teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him”; yet with all of this he didn’t understand what Jesus was trying to teach him.

Let’s work our way through it and see if we can understand?  In verse 3 Jesus tells him that being “born again” is a prerequisite to even seeing the Kingdom of God, much less entering it.  But Nicodemus was thinking in the natural realm, not the supernatural, he wanted to know how a man could enter into the womb and be born naturally again.  Jesus explained that spiritual things were what He was talking about—how like us so often, we want physical answers to spiritual questions, and Jesus is so often trying to tell us deeper spiritual things; are we being as obtuse as Nicodemus or are we willing to hear the message.  Jesus wants us to see that what is “born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”. Jesus wanted Nicodemus and us to understand that the new birth was that which only God could give, and that only through the coming sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary.  It’s what John was referring to in chapter 1 of his gospel.

“He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:11-13

The new birth is a work of God in those who respond to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus refers to another important point in John 6:

“No man can come to me,

except the Father

which hath sent me draw him:

and I will raise him up at the last day.”  John 6:44

What I want us to understand is that Jesus was telling Nicodemus He was, is and ever shall be, “the way, the truth, and the life”!  And the verses that precedes our flagship of the gospel, John 3:16-19, is the one I want us to focus on, along with the parallel verse from John 12.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.”  John 3:14-15

This is what Jesus wanted both Nicodemus and us to understand that HE was come to pay for sin for all who will look unto Him in repentance and faith in His coming (at that point) sacrifice at Calvary.  So when Jesus was talking about being “lifted up”, He wasn’t referring to us lifting up His name before the world, but HIS own lifting up on the cross.  Let’s see how this fits with what He says in chapter 12.

“Now is the judgment of this world:

now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

32 And I,

if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men unto me.

33 This he said,

signifying what death he should die.”   John 12:31-33

So when Jesus says “if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me”, He isn’t calling us to lift Him up (although we are called to share the gospel of His “lifting up” as we have opportunity) but to share the truth that HIS lifting up was going to be the payment for sin, and the giving of eternal life to all who believe!

So, will we hear the word of the Lord, and let it speak truth to our hearts, or be like Nicodemus and miss the message He is trying to speak to our hearts (although Nicodemus did come to Jesus eventually…See John 19:38-40)?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

Amen and Amen!!!

Christmas Fortnight Day 8 A Word from THE WORD! #420

19 Friday Dec 2025

Posted by in Christmas, Christmas IS Jesus, Christmas IS?, Christmas Ponderings, Humility, Hungry for The Word, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, Take Up YOUR Cross, Teach The Children, The Blood of Jesus Cleanses from SIN, The greatest gift!!!, The Word

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Christmas Fortnight Day 8   A Word from THE WORD!  #420

We’ve looked at ornaments and lights and even the manger.  Let’s look today at ‘trees’.  Not Christmas trees particularly, just trees—let’s stack some “wood”.

Galatians 3:13 says,

“Christ hath redeemed us

from the curse of the law,

being made a curse

for us:

for it is written,

Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree”.

Jesus took our curse— “For the wages of sin is death”!!  (Ro 6:23a)

Deuteronomy 21:23b,

“(for he that is hanged is accursed of God;)

that thy land be not defiled,

which the Lord thy God giveth thee

for an inheritance.”

Jesus became our curse, by hanging on a tree.

Born to die on a tree, for you and for me.

“…He humbled himself

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.”  Philippians 2:8b.

Romans 15:12,

“…There shall be a root of Jesse,

and he that shall rise

to reign over the Gentiles;

in him shall the Gentiles trust.”

Isaiah 11:1

“And there shall come forth a rod

out of the stem of Jesse,

and a Branch

shall grow out of his roots:”

He came to die for me.

What a gift.

Remember from day 5, that Jesus not only gives light, but that He IS light.  Similarly,

He is the ‘root of Jesse’,

also ‘a rod out of the stem of Jesse’,

and yet He is also a ‘Branch” growing out of the root.

An oxymoron of sorts, Jesus—

creator of trees—

is our tree, He became our curse.

Yet He gives us life when we trust in what HE did on that tree called Calvary.

 He purchased my salvation there.

My ‘Christ’mas tree?

So?  Jesus calls— ‘take up your cross’ and follow ME!!!

The manger is humbling but the cross saves.

Yes, worship the ‘newborn king’,

but don’t stay in the barn—

take up your cross and FOLLOW HIM.

YOUR cross???

YOUR calling???

Will YOU follow HIM?

It’s YOUR choice!!

Be sure and choose wisely, there is a test!!!

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”  Revelation. 22:12.

Amen and Amen!!!

Weariness Is Real??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #362

08 Tuesday Jul 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Father's Love, I Can Do All Things?, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, I will lift up mine eyes, I Will Never Leave You, IN HIS TIME!, In The Beginning, Renewing or Reviewing, Resting In Jesus, Resting Or Wrestling?, Restoration, Revive us O God!, Salvation, Sanctuary

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Weariness Is Real???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #362

“And the apostles gathered themselves together

unto Jesus,

and told him all things,

both what they had done,

and what they had taught.

31 And he said unto them,

Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place,

and rest a while:

for there were many coming and going,

and they had no leisure

so much as to eat.

32 And they departed into a desert place

by ship privately.”  Mark 6:31 

Here we have Mark recounting the death of John the Baptizer, and his (John’s) disciples took care of his body, and the Apostles also came to Jesus to share what had been done (for if you remember, many of Jesus’ Apostles had been followers of John before they followed Him).  Jesus understood the weariness of not only ministry but of grief, disappointment and stress, so He called them to come and “rest a while”!  Their spiritual tanks were empty, and the demands of ministry had been so constant that Mark tells us that “they had no leisure so much as to eat”!  Ever been there?  I think we all have in one way or another, and as Jesus was God “in the flesh”, He knew the limits of human strength, endurance and the need for rest.

If you remember Matthew also gives us an account of Jesus resting when His disciples became frantic and were apparently distressed that their Master was asleep when they were about to die!  Ever been there?

“Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him,

he gave commandment to depart

unto the other side.

19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him,

Master, I will follow thee

whithersoever thou goest.

20 And Jesus saith unto him,

The foxes have holes,

and the birds of the air have nests;

but the Son of man hath not where

to lay his head.

21 And another of his disciples said unto him,

Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

22 But Jesus said unto him,

Follow me;

and let the dead bury their dead.

23 And when he was entered into a ship,

his disciples followed him.

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest

in the sea,

insomuch that the ship was covered

with the waves:

but he was asleep.

25 And his disciples came to him,

and awoke him, saying,

Lord, save us:

we perish.

26 And he saith unto them,

Why are ye fearful,

O ye of little faith?

Then he arose,

and rebuked the winds and the sea;

and there was a great calm.

27 But the men marvelled, saying,

What manner of man is this,

that even the winds and the sea

obey him!”  Matthew 8:18-27

I don’t know if you can relate to this, but I feel that I can; I come from hurricane country, and while you have notice, you never know how severe it will be.  I now live in tornado country and they seemingly, can just drop down out of the sky! This can cause great fear and consternation to we who live in uncertain weather locations.  And just this week we have seen the disaster that can come from the flood waters; we can’t understand the massive tragedy that Texas has suffered this week; and like us Jesus’ disciples were afraid that they were about to meet their end.  Yet, Jesus was asleep in the boat!  Oh, to learn to trust to the care of my Heavenly Father this much!  Jesus simply arose when they awakened Him, questioning their lack of faith in the safety that they had with HIM!  How about us?  Satan uses fear like a stick and beats us up with it, and we, like the disciples forget that we are with the Master of all creation.  And in case you didn’t know that Jesus was/is/and ever shall be the creator, let me share a few scriptures to enlighten you on this subject.  (Jesus IS the WORD! —the living WORD and the breath of the written Word!)

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning

with God.

3 All things were made by him;

and without him was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him was life;

and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness;

and the darkness comprehended it not.”   John 1:1-5

Paul also wrote of this creative nature of our Lord!

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created,

that are in heaven,

and that are in earth,

visible and invisible,

whether they be

thrones,

or dominions,

or principalities,

or powers:

all things were created by him,

and for him:

17 And he is before all things,

and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body,

the church:

who is the beginning,

the firstborn from the dead;

that in all things

he might have the preeminence.”                 Colossians 1:12-18

And if you are one of those who say that Jesus never claimed to be God, let me share Jesus’ own words with you today.

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

So where do we go when we are weary to the bone (and I get that way frequently, as you probably do as well!)?  And just by way of a comment, if the people of Jesus’ day rejected Him, don’t be alarmed, discouraged or distracted when people around you and I reject Him.  Our faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ, master of all and redeemer of those who will come to Him in repentance of our sin, and belief/faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice on Calvary, not on those around us—whether they be genuine believers, nay-sayers, or antagonists!  Keep your eyes on the prize—JESUS!

“At that time Jesus answered and said,

I thank thee, O Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

because thou hast hid these things

from the wise and prudent,

and hast revealed them

unto babes. 26 Even so, Father:

for so it seemed good in thy sight.

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father:

and no man knoweth the Son,

but the Father;

neither knoweth any man the Father,

save the Son,

and he to whomsoever

the Son will reveal him.

28 Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest

unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:25-30

Oh, my friends, if I only had time to share with you all the many times that Jesus in His mercy, grace and love had been my total strength, rest and restoration to service, health and peace; that very peace that Paul told us about.  Are you resting in Jesus or trying to carry the whole load alone?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, the Master is holding out His arms to lift you up.  Don’t run away or deny The One who loves you and died that you might have life, “more abundantly”!

“Rejoice in the Lord alway:

and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men.

The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:4-7

Let Jesus have those burdens and weariness—He is more than able!

Amen and Amen!!! (and don’t forget to read verses 8-9!) 

Carrying? Or Being Carried??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #358

20 Friday Jun 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Bow Before our God, Building up or Tearing down?, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, I will lift up mine eyes, Idolatry, If not now? When?, IN HIS TIME!, Iron Sharpening Iron, It's All About The Cross, It's Your Choice, Jesus Built A Bridge

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Carrying?  Or Being Carried??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #358

Sometimes we are quick to criticize those who would bow down to a statue or an idol, yet we erect our own “idols and figures” that are no ‘gods’; for believe it or not there is only one God, The Lord God Almighty, Jehovah, Creator and sustainer of all things, Jesus the Son and The Holy Spirit, who is imparted to all who come to Jesus in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin.  Yet the thing I want us to consider is how foolish we can be when we rely on our own wisdom, knowledge and ideas in our choices for life, success and so-called ‘happiness’!  There is only one God—three-in-one, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost/Spirit, and until we assess all things by His Word, His Will and His wisdom, we are subject to find our own substitutions.  Daniel gives us one of the most precise descriptions of who and what our God is!  I pray that you will take his words to your heart and pray with the Psalmist each day.

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

May we pray for God’s help and directions, for we so often fail to see how wicked our own hearts are.

“Blessed is the man

that trusteth in the LORD,

and whose hope the LORD is.

8 For he shall be

as a tree planted by the waters,

and that spreadeth out her roots by the river,

and shall not see when heat cometh,

but her leaf shall be green;

and shall not be careful in the year of drought,

neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

9  The heart is deceitful

above all things,

and desperately wicked:

who can know it?

10 I the LORD

search the heart,

I try

the reins,

even to give every man

according to his ways,

and according to the fruit of his doings.”                Jeremiah 17:7-10                                                              (And for another most beautiful contrast, see Psalm 1)

Yet Daniel, a young man who had set his heart on being undefiled by the circumstances around him, found God’s faithfulness to be more than sufficient; and here is one of his prayers of thanks for answered prayer!

“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel

in a night vision.

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said,

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:

for wisdom and might

are his:

21 And he changeth the times

and the seasons:

he removeth kings,

and setteth up kings:

he giveth wisdom

unto the wise,

and knowledge

to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth

the deep and secret things:

he knoweth

what is in the darkness,

and the light

dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee,

and praise thee,

O thou God of my fathers,

who hast given me wisdom and might,

and hast made known unto me now

what we desired of thee:

for thou hast now made known unto us

the king’s matter.”  Daniel 2:19-23

 Will we choose to be a Daniel or walk in our own ways?  Isaiah gives us an amazing picture which we ought to take to heart and use to measure our lives by God’s plumbline.  I pray that this will touch your heart, and lead us all to depend on The God, who IS God, not the works of our hands, whatever that might be!

“The carpenter stretcheth out his rule;

he marketh it out with a line;

he fitteth it with planes,

and he marketh it out with the compass,       

and maketh it after the figure of a man,

according to the beauty of a man;

that it may remain in the house.

14 He heweth him down cedars,

and taketh the cypress and the oak,

which he strengtheneth for himself

among the trees of the forest:

he planteth an ash,

and the rain doth nourish it.

15 Then shall it be for a man to burn:

for he will take thereof,

and warm himself;

yea, he kindleth it,

and baketh bread;

yea,

he maketh a god,

and worshippeth it;

he maketh it a graven image,

and falleth down thereto.

16 He burneth part thereof in the fire;

with part thereof he eateth flesh;

he roasteth roast,

and is satisfied:

yea, he warmeth himself, and saith,

Aha, I am warm,

I have seen the fire:

17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god,

even his graven image:

he falleth down unto it,

and worshippeth it,

and prayeth unto it,

and saith,

Deliver me;

for thou art my god.

18 They have not known

nor understood:

for he hath shut their eyes,

that they cannot see;

and their hearts,

that they cannot understand.

19 And none considereth

in his heart,

neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say,

I have burned part of it

in the fire;

yea, also I have baked bread

upon the coals thereof;

I have roasted flesh,

and eaten it:

and shall I make the residue thereof

an abomination?

shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?” Isaiah 44:13-19

What are you depending on?  Who are you bowing down to?  What have you created for yourself?  Let’s be found faithful before our Lord!  Let’s keep our eyes on the prize—Jesus!!!

And just a comment on this passage; the reference of being “compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses” is not a reference to a stadium where we are being cheered on, but rather a reference to the preceding chapter of faith, the testimony of those gone before us who finished their race with honor by faith, not sight or popularity before the world.  May we not seek the applause of men but rather pursue the pleasure of The Lord Jesus in all things!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside

every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction of sinners

against himself,   

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

And remember, you only need to run your race, with your eyes on Jesus, not anyone else’s race!  We must learn to listen to the voice of our master, not the crowd.  I pray that this will be a word of help and encouragement to you.  Blessings on you today.

Amen and Amen!!!