Count It All Joy

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:2-4

As a child of God, you should have uncontrollable joy when you face temptations… I know there are some reading this right now with a big mental question mark as to why or even how am I suppose to be delighted when I am tempted… The answer lies further in the text as we come to know that temptations show us the areas of our lives that we need to mature in as well as the areas in which we have grown… When we are faced with choices that go against the will of God, we as children of the most high must observe these snares as the glass being half full instead of being half empty… The glass being half full means that we embrace these temptations and find joy in knowing that we can be thankful that we are not where we use to be… The things that I use to give into I can now overcome, the situations that use to break me now make me and mold me into what God’s purpose is for my life… The glass half full says that there is something left in the cup as oppose to the half empty approach which says that there isn’t enough… I don’t know what category you fall into; however, I can help you come to know where you stand depending on how you look at life… Do you embrace a challenge or do you run from it?

 Do you stand on your faith in the midst of a storm or do you fold under the pressure…? James wants you to know that there is a reason behind everything that you endure and you may not understand it now, but when you count if all joy you are sure to make it through the storm and come out better than you were going in… When your faith is tested, the enemy doesn’t want to see you go higher, but you can count it all joy because you know that if he is tempting you that means you are on the right path… I once heard someone say, “Satan isn’t worried about those in the world because he already has them…” To be tempted means that you are being enticed, lured or persuaded… So in order to be tempted you must be doing something that someone doesn’t like… We know that the enemy wants to see you fail, so if he is tempting you, you must not be failing (I believe a shout of praise fits right in here)… You can fulfill what James says today and see the glass half full and have the joy in your heart to press on because you know that your latter will be greater than your former… You’re not digging a deeper ditch, your coming out of your trench… You can have joy when you face temptation because you are being molded, God is transforming you and the devil is sick and disgusted of what is going on in your life… I find joy in just knowing that the enemy is upset and confused… I embrace the trials because I know that He is trying to stop my progression and actually is simply adding fuel to my divine destiny… The testing of your faith should be received with open arms as this displays God’s faithfulness and transformation of your life… You can look back and know that something has changed in you because of the temptations you face…  

James reminds us that we should take pleasure in our temptations; he states that we should consider it pure joy when we face trials and tribulations. Why is it that James tells us this, why is it that he says we need to smile when we are tested and not become fearful or reserve? It is because the testing of your faith working patience’s which will ultimately leads to your perfection in the will of God. Understand that trials come to those who are walking in the will of God; Satan doesn’t need to tempt those who are already walking in darkness, so we should understand that when trials come it ensures us that we are walking in the light of God. Also, we must remember that we came into this world as sinners (raw gold) and we must be tried (enter the fire) to be purified for our true and wonderful purpose. Jesus will never put more on you than you can bare, but he will have to develop certain characteristics in you so that you can become the child that he ordained you to be… You trials serve a purpose in your greatness, you can’t stand without falling, you can’t give a testimony without adversity, and you can’t live unless you die… James says that when this obstacle has run its course and you have withstood your trials, temptations, and tribulations that you will be wanting nothing… This brings joy to my heart to know that when we endure the hardships we will find rest for our souls, we will have peace within and we will be able to depend on God even more knowing that He has brought us out of the storms and rains that we faced. God is equipping you for a special work; He is preparing you for greatness and the devil knows that… So be happy when the TEMPTER comes, because that lets you know that you are on the right path and every stumbling block he lies will be a stepping stone to your divine perfection!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You're Not Alone

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, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Studies have shown and proven that it is easier to run when you are not hindered in some way… Today’s passage starts off by teaching us two very critical points regarding our mission and ministry in Christ; the first is that we must surround ourselves with people of faith and the second is that we must “lay aside every weight”… When we are surrounded by God fearing individuals we put ourselves in a position to prosper and grow in Christ… I can count plenty of times when I felt down and in despair and it was the encouraging words of a man or woman of God that kept me from giving in to the mental snares of the enemy… Understand today what is meant by the author when he says,“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses…” 

