Becoming A Love Letter To Others

   What does it mean to be "a love letter" from God to others? For starters, when we abide in His love, our lives become increasingly characterized by the fruit of The Spirit: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23)." For those having The Spirit of Christ Jesus abiding in their hearts, their character qualities are the hallmark seen within them. This is the fruit of "sowing" to The Spirit:  we "reap" of The Spirit... Life everlasting. We reap His Life, which is Life eternal, and we reap His character, which is the fruit, beginning with Love, of The Spirit. We also reap of His Righteousness whereby we are clothed and filled with His Glory, and the crown of all that is His Love, "which is the bond of perfectness (Colossians 3:14)."

Indeed, the expression of the Love of God is the best evidence of our having His Life in our hearts. Furthermore, as we mature spiritually, we will walk more in His Love. "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17)."

Reread that verse, slowly. Savor each Word written there; just think about, "our love is made perfect". Because of this, "we may have boldness in the day of judgment." Having boldness is not the same as boasting. It means we may approach the Throne of the Almighty God and not be ashamed in His glorious presence. How can this be? Are we not all miserable sinners, saved by the grace of God? The answer is that those who faithfully pursued His vision in this life will be rewarded when they appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

At that time they will be like Him, through the process of transformation that He started in this life, and that they faithfully pursued as His partners. Consequently, the scripture was fulfilled: "as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17)." In other words, when people were around them in this life, they tasted Heaven, because as God is, so were they in this world. Since God is love, so too, were they. When they crossed the Finish Line, they crossed it as champions of the faith.

Your friends and servants in Christ Jesus,

    

To Show GOD BIG in a World that Sees Him small… 
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc.  Keith and Brenda's prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that Keith recounts in our written and recorded products.

We couldn't do this without the help of our friends!
This blog channel, along with the complete collection of original podcasts, music, blogs, books, CDs, and other Bible-based resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. is made possible by the faithful prayer and financial support of the TTM Sponsorship Family. We'd like to invite you to come on-board, to become a part of the TTM Family as well, by becoming a monthly financial partner. Your support will go toward fulfilling our God-given calling to help provide effective, contemporary outreach tools that are available to everyone, the churched and un-churched alike, who desire to know more of the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ. We invite you to partner with us, as we, "press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

Keep PRESSIN' IN!

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We INVITE YOU...
 see and hear, follow and share, more from Toward The Mark, Inc.:

~  Keith and Brenda "Between The Lines" Podcast on TTM's Libsyn Channel

...BORN TO TRIUMPH!

~ The Shealys and Toward The Mark Videos on Vimeo

~ "Keith Shealy & Toward The Mark" on Facebook

~ "TTM SingingSgt" on Twitter

~ "Sharing with you the Secrets God Whispers to us" teachings on our website 

        Take me back to the top of this post.

        Take me to "A Little Guy with God..." post.

        Take me to "...Be Justified or Condemned" post.

        Take me to "...The Battle Board" post.

        Take me to "What the Devil Fights to Keep Us from Knowing" post.

        Take me to "God's Mighty Wave of Truth Over America" post.

        Take me to "Eyes That Look Are Common..." post.

        Take me to "Stop Rubbernecking!" post.

        Take me to "Whoahh Horsey..." post.

        Take me to "When Jesus Returns Just Hours From Now" post.

        Take me to "Wake Up and Life Up Your Head" post.

        Take me to "Remembering Pastor/Dr Myles Munroe" post.

~ "KeithAndBrendaLee Shealy PODCASTS" at TTM's BetweenTheLines Libsyn Channel.

Special Featured Podcast... I was overwhelmed by the enormity of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us!

CLICK to give a tax-deductible gift securely by:

Every gift is tax-deductible and helps! And we thank you for it!

Mail tax-deductible contributions by check or money order made out to:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152. 
We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

  To help you further your fight to victory through the battles that confront every one of us in these turbulent times we live in, get your copy of our book, " LETTERS FROM THE FRONT." In this collection of 12 letters written from the front lines of battle fought in The Spiritual, natural, and theater of the mind, Keith's Scripture messages will build your faith and help you reach God's full potential for your life.
"LETTERS FROM THE FRONT"
available now... Send e-mail request.

