WORKMANSHIP

Read Ephesians 2:8-10

If you have grown up in church or attended for a while, you have probably heard people say that they are “works in progress” meaning they are not perfect but are headed that way. It is important to realize this. It is more important though to see ourselves as the work of a master craftsman. We should sit down and ponder our lives before God as believers and check our progress to see what has been done in the past year, month or week. How have we grown spiritually and are we on track with God’s plans for our lives.

Paul relates us to a common object of his day. Idols. Now don’t be alarmed that I liken us to idols, but in the locality where the Ephesian church was, the dominant industry was the making and selling of idols primarily to worship the goddess Diana, a fertility and sexual perversion “deity.” The Christian is none of this; however, with the skill these idol makers carved and shaped likenesses of their pagan god. We as Paul compares and contrasts are the likeness of our God, the Lord Jesus. Examine what he says about us in this light.

1.      We are the work of God himself.

The idol makers of Ephesus were fallible man. They could not make a perfect anything no matter how skilled they were. Diana should have produced her own “works” among men, but she too was a dumb idol of uselessness save the intentions Satan had for the idea of her being. God on the other hand created everything that is in the world and beyond it. God creates living things not dead ones. Paul once likened us to stones. No stones are alive that build temples, but we as believers are living building blocks that actually do something! God himself fashioned each of us specifically and uniquely. God made us to be His servants, but He also gave us a will and a set of talents that others do not possess.

2.      We are specifically created for good.

Note that we are intended for building up and glorifying God, not men. The idol makers of Ephesus were in the trade for the money and their own self-gratification. They would extort sums from weak minded dupes of darkness for “promises” of prosperity and other favors that the great goddess they served would provide. Contrastingly, God is not in it for the money or the worldly virtues. Remember how Jesus drove the moneychangers from the temple? These wicked men were doing the same thing as the Ephesian idolaters. God is not in the business of bondage. God created us to be instruments of righteousness and light to a world that needs hope, not driven farther into darkness. The reason why the Christian is offensive to the world system is because he or she uncovers the real motives of sinful practice. What good are you created for? Every Christian is to be a herald or a forth teller of the salvation of God and the entrance to His kingdom by and through only Jesus Christ. Beyond that there are some as Paul says given to be teachers, some evangelists, some encouragers, some who are hospitable and so forth.

3.      We are predestined to act and serve for the good.

Whatever your gift or talent may be (and you do have at least one) it is given you for the healing of the world and the manifesting of the Gospel to those around you. You are the rescue team sent down to help. You are the doctor with the cure. You are the mechanic with the tools. You are the locksmith with the keys. You are here to help deliver under God’s power. This mission is what you were born and fashioned to do. You have no commands or commission to do evil or to turn others away. It may be said that the wood or metal those idol makers used were predestined to be images of Diana, but you have been chosen far higher and nobler than these. What honor is it to be the servant of something that cannot even speak for itself? Yet God speaks to you and through you in His Spirit and in His Word, the Bible. There is no higher honor than to be commissioned by Royal Decree for the mission of Hope. It is what you were made for, anything less would be a shame and waste.

Are we works in progress? Oh yes. Every day we are growing and being shaped. However in our shaping, we reflect our Maker before the eyes of a watching world. So as you are being worked on, let others see that joy in you each and every day. You are His workmanship!

PRAYER

Lord, help me to be all that You want me to be. May I not go in my own strength to do my own things, but in full realization of the fact that I am Yours and created for You and Your service. Help me not to lead others astray but that they would see You in me. Amen. 

*image courtesy of creation swap

EASTER: THE WEEK AFTER

Luke 24:12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Have you ever considered what the week after Easter was like for the disciples? I think it was much different than it is for us today. You know in today’s society there is so much to occupy our minds and schedules with. Not so much in the first century. Let’s look at some things to consider about our response to Easter.

