The Easy Life . . . NO!

My brothers and sisters, you will face all kinds of trouble. When you do, think of it as pure joy. Your faith will be put to the test. You know that when that happens it will produce in you the strength to continue. The strength to keep going must be allowed to finish its work. Then you will be all you should be. You will have everything you need. If any of you need wisdom, ask God for it. He will give it to you. God gives freely to everyone. He doesn’t find fault. (James 1:2-5)

Ahhhh . . . the Easy Life . . . Blessed and Highly Favored . . . Prosperous . . . A Child of God . . . the Stairway to Heaven . . . Get Saved and get all you ever wanted and needed in this life and the next!

Did anyone mention the Dark Side . . . the Trials . . . the Challenges . . . the Pitfalls . . . the Ups and Downs of living in this flesh?

We are not promised a Rose Garden simply because we asked Jesus to save us from sin! In fact, we have been promised trials, tribulations, and sufferings. jesus warned His disciples just as He warns us: “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.” (John 16:33) james speaks to us as well. We will face all sorts of trials and challenges. Yet it produces a stronger and wiser Christian. it allows the Spirit to complete the work in us. Once we go through the fire, then we will have all we need. The good thing is that God promises to get us through and help us to understand through it all. But we have to stay in communication with Him . . . ask Him! (James 1:5)

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil,for you are with me; (Psalm23:4)

Are We Living It Out?

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.(2 Corinthians 3:2-3)

Faith is not meant to simply to possess, but to live. A living faith is evidence to others that our savior lives. A living faith shows others without any words that our trust is in Christ and no one else. A living faith is an active story of how Jesus Christ changes lives and gives hope to hopeless situations.

Are we living it out?

God will rock our boats!

We hear that some people among you don’t want to work. They aren’t really busy. Instead, they are bothering others. We belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. So we strongly command people like that to settle down. They have to earn the food they eat. Brothers and sisters, don’t ever get tired of doing the right thing.(2 Thessalonians 3:11-13)

There is indeed a lot of stuff going on in Christian circles today. Not all is good, but there is a lot of good, Godly work going on as well. We need to hold to the teachings of Scripture and be sure to discern the good from the bad. Many in the Church simply want the staus quo and not to rock the boat. However, God will rock our boats at times. The challenge is to know when it is God and when it is not! Many will talk about you like a dog when you suggest something new or radical. Statements and questions such as "We've never done that before!" or "Why do you want to change now?" will be heard. Many will simply talk behind your back or spread gossip. Simply be sure to hear from God. Know yourself and know the Lord. Know that what He has for you is indeed from Him and for you! People tend to understand better after it has been accomplished. Do not let that hold you back from serving the Lord!Seek after God's will and not man's applause!

Do the right thing, even when folks disagree!

Worship the Lord . . .in all situations!

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)

It's a challenge to rejoice when faced with obstacles in life. Daily we are faced with circumstances and challenges that we would rather not face. . . but this is life! What seperates a believer from a non-believer is how we handle adversity. Is God not whom we claim Him to be? Is He not Creator of all things? Is He not capable of getting us through various bumps along the way? In whom do we put our trust anyway? Why is it that we shout out loud when things are going good and worship with such intensity yet when challenges arise we want to crawl into a hole and whimper in frustration and weakness? Oh, how I pray that I will be more like Job . . .

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:20)

Job's first thought when he lost it all was to get up and worship the Lord . . . falling to his knees honoring the Source of all he had obtained. This passage always amazes me every time I read it. This is so challenging for us all. We must be so in tune to the Spirit of God that we see where challenges come from and through it all, worship the Lord. We must not allow our circumstances to quench the Spirit . Paul reminds us to test all things and to hold on to what is good.

God IS good . . . through it all! We must be reminded to worship the Lord in all situations!

A Simple Life . . . Is it worth it?

Do everything you can to live a quiet life. Mind your own business. Work with your hands, just as we told you to. Then unbelievers will have respect for your everyday life. And you won’t have to depend on anyone. (1 Thessalonians 4:11)

We do not have to be in the spotlight and always seeking attention. Living a simple life of hard work and contentment alone can win folks for Christ. God indeed will reward those who seek to please Him rather than men. Everyone cannot be up front. Many of us are called to simply live out our faith! Living for this world and its applause will cause a lot of pain and heartache. However, living for the world to come is so promising. Jesus is coming coming back and will one day say "well done" to those who have dedicated their lives to Him! I must admit it is a challenge to work so hard day and night and still come up short on many ends. Family may be disappointed. The bill collectors are frustrated. People wonder why I do what I do day in a day out when they cannot see any progress. Yet I know God is with me. I know He cares. I know He watches after me. Finally, I know one day he will return for me and all who believe!Like Paul, I hold on to this promise:

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day . . .and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.(2 Timothy 4:8)

We cannot do it alone!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.(2 Corinthians 12:9)

Paul had a besetting sin that bothered him. early Church father Augustine did as well. In fact, we all have those things that keep from a closer relationship with the Savior. None of us are good . . . not one!(Romans 3:10)

Yet there is grace!

So how to keep from continuing in sin? There is no easy answer, but I have learned over the years that one cannot remain isolated and not share his troubles. We must be accountable. We must be transparent to a few good people in whom we can trust. We must remain in fellowship and not run. Iron does indeed sharpen iron! We are not alone!

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Counter-Cultural

And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.(Luke 14:27)

To be a CHRISTian, one is required to make some tough decisions. To truly be a disciple of CHRIST, one must first decide to follow HIM and learn from HIM. This alone requires a shift in thinking! It means one can no longer be a part of the crowd, politically correct, or one of the boys! God does not think like the world nor act like the world. He is counter-cultural! Yes, the believer is to be in the world . . . but not of the world.

I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. (John 17:14-19)

It was Jesus' prayer that we not be rescued from this world, but that we influence this world. We are to make deliberate decisions to live for CHRIST so the world may see HIM through us. This requires deliberate action on our part . . . to pick up the cross, the burden, the role GOD has set out just for us. Each of us has a particular job to do in our lives for the KINGDOM.

What is your role? We are just nobdies in this world, so as a citizen of heaven, we must be counter-cultural to this present world!

Choose Christ!

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:“For your sake we face death all day long;we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)

There is a confidence when it comes to the physical death of a believer. We are assured that nothing can seperate us from God once we have trusted in His Word. For the believer, death is a victory . . . it is a promised accomplishment for a life lived in honor of our Savior. For the believer, death is the beginning of a life dreamed of and longed for . . .

But for those who choose not to believe . . .

There is another promise. For those who do not believ, there is a promise as well, but not as pleasant! There is a second death for the non-believer and it involves total seperation from God for eternity and constant torture and pain. it is quite the opposite of eternity in heaven with God and all those whose chose to believe. Please do not wait until tomorrow to choose! it will be too late. Do not allow another funeral to occur . . . it may be yours! Choose life today! Choose Christ!

Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12-15

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Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:55-58)

As a Nation mourns another attack and suffers senseless deaths and injuries, my family is also going through the passing of a matriarch (my wife's aunt and father-in-law's oldest sister). Yet with all the questions and emotions, I must echo the words of Paul; "Where, O death, is your victory?" Yes there is anger, doubt, fear, questions, and confusion. Yes there is weeping and crying. Sin has not only caused the cowardly attack in Boaton but sin also is the cause of our physical death as well. But praise God that the sacricfice of my Lord and Savior provides a way for victory over death and a glorious hope in eternal life together with Him in heaven one day! For some, the day comes suddenly as a thief in the night, such as happened in Boston yesterday. For others, death comes in the form of mercy as a loved one is relieved of pain and suffering. There is time to prepare as in the case of my Aunt. Yet there is pain nonetheless and suffering for those left behind to deal with the circumstances. This is the time to stand firm in our faith. This is the time to remain grounded in the faith that sustains us. This, more than ever, is the time to remain a rooted in the promises of God that He has overcome the sting of death. No one or no one event can shake our faith. God's promises remain true.

One day, Jesus is coming back and with a vengeance to do away with death altogether. For us who remain, we have a decision to make: Will we trust God at His Word or live aimlessly and in fear?

Our nation will and should seek justice. As we mourn the losses, there will be sorrow. But joy will come eventually for the believer . . . be encouraged!

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

A Battleground . . .