We pray God uses this message, and all of our resources, to fan the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His wonder-full Ways, and His Plan and Purpose for you in this life. We are eternally grateful for our loving Toward The Mark Family of sponsors who make this blog, and all of our resources, possible by their faithful prayer and monthly financial support! If you have any questions about our work, or if you would like to make a special tax-deductible donation, place a special order for any of our books, magazines, or CDs, or to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please e-mail us. Also feel free to write a letter and mail it to TOWARD THE MARK, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.

Toward the Mark, Inc. © 2005 - 2023 | Privacy Policy and Terms of Use apply |
 Visit TowardTheMark.com website |  Connect with TowardTheMark on e-mail

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A little Guy with GOD is Bigger than ALL the Giants Combined

With God, We WIN; With-OUT God, We Don't Stand A Chance 

        There is a crucial factor we must point out and realize about David in his pursuit to face Goliath. David did not suddenly decide to go against the giant. David was most certainly accused by his older brother of being presumptuous or prideful by declaring that he would defeat the Philistine. But, truly, he was not being presumptuous or prideful at all. God had fully prepared David for this encounter, and David knew it! This is why he could be so confident in going forth against Goliath. It is also why he was able to overcome the grave doubts of Saul, the king. "And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth (1 Samuel 17:32-33)."

In this passage, David indicates his willingness to fight the Philistine, and Saul responds with a very rational sounding answer. For truly, in the natural, David's offer was preposterous! He was but a youth, a shepherd boy, while Goliath had been trained to be "a man of war from his youth." Yet, David knew that God had prepared him for such a time and explained how this had occurred.

"And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and The LORD be with thee (1 Samuel 17:34-37)."

David knew how to fight! He had faced the lion and the bear, but not alone! The LORD had delivered David from both. Consequently, he could confidently and reasonably expect that God would deliver him from the Philistine. And that is what he told the king. After hearing David's words, the king accepted David's offer, and then did a curious thing.

"And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed (tried it) to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him (1 Samuel 17:38-39)."

Saul tried to get David to wear Saul's own armor into the battle, but David refused, saying that he had no experience with them. Furthermore, David knew that God had given him skill with the sling, and he had had many hours of solitude as a shepherd to hone that skill. Finally, David had already seen Goliath arrayed in his armor and knew that he could be brought down with the sling, David's weapon of choice.

It would have been presumptuous of David to go forth wearing Saul's armor. In fact, it would have been a fatal mistake! For then the battle would have been fought on Goliath's terms in the flesh, and the giant would have won that fight.

To demonstrate the error of presumption through a counterexample to David's triumph, consider the occurrence from the time of Moses after God had miraculously delivered the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt and from starvation in the wilderness. At this point in their journey the children of Israel were preparing to invade the Promised Land, and so Moses sent twelve spies into the land of Canaan to bring back information that would help in the invasion.

Ten of the spies brought back an evil report of giants in the land. "And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight (Numbers 13:32-33)."

After hearing this report, the children of Israel refused to believe that God would be with them in the battle against the giants of Canaan. And consequently the people rejected the following words of the two faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb. "Only rebel not ye against The LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and The LORD is with us: fear them not. But all the congregation bade [threatened to] stone them with stones (Numbers 14:9-10)."

Having fear of the giants and lacking faith in God, the Israelites wished that they had died in the wilderness, and they even began preparing to return to the bondage of Egypt (see Numbers 14:2-4). As a result, God promised them that they would die in the wilderness even as they had wished! "Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith The LORD, as ye have spoken in Mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; (Numbers 14:28-29)."

After the Israelites heard that, however, they had second thoughts! The scripture records that "the people mourned greatly (Numbers 14:39)." Moreover, they began preparing to invade the land, but they were warned to not go forth into battle presumptuously. "Ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from The LORD, therefore The LORD will not be with you (Numbers 14:43)."  

Despite the warning of the fact that "those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before The LORD (Numbers 14:37)", the Israelites went presumptuously into battle with the Canaanites. The LORD was not with them, and they were badly beaten.