Everything that you are currently going through, there is some body that has been there and seen the hand of God move… Even though you may feel alone, there is a testimony which speaks too your current circumstance… A witness is someone who has seen, viewed or observed something… I think we all are witnesses to God’s sovereign power and saving Grace…  How often do you really take an in-depth look into the people that you are surrounded by or allow into your inner circle? I ask these questions because the author of Hebrews declares a powerful point today that we must grasp and meditate on when he says that we have a great cloud of witnesses… Being surrounded by the right kind of people in your life is of the utmost importance in fulfilling the will and vision that God has for your life… A lot of us have been encamped or associated with the wrong type of people and it is because of this that we haven’t been able to adhere to the next step in this verse which is to “lay aside every weight and sin…” We have allowed people to hold us down, allowed people to make us feel weak and have missed out on so many blessings because we place value in the wrong things or individuals… Take a self-inventory of your life, look at your friends, colleagues and other relationships. The reason this needs to be done is because we should surround ourselves with people who are spiritually strong and motivated to do the will of God. Can you see a great cloud of witnesses around you, do you find strength in and through the people that you call “friends…” Believe it or not, but it is through your relationships that you are able to lay aside every weight (when things aren’t going well, a friend will lift you up and not step on you…); your friends are the ones who should keep you going, your church is the foundation that should be a source of healing and refuge, testimonies should be evidence that God doesn’t make mistakes, but that He is rather making/molding you into the spiritually prospering child that he called you to be… 

You can lay aside that weight because your friends help you realize that that addiction, that habit, that relationship or that skeleton in your closet isn’t worth carrying… Laying the weight aside should be made easy because of your friends, if your life seems to be more complicated when your “friends” enter the picture you need to check that, if your are being drug down instead of being exalted you need to check that, and if you find yourself straying away from God, you need to check that… This passage says that we not only should lay aside the weight, but “the sin which doth so easily beset us…” I think we all can agree that it doesn’t take much for us to find ourselves in a downward spiral, one action can lead to a lifetime of regret and sorrow, and one choice can bring grave consequences. That is why the author tells us to run with patience’s; we have to remain careful and vigilant at all times, we have to be guarded about those who enter our inner-circle (of the twelve disciples, there were three that Jesus became closer too). When we surround ourselves with praying and faithful people we can avoid the traps and snares of the devil. When we adhere to the will and journey of God and not feed into the sin and lust of the flesh and world we can run this race with patients, understanding that God is in control and that things will be made plain and clear when it is your season to reap your harvest. Lastly, let us remember who has made this day possible (the air you breathe and the blood flowing within your veins). Through all your heartache, through your suffering and pain, remember that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever… He will hear your faintest cry, He is your comforter, He is your strength, and He is your prosperity. He died on the cross so you can live, and surely He wants to see you live throughout all eternity. He will finish what He started; you just keep your faith and surround yourself with people of that same faith…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Trouble Won't Last Always

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Genesis 28:15

“Behold, I am with thee…” This very statement should provide a source of strength for those who feel like giving up, this should provide energy for those who feel they have none left and hope for those who think they are lost… God is with you, through the good and the bad, the ups and the downs He is right by your side… Jacob has fled from the hands of Esau and at this point feels helpless and hopeless; however God informs Jacob of the same things that we need to be informed of when we face hardships, “He’s still with us…” Today’s focus verse deals with the promised blessings that a child of God will receive, but also shines light on the trials and storms that we will encounter to get there… In the verses which precede this one, Isaac has given the first born blessing to Jacob instead of Esau; Esau burned with anger toward Jacob and as a result Jacob fled… We find Jacob on his journey to Paddam Aram to the house of Laban…

