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I hope that you had an awesome Memorial Day weekend….That you worshiped with us…that you took time to reflect on those that gave their lives for our country…and that you focused on the Love of Jesus who gave His life for your salvation.

On Friday I had us take a look at the FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. We looked at: Galatians 5:22-25…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

We’re not speaking of spiritual apples, grapes, pears, or peaches here. We’re talking about what’s going on in the orchard of your life. We acknowledged that we are all sinful and fall short…. And celebrate the fact that God loves us anyway!

“Christian character” follows faith and is produced by the Holy Spirit…not by merely trying to live by the law. The indwelling Holy Spirit produces faith and Christian virtues. If the goal of the Christian life may be stated as Christlikeness, then surely every trait developed in us that reflects His character must be fruit that is very pleasing to Him. Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit in nine terms. I would like to take each of these characteristics one per day.

The first that we will look at is LOVE!

Here is a test for you…which phrase seems out of place?

• I love pepperoni/double cheese pizza.
• I love to watch basketball games.
• I love walking beside a creek.
• I love my wife of 47 years.

I assume you would see my point. We use the same word for loving pizza and loving a spouse?

We romanticize the word love with song lyrics like… “All you need is love”, “love makes the world go around” and even “love stinks”. Can that be what God means when He says He loves you?

The Greek (New testament) language has many words that further describe love.

• Storge…natural affection like a mom’s love.
• Eros…A physical/ sexual love
• Philia…An emotional / friendship love.
• Agape…Unconditional…God’s Love.

Let’s look at God’s (unconditional) Love.

A new lawyer came to town. New town…new office…No clients. When he saw that someone was coming to his office, he immediately picked up the phone and said, “I’m flying to New York in the Timmons case. It looks like a biggie. And bring Paul in from New Jersey on the Pettus case. Gotta go now, someone just walked in”. With that he hung up the phone, turned to the man, and said “now, how may I help you?” The man replied, “I’m here to hook up your phone!”

The good news is that you do not have to impress God…He loves you with all your short comings!

• God loves you! We sin and disobey God…and what does He do to us in return? He loves us!
• John 3:16…For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
• I know that you have heard that verse 100 times…but stop and focus on what it says!
• God Loves YOU! So much that He died in YOUR place (YOUR wage of sin is death). Forgiveness and eternal life are YOURS simply by faith.
• He loves YOU in spite of YOU! It’s a free gift from God to YOU personally!
• As a matter of fact…He has to love you because it is who He is! 1 John 4:16…God is love. What a short and yet so powerful verse.

So…God loves you…now what? In response to His love we are called to love others. And the Holy Spirit wants to produce LOVE in us.

• 1 John 4:19-21…..We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Look at it this way: God loves you…which produces the fruit that we are looking at (Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control.) And the Holy Spirit fills us with love for God and love for those we interact with. When we strengthen the vertical (with God) relationship…then the horizontal (with others) relationship will follow! Want to be more loving, spend more time with God. His Love will wear off on you!!!!

So what about these verses on love? John 15:13-17…Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.  This is my command: Love each other.

Yesterday, on Memorial Day…We focused on unconditional love. Men and women who gave the ultimate act of love by giving their life…for you. For families that have suffered the loss of loved ones who served their country.

It also points back to Jesus giving the ultimate act of love on the cross! He willingly died so you will have eternal life.

So if God is Love and we are to be Christlike….The Holy Spirit produces fruit including Love for us to share with others. Jesus was asked of all the commandments which is the most important? Mark 12:30-31…….Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

So…I challenge you to focus on a few things:

• Thank the Lord for loving YOU in spite of your sinfulness!
• Thank the Lord for those who gave their lives for your freedom to worship the Lord!
• Devote time every day to prayer and study of God’s Word.
• Reflect and assess on how the Fruit of Love is growing on the tree of your life?
• Do people see God’s Love shining through your words and actions?
• Who can you reach out to today? Perhaps a relationship that has gotten tense recently…too much time isolated together. Perhaps someone lonely, depressed, and isolated in their home. Perhaps someone having financial issues due to the coronavirus world we are living in. Perhaps a neighbor that would love a wave, call, act of kindness.

On this Memorial Day I want us to focus on a verse. John 15:13-17…Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. We will dig deep into the fruit known as LOVE tomorrow, but 2 applications of this verse are appropriate for us on this Memorial Day:

• We live in a great country with countless freedoms…including the freedom of religion. That freedom came at a great cost! Today, take some time to reflect on those who in love “laid down their lives” for you. Ask yourself, who/what do you love that you would lay down your life for?
• We have a Loving God who sent His Son Jesus to “lay down His life” for you. The most incredible part of this is Romans 5:8…But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! Now that’s unconditional love! Take time today to thank the Lord for His unconditional Love for you. Who do you need to show that kind of love to?

So…yesterday’s (fruity) devotion was a bit of a downer. We looked at God creating a paradise for man to live in… one rule… don’t eat from the tree of good and evil. Eve did! Adam did! Each of us do! The good news is that God still loves you…sent His Son to pay the price for you sins.

Today we will begin to look at what the FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT is all about. We begin in Galatians chapter 5. Starting in verse 19 we see the problem: The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. These verses confirm what we talked about yesterday…we are all sinners!

So now what? Do we just throw our hands in the air and say “that’s just who I am so I might as well give in to those sinful ways!” NO!!! God wants us to be transformed…changed to be more Christ-like.