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.(Romans 13:13-14)

Like Augustine back in the fourth century, we too can be persuaded by these words of the Apostle Paul. If these inspired words by Paul could turn Augustine from one controlled by his lusts, then we too can make the decision to follow Christ more closely. We must make no space for lust to control our actions, but rather "clothe" ourselves in Christ! The flesh tears at our hearts. Human desires pull at the center of our being. Yet we must stay diligent to allow the Holy Spirit to control us. Physical and emotional needs can dominate our day and night. However, we must not become controlled by them. We must not be drunk with anything . . . thoughts or actual actions . . .except the Holy Spirit!(Ephesians 5:18) He alone must be given control. Can this possibly occur in one's life? Yes, of course. Is it easy? No! It is never easy to commit to a life of honoring Christ. It is never easy to make the decision to turn away from our physical desires. Don't let anyone fool you. But it is possible through Christ! It begins with today . . . right now! Like any soldier, we must prepare for a daily battle and put on the proper gear. Warfare requires the right gear and weaponry. We need the proper leadership as well as tools. We need fellow soldiers beside us to carry us when we are wounded.

God has given us a plan, now we must make specific plans to follow His directions to win this war with lusts!(Ephesians 6:11)

TSN Picnic at Allan Pond

Not "Us" but "JES-US"!

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.(John 1:6-8)

Some thought John was the Messiah, but he set everyone straight. At times, we get all full of ourselves and what we are doing for the Lord, that we forget we are simply here to point folks to the Savior. We have been sent to tell the Good News. We are to be living out our lives in such a way that Jesus is evident in how we live. There should be no doubt we are different from the world.

"WE" should be less and less about "US" and more about "JES-US".

Way too many believers are shouting "Look at me!" today rather than people saying "I can see Jesus in you!". Less of me and more of Jesus . . . may that be our motivation and our constant prayer!

You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:28-30)

Fully God and Fully Man . . .

W

ho, being in very nature[a] God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death . . . even death on a cross!(Philippians 2:6-8)

From the days of the early church fathers, this doctrine has been debated. Jesus was fully God and fully man! He still is. He is God in the flesh who personally came to rescue mankind from their sin. No one else could do it. No one else would!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. . . .The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14)

God soooooo loved each of us that He personally went about making a way for each of us to be with Him eternally. No matter what folks may say today, I believe His Word! I will not believe a watered-down version. I will not compromise it so to be accepted. I am fine with just me and God is it needs to be that way!

the Word remains . . . .

Lord, your word lasts forever. It stands firm in the heavens. You will be faithful for all time to come. You made the earth, and it continues to exist. Your laws continue to this very day,because all things serve you. If I had not taken delight in your law,I would have died because of my suffering.(Psalm 119:89-92)

Nothing lasts forever. . . nothing that is but the Word of God! It is consistent. It is true. It never changes. It is comforting. It is encouraging. It is convicting.It is life itself! Troubles come and go. Good times come and go. Friends and families come and go. But the Word remains . . . . If not for God and His faithfulness, where would any of us be? I know I would be lost . . . wandering throgh life without a clue! I may seem a bit clueless to some of you at times, but withoutthe Wordin my life . . . well let's not even go there! I love His promises to me. Despite me . . . He loves me! He cares for me. He forgives me. He rescues me from my enemies and even from myself at times. His Word became flesh and died for me. But that's not all . . . He conquered the grave and now lives to intercede for me in heaven. Even more than that, He is preparing a place for me to live with Him forever one day. The Word remains with me . . . and I am eternally grateful!

Heaven and earth will pass away. But my words will never pass away.(Matthew 24:35

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Prepared and ready . . .

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Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.(Luke 12:35-36)

So many come dressed up on the outside. So many come in fancy cars and wearing nice clothes and carrying a nice Bible to church. That's all well and good and praise God that folks come and look ready for church service.

But are we ready for Christ's service?

Not only will Jesus return when we least expect, but we must be prepared to work for Him at all times as well. We must be studying and making proper application from the Word of God to our lives so we are prepared when He calls.(2 Timothy 2:15) Though we all may be serving the Lord and His Church in one capacity or another, we do not know when He may decide to pick us for yet another task. Do we not want to be ready to answer? Will we force the Lord to overlook us for another who has been diligent? Have we been too busy to be prepared?

Origen once said in a sermon that many "who have come to church are paying no attention. You can take an interest in tales that have become worn out through repetition, but you turn your backs on God's Word and the reading of Holy Scripture." Let that not be said of us.

Ready when He says to move . . .