When I was growing up, Easter, like other holidays was looked forward to. As a child, Easter was taught in my home that it was the Resurrection of Christ from the grave, but as a child to be honest, I was looking forward to that basket of candy. Easter wasn’t as big as Christmas but it was still a time to get interesting things. I have loved since the beginning Easter bunny (the hollow kind) and Cadbury crème eggs! I remember there would be some small toy included in my basket. Certainly those are not bad things. As I got older, Easter began to take on a more spiritual meaning. It was always a day people dressed up to go to church (a practice I wished would be every Sunday) and lily’s would adorn the church and flowers everywhere would be in bloom, it was a great day to look forward to! But when it was over, life went on to its routine. That is sad. Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, was the greatest event in human history for it was the guarantee that Christ did what He said He would do by conquering death and the grave so that by His resurrected life we have the same eternal promise that we shall live with Him also. There is no greater truth! Certainly no greater joy. So why does it seem that the week after Easter we kind of come down from the euphoria of what has been done in our behalf? Why is the empty tomb just sort of put away like a Nativity Set for another year? The answer I believe is a shallow or anemia of spiritual growth.

We should never get over what was done for us! The disciples after hearing the glad tidings of “He is not here, He is risen!” were filled with awe and fear but it so impacted their lives that they never recovered, in fact devoted the rest of their lives relentlessly telling the world about Jesus, costing each of them their very lives. The week after Easter was just as strong for them as it was the first day. Can we be the same? Can we get over our preoccupation with earthly things that it doesn’t pack away the joy from that blessed morning at the empty tomb? Yes we can. Let’s consider how.

1.      Consider afresh where your life would be each day without the Resurrection. You see the Resurrection is not just an annual holiday, it’s a life changing day that is to be celebrated in our hearts and lives every day of the week. Without the Resurrection we have no hope and all that we sing about in church or talk about in Bible study, or participate in has all its roots in this day. We need to realize that the Resurrection is our origin of faith. Without it, we have a religion, not a relationship. We have a leader not a Savior. We have a set of values not an Inspired Word. We have a social club, not a church.

2.      We need to honor the work done and the price paid. I remember there were times when a debt was owed that every payment date was kind of dreaded, but when the relief of that debt was lifted, it changed our perception and joy on life. There can be no greater relief than realizing what has been paid on our behalf. We tend to forget what has been done for us. It is time to appreciate how sinful we are and were and how much love really was poured out for us.

3.      We need to seek a fresh installment of joy! The disciples were so glad to hear that the Lord was risen! He was there closest friend and teacher. Now I will grant you it is easier to get happy and joyful over something seen. Obviously they saw the awful crucifixion. The saw the empty tomb and the angel. They saw the Lord Himself appear before them. What privilege! Yet, we have inside of us the Holy Spirit living and testifying of Christ in our lives. We may not see these things with our eyes, but we have faith and have the witness of them in our hearts which is where the joy comes from. We too have the expectation like the disciples that our faith will be sight! Renew your joy by asking God for a fresh look at all that was paid for you. It can do nothing but execute joy in you! To think how unworthy we are and concentrate on what we deserved, then realize what Jesus did will spark afresh a flame of joy which leads us to our last point.

4.      We should serve others in His name. Many times we lack the joy of the Resurrection and go back to our humdrum lives because we don’t keep the fire going in service. 1 John tells us that we love Him because He first loved us and that love is what motivates us to selfless service. When I was growing up in church, I really don’t remember service being emphasized so much from week to week. There was a great push for soul winning which is great service, but there is so much more also. Serving the Lord comes in many forms from calling a friend in hardship, making a meal for a shut in, visitation, helping the work inside the church (cleaning, office details, etc.), praying regularly for others, uplifting weary hearts, teaching Sunday school, singing, carrying the gospel wherever you go. When we serve the Lord for His glory then we are at our best and the Resurrection is forefront on our minds and hearts. It is because of this act on this day that all else stems. If you want real joy in the Lord, serve Him with a pure and sincere heart, you will notice a change!

Does Easter go beyond the basics in your life? Does the week after Easter find you in the same place as the week or two before Easter? Make sure you stay focused not necessarily on the day but on the work of the day that was done for you and all for you that you may become more like Christ in your life and your eternity forthcoming.