 Jacob stops to sleep and uses a rock as his pillow, during his time of rest; God appears to him and speaks the words which are recorded in this verse… It is a blessing for us to know that God is always with us, but let us understand what that means… To often we associate God being with us to mean that we won’t have to deal with struggles or hardships, on the contrary we are reminded that God is with us so that we won’t give up or feel abandoned when the storms intensify… Jacob was told by God that he would inherit the land which he slept on, we too have been promised a better tomorrow… After his rest Jacob ended up working for his father in law for over 14 years for his wives, he was wondering through life avoiding his brother and even had another run-in with his father in law that basically served as a warning that if he messed up he would come after him… Jacob eventually had to face his brother and thought that death was imminent… Many people remember the story of him wrestling with a man (which some believe was God or an angel…) The whole point to the story is that you have been promised a land of abundance, you have been promised a land of prosperity, but you also must go through the rigors of life to obtain it, you must go through the refining fire to be purified… Jacob was assured of his inheritance, but saw many days of sadness and distress, we will see many days of sadness in distress, many days of confusion and crying, but know that God never slumbers nor sleeps, not only does he see your pain, but its serving a purpose in your life that will allow His name to be glorified and you to be matured to the point that God has called you too… Jacob came face to face with his brother and God brought them back together… 

The bible says that Jacob was given the name Israel and walked with a limp after His encounter with God… You will experience the promises that God has made to you, but you must go through the journey to obtain it… Like Jacob, we have been promised great things, you might end up with a limp in pursuing them… God never promised days without strife, He never promised that tears would not stream down your face; God never said that your burden would be light, and joy will fill your life 24 hours a day and 7 days a week! As Christians we have often misconstrued what the word of God actually says, my Bible tells us to keep in mind that they hated Him first, my bible tells me that weeping may endure for a night, and my bible tells me that the devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy… We have to understand that we are fighting a treacherous battle, we are in the trenches and this war is growing more and more intense. Pick up your newspaper and see how many teens have been locked up or become a chalk outline, look at how many jobs have been lost, or how many suicides have taken place. Again, God never said things would be easy, but what He says in this scripture is that He will be with you! He didn’t say it wouldn’t be an uphill battle, but in this scripture He tells us that He is fighting with us… He wants you to know that He hasn’t forgotten about you, when others turn there back on you, He hasn’t. When others put you down, He will pick you up. When people have denied you, He will receive you. God has great things in store for you; He has a promised vision for your life and will sweat along side you to see you fulfill your dream… Don’t give up, don’t give in, don’t become discouraged, trust in the Lord, Hold to his unchanging hand, and believe in the scriptures! “I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of…” God’s going to finish the work, God’s going to conclude the master piece and you will reach the heights He has called you too…

TROUBLE WON”T LAST ALWAYS!!!!!!

In Everything Give Thanks

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The will of God is that we should always be thankful, find a reason to rejoice and continue to pray… No matter what storms come your way or obstacles that you face, the challenge of every man and woman of God is to stay the course holding to the precious promises of God and making the most of every situation! Paul told the church ofPhilippi, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” The secret of being content is that you hold to the fact that God has seen you through your ups and downs, you smile because regardless of your abundance or your lack you still have a roof over your head and clothes on your back… I remind myself daily that things could always be worseand that only rejuvenates my joy. A child of God is known by actions, not by what they say… Paul’s letter to the church of Thessalonica reminds us that we are to praise God and pray to God continuously… When your time is devoted to praising God and praying you have no room to complain, when your time is devoted to giving thanks unto the Lord you don’t have time to pout or throw temper tantrums… 