Galatians 5:22-25…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

This section may be familiar to you. We call this the FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT section. We’re not speaking of spiritual apples, grapes, pears, or peaches here. We’re talking of what’s going on in the orchard of your life. What are you producing?

“Christian character” is produced by the Holy Spirit…not by merely trying to live by the law. The indwelling Holy Spirit produces faith and Christian virtues. We contrast the plural “sinful acts” described in the verses above…with the singular “Godly Fruit” (like a cluster of grapes) listed in Galatians 5:22-25 above. If the goal of the Christian life may be stated as Christlikeness, then surely every trait developed in us that reflects His character must be fruit that is very pleasing to Him. Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit in nine terms.

So, let’s get personal.

• Which of these virtues or characteristics do you seem to be lacking in?
• Would your friends recognize these qualities in you?
• Would a stranger meeting you for the first time see those characteristics in the way you talk and act?
• If there were 9 buckets filled with these virtues and you could get more of one of them…which would you take?

The fable tells of three merchants who were crossing the Arabian Desert. Because of the heat of the desert they were traveling at night. On that starless night they were crossing over a dry creek bed. As they were crossing a voice in the darkness spoke to them. The voice told them to stop right where they were. Then they were commanded to bend down and pick up the pebbles that were around them in thedry creek bed and put them in their pockets. After they did this they were told to leave and continue on their way and not to camp near the creek bed. The voice from the darkness continued to tell them that in the morning they would be both happy and sad. Being very frightened by all of this, they traveled through the night and did not stop until they could see the sun. With the arrival of the morning they began to look in their pockets. Instead of finding pebbles in their pockets they found precious jewels. Yes, they were both happy and sad. They were happy that they had listened to the voice of the night but they were also sad that they did not pick up more pebbles.

Note that the FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT is not something that you earn or buy or go “pick up”…this fruit is a gift of the Spirit…as He works in you and transforms you from the inside out, but:

I want to end this devotion by painting a picture using Colossians 2:6-7… So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Think of a healthy tree…strong roots for strength in the storm, and for nourishment. It grows and is built up with branches and places for birds to rest…overflowing with leaves, flowers, and fruit.

Colossians describes a Christian life (our intimate, spiritual, living union with God) in the same terms:

• Rooted in God’s Word for strength and nourishment. (do you connect with God and read His Word daily?)
• Growing to become all that God has planned for your life. Strengthening in your walk as to be a blessing to others. (Are you responding to God’s direction in your life?)
• To be Christ-like…producing good fruit…living out the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT characteristics and virtues for all to see. (Are you loving others?)
• Over the next devotions starting on Monday, I want to look at each of these 9 characteristics and virtues, mentioned in these FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT verses.

Over the weekend, I encourage you to worship with us at royred.org. While you are there, check out the other tools and opportunities to connect with us. Spend some time looking at the verses that I have used in this devotion….and look for God for direction, hope, strength.

We had some landscaping done around our house last week… it looks great. With Memorial Day approaching many of you will be planting flowers and of course the vegetable gardens. Some of you are fortunate enough to have fruit trees! Fruit plays an important part in the story of God’s creation. He hand made all of the plants, flowers, trees, fruits and vegetables. I saw this funny fruit story:

Whenever your kids are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God’s omnipotence didn’t extend to God’s kids. After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing he said was: “Don’t.”…..”Don’t what?” Adam replied…..”Don’t eat the forbidden fruit.” God said….. “Forbidden fruit? We got forbidden fruit?….Hey Eve! We got forbidden fruit!”…”No way!”…”Yes way!”. “DON’T EAT THAT FRUIT!” Said God…. “Why?”…..”Because I am your Father and I said so!” said God, wondering why he hadn’t stopped after making elephants…… A few minutes later God saw his kids having an apple break and was angry….Didn’t I tell you not to eat the fruit?” the First Parent asked….”Uh huh,” Adam replied….”Then why did you?”…”I dunno,” Eve answered….”She started it!” Adam said….”Did not!”…”Did too!”…”Did NOT!”… Having had it with the two of them, God’s punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus, the pattern was set, and it has never been changed!!!

Well, that’s not how the story really goes, but it may sound that way in your home. God created paradise. He sat back after each day, looked at His masterpiece and said, “It is good!”

God gave this paradise to Adam and Eve to enjoy. He wanted them to show their love and trust in their Father by having one rule to follow. Following that rule would show God that they trusted Him…and keep them safe.

Genesis 2:15-17…The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;  but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.

Sounds pretty simple…enjoy paradise…don’t mess with evil! As we know, Satan tempted Eve. He questioned if she really knew what God said Genesis 3:1…He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” At first she stood her ground, Genesis 3:2-3…The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,  but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” Not exactly what God said, but close enough. Satan does not stop there; he says that God’s rule is unfair…she deserves the fruit. And Eve gives in. Genesis 3:6…When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Not only did she eat it, but she passed it on to Adam. Sin entered into the world!

Let’s take this story and update it. A parent tells their 7-year-old to play in the yard and don’t wander…you may get hurt, run over by a car, or worse. Everything is going well, after all he has a swing set, basketball hoop, and toys. Then his 9-year-old classmate from the next block comes over to play. He later says, “let’s go over to my house, I have a go cart we can ride”. The 7-year-old says “no, dad said to stay here”. The 9-year-old says, “it will be ok…he didn’t mean my house”.The 7-year-old says “no, he said don’t leave the yard.” The 9-year-old says “dad’s a spoil sport, dad gets to leave the yard and has fun, why can’t you”. The 7-year-old defies dad’s rule and leaves the yard, rides the go cart and gets hurt!

You may be reading this and wondering where I am going with this devotion.

Like the father in the Garden of Eden…and the father in my 7-year old’s story…your Heavenly Father Loves you! He wants to protect you, so He has given us rules to keep us safe.

Deep down, we want to obey God…but often fall short! There are 3 things that cause us to break the rules…to fall short…to miss the mark…to sin.

• Satan…He lost and is defeated. He is bitter and wants to take as many of us as he can with him! He wants you to misunderstand and doubt God’s Word. He wants you to question if His Word applies to you. He appeals to our desires and tempts us to turn away from God’s plans for our lives. The 9 year old in my story is not Satan, but many times, he uses those closest to us to tempt us to sin. “Did God really say not to do that” “Come on, everyone else is doing it” “God won’t mind” “If He really loved you, He would want you to have fun” “you deserve it.” We hear these types of words and get tempted to play god…to make and bend the rules. The good news is we have God on our side. James 4:7-8…Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.
• The Sinful World…Let’s face it, we live in a sin filled world that denies that there even is a God. The world wants to play god by making their own rules…and even bending the rules that exist. But we can turn to God for wisdom and direction. Romans 8:31…What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
• Our Sinful Nature…Just as you inherited your hair, eyes, physical attributes from your parents…you also received a sinful nature. You were born (conceived) with a sinful nature. Psalm 51:5…Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
  • The Coronavirus is on all of our minds. What is its origin? What is its cause? How would I get it? Is there a cure?). We were all born with a more deadly disease called sin…Its 100% fatal. We inherited it. The symptoms that we have this disease are shown from our sinful thought’s words, and deeds.
  • OUCH…WHAT A DOWNER! The reality is that we (like Adam and Eve) sin…and sin separates us from God…. That is bad news!!!

There is GOOD NEWS! It’s the Gospel! 1 John 1:8-9…If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. We sin (it’s our nature) and God forgives (it’s His nature)

Here is what I want you to do:

• Acknowledge that you are a sinner.
• Spend time reflecting on your “signature sin.” The sin that you keep having to confess. You say that you will not do it again…but you keep doing it. Maybe you justify it. Maybe you blame others for it. Maybe you rationalize why it is ok.
• Humbly confess that sin to the Lord. Ask Him in His mercy and for the sake of Jesus death to forgive you.
• Ask God to help you to avoid the triggers to this sin…or the people that lead you to it. Ask Him to help you make the needed changes to become all He created you to be.
• Know and thank God for the fact that you are forgiven!

Tomorrow….we will look at a different (and much better) kind of fruit!

I saw a funny story the other day by Wayne Rice:

Disney’s Chip and Dale always got the best of Donald Duck. In one of those cartoons, those pesky chipmunks were taunting him from their little tree hole, about 15′ above the ground. Putting on some spiked shoes, Donald Duck attempted to climb the tree. Fuming and muttering he reached the hole. In a Flash Chip and Dale untie his shoes, and he falls to the ground…Next, he tries using a ladder. When he reaches the top Chip and Dale pushed the ladder over, and Donald tumbles down…..For a 3rd assault on the tree he straps a rocket to his back and launches towards the top of the tree. No use. Chip and Dale jolt the rocket off course, and it crashes with Donald Duck still attached… Finally, Donald Duck decides to chop the tree down. With steam coming out of his ears he snatches a big ax and started swinging. Every time the ax hits the tree chip and Dale shake in their perch. In agitated chatter they wonder how to save themselves this time! Meanwhile the tree begins to fall and Donald Duck quacks with glee, certain of his success. Then for no apparent reason the tree not only stops falling but it begins to right itself again. A furious Donald circles the tree, trying to figure out the reason why. The cartoonist reveals it all. Inside the hollow tree. Chip and Dale are pushing with all their might to upright the tree!

This story makes us laugh! We know that it’s impossible to push the tree up from inside the tree! As the tree was falling, their pushing was useless because they had nothing to lean on for leverage. To stop their tree from falling, they would have to brace themself against something…. and it can not be the tree or their own willpower.

How about you?

Have you been (or perhaps you are right now) in a tree that seems to be falling?

Try as you may, you can’t get it back upright by your own power.

Maybe it’s a coronavirus tree with the weight of health issues, financial issues, loneliness, fear, relationship struggles….and the tree seems to be falling. By your own strength, you push as hard as you can, but a crash seems inevitable!

Maybe you are not struggling from corona issues but something else is cutting down your tree…maybe emotional, financial, or relationship struggles…Maybe they have been there for years…and things seem to be crashing all around you.

The biggest question for you to answer is… who or what are you leaning on??? If it’s your willpower, good looks, money, or a rabbit’s foot… the result will come crashing down upon you.

I would like to point you to the One to lean on…. The Solid Rock of Jesus Christ! You can lean on Him to get your life upright and solid. He gives you His Word for time like this. After Moses died and Joshua was to lead the people into the promised land, it must have felt overwhelming…like the tree was falling…and where were Joshua and the people to lean? On God, His promises, and His Word!

Joshua 1:7-9…Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Isn’t that a great section of scripture? It gives us hope and direction for every struggle we face.

• Be strong and very courageous! Why? Because you can lean on the Lord…He will be with you wherever you go and whatever you face! He is there with you, for you to lean on and brace against. He is there on the good days and the not so good seasons of life. He wants to change your outlook, your self-image, your Hope, your purpose, and direction… and your next healthy steps.
• Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips. Make the commitment to get into God’s Word daily! For Joshua it was the Book of the Law (the first 5 books.) We have God’s Word in our Bibles, both the Law to guide us and show our sins…and the Gospel to bring us hope and show our Savior. The truth is that God hand made you and wants to spend eternity with you…but there is a problem! You (and I) sin, and that sin separates us from God. The good news is that God still loves you in spite of your sins! He sent His son (Jesus) to pay the price for your sins. Our relationship with God is restored! Our response to this free gift is to want to know what God’s plan for our lives is.
• meditate on it day and night. Don’t just read it, ask God to speak to you personally and into all of the situations that you face. Spend time and seek God’s guidance for your life. Sit quietly asking for God to speak to you through His Word.
• so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Knowing God’s Word is great…but doing what it says is what it’s really all about. Seek God’s will for you. Ask Him to guide your steps so that you can accomplish His plans for your life. Apply God’s Word to each situation you face.
• Then you will be prosperous and successful. For Christians “success” is measured by God’s definition, not the world’s definition. For Joshua it was to conquer the promised land. What is it that God wants to help you conquer? In what ways will you prosper? How will God use you to impact others? Will He use you to help someone else whose tree is falling?
• If left alone in our sin and weakness…we will fall…the tree will crash. And yet, God enables you through the promise of His Word to “be strong and courageous”…to face the day and whatever comes your way…not to inherit a piece of land like Joshua…but to inherit a place in God’s eternal kingdom!
• Pray that as you get into God’s Word, it will permeate your heart…and transform you into the person God hand made you to be.

So, here we are at the end of this 8-day devotional on dealing with the hurts, habits, and hang-ups that steal our joy, and make life seem unmanageable. Hopefully, you are working through each of these devotionals. I pray that you are identifying your issue, acknowledging who your Lord is, turning your issue and life over to Him, assessing and confessing your faults, making changes, repairing relationships, and getting into a time in God’s Word and of prayer.

Today we will look at The Sharing Choice… Recycling Plan. This is when you yield yourself to God to be used to bring the Good news to others by example and by your words.

A key fact is that God never wastes a hurt! What does that mean? Well, we have seen that in this world we will have trouble, pain, hurt, disappointment, etc. God knows about your hurts, habits, and hang-ups.

He will respond to them in 3 ways:

• He will help you find healing and to make healthy choices.
• He will use them to draw you closer to Him.
• He will use you to help others going through similar issues.

GOD NEVER WASTES A HURT!

I see it all the time. An alcoholic with time in sobriety sponsors a newer alcoholic, a divorced person walks along side of someone facing divorce, a cancer survivor sits with someone getting chemo for the first time, a person loses a loved one and a grief support group welcomes them in…and the list is endless.

This is God’s recycling plan! 2 Corinthians 1:4 (nlt)… He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

I envision our life as a Christian like a team of mountain climbers. The climb is difficult but together they can succeed… encouraging each other… watching and learning from the climber ahead of them…avoiding the dangerous hidden crevasses… finding solid ground to walk on. They are led by a map produced by someone that has gone ahead of them… who has given direction and warning. When the leader of the mountain climbing team reached the peek, does he stop to rest and enjoy the view? Of course not, he helps the next person who in turn helps the next.

So…We are all on a journey and at times it seems like we are climbing a steep mountain. Jesus is leading the way, He gives us His Word to guide our steps… as well as His church to walk with us. Our job is to watch out for the person following behind us… to encourage, lead, help them find solid ground. You can help them navigate the rough terrain… point out where you slipped and fell… point them to the map, and the writer of that map (God).

Many times, this begins by “sharing your story” with someone who God has placed in your path.. Here are some suggestions for sharing your story with someone:

• Be humble! Remember this is a testimony not a bragamony. Your job is to tell the story of what your hurt, habit, or hang-up was (is) and how God has led you to a healthier place. It’s one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. And then share who that bread is! John 6:35…Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Jesus is the bread that gives life…Hope…Joy…direction…strength to face the battles we all face. Your story can give hope and guidance to someone a few steps behind where you are in your journey.
• Be real! Be honest about your hurts and faults. Let them know that you are transparent, vulnerable, and real with them. James 5:16…Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. God wants to recycle your progress into someone behind you in the journey. You might be a lighthouse to someone else’s storm…. leading them to the ultimate Lighthouse (Jesus).
• Don’t lecture! You will never argue or force someone into healing, healthy choices, or into heaven. God wants you to be a witness not a defense attorney! You have heard it said that you may be the only Bible someone reads…this is true especially if they are going through a tough time where they may feel God is distant, or that He is the cause of their issues. Use “I” sentences. Tell how God helped you move forward and found healing.

You may say… “Let someone else do it” or “that’s the pastor’s job.” Truth is that you can reach people that the pastor can’t. God has placed them in your circle of influence “for a moment like this”

This is your calling! Acts 20:24… But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

So…now that we have finished the last 8 devotions dealing with hurts, habits, and hang-ups…now what? Hopefully, you are working through the healthy choices…connecting with the Lord daily…and making progress. Remember it’s a lifelong journey and that I and the church are here for you. Remember God is with you! 2 Corinthians 5:17… This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! God hand made you…and saved you…wants you to be the best version of you that you can. He will lead you to make those healthy choices. He never made you to go through this world alone! Together you are stronger than alone. There is someone that needs to hear your story…you may be the answer to their prayer!