Easter is not a day, not a state of mind; it is a lifestyle of contagious joy others need to see in you.

image credit Tonya Christner

SPIRITUAL AND SELF RIGHTEOUS

Proverbs 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Romans 12:16 [Be] of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Here we are presented with what would seem like two distinctly opposing adjectives for the Christian believer. To be spiritual but also to be consumed with that "spiritual" lifestyle that you become the anthesis of what you desire to be. Confusing isn’t it? It is, but it is also too common.

How is this possible for two opposing ideas to coexist? The simple answer is immaturity. There are many folks in church today who sound really like they are with it in the spiritual sense. They profess Christ (most if not all genuinely) and they attend church most regularly. These folks even quote the scripture and by all indications lead everyone to believe they are on track. So what happens and why can’t they see there is another side to them? Again the answer is immaturity.

To be fair, spiritual immaturity really is inherent in us all too some degree because none of us this side of Heaven has reached the point where growth is no longer required. We all have our faults and all are on differing levels of growing in faith. So this really isn’t pointed at anyone in particular except for those who by their actions are causing problems within the church.

Immaturity simply means one who is not fully developed. Again that is us all. However, the trap comes when we get so full of knowledge that we unknowingly drift from the heart of the servanthood spirit. The crux is that we drift away even though we profess and others think we are devoted to Christ. This is a difficult position to be in for the individual and others because the ones who are blind to it are obviously unaware and the rest want to help but are timid to try.

An example is one who uses Scripture to try to convict someone. Now that in itself is a great thing, that is where we should go, but when we do it to show ourselves in front of others then it becomes a problem. The Bible clearly states in Galatians 6:1 that we should go to the person privately who is at fault to confront them. When I think of this person who makes a “subtle show” of reproof, often redirecting any conversation to their own agenda, reminds of me of a Ray Stevens song, The Mississippi Squirrel Revival. One of the lyrics states that the squirrel ran all the way down to the “amen pew” where sat Sister Bertha Better Than You who watched all the commotion with sadistic glee. Such people you have come to know.

Here is the issue though with people of this persuasion. They cause divisiveness in the church. Which God literally hates, and Satan literally loves.

Folks like this talk a good game and even live it out to a certain extent, but the issue within seeps out in the form of unconscious bragging, muttering to themselves (which others clearly hear) and holding grudges in place of seeking the spiritual way of restoration and forgiveness which the Bible, that they swear by, leads them to do. Such people unfortunately are the reason so many turn away from church and eventually close its doors. So ironic as it is tragic.

What can be done? Anything? Nothing?

Let me offer a few suggestions:

1.      Pray for that person in private. Ask God to open their eyes to what they are doing, who they are offending and their witness being sullied. When God is not allowed to work because we have stopped our hearts, we do feel everything is as it should be, but that is man’s thinking. The Bible tells us plainly to walk circumspectly and be on guard.

2.      Understand what they are going through. Now that seems strange, but folks who think themselves pious and spiritual are in desperate need of help and it could happen to any of us. It is easy for any of us to get more of ourselves involved than we think. An odd caveat to this is that the person, for whom you are trying to be understanding with, probably thinks that you are the one in need of a spiritual checkup. Throughout my years in ministry I have witnessed, sadly, those who thought I was the one who was serving to make a name for myself. But it was their behavior, sometimes rudeness, and their speech which told the tale. Yet they were blind to it all. I certainly as anyone else am not above fault, and yes there are times when we need corrected, but, in those times it was God who convicted me, not mankind.

3.      Be patient. Yes if someone is causing divisions it’s hard to set back and watch it unfold, however, let God work on God’s schedule.

4.      Be polite. Folks like this may ignore you or make you feel less of a person. The same thing happened to our Blessed Lord. Take it, but don’t dish it out. Jesus did not.

5.      Be Loving.  It may sound odd with someone who has a larger than life spiritual ego to tell them how much you love and appreciate them. Loving them though will create within them a conviction that the Lord can work through to help them. A person, who is building themselves up will realize as the Lord and His people be kind to them, will send a message there is a problem.

6.      Be there. When the crash happens, be there! No one needs to fall from a pedestal without hands to keep them from hitting the hard pavement of reality. Bear up one another!