Paul’s says rejoice evermore!Often times we are looking for a red sea or Damascus road experience in order to rejoice, but we are told today that we should always rejoice… There will be storms in your life, there will be trials that you encounter and we must learn to stop trying to face them on our own, but go to the Lord in prayer… So often people face challenges and try to defeat them by themselves, that’s what the church is for, that’s what the body of believers is for; God said when two or three are gathered in His name He will be in the midst…Pray to God, but also surround yourself with people of God to pray with you and for you… James said that when we ask of the Lord we cannot waver, we already know what God has done for us that’s why we can rejoice, we know that we can take anything too Him through prayer and if you believe Paul’s next statement says “In everything give thanks…” We as a child of God can give thanks simple because God promised to never put more on us than we can bear, we can give thanks because we know that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, we can give thanks because we know that even when are closest friends turned there backs on us Christ died on the cross so that we might have life and have it more abundantly… Paul says that these things that we are to do are the will of God toward us… Our job on this earth is to minister, to serve others and to let others know that grace that God has dispensed on the cross for all mankind… 

You touch the lives of people in so many ways and we must let them know that we are a child of God! This isn’t done by wearing a cross around our necks, this isn’t done by carrying a bible everywhere we go and it isn’t done by listening to gospel music all day long… People will know you’re a child of the King when they see you rejoicing in all things, they will know when they see you praying about situations, they will know when you are able to give thanks unto the Lord even when people don’t understand what you’re thankful for… There is an old saying, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. This simply implies that you should never allow your circumstances to destroy your goals or focus for you life, in fact you should take the sour taste and use it to make something good out of a bad situation. This passage in 1 Thessalonians reminds us to rejoice evermore, meaning that we must keep the joy of Jesus in our hearts at all times, we must never get down upon the current situations because we can look to Jesus and know that He went to the cross and now seats at the right hand of the father. This passage also tells us to always stay in prayer; it doesn’t matter what the doctor has said, or what you friends have told you (look at Job), we must stay in communication with God knowing that He has the final answer, but more importantly that He has what we stand in need of. That’s why we should be thankful for any and everything that comes our way, because we know that walking in the will of God will have the dark days and bumpy roads, but in the end our crown awaits. In the end we will have uncontrollable joy and we will be caught up to a place where there will be no more weeping, crying, or sin!!!! So be thankful and press on!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You Shall Be Filled

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." 

Matthew 5:6

Hunger and thirst are two conditions within our body that we feel daily… The average man can go just a few days without water and (maybe a week or two) without food before losing once mental stability and life itself… The pains of hunger and the desire for water or drink can alter not only our attitude or conduct, but our way of life and priority… No man wants to go without food or drink because of the state of misery, discomfort and/or depression that he/she will be exposed too… We feed our body several times a day in trying to satisfy a hunger or to quench a thirst; however, within a few short hours we are repeating this never ending cycle. Everyone in this world is hungry or thirsty for something, but in today’s scripture we find that only a desire for righteousness shall be filled… There are so many people on this earth who are pursuing so many things and even as they ascend to higher levels they are never satisfied with their gain… The thirst you have for success can never be filled if you don’t go to the source of Jesus Christ and drink… 

In the 4^th chapter of the gospel of John we find a story of Jesus encounter with a Samaritan woman (also known as “the woman at the well”; in this passage there a back and forth dialogue that takes place with her and Jesus about water (a physical and need with a spiritual application)… In the 13^th through the  15^th verse of this chapter we find these words recorded, “Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” The woman desires to be filled with the water of Jesus so that she will never have to come to that well again; however, the word of God goes on to say that Jesus had to show her to her own self first… You have been doing things your way long enough, you have been seeking the happiness you want on this earth and continue to fall short; your hunger has gone unsatisfied, your thirst has not been quenched and now is the time for you to be called blessed and filled not because you have obtained anything but because you have entrusted your care into the hands of Christ… This Samaritan woman is the symbol of our very lives… She was a prostitute, selling herself for scraps, never realizing her true potential… The money she made, or the room and board she obtained was enough for the night but not for the future… She was ready for a change and wanted to be filled… You can smile and fool everyone around you, but the truth of the matter is that you can never be filled or satisfied by the things of this world… 

There will always be something that you desire, something that you want, and something that you will go and buy, but you can rest assured in Christ that those desires will be dissolved and you will find comfort and happiness through His righteousness… You can find temporary satisfaction on this earth for moments at a time, but the bible declares that in Christ you store up treasures that cannot be depleted or stolen… In the world you find temporary things; in Christ you find undeviating things… Understand how powerful this passage is today, you can only be filled in Christ… The sooner you realize that, the sooner you can stop starving and dehydrating your divine destiny… It’s time for us to go before the living water and drink so we cannot obtain a temporary satisfaction but can in fact be filled… Notice that you will be filled when you desire His righteousness, the Samaritan woman had to accept the mirror being placed before her and so do you… This means that you accept the fact that you are wicked, your way isn’t the best and that you are in need of a savior… Christ can’t fill you up if your cup is not empty… Hunger is felt when there is a lack of food, thirst is felt when a throat is parched or your hydration is low… Instead of going to a familiar source, step out of your box and try Jesus… He’s waiting on you and He will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory… Hunger and thirst are natural from the womb; these same conditions that we experience with our body must be a part of our spiritual makeup as well (the pains of hunger and thirst lead to growth and maturity)… This is why Jesus says in the beatitudes, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness…” You have to identify that there is a need and then allow Christ to fill it… He will take the pain away and take you to another level in Him at the same time; this is what it means to be filled…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Be Strong And Of Good Courage

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." 

Deuteronomy 31:6

On the verge of your Promise Land you will surely find opposition…  Too often people present a false doctrine and make the voyage of following Christ appear to be a (n) easy task… We believe that we can win souls for Christ by presenting all the things that He will and can do for us and hope that the person we are entertaining doesn’t read the fine print or the disclaimer that informs them that they will deal with persecutions, hardships and trials… As a child of God we are to “consider it pure joy when we face trials” because we are being developed and molded… The pain you endure today releases the power you need to obtain victory tomorrow… Don’t be fooled by the way things may appear to be in your life; instead prepare yourself every morning to be attacked by the enemy… This is why we are charged by Paul to “Put on the whole amour of God…”  There is a battle taking place daily over your very soul and you must come to realization that this is a reality that will be in place until Christ returns and you are called home… 

Make no mistake about it, the word of God never declares that things will go as we draw them up, His word never tells us that the Christian journey will be peaceful and a smooth ride from point “A” to point “B”; however, His word does tell us today that we are charged to “Be strong and of good courage…” Like I said, there is battle taking place everyday and it is not you are not tasked to run or fear, but to stand strong and fear not…This passage was written at point in the lives of the children of God after they had endured the ten plagues, they have already exited the land of Egypt, and the children of God have already crossed the red sea on dry ground and have been fed manna from heaven… This has come after the exalted snake which healed all manner of disease and they have received water from a rock… On the verge of their destiny, Moses (there fearless physically present leader through the whole ordeal) is now passing the mantel to Joshua… It is in this passage we can find uncertainty and also find encouragement… The uncertainty is easily found in our lives when things change… The same can be said with the children of God as Moses is removed in our focus verse… Just like the Hebrews, we are on the cusp of something great and right when we are beginning to celebrate there is a perceived setback that takes place or comes into play… The challenge that we face in our Christian journey is not the setback, but displaying the ability to “Be strong and of good courage…” You can’t be strong (as this passage indicates that you have to be) if you are not prepared and this is why it is so important that we understand that trials and tribulations are a very important part of our growth and maturity in Christ… 

