Category Archives: Perseverance

Blooms Are Worth The Wait!!! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 05

26 Monday Feb 2018

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Bloom Where You're Planted!, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Growing in Jesus!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Made like Jesus!, Perseverance, The Only Way, Time, TODAY, Wait on the Lord, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No.05 Blooms Are Worth The Wait!!!

 

I love flowers. I love the beauty, the aroma (most of the time!), and the joy of watching those spikes and leaves pop up through the earth and produce the wonder of blooms. The daffodils, and crocus that peep through the cold ground to remind us that spring is on the way, are a delight to my soul. And then the forsythia and iris that make that amazing and wondrous show across the landscapes of our communities. I just love it!

Today, I thought we would take some time and consider the reality of blooming. Blooms are the yield of waiting—we plant many of the early-blooming bulbs in the fall, down in the earth—unseen, unnoticed—unaware of the growth that is going on ‘out of sight’. Yet while we can’t observe it with our eyes, those bulbs are putting down roots, nourishing that bulb to be able to bloom. We all love the show of the blooms, but seldom do we consider the cost of the wait—and if there isn’t the proper winter nourishment and time to develop, there won’t be much in the way of the beauty of blooms. The blooms are growing and preparing in that dark earth, the cold earth of winter—under the ground, under the snow, under the ice—doing what is necessary to be what God created them to be: flowers blooming where they were planted. Placed there for a purpose, placed there whether by design or just the propagation of nature—the blooms are still beautiful and the wait is still necessary. The same is true of our spiritual lives!

We can’t expect to be great, beautiful, awe-inspiring blooms if we’re not willing to endure the difficulty of the winter growing seasons! Yet oh my friends, it’s worth the wait! And while the blooms are often short-lived, we enjoy their beauty for that time, and God has a purpose and a plan for our ‘winter’ too, and our blooms can yield eternal results!

“The wilderness and the solitary place

shall be glad for them;

and the desert shall rejoice,

and blossom as the rose.

2 It shall blossom abundantly,

and rejoice even with joy and singing:

the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon,

they shall see the glory of the LORD,

and the excellency of our God.”   Isaiah 35:1-2

While the literal desert will bloom (And it is already blooming in God’s land of Israel—promises are being fulfilled!), we need to let God prepare the desert areas of our heart to begin to bloom. We must give Him our all, our dark places (and we all have them hidden from view—but not from God) so He can do His work in us, and no matter how long the winter, God can bring the blooms as we yield to His spiritual gardening skills.

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me

that beareth not fruit

he taketh away:

and every branch

that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word

which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”   John 15:1-5

Jesus reminds us that only as we “Abide in me, and I in you”, can we grow as we ought, and see God bring forth the blooms. We so often try to “force” the blooms to come before the time, instead of learning to “abide in” Jesus! You can’t rush spiritual growth, although we are to pursue it and learn to yield to Jesus, and allow His Holy Spirit to take us to the heights of glory as we seek His face in His Word, in prayer and by spending time in His presence! It is only in dying to self, and living to, for, with, and through HIS Spirit that the blooms will abound—in HIS time!

“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

Jesus is the root, the provision and nutrition for our life! Will we allow His Spirit to accomplish HIS purpose and will in our hearts and lives, or will we keep on trying to “force” our blooms in our own way, with our own strength or “Miracle Grow”—which isn’t a miracle at all, but self-will. But when we don’t practice the “crucified with Christ” life, we miss the joy of genuine blooms; when we don’t practice the “abiding” life, we miss the joy of His presence and work in us; we miss the beauty of blooms that have been grown out of sight of the world, and then amazingly in HIS time, they come forth to bring truth, beauty and life to the dark and dreary winter of the world around us—JESUS in us!

Jesus told a parable dealing with the contrast between “self” blooming or the true work of God, of being His or being master of our own soul!

“And he spake a parable unto them, saying,

The ground of a certain rich man

brought forth plentifully:

17 And he thought within himself, saying,

What shall I do,

because I have no room

where to bestow my fruits?

18 And he said,

This will I do:

I will pull down my barns,

and build greater;

and there will I bestow

all my fruits and my goods.

19 And I will say to my soul,

Soul, thou hast much goods

laid up for many years;

take thine ease,

eat,

drink,

and be merry.

20 But God said unto him,

Thou fool,

this night thy soul shall be required

of thee:

then whose shall those things be,

which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure

for himself,

and is not rich toward God.

22 And he said unto his disciples,

Therefore I say unto you,

Take no thought for your life,

what ye shall eat;

neither for the body,

what ye shall put on.

23 The life is more than meat,

and the body is more than raiment.

24 Consider the ravens:

for they neither sow nor reap;

which neither have storehouse nor barn;

and God feedeth them:

how much more are ye better than the fowls?

25 And which of you with taking thought

can add to his stature one cubit?

26 If ye then be not able

to do that thing which is least,

why take ye thought for the rest?

27 Consider the lilies how they grow:

they toil not,

they spin not;

and yet I say unto you,

that Solomon in all his glory

was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothe the grass,

which is to day in the field,

and to morrow is cast into the oven;

how much more will he clothe you,

O ye of little faith?”   Luke 12:16-28

While Jesus isn’t saying not to be productive, He is telling us to trust our all to God, and not “fret” about tomorrow (or even later today!), but trust God to provide in those dark winter days, as well as the sunshine of the blooms! He’ll do HIS work in HIS time for HIS glory and our good! Oh, to be found faithful when He comes, or when He calls me to Himself! How about you

Jesus also had a message for those who claim to be “His” within the church, those who thought they had “it all” themselves, much like the rich man above! In my own vernacular—“saying so, doesn’t make it so”! Knowing the Master and Lord who is “the way….the truth….and the life…” is the only way to have a ‘genuine’ life that blooms for God!

“I know thy works,

that thou art neither cold

nor hot:

I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm,

and neither cold

nor hot,

I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not

that thou art wretched,

and miserable,

and poor,

and blind,

and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me

gold tried in the fire,

that thou mayest be rich;

and white raiment,

that thou mayest be clothed,

and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;

and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve,

that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love,

I rebuke

and chasten:

be zealous therefore,

and repent.

20 Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”   Revelation 3:15-18

Without going into all of the contextual interpretations of the “who” or “what” specifically in these verses, my purpose today is to simply see what Jesus said to some who claimed to be His own, and if I might amplify that part it for us today as we bring these thoughts to a close, I’d like to leave you some food for thought to ponder throughout your day and week. Who is your Lord? Where is your treasure? Are you in a dark time of winter, waiting for the blooms? If so Jesus is sufficient to the task, and God has a plan at work—don’t rush His timing (And oh, I know how hard that is to practice—that “waiting” is just about the hardest thing that God asks us to do, but with His grace we can “wait”, and the “Blooms are worth the wait!”) Are you running your own life, trying to save and provide for your own soul? Is God about to say to you what He said to the rich man we looked at? As Paul said to the Philippians “think on these things….” (See Philippians 4:8-9)

Jesus said, “I KNOW”–

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”   2 Timothy 2:19

Jesus said, “You say….but don’t know!”!

“….without me you can do nothing…”

You think you are self-sufficient, but you’re not!

Jesus said, “YOU are blind”!

What you say doesn’t match what I see or say!

YOU “knowest not” your real state!

Jesus said, “buy from me” what only faith buys!

 What you have isn’t equal to save anyone.

 “For by grace are you saved”

Not by works, wealth, power, prominence,

Self-righteousness, there’s IS only ONE way!

Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock”!

(He was on the outside of His church!)

Self-righteousness will never save anyone!

You measure by what you see, not what is!

Jesus said, “open the door”!

If you are on the throne, Jesus can’t be!

Is He on the outside?

Or have you invited Him in?

Jesus said, “I will come in”!

Jesus will come in to those who bow before Him!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”

Jesus wants to help you bloom where you’re planted, but first we must bow before The “Master” gardener, and trust it all to HIM, that we might “be conformed to the image of his Son”, reflecting HIS glory as we bloom—right there where HE has planted YOU! The blooms are worth the wait!

Did You Say Wait??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #430

24 Wednesday Jan 2018

Posted by in Confidence, Knowing God's Word, Patience, Perseverance, The Word, Thy Will Be Done, Wait on the Lord

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #430    Did You Say Wait???

 

Today is a reminder for me!!! We are going through some ‘season-of-life’ changes, and that can often cause us to take our focus off of Jesus and let it slip onto our circumstances—and when the big “W” word is involved, it can become a real challenge. So I want to share with you the reminder that I need today—God is in charge and when He asks me to “wait”, HE is working where I can’t see, and I can trust HIM!

What we have to decide is whether we are just going to talk about “trusting” God with everything, or if we are truly going to “let go….and let God” do whatever pleases Him, and wait for His purposes to come to pass! With this in mind, I’m sharing one of my favorite ‘reminder’ passages with you today, and I hope it will encourage us both to stay focused on our Lord and His will—rather than the frustrations that life can bring, especially when it involves ‘waiting’!

“Trust in the LORD,

and do good;

so shalt thou dwell in the land,

and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD;

and he shall give thee the desires

of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;

trust also in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness

as the light,

and thy judgment

as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD,

and wait patiently

for him:

fret not thyself

because of him who prospereth

in his way,

because of the man who

bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger,

and forsake wrath:

fret not thyself

in any wise

to do evil.”   Psalm 37:3-8

Simple, but “NOT” so easy—but do-able as we follow God’s instruction from the Psalmist:

Trust God—and do right–

Delight in God—and He will provide—

Commit it all to God —and He will accomplish it—

Trust it all to God—for He knows the right timing–

Rest In The Lord—remember, He’s got it—

Wait patiently for HIM—for God never fails—

Don’t fret over wicked people—God sees the truth—

When we will give all these things to our Lord, He will enable us to have victory in:

Ceasing from anger—

Forsaking wrath (another word for anger)—

Not thinking/fretting about doing evil—

May we each search our own heart, seek God’s face and pursue HIS righteousness through the power of Jesus, the leading of His Holy Spirit, and the truth of His Word.

I’m praying for you and covet your prayers for us—then we’ll all benefit and draw nearer to The One who hears and answers prayer. Amen and Amen.

 

 

Jeremiah Wasn’t A Bullfrog!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #423

29 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Compassion, Confidence, Jeremiah Wasn't A Bullfrog !, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Joy To The World?, No Sin No Need?, Perseverance, SIN, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #423  Jeremiah Wasn’t A Bullfrog!!!

 

I know my schedule has been off lately, but with technical issues and personal issues, it’s been a bit of a challenge to stay on track recently; but hopefully, we have all the techno things taken care of, and the other issues are getting better. So I just wanted to share a thought with you this morning, and while it may seem a little strange, it really reflects how I am feeling going into the New Year.\

While Jeremiah wasn’t a ‘bullfrog’, he was a great, faithful prophet of God—in fact he is called the weeping prophet because he ministered to the people of Judah for some forty years, with little visible response, because the people of his day thought that they were all “OK”! And I believe that is where we here in the U.S. are, in that same place; and I often relate to Jeremiah and his broken heart for the people that he ministered to. May I ever be as faithful to my calling as Jeremiah was to his, and the passage that I would like to share with you today epitomizes that sense of grief and sorrow that he felt (and I do also) over those around us!

“The harvest is past,

the summer is ended,

and we are not saved.

21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people

am I hurt;

I am black;

astonishment hath taken hold on me.