These can be difficulties with which we deal with often, but did not our Lord always deal so with us? The characteristics of a person struggling with an area of immaturity are all the same, and so is the grace given to us all who love the Lord and desire we should all be in unity.

image credit Hunter McGee

Your Enrichment In All Things

Thoughts On 1 Corinthians 1:5-8
5  That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
6  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
7  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
8  Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In today's reading we look at a specialty that is given to the Christian believer. Before we go there, let us look at verse 1 which says : " ¶ Paul, called [to be] an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes [our] brother,

Though reading this many times over, I am reminded of the fact that many people self profess themselves to be apostles. This is true largely in the charismatic movement. Paul, however, was not self professed, but called by God Himself. We need to remember that. God does the calling and trustfully it is man who does the receiving. If Paul had been self appointed, there would be no credibility to his teachings. Self appointed men are usually in it for all the glory they can attain with Christ as a skin over it all. This sets up for the verses we look at here in regards to Paul's particular calling, but also to the wonderful truth that lies within us all.

Every believer has the enrichment of Christ. Note the verse states that in all things you are enriched by HIM. Christ shows Himself in all we experience in life if we look for it. He holds nothing back, it is all available. Paul makes it a point to note that this is especially evidenced in utterance or speaking, and in knowledge. We don't have to be preachers to have great utterance or special knowledge. These things are all available for any child of God who desires them. I spoke with a man yesterday who said he couldn't pray because He did not have the right words to say. We need no right sounding words. Utterance to God is from our hearts not our heads or our intellect necessarily, all these lead to boasting inside as we try to impress God with our speech.

We know we are enriched because verse 6 states the testimony of Christ is confirmed, or, made genuinely sure, in you. If you have repented of sin and trusting Christ alone for salvation, you have this confirmation and you have as much of it as anyone else. It is personal and it is eternal!

Then Paul makes an interesting statement in the next verse that we come not behind or fall short of no gift. This here I believe he references is the gifts we are given to serve Christ with. Truly each of us differs in our gifts, some I crave that others have, others I am OK with that I do not have. Each of us have gifts, we just need to seek God in how best to use them. But here is the point, that we have everything we need from God to please and serve Him and that exercising gifts we shall be found faithful when he appears. One of those gifts is the anticipation for our Lord's return. Anticipation is driven by our love for Him and the joy we have to serve Him. There is a phrase in the Communion liturgy in the United Methodist Church that says: "free us for joyful obedience." That struck me odd at first reading but we need freed from our self serving ways so that we can concentrate on our real love for service to Christ whom also we love and have this love poured out on us.

Then lastly, "who shall confirm you to the end" that you be found "blameless." The teaching of confirmation is one that I believe has become skewed in Christianity. Many feel their "confirmation" is their salvation, or, it is what they claim as a salvation experience. This is sometimes practiced in taking membership, after some catechism classes, in a church. After passing these rites, you are confirmed. But that is not what Paul means here. Our confirmation lies squarely in our relationship with Christ. We are not confirmed by ritual or our understanding of Bible principles, we are confirmed by His blood and the evidence of which is the Holy Spirit living in each of us. The phraseology here shows that this confirmation is permanent. This verse is one that is a ground laying truth to the work of Christ not being lost in us by us. He confirms us to the end. What end? The end of our lives. Whom He saves He does not cast away again. Take comfort that you are blameless in Him. We do sin now, but as a former pastor of mine once remarked, "God is interested in the long game." You are too precious to lose out of His hands.

This passage is and should be a great joy to the believer! Take courage and strength in knowing that God calls, God saves, God enables and God confirms and does so without hesitation for you and all believers everywhere.

DEVOTIONAL Thoughts on Isaiah 55:10-11
The Bible says that the rain and the snow do not return once they fall. That’s something  I acknowledge and have known but never pondered. So it is with Gods word in that itself does not return but what does return are the results of what was sent. Some collect rain in a barrel but God has an abundance and needs no store of water. Yet there are times when rain seems less plentiful and there are dry times. In our lives we experience dry times. It was never because God’s Word wasn’t there to fall upon us but it was because we haven’t desired to receive it. When it rains the ground is softened and so the hardness of our hearts need softened but the water of the word. Note that a God doesn’t take back His word that our hearts may again grow hard. He sends everything for effect. Do you notice the purpose for which He sends the Word in your life? Though we do not always know the purposes of God we know that what is sent from God He doesn’t want or take back but wants to soak in as rain. Beautify as snow and make us moldable and full of gift and blessing to share. When a gift is given it does not return. Pass it on and look for more!