If you have received comfort, hope, direction from someone when you went in a tough spot…call them and thank them!

Do you know someone going through a tough experience that you have already gone through? Look for an opportunity to share your story with them.

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One last note:

Some of you may have read these last devotions and said, “that’s nice but I don’t have any hurts, habits, or hang-ups.” Here is a partial list that the Life Hurts God Heals group put together: issues with pride, stress, gossip, poverty, self-esteem, fear, anger, jealousy, selfish, anxiety, depression, bitterness, worry, guilt… addiction to pornography, food, smoking, alcohol and drugs, sex, money, gambling, tv, shopping, work…the hurt of any loss, grief, disease, all forms of abuse, rejection, criticism, gossip, lies, betrayal. If any of these sound close to home…go back and re-read these 8 devotions. Call me for help and support 440-237-7958 ext.118.

I hope that you had an awesome weekend! I pray:

• That you took time to worship with us online at royred.org (the worship services are still there…as well as many other ways to connect with God and with us as a church, as well as devotionals, group info, children’s ministry)
• That you spent time praying and reading God’s Word… applying it to your life and situation.
• That you processed through what your biggest hurt, habit, hang-up is.
• That you will let God lead you through this day… to accomplish His plans for you… and to know that He loves you.

The last 6 devotions that I have written are part of a series designed to help you deal with the past…trust the Lord with your future…and guide you through each minute of today. So far in this series of devotions we have looked at:

• The Reality Choice… Admitting that you are not God…and life can be unmanageable…. identifying the main issue that impacts your life.
• The Hope Choice… Believing that God exists, you matter to Him, He can help you deal with your hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
• The Letting Go Choice… the Commitment Choice. Committing your life to Christ’s Love, care, and control.
• The Coming Clean, House Cleaning Choice… Taking time to examine your past and to confess your faults…first to yourself…and then to God. Many find it very helpful to confess them to a trusted person…to own them and release them.
• The Transformation Choice…making changes. This is when you begin to be who God created you to be! This is when you voluntarily submit to every change that God wants you to make and to humbly ask Him to remove any character defects.
• The relationship Choice…repairing relationships. This is when we evaluate all of our relationships…offer forgiveness to those who have hurt us…and make amends for the harm we have done to others.

I keep repeating these steps because they are great tools for you to use throughout your lifetime. They can be used today, tomorrow, each day of your life until God calls you home to a place where we will not need them. God tells us that “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Life happens…and it can be painful. These tools will work for each hurt, habit, hang-up you will encounter.

Today we will look at The Growth Choice…maintaining momentum. One of the greatest Joy’s we have is that God wants to communicate with us! In this choice you will commit to reserving a daily quiet time with God…for self-examination…Bible reading…and prayer. You do this to know God and His will for your life…and for the power to follow His will!

A middle-aged woman went to New York and up to the 23^rd floor of an apartment building. She knocked on the door and a beautiful young woman opened the door. Incense came wafting out, music was playing, she was wearing a sarong, and she was clapping little bells. The young woman asked “are you here to see the great Bagone? The one who knows all, sees all, tells all, understands everything, and is in ultimate control”? The middle-aged woman said” Yes, tell Sheldon his mother is here!”

Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are just “Sheldon” or whatever your name is. We need to be reminded we don’t know it all, we are not God, and that on our own we will fail, fall, make poor choices, sin, and “be human”. I hope that you have been working on the previous choices and making some progress with healthy Christ-centered living. Be careful not to slip back to old habits. We all need a regular time to recharge our batteries and update our navigation system. Let’s take a closer look at this growth Choice:

• Commit to reserving a daily quiet time with God. Figure out a time that works for you. Make it the same time each day. Find a place with no distractions. Remember to use the ACTS of prayer: A= adoration…C= confession…T=thanksgiving…S= supplication (requests). Find a quiet place, talk to the Lord, sit and listen to Him whisper in your ear. This works best for me first thing in the morning, asking for direction for my day. Jesus did this often. Mark 1:35…Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Luke 5:16…but Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. If He needed to do that…we should as well!
• For self examination…This works best for me right before bed. I assess how the day went, both where I made poor choices, and who I was able to impact for the Lord. I can reflect on how I am doing with my physical health, my spiritual health, my emotional health, and my spiritual health.
• Bible reading…God knew that life in our sinful world would be complicated and confusing. That we would face many hurts, habits, and hang-ups. That we would face temptations and options. He loved us so much that He wrote you a love letter…A book that tells us who He is and who He created you to be. His promises to you and how we are to live as His children. Some think of it as Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.
• Do this to know God and His will for your life. God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for your sins. That’s His part…our part is to follow His lead with our thoughts, words, deeds…so we can accomplish His plans. Jeremiah 29:11(esv)… For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Have you figured out what His plans are for you yet? Plans using your personal passions, abilities, interests and resources. Ask the one who Lovingly made you what His purposes are for you.
• And for the power to follow His will! I hope that you have realized that you cannot be all you were created to be on your own power. The good news is that you do not have to… Ephesians (esv) 3:20…Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. Ask God to lead you and equip you.

Hopefully you can see that this step or choice is an everyday maintenance choice. Just as you refresh and update your computer… you need to refresh and update your walk with the Lord. Tomorrow we will finish this devotional series as we see who you can reach out to.