22 Is there no balm in Gilead;

is there no physician there?

why then is not the health

of the daughter of my people

recovered?”   Jeremiah 8:20-22

Jeremiah asked the rhetorical question that many who follow Jesus are asking today, including me, “why then is not …. my people recovered”? Why isn’t America saved? Why isn’t the world saved? Why is there a “cure” for sin, but most refuse to acknowledge the ‘cure’? Because most are denying the diagnosis—SIN!

And if there is no sin, then there is no need for a redeemer. Jesus Himself, told us that He wouldn’t be popular, and most would reject Him! Even those around Him couldn’t see who He was, because of SIN!

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be

which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.”     Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus told us that the “many” would take the popular “broad” way, and only a “few” would take His narrow way—the way of the cross. Why? Jesus gave Nicodemus the answer to that question:

“He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.”     John 3:18-20

We can choose to trust in Jesus and His substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for our sin, or we can cling to our sin and take the “broad” way to destruction. You can choose to run with the “bullfrog” named Jeremiah, or you can come to Jesus and receive a “Jeremiah” heart that God can use to reach others. And remember that many whom God calls, He sends out to meet the world with tears of genuine compassion and love. But remember, God’s ways aren’t our ways. Which road will you choose? Who will you follow? May we ever join the Psalmist in understanding that the harvest is worth the planting? Or as I’ve been known to say, ‘The blooms are worth the wait!”

“The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. 4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

5 They that sow in tears

shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth,

bearing precious seed,

shall doubtless come again

with rejoicing,

bringing his sheaves with him.”    Psalm 126:3-6

Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

 

 

Send The Showers Of Blessing??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #420

20 Wednesday Dec 2017

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, I Will Never Leave You, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Perseverance, Salvation, Spiritual Drought, The Only Way, The Word, Time, TODAY, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #420 Send The Showers Of Blessing???

 

I’m sitting here this morning praising God for the wonderful rain that we received yesterday! After almost two months without rain, we here in Oklahoma always get a little edgy when it starts getting dry, and we’ve experienced two years with good rains and a welcomed recovery from the previous five years of drought. And whether folks recognize it or not, only God can send the rains that we need, and my confidence is in HIM— not the government nor the weather forecasters (Even though we appreciate the meteorologist’s efforts to keep us informed, they still can’t create the weather at all.)!

Spiritually speaking, we also can go through periods of spiritual drought—times when we just can’t seem to get on track, or stay on track, or keep our focus on God and His desire for us, we feel dry and barren! But just as God sends the rain to relieve the parched ground, and nourish the trees and flowers, in the same way HE sends the spiritual rain to refresh our souls. But sometimes we just aren’t looking or listening to see or receive the rain that is providing.

“After two days will he revive us:

in the third day he will raise us up,

and we shall live in his sight.

3 Then shall we know,

if we follow on to know the LORD:

his going forth is prepared

as the morning;

and he shall come unto us

as the rain,

as the latter

and former rain

unto the earth.”   Hosea 6:3

The prophet Hosea understood that God had not only ‘the plan’ for his life and the nation of Israel, but that God also has a ‘time’, His own ‘time’, the ‘time’ in which HE will accomplish His will in all things—including us! God is ever at work in our lives, even when we think we don’t see Him! And as many are busy with the hustle and bustle of the season, I just want to share a word of encouragement for those of us who sometimes feel that ‘drought’ in our hearts and need a refreshing rain of God’s Spirit to renew and encourage us so that we can press on faithfully.

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day

of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

So don’t loose heart or your confidence in God the Father, Jesus the Son, or the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is in each believer! Seeing isn’t always ‘believing’!

“God is,

a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear,

though the earth be removed,

and though the mountains be carried

into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar

and be troubled,

though the mountains shake

with the swelling thereof. Selah.”   Psalm 46:1-3

Remember it’s not what you see that keeps you going, but what you KNOW about God’s faithfulness as revealed in His Word! And that is a constant, assuring confidence!

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”    Hebrews 13:5-6

Our ever-present help—Jesus, our Lord–has promised to “never leave thee, nor forsake thee”! So, regardless of what we see or feel, we can rest in the “Blessed Assurance” of God’s constant, faithful presence!