The Proper Approach To God in Prayer

John 15:7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

2 Kings 19:19

Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.

One of these days we are going to find ourselves in a tough situation. Its going to be as hard as the day the armies of Sennacherib, King of Assyria surrounded the city of God's people. But for most of you, life may very well pass by with little tough times. No matter. Prayer is the daily focus we must have in our lives if we are to be close to the Lord.

God's people often pray hard when there is something hard to pray about. Yet no matter what our level of difficulties are, prayer needs to be just as serious, deep, sincere and directed in our most prosperous day as in our most perilous day!

When I think of prayer I think about King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 19. The situation was grim. The opposing armies encamped around the city were fierce, ready, willing to destroy just as they had done all the neighboring city states in the area. They were bold to brag on two points, 1. They did it all themselves, 2. They conquered all the gods who were supposed to be mightier than they.

Now when you come to a situation in life that looms just like Hezekiah's enemies, what shall we do. Here is the formula, and is not a magic one or any such thing, its just the proper response to tribulation before our God, lest we try to handle it ourselves.

Let's see the problem,

1. Assyria was the most powerful nation at the time, eating up as many vulnerable people they could.

2. They had all the means to carry out all their threats.

3. They taunted anyone with any allies other than themselves

4. They outnumbered any opposing force

5. They described in detail what they would do to anyone who was for them or against them

In Short, they wanted to be ruler over everything.

Let's see the players

1. Sennacherib, devout worshipper of Nisroch, the god of the Assyrians, confident in himself and his power.

2. Hezekiah, devout worshipper of the Jehovah God, the God of all Creation, confident in HIM and and HIS power

What did Hezekiah do?

1. He heard the taunting of Rabshekah and Sennacherib.

2. He received the letters and took them to the house of God

3. On His Knees--No, the text doesn't say it, but anyone who is submissive to God does so, thus He laid the accusations out before the Lord

4. He desired that all the world would know by the defeat of the most powerful army, that it was THE LORD who is God alone in the Earth.

5. He was confident in the answer given him by the prophet Isaiah.

So how does all this relate today,

Simply, Satan is still Satan. When we find ourselves in tribulation, his first move is to try to dethrone our image of God and His power in our lives. This is what life on his end is all about, to discredit God wherever he can and cause God's people to turn from Him. This is what the Assyrians did, they stood outside the city walls and attempted to demoralize the people to weaken their resolve to fight. Satan will attack us, cause fear and doubt to surround us on all sides and let us "know" its hopeless, God has left us, there is no use to call on Him or anyone to save you or me. I have first hand knowledge of this and I have faltered listening to Satan. Interestingly noted that Hezekiah instructed the people not to answer the taunting of the enemy. Such we are taught in Scripture to resist the Devil and he will flee from you, James 4:7

The problems we face are real, just as the army encamped were real. The problems are not going to go away on their own unless God acts on our behalf. Here is where we get down to business. Hezekiah did the right thing, the thing we oft neglect, he took all the care cast upon him and went straight to the Source, God, the Only One who could ever help them.

We should do like wise. Hezekiah poured out before the Lord in this fashion and so should we:

1. Came before God in the proper manner, Humbled

2. Admitted the peoples weakness and the enemies strength

3. Acknowledged God's power and His control

4. Desired for God's glory to be the greatest reason for their deliverance

When we come to God with a problem just as similar we need to do theses things too. We cannot come on our own strength. We cannot come on our own terms. We must be Humble. We cannot bargain, barter, negotiate! We must come just as we always have been, Helpless and Humble before God. We do so and acknowledge His Sovereign Power and Authority. You see it is through the WEAK He glorifies Himself. Sennacherib thought Power came through might. He was wrong.

Sennacherib's largest mistake was to proclaim himself mightier than the God who made him, and it cost him literally everything.