Jesus’ disciples were confused on how to pray…He taught then the Lord’s prayer. The healthy choices that we have been looking at are found within this prayer:

• Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name (The Reality Choice) realize I am not God. (The Hope Choice) Believe God exists.
• thy kingdom come; (The Sharing Choice) Yield yourself to be used by God. (We will cover this tomorrow.)
• Thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. (The Transformation Choice) Submit to the changes God wants you to make.
• Give us this day our daily bread. (The Letting Go Choice) Submit to God’s care.
• And forgive us our trespasses, (The Coming Clean Choice) Examine and confess your faults.
• as we forgive those who trespass against us. (The Relationship Choice) evaluate all of your relationships and repair broken ones.
• And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (The Growth Choice) Reserve a daily time with God.
• For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Note: The choices that we are talking about are in part found in a book called “Life’s Healing Choices” by John Baker. Know that it is only by God’s choice that we are saved. He has chosen us. We had nothing to do with it. We do not deserve it. And yet, Because we are saved by Grace through faith…we respond by making healthy…Christ-centered…God pleasing choices.

I hope that I have not lost any of you with this series of devotions. I know it is pretty deep…but it will bring back the Joy of the Lord to your life! Today is the last of the 3 devotions (in this series) that tend to be harder, more time consuming, and emotional! That can be a good thing because it can help you deal with past issues and present consequences. Hang in there, honestly working thru the material, and spend quiet time with the Lord.

So far we have looked at:

• The Reality Choice… Admitting that you are not God…and life can be unmanageable…. identifying the main issue that impacts your life.
• The Hope Choice… Believing that God exists, you matter to Him, He can help you deal with your hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
• The Letting Go Choice… the Commitment Choice. Committing your life to Christ’s Love, care and control.
• The Coming Clean, House Cleaning Choice. Taking time to examine your past and to confess your faults…first to yourself…and then to God. Many find it very helpful to confess them to a trusted person…to own them and release them.
• The Transformation Choice…making changes. This is when you begin to be who God created you to be! This is when you voluntarily submit to every change that God wants you to make and to humbly ask Him to remove any character defects.

There’s a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father. On Saturday 800 “Pacos” showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers.

Forgiveness is one of the most common pieces of our hurts, habits, hang-ups. It is at the core of many of our issues.

Today we look at… The relationship Choice…repairing relationships. This is when we evaluate all of our relationships…offer forgiveness to those who have hurt us…and make amends for the harm we have done to others.

Wow…I can almost hear some of you closing this devotion and saying “no thank you!” “I’m not going there” “I will never ask so and so to forgive me, it was there fault anyway” or “I will never forgive them even if they come begging me.”

Let me share 2 verses from the beatitudes with you. Matthew 5:5…Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (those who say they are sorry) and Matthew 5:7… Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (those who forgive others)

My story above about Paco and his father can help us to understand the need to make this next healthy choice.

First of all: many of us are like Paco. We carry around a load of guilt, wanting forgiveness, but not knowing where to find it. The good news is that just as Paco’s father ran an ad in the newspaper…God the Father ran an ad in His Word saying that Jesus died for you. He invites you into His mercy and grace. You are invited to receive His unconditional forgiveness.

Second…we are called to heal relationships with others as well. (forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us). A peace filled life is centered on asking and giving forgiveness. Now you may ask “Why should we forgive others?”

• Because God has forgiven you! Colossians 3:13 (tlb)…  Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. People who feel forgiven find it easier to forgive others…remind yourself that God forgave you!!! He did make you beg, earn, wait for forgiveness.
• Because resentment doesn’t work! Job 18:4 (gnt)… You are only hurting yourself with your anger. Will the earth be deserted because you are angry? Resentment is unreasonable (you are only hurting yourself), unhelpful (it won’t change the past, the problem, or the other person), and unhealthy (resentment is a cancer that will eat you alive).
• Because you will need forgiveness in the future! Mark 11:25 (nlt)… But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. Try as you may…you have a sinful nature…you will sin and need forgiveness (many times)

Note…Remember that forgiving someone does not mean that the hurt did not happen, or that the pain is not real, or that it was ok, or they can do it again…..It means that you will no longer carry the pain, releasing it to the Lord to deal with.

How should I ask for forgiveness from others that I have hurt?

• Pray first…ask God to give you wisdom.
• Ask yourself how you would want to be approached if the situation were reversed.
• Do it at the right time! Ecclesiastes 8:6 (esv)… For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.
• Do it with the right attitude! Ephesians 4:15 (nlt)… Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
• Do it in an appropriate way! Proverbs 12:18 (esv)… There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Be careful what you say…when you say it… and how you say it…and your motivation behind it.

Remember that your job is to offer forgiveness or ask for forgiveness…you are not responsible for how they respond to you! Reconciliation is the goal, but you are responsible for your half!

Questions to ponder this weekend about forgiveness:

• Why is it so hard for you to forgive people that hurt you?
• How many times should you forgive someone? (Hint)…Matthew 18:21-22 says Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
• Who is someone you should forgive?
• Who have you hurt and youneed to seek their forgiveness? What is your first step?

My next devotion will be on Monday. I strongly encourage you to worship with us this weekend at royred.org. I encourage you to check out the other tools to spiritual growth found there. Also, take time this weekend to work through these last 6 healthy choices. The good news is that the next 2 choices that I will cover on Monday and Tuesday are not so deep. They will be tools to maintain a healthy Christian life.