“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

In other words—if you are HIS—He has YOU–always! Don’t forget, but take confidence in the One who never sleeps, don’t let the past ruin your present! Press on for the prize!

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

‘Tis The Season–Really??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #418

13 Wednesday Dec 2017

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, I Will Never Leave You, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Made like Jesus!, Perseverance, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word, Time, TODAY, Unexpected Interruptions, Wait on the Lord, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #418   ‘Tis The Season–Really???

 

As I sit here writing this morning, I am thankful that my computer is running again—we had issues last week and that is why we haven’t posted on our normal schedule. Then this morning I get up and start to write, and voila—now no Internet! I couldn’t help but think of what the scriptures say about a time and season for all things—and this seems to be the season for interruptions. But I have learned that ‘interruptions’ don’t have to always be a bad thing. God often allows interruptions to get our attention, to teach us some new lesson, or to review an old one that we keep forgetting, or sometimes God just wants us to come aside and be with HIM!

I want to share a passage with you today that is worthy of our time and attention; a passage that was made famous in song some years ago, yet perhaps with little thought to the God who inspired the principle! And what is that principle? That God is God, and when we love, trust and serve Him through His Son Jesus Christ, we can rest in the assurance that God is at work in “ALL” things, no matter the season!

While God isn’t the author of evil, He does allow evil to continue because when man chose to sin, we essentially gave Satan the “title deed” to planet earth, you might say! Yet even in this disaster, God loved us so much, that He, already knowing what we would do, had provided a plan for HIS “Only Begotten Son” to take on flesh and blood, live and walk on planet earth, and die for our sins on a cruel, Roman cross! But, praise God, HE didn’t stay dead—He arose on the third day, triumphant over sin, death and hell, and all who will come to HIM in repentance and faith can know the full assurance of His saving grace, His presence within, as well as His promises to keep us no matter what is going on without!

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born,

and a time to die;       

a time to plant,

and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill,

and a time to heal;

a time to break down,

and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep,

and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn,

and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones,

and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace,

and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get,

and a time to lose;

a time to keep,

and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend,

and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence,

and a time to speak;

8 A time to love,

and a time to hate;

a time of war,

and a time of peace.

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10 I have seen the travail,

which God hath given to the sons of men

to be exercised in it.

11 HE hath made every thing beautiful

in his time:

also he hath set the world in their heart,

so that no man can find out

the work that God maketh

from the beginning

to the end.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

God set the world to be our gift and our challenge—one which we can successfully meet only with His grace and power within, in the person of the Holy Spirit (who comes and dwells within every believer). It’s what Jesus came to provide!!! It’s what the Christmas ‘season’ is really about—

not just food and fun—

not just toys and tinsel—

not just snow and songs—

not just family and frolicking–

but Christmas is about The Christ Child who came to “save His people from their sins”! God allows seasons of life to help us grow, learn and mature into faithful, productive children of God— “exercised in it”! HE never leaves us alone, or on our own in any season, He’s ever working on us!

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children,

My son,

despise not thou the chastening

of the Lord,

nor faint when thou are rebuked

of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth

he chasteneth,

and scourgeth every son

whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening,

God dealeath with you

as with sons;

for what son is he

whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement,

whereof all are partakers,

then are ye bastards,

and not sons.” Hebrews 12: 5-8

It is important to note that the word used here for “chastisement” is a Greek word that refers to “child training”—all that is involved in training a child unto adulthood, not just corrective discipline.

James also reminds us that interruptions and seasons of life aren’t necessarily a bad thing.

“My brethren,

count it all joy

when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this,

that the trying of your faith

worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect (mature)

and entire, (complete in Jesus)

wanting (lacking) nothing.”    James 1:2-4

And in closing our thoughts today, I simply want to leave you with another passage of assurance to ponder.

“And we know that all things work together

for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29

And “ALL”, my friends, means “ALL”!!! Today and Today…!