So what happened to the vulnerable weak people of God? The Lord heard Hezekiah's heartfelt faithful prayer. Thus Israel never drew a sword, notched an arrow, or threw a stone. The next morning Sennacherib noticed God walked through his camp last night. All that the pagan king trusted in, was now laid dead by the hand of the angel of the Lord. To be exact, 185,000 slaughtered with no effort whatsoever. That is our God! He is Powerful, Strong To Save and is more than able to Deliver.

Look to Him in faith, knowing that no matter how fierce the adversary looks, God is Greater. Its so hard and we are tested sorely, but this life is not the end. Our Home and Hope is with Him, YET know that IN THIS LIFE, our God does Deliver, He does Save, He does do Miracles!!! To deny that, we must take a knife and remove 2 Kings 19 from the only Book God ever wrote! When you consider how God delivers and His power to heal, what Joy should be ours. I will be the first to admit that its hard even difficult to take our eyes off the visible and put it on Him. Destruction seems so real and hope so vanished. Let us encourage one another to trust in our God who delivers and come to Him Properly in Prayer. God delights in our Faith in Him (Heb. 11:6). May our chief aim be that of Hezekiah, to desire the whole world See our God by seeing the Hand of His Miraculous Deliverance. May it be so with us today, whatever we are facing, and as I write this we are facing hard times. I don't know when someone will read this, but when you do, know that our God is Greater and Stronger than all who oppose us. May we trust in His ark of Safety.

Lord, we need your Help! We are vulnerable to the attacks of the world, sickness and Satan. We come before You with humble hearts acknowledging Yourself as the only God and that we are looking to You for our deliverance as did Hezekiah. May our chief desire to be through our Deliverance is that Your Name which is above all will be clearly seen and believed on by a watching world. Make haste to help us. Cleanse our hearts from sin and may we be found abiding in You always we pray, Amen.

Being a Humid Christian

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. (King James Version)

Do you ever find yourself going outside in the summer and being instantly knocked over by the oppressive heat and humidity? I hate questions like that because the answer is obvious. Humidity is the bane of summer. The sticky, breath grabbing, profuse sweating kind of weather is not enjoyed by anyone I have ever encountered.

Yet Humidity produces one element that needs a closer look and that is its Presence. As Christians we need to have a presence among our fellow man. Too often we hide our faith and cower in the shadows hoping to be unseen and unheard. I am the backward type on the individual scene. Put me in front of a 1000 people and let my spring unwind talking about Christ. But seldom we get the privilege of talking to a large crowd and so we find ourselves in everyday life with the individual at times.

Practicing Humid Christianity does not mean to stifle one another with an overbearing voice. What we mean is to be present, not necessarily forceful. To be present is to be these things:

1. Available: To always be ready to give an answer of the hope that lies within you
2. Presentable: Witnessing a good confession in the eyes of those who are watching you (which is everybody to some degree).
3. Sociable: Not giving yourself over to undue criticism or brow beating, but showing generosity to others needs, this can be as little as listening.
4. Justifiable: When asked about what you believe, you cannot compromise on the tenets of the Bible, you cannot skimp on giving the whole Truth, for this is the Power of God to change lives. The Bible is Just and allows wonderful promises our way, but it does not placate.
5. Approachable: Does your outward demeanor turn people off? If so, work on your friendliness, no one likes a grouch.
6. Irresistible: Doesn't mean that you are pushy, but that you exhibit the character of Christ and become so contagious that others, seeing you, want what you have.
7. Practicable: Don't be so pious sounding or acting that all the person sees is yourself rather than Christ. Condescending or setting unrealistic behavior above and beyond the Scripture is not proper nor will it help anyone.

Now this is not a list easily mastered, but it does not mean it shouldn't be worked on regularly in our lives. When we are Humid Christians, present to a needy world, these qualities will surely not make you oppressive, but Refreshing!

Pray for opportunities to be Present for someone. It may be a friend, family member, a fellow believer, etc. There are many ways to exercise the Presence of Christ, many times a Phone call or encouraging note is helpful. In all accounts, be there, be ready, be Humid.

Lord, please help us to be Humid Christians and not shrink away from this duty. Help those in shyness and fear to find courage in You. May You be pleased with us. Amen.