I pray that you are working your way through these last few devotions. I know it can be tough. I know that many of you are wrestling with hurts, habits, hang-ups… and I know that it can be emotionally draining. I also know that there can be a lot of collateral damage that goes along with these issues.

Yesterday’s and these next 2 devotions can be hard, time consuming, and emotional! That’s a good thing because it can help you deal with past issues and present consequences. Hang in there, honestly work thru the material, and spend quiet time with the Lord.

I encourage you to be real and honest. Ask God to guide you through this journey to a healthy, Christ-centered, Joy filled life! If you have missed any of the last 4 devotions, go back and read (or reread) them.

So far we have looked at:

• The Reality Choice… Admitting that you are not God…and life can be unmanageable…. identifying the main issue that impacts your life.
• The Hope Choice… Believing that God exists, you matter to Him, He can help you deal with your hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
• The Letting Go Choice… the Commitment Choice. Committing your life to Christ’s Love, care and control.
• The Coming Clean, House cleaning Choice. Taking time to examine your past and to confess your faults…first to yourself…and then to God. Many find it very helpful to confess them to a trusted person…to own them and release them.
• Now today we will look at The Transformation Choice…making changes. This is when you begin to be who God created you to be! This is when you voluntarily submit to every change that God wants you to make and to humbly ask Him to remove any character defects. Sounds simple, right? Of course not! But it will be life changing!

Imagine that you are dealing with a habit of alcohol…you admit it’s a problem…you trust in a program that can help…you commit your life and addiction to God…now what? Well you must make some changes. You can not stop at the bar and think, I will just watch others drink, God will protect me. Changes need to happen! Changes to what you fill your mind with, places you go, people you hang out with, and other triggers.

Note…We are all sinners! Jesus died for our sins! We confess and thru faith are forgiven! That’s the beginning and the foundation! But now what? Now we make healthier choices and become more Christ-like…one step at a time!

I am a basketball fan; I love to watch the game. A major truth is that players play and coaches coach. What is the coach’s job? To observe and to make changes for a better outcome. God wants to “coach” you to a better outcome as well!

I read an illustration that works well for today. It’s about being in a boat and the autopilot is set for east, but you want to go west. You push and pull with all your might and finally manage to force the boat west for a while. As long as you hold on with your own strength the boat keeps going west…but soon you tire of fighting against the boat’s pre-programmed direction, and you let go…and the boat goes east as programmed. Every time you try to force the boat west, you are going against its pre-programmed direction. It’s a losing battle.

That’s how it is when we try to go against our own internal autopilot (sinful nature). By our own willpower we try to force a new behavior, but we get tired and let go. On our own we will go off the diet, get involved in another unhealthy relationship, start smoking again, burst into anger, etc…and inevitably we revert back to unhealthy choices! We can not do it alone! But the good news is that we do not have to do it alone!

Romans 12:1-2…Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This change will not be easy, and it will not be overnight, but it is so important!

It gets summarized in today’s beatitude found in Matthew 5:6 (gnt)… Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully!

When I pray for myself each day, I ask God to help me “be the best Dave Timm I can be.” I then envision me playing follow the leader right behind the Lord. I ask Him to lead my thoughts, words, and actions…to keep me close behind Him…to keep me from wandering to the right or the left…and to stay at the pace He has set for me.

So…now what? We know we need to change, but how? Well, first we need to acknowledge that on our own we can’t! The only way to change the direction of our lives is to reset the autopilot. That’s what this Transformation Choice is all about.  Our verse above in Romans says be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Our sinful nature, the world around us, and Satan are all trying to taint our minds! By God’s power your mind can be changed, and your autopilot reset. Sounds good but how do I begin?

• Go back and look over the last 4 healthy choices to be focused on your main issue and then on the Lord’s strength.
• Focus on one hurt, habit, hang-up! Proverbs 17:24 (tev)…An intelligent person aims at a wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions. Just as you cannot clean your room, cut grass, and grocery shop at the same time…you cannot tackle all your life issues at once. Ask God to help you figure out what to tackle first. You may see that many of them are intertwined anyway.
• Focus on God’s power and not your willpower! Philippians 4:13 (nlt)… for I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. On your own you will most likely fail (how are your New Year’s resolutions holding up?) God has great plans for you, and He wants to enable you to make changes…and let Him transform you from the inside out.
• Focus on the good things, not the bad! Philippians 4:8 (niv)… Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. What you focus on dominates you…where is your attention focused and where is it leading you? Stay focused on all that is good…stay focused on your blessings…and on the giver of those blessings…your Loving Savior.
• Focus on progress, not perfection! Philippians 1:6 (tlb)… And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns. Turn this process over to God and be open to every change he wants you to make….one day at a time.

The fact is that we all sin…and have habits and hang-ups. We live in a sinful world and consequently we all have hurts. The good news is that God loves you unconditionally. In the midst of your biggest battles, He is there. He knows that left on our own power we will fall short. He wants to transform you!

Just like within a chrysalis the old body parts of a caterpillar are undergoing a remarkable transformation called metamorphosis, to become the beautiful parts of a butterfly…. God wants to transform you into the masterpiece that He created you to be!

I told you that this journey to healthy living was going to be challenging! The best advice I can give is to be honest with yourself…and honest with God! The truth is that I am just scratching the surface on these steps or choices. They are all points on a map for a trip you want to take. You need to go through each point to get to the destination. Keep reading the map that I am laying out…but go back and work through each of the stops along the way.