When you expect the unexpected, when you prepare for the worse, you can move from being strong and of good courage into the next level of Christian maturity which teaches and instills in you that you should “fear not, nor be afraid…” See the children of God feared what would happen under a new leader when Joshua took over, they feared change; however, if they simply recalled the past to the present they would have learned that there was no reason to fear since God had already delivered them before… Today, in your life, when you feel like you are suffering a setback know that you have no reason to fear; the same God that saw you to the storm will be the same God that leads you through the storm… The enemy wants you to believe that you will not succeed, he wants you to give up and throw in the towel; however, the word of God tells us today “for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee…” You can rest assured that God will not leave you; you may feel at time like you are alone, but you can be assured today that God is always with you and will always be by your side… You can endure your trying time today; you can go through the turmoil without worry or panic simply because you have the Lord on your side… The children of God lost sight of what God had already done and that generation was cut off and never reached the Promise Land… The message we learn from this text today is simple yet powerful… If I had to sum up the charge put forth from this passage I would warn, challenge and encourage you by these words… God has already been were you are and where you are going… The path you are traveling had to be paved for you to travel it and the battles you encounter have already been won… With that being said, don’t let the appearance of things derail your divine reality…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Return Is Closer Than You Think

"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand." 

Joel 2:1

In today’s study we have a word of warning and a word of victory solely deriving from where you stand as a person of this world or a person of Christ… Through the message of warning, we find the directive to “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion,” this call to the priest was to let the people know of the divine judgment that is to come… There are so many people who we encounter in our daily lives that do not know Christ… Please come to the realization today and understand that there is a difference between not knowing Him and rejecting Him; a lot of times we meet people who have never had Christ shared with them, we engage with people daily that don’t know what Christ has done for us and as a child of God the great commission commands us, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”We are called to bear witness of Christ and let our light shine before men… It is our divine assignment to let people know of the joy we have which was not given of this world but made obtainable by the nail-scarred hands of Christ… 

The bible declares that “Faith cometh by hearing…” People cannot believe in something that they have never heard of; this is why the bible also declares “and how can they hear without a preacher…”You have a faith that was ignited in you to keep you going through this dark and dreary world; however, you also have a measure of faith that was distinctly deposited in you to be poured out into the lives of those you encounter… The world has a standard of living that we conform to from birth; however, as a child of God it is up to us to capture what Paul has told us in his letter to the Church of Rome and “be transformed…” Your life in Christ is altered from your life in this world and it is now your time to “sound the alarm”and alter the lives of others… You have a message of warning to deliver, this isn’t about saving a soul, but opening the door for them to know that the way they live now can be changed and transformed if they choose to follow Christ… Those who don’t know Christ, those who reject Christ need to know that He will return and this alone should cause “all the inhabitants of the land to tremble…” The second message I see from this passage is a message of victory to all those who have stood the test and fought the good fight… You may not know when or even how, but you can rest assured as a child of God that your latter will be greater than your former and the Lord will show up and show out… The message we have for our devotion today is a message of proclaiming victory if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior… This isn’t a proclamation based on reaching the mountain top; it is a proclamation declaring to the world that we are on a step hill but we are confident in knowing that we will reach the top and all those who opposed our mission will be in awe of our accomplishment in Christ… 

We are not assured to see the fruits of our labor here on earth; however, we are assured that “the Lord cometh” and He will have the rewards for all with Him… Despite what you have faced or the challenges you have gone through, you can claim victory in the midst of your trials and tribulations. Just the assurance that Christ will return is enough to shout victory… In having faith that He will return, you have faith that your work is not in vain, you have faith that the tears you have sown in despair will water the seed of abundance for your future… The word of God declares in Psalms 126, verse 5 that “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” In Christ, you are guaranteed victory… It may not be manifested in the way you desired or in your lifetime on this earth, but you can find joy in knowing that it will manifest… Instead of wailing through your current circumstance, you can sing a song of praise, you can alter the atmosphere in your household, on your job and in your family because you know that God doesn’t make mistakes “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Today, sound the alarm when you encounter a wayward soul, sound the alarm when you entertain a guest that doesn’t know Christ; however, if you are going through you can also open your mouth in the midst of your situation, hardship or despair and “Blow the trumpet” knowing that this too shall pass and the only things that are certain in this life are that we shall die and Christ shall take His children home to glory…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!