Subsequently, after forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the nation was again at the brink of invading the Promised Land. It was at this juncture that Moses made a point to relate the account of this incident from the failed first invasion to the children of the people whose carcasses had fallen in the wilderness according to the Word of The LORD. In his conclusion of the account, Moses said these words, "Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against The LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that The LORD our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill. And The LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies. So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of The LORD, and went presumptuously up into the hill. And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah (Deuteronomy 1:41-44)."

Thus, we see that instead of overcoming their fear, they were really guilty of rebellion and presumption. Their "boldness" was counterfeit, because God was not in it. So, even as David could not have overcome Goliath on his own and the Israelites could not overcome the Canaanites on their own, neither can we overcome intimidation by our own efforts, pride, or false hopes. We need the genuine boldness of righteousness that can only come from The LORD.

We pray that this brief exhortation fans into flames your passion for loving, trusting, believing, and following God wholeheartedly.  If you allow those flames to burn and increase in your life in Jesus Christ, your life will be better than our human minds are capable of perceiving... guaranteed!

          So, "How do I begin the process of 'running INto' the giants I face... with The LORD?"

"The LORD gave the word: great was the company of those that published it (Psalm 68:11)."

Your friends and servants in Christ Jesus,

    

To Show GOD BIG in a World that Sees Him small… 
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc.  Keith and Brenda's prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that Keith recounts in our written and recorded products.

We couldn't do this without the help of our friends!
This blog channel, along with the complete collection of original podcasts, music, blogs, books, CDs, and other Bible-based resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. is made possible by the faithful prayer and financial support of the TTM Sponsorship Family. We'd like to invite you to come on-board, to become a part of the TTM Family as well, by becoming a monthly financial partner. Your support will go toward fulfilling our God-given calling to help provide effective, contemporary outreach tools that are available to everyone, the churched and un-churched alike, who desire to know more of the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ. We invite you to partner with us, as we, "press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

Keep PRESSIN' IN!

"See flipcard titles"

We INVITE YOU...
 see and hear, follow and share, more from Toward The Mark, Inc.:

~  Keith and Brenda "Between The Lines" Podcast on TTM's Libsyn Channel

...BORN TO TRIUMPH!

~ The Shealys and Toward The Mark Videos on Vimeo

~ "Keith Shealy & Toward The Mark" on Facebook

~ "TTM SingingSgt" on Twitter

~ "Sharing with you the Secrets God Whispers to us" teachings on our website 

        Take me back to the top of this post.

~ "KeithAndBrendaLee Shealy PODCASTS" at TTM's BetweenTheLines Libsyn Channel.

Special Featured Podcast... I was overwhelmed by the enormity of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us!

CLICK to give a tax-deductible gift securely by:

Every gift is tax-deductible and helps! And we thank you for it!

Mail tax-deductible contributions by check or money order made out to:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152. 
We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

  To help you further your fight to victory through the battles that confront every one of us in these turbulent times we live in, get your copy of our book, " LETTERS FROM THE FRONT." In this collection of 12 letters written from the front lines of battle fought in the spiritual, natural, and theater of the mind, Keith's Scripture messages will build your faith and help you reach God's full potential for your life.
"LETTERS FROM THE FRONT"
available now... Send e-mail request.

We pray God uses this message, and all of our resources, to fan the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His wonder-full Ways, and His Plan and Purpose for you in this life. We are eternally grateful for our loving Toward The Mark Family of sponsors who make this blog, and all of our resources, possible by their faithful prayer and monthly financial support! If you have any questions about our work, or if you would like to make a special tax-deductible donation, place a special order for any of our books, magazines, or CDs, or to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please e-mail us. Also feel free to write a letter and mail it to TOWARD THE MARK, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.

Toward the Mark, Inc. © 2005 - 2023 | Privacy Policy and Terms of Use apply |
 Visit TowardTheMark.com website |  Connect with TowardTheMark on e-mail

"See flipcard titles"

How Satan's Human Accomplices Are Draining The Life Out Of Americans

        The Bible warns us that we should not be ignorant of Satan's devices, lest he should get an advantage over us (see 2 Corinthians 2:11).  In that light, and in the light of all that Satan is doing to destroy our beloved country, working through his human accomplices in government, the medical system, the banking system, the media, and so on, it is time we expose a major demonic device that us increasingly afflicting many people today -- vampirism.