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. (Philippians 1:12-18)

Paul faced so much throughout his life; torture, imprisonment, animosity, and more. He was rejected by friends and even feared by fellow Christians. Yet he is assured that it is all for the glory of God! The Gospel was shared and people accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior despite Paul's challenges and frustrations. Our ultimate goal is not being comfortable or being accepted, but being sure God is being glorified within our lives. We all have our own goals . . . good, healthy and Godly goals for our lives. But we must remember there is always God's timing! Life may seem challenging. Time may seem to drag by or even speed by with no sense of accomplishment. However, God is always at work! His answers are not always immediate and many times delayed. It important that we are ready however when He says to move! So we too must always be at work . . . about His business.(Luke 2:49)Many will think we are wasting our time, money and even our lives away. Doing God's business is not always understood by those closest to us. Know that God sees what we are doing. Our labor is not in vain.

My dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Don’t let anything move you. Always give yourselves completely to the work of the Lord. Because you belong to the Lord, you know that your work is not worthless.(1 Corinthians 15:58)

It's Time . . .Stop Waiting: A Personal View

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:12-17)

It's time folks . . . It's time! Time to stop worrying who is going to fix things and who is going to change things. It's time for us who call ourselves the Body of Christ to get up and begin to serve others as He did when He was in a human body! We need to go out and reach the hurting, sick, and lost. They will not come to us. I must do it. You must do it. It starts with us! Guess what? It's not always done within the four walls of the church either. If you recall, most if not all of Jesus' ministry was done outside the church; within homes and on the streets!

What would Jesus do? . . . C'mon, really? . . . . . . He would go . . .!!!

It's time to stop waitng on the right timing and waiting for someone else to give you permission to serve. We must use the gifts we have been given by God to serve His people. If God has gifted you, then serve. If God is telling you, then serve. Do not disrespect any authorities. Do not overstep boundaries. Just know it is God and not you! Yes, we wait upon God's timing and His word. But do not use waiting as an excuse for not serving! What if Jesus would have waited for the Sanhedrin to give Him permission to serve? There is plenty to do right now! Oh, there may not be the publicity. There may not be the paycheck. There may not even be the approval of the right people. But who are we working for anyway? Whether it's a cup of water, spending time with a teen in need, sacrificing for a family member, or partnering financially with local missions, God sees it all. Every sacrifice for God is worth taking. Who cares who sees it or applauds it if God is pleased with out work? Not every work approved by man finds favor in God's heart anyway . . . Yes indeed, it is time to examine our lives and make some hard decisions to honor the Lord with our labor. It's getting too late to wait on man. Jesus is coming back and the days will get even more challenging! What are we waiting for?

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’(Matthew 25:40)

Continue to serve . . .

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10: 42-45)

Servant-leadership . . . it is a word thrown around in Christian circles today rather flippantly if I can say that. While many say it, few show it. Jesus came to be a sacrifice for us all. His motivation to get through each day was the cross! He knew the day was coming yet he pushed forth all the while, never seeking anything else but to finish the task. Whenever I get a bit too proud of what I am doing, my wife reminds me who I am. I must admit, it is humbling, but needed! At times I look around and see others making more money, driving a better vehicle, or enjoying some things I wish I had, but then I am reminded . . . what God has for me is for me! I probably would not handle the things I wish I had properly! I am called to serve where God has me . . as we all are. While I may strive for things, those things must be in the will of God. I can ask all I want, but if it is not in His will, it will be of no good use for anyone! Though I want better or more, I must accept where God has me and continue to serve! God knows the needs and the circumstances!

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose . . . (Romans 8:26-28)

Who is like you, God? Though you have made me see troubles,many and bitter,you will restore my life again;from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God;I will sing praise to you with the lyre,Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you . . . I whom you have delivered. My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long,for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.(Psalm 71:19-24)

Troubles come in life. They can bring us to our lowest low and yet God remains with us. He allows us to experience things in life for His glory and to bring us closer to Him. The lower we fall, the deeper He reaches down to uplift us and the the more we experience His glory! But He never leaves us unless we decide to forsake His presence!

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”(Psalm 92:12-15)

Like the trees mentioned above, we will go through growth spurts and times of drought. Yet we must realize that our roots in faith run deep and we must stay firmly planted in His promises. Despite our physical troubles, we must continue to proclaim His faithfulness. My personal prayer is that I remain faithful to Him despite the struggles I am going through. I desire to remain active, physically and spiritually well into my 90's so as to be a legacy for my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Even through the struggles of mission life, God provides in His timing. As Isaiah wrote below, it is God who sustains us all . . . from birth to eternity! Who or what can be better that God?

“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel,you whom I have upheld since your birth,and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you;I will sustain you and I will rescue you. “With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? (Isaiah 46:3-5)