I hope that you have been following along and spending time working through these steps to healthy choices, and that you will continue with me on this journey. So far, we have looked at:

• The Reality Choice… Admitting that you are not God…and life can be unmanageable…. identifying the main issue that impacts your life.
• The Hope Choice… Believing that God exists, you matter to Him, He can help you deal with your hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
• The Letting Go Choice… the Commitment Choice. Committing your life to Christ’s Love, care, and control.

(If you missed any of these devotions, go back and scroll down.) Some of the materials are taken from a great book called Life’s Healing Choices. I encourage you to order a copy. I will be quoting sections for the next few devotions.

Also, when we can meet face to face again… I invite you to our Tuesday group at Royal Redeemer.

Know that dealing with your hurts, habits, hang-ups is a process. I am giving you daily tools, but it takes weeks or months to truly work through each of these steps. Some may seem easy…others can be more difficult.

(WARNING…the next 3 devotions can be hard, time consuming, and emotional! That’s a good thing because it can help you deal with past issues and present consequences. Hang in there, honestly working thru the material, and spend quiet time with the Lord.)

Today we will look at a more difficult, but very important choice. John Baker calls this the Coming Clean, Housecleaning Choice. This is when we need to wrestle with our past. We saw in the Letting Go choice that we have a God of Grace and Mercy… A God that is forgiving when we confess and repent. This Housecleaning Choice is when we get real, examine, and confess our past mistakes to ourselves and to God.

A State trooper pulled behind a speeding truck and turned on his flashers, but the truck kept going.  The trooper got right up on his bumper, but the truck kept going. The trooper then turned on his siren, but the truck sped up! Finally, the truck ran out of gas and rolled to the side of the highway. The truck driver rolled down his window, and the trooper asked, “Did you see my lights?” “Yes sir, I did” responded the driver. “Did you see me following right on your bumper?” “Yes sir, I did.” said the driver. “Did you hear my siren all those miles?” again the driver said, “Yes sir, I did.” Finally, the trooper asked, “Then why didn’t you stop?” The driver answered “To be honest, about 2 years ago my wife ran off with an Ohio State Trooper. I was afraid you were trying to bring her back to me!”

Does that story hit home for you? Are you afraid of your past catching up with you? Do you try to sweep it under the rug…act like its no big deal…hope it will just go away?

A beatitude that is helpful is Matthew 5:8…Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. God’s desire for you is a heart that is Christ-centered and free of all the junk that weighs us down…washed clean of all our hurts, habits, hang-ups that plague our lives. One of my favorite sections is Psalm 51:10-12… Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

So, let’s be honest! We have all done things that we wish we could go back and change…but we can’t. And guilt can be overpowering to us. Guilt keeps you from becoming all that God wants you to be. Guilt destroys your confidence; it damages relationships and keeps you stuck in the past. If you want real Joy…you need to let go of guilt. (Just a note…Guilt is the fact of having committed a specified or implied offense or crime. Shame is a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.) This is key…guilt is about what you did…shame is about who you are. We are all guilty of sin, and yet through faith we are forgiven children of God! And there is no shame in that!

Most of our struggles come from guilt or regret over past issues that you can not change…or from worry and anxiety about tomorrow’s issues that may never happen. Why not live in today’s choices?

How can you get rid of past guilt?

• Take a personal inventory! Do some personal house cleaning so to speak. Many of you have used this “stay in place” time to do a deep cleaning of your house…finding things that were buried in corners and closets. I encourage you to do the same and look deep into your life. (past and present). Look in all of the so-called closets, basements, attics where you have hidden away stuff…things that you have hidden hoping to never deal with, repressed, and rationalized away. Many of you hire a “cleaning person” for your house. Ask God to help you “clean your life and heart.” Psalm 139:23-24… Search me, God, and know my heart;test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.Dealing with many of your hurts, habits, and hang-ups can get deep and complex, call me if you need help.
• Accept responsibility for your faults! Be honest, don’t rationalize (that’s just “rational lies”), don’t blame others (to blame is to “be lame”)…just own them. Proverbs 20:27 (tlb)… A man’s conscience is the Lord’s searchlight exposing his hidden motives. (A very important note…If your hurt is that you have been abused by someone…know that it was not your fault and do not take responsibility for someone else’s sins). Talk to someone (like me?) about releasing yourself from the pain.

• Ask God’s Forgiveness! No sin is so severe that God can’t (and won’t) forgive. 1 John 1:8-9… If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. God in His Mercy, for the sake of Jesus death for you, wants to forgive you!!!! How does God forgive?
• God forgives instantly! Hebrews 4:16 (ncv)… Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it. He already has paid the price and offers you forgiveness. He never makes you wait or puts conditions on forgiveness.
• God forgives freely! Romans 3:24 (ncv)… and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ. Nothing you can do to earn, deserve, or pay for forgiveness.
• God forgives completely! Romans 8:1 (niv)…Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, He has no conditions attached. Nothing you can do to make God not love you…nothing you can do to make Him love you more. HE LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY!

How’s that for freedom from your past and Hope for today!

And when the guilt of past (confessed and forgiven) sins come back…it’s not from God! He promises to remove them as far as the east is from the west! “Any time that the devil reminds you of your past…remind him of his future”.

This choice can be very difficult and take a lot of quiet reflective moments. Ask God to guide you through it…. And always know that I am also here to help.