One does not have to look very far to see that vampires and vampirism have become popular phenomena in modern society.  In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of television and internet movies plus major motion pictures that use vampires as their main theme in one form or another.  Perhaps one way to accurately describe this is "art imitating death." As a result of this, police departments and other law enforcement agencies are reporting a substantial rise in vampire cult activities.

Now is a crucial time to shine The revealing Light of Jesus Christ on Satan's wicked device of "vampirism" helping others realize the actual reality, the true nature, of this very destructive and seductive spiritual weapon in Satan's arsenal.  This is such a critical time for this Truth, while the popular portrayal of vampirism, the folklore, and the superstitions regarding it, are all part of Satan's deceptive scheme, his effective means by which he distracts people away from what "vampirism" truly is...  one of his most divisive, yet subtle, tools against humanity. 

The idea that a vampire is some colorful little character with fangs and a cape is as wrong as thinking that the devil runs around in a red suit carrying a pitchfork.  Make no mistake, vampirism is real and has infiltrated the United States government, medical system, media, treasury department, and more, using the physical bodies of Satan's human accomplices, for the sole purpose of "stealing, killing, and destroying" the lives of everyone that it possible can. 

So what is a vampire? Webster's dictionary defines a vampire as "an unscrupulous person who preys ruthlessly on others, as a blackmailer or usurer." Webster's also defines vampirism as "the act or practice of preying ruthlessly on other people." The LORD Jesus Christ defines it this way, "The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:... (John 10:10)." Therefore, according to The LORD, a vampire is surely, and simply, one kind of thief. 

Quite important to note is the context of The LORD's remarks.  In the second part of the verse He clearly contrasts the works of the thief, including the vampire, with His Own works, saying, "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10)."  Jesus Christ brings Life that is abundant for those who want Him, who pursue and love Him.  Vampires, on the other hand, come to destroy the Abundant Life by stealing time and energy and, no matter how much they take, they are never satisfied.  We're seeing this unfold in America today.

A vampire is a human parasite, a human leech often-times influenced by a demonic accomplice.  They are focused solely on themselves to the point of depleting or draining the resources and life out of others to achieve or satisfy their own selfish objectives or cravings.  Another way of describing this is out-of-control selfishness.  A person who has succumbed to the spirit of vampirism would simply be one who is leading a misguided life of tearing down or using others in an attempt to exalt themselves.  We are dealing with wicked spirits seeking to fulfill the devil's mission, to steal, kill, and destroy the person who gives them place in their life.  And these same spirits attempt to use their victim to destroy anyone who becomes involved with that person.

While vampirism can involve both human and demonic activity, this is not always the case.  Unclean spirits must look for humans to influence, because that is how Satan's work of killing, stealing, and destroying is accomplished in the earth.  That is why the battle for the human soul is so brutal at times.  In order for a wicked spirit to gain legal access to the physical realm, it must first find and, through temptation, gain entrance into a willing host body in order to do Satan's bidding in the physical realm.

Observe the vast difference between a person who has been overtaken by a spirit of vampirism and someone who genuinely hungers for God.  People who truly hunger for God and have committed their lives to the process of daily being made One i-n Jesus Christ eventually enter the place where they "want" to die to their own selfish wants and desires in order to become an asset to those around them.  That is, they give away Life, the Life of Jesus Christ that is being newly-constructed in them by the working of The Holy Spirit.  Someone who is operating as a vampire, however, is always on the take, drawing the life out of those around them.

However contrary it is to natural thinking, the one who gives away Life grows, while the one who steals, kills, and destroys shrinks.  The lie about vampirism is that the vampire gets stronger by consuming the life of others, but, in truth, they are destroying themselves. 

"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.  The liberal {generous} soul shall be made fat {deep, large, rich}: and he that waters shall be watered also himself (Proverb 11:24-25)."

We pray that your passion is to always become an asset, a giver of the Life of Jesus Christ, to everyone you come in contact with.  The Apostle Paul said, "I have showed you all things, how that so labouring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of The LORD Jesus Christ, how he said, It is more blessed to GIVE than to receive (Acts 20:35)."  So, if we stand in front of "the mirror of this message" and do NOT see our reflection in it, we'll recognize that we have truly been blinded to the Truth concerning this matter.  On the other hand, if we stand in front of "the mirror of this message" and we DO see our reflection, then we are well on our way to becoming Life-giving assets to those in the body of Jesus Christ and to Americans as a whole.

Right now, in the Name of Jesus Christ, call on The Holy Spirit and ask Him to meet with you in the pages of God's Holy written Word.  Begin reading slowly, pause periodically and listen.  Slowly read a bit more, pause, and listen.  Repeat this until you hear the sweetest sound of all, the wonder-full Voice of The Holy Spirit...  uploading to your spirit the things that God gives to Jesus Christ to relay to The Holy Spirit to give to you, personally.  Isaiah 40:31 tells us, "But they that wait upon The LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

God makes us a great promise in His written Word, "If my people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14)."

If you have not yet invited Jesus Christ into your heart to be your Lord and Savior, now is the time!  Or, if you gave your heart to Jesus Christ at some time in the past, but have strayed away from Him, pray the following prayer, right now, right where you are.  Then, relax, and watch what God will do in your life.  "Father God, in the precious Name of Jesus Christ Who is The King over all kings and The LORD that is over all lords, I lay my life at Your Feet.  I come to You, and confess that I am a sinner, and I ask for You to please forgive me of all my sins--those that I know I have committed as well as those that I am not even aware I have committed.  Lord Jesus Christ, come into my heart and be my Lord and my Savior.  I lay my life, and everything in it before You and I ask that You and The wonder-full Holy Spirit begin the miraculous process of removing my old sinful nature and building Yourself in me.  I ask that You redeem the time that have wasted, and allow me the opportunity to become exactly what You had predestined me to be, from before the foundation of the earth.  I commit my life to You now, and thank You for receiving me as Your own.  In The wonder-full Name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen."

WELCOME HOME!

If you just prayed this prayer, we want to congratulate you for making the greatest decision that you can ever make!  By accepting Jesus Christ, or rededicating your life to Him, as your personal Lord and Savior, you have begun the wonder-full process of being made One i-n God, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit, and being grafted into God's Royal Family.

We would like to invite you to contact us so that we can send you information that will help you begin growing in your daily walk with The Holy Trinity.  We would encourage you to begin attending a Holy-Spirit-filled, Bible-believing church right away.  If you do not know of a good church in your area, first and foremost ask The Holy Spirit, in Jesus Christ's Name, to lead you to people who do know.  Some of the most wonderful times in our lives have occurred after asking The Holy Spirit to lead us to, or educate us, on how to locate good strong believers in Jesus Christ.  If you ask Him, He will do the same for you as well.

We advise you to begin reading your Bible daily, whether you understand it or not.  Always remember, God's written Word, The Holy Bible is like no other book that has ever been written!  Why? Because, though many use it as a text book, The Holy Bible is much more than that.  The Holy Bible has been preserved by God through the ages to be "a place of meeting" with The Holy Spirit.  When we find a quiet place, open our Bible, and ask The Holy Spirit, in Jesus Christ's Name, to meet with us in its pages, He comes and teaches us what God had in His heart when He gave each verse to His prophets to write down, as well as he can spring board off of any passage to speak to us, in real time, whatever God wants us to know or be comforted by at any given time, and in any situation in our lives. 

Early in our walk with God, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit, there are Bible teachers on television, on the internet, and on the radio that can help us begin to receive teaching and encouragement in the things of God right away.  Although informative, these programs are never to be a substitute for close relationships with people, Christian friends, who love, pursue, and walk with God, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit as a passionate lifestyle.

At times, your new journey of being made One i-n Jesus Christ will be difficult, you will be tempted to go back to your old way of living.  It is during times like those that knowing people who truly love Jesus Christ is crucially important.  There really IS strength in numbers! 

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12)."

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)."

We pray that all we have shared above will help you better realize what we are seeing happen to our beloved fellow-Americans right now, and why.  Always remember, "Though God has won the war for us already, there will be various skirmishes we will have to fight through along the way.  Be encouraged...  the BEST is yet to come!"

Your Friends in Christ Jesus,