Chaplain’s Corner – Goals of Christian Living: Wisdom

Dec8

“Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

Continuing our theme of goal setting, and seeking first the Kingdom as our priority, today’s devotional will focus on pressing on by working toward greater wisdom.

I admit I am a sort of knowledge junkie. I love to learn new things, and I love to share that knowledge. However, what I really desire is to be able to impart wisdom. That is, I really want to be able to give sound advice at just the right time.

The Oxford Dictionary defines wisdom as “the ability to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of the experience and knowledge that you have.” Notice that wisdom is based on knowledge and experience. Logically, then, you can have knowledge and experience without wisdom, but you can’t have wisdom without knowledge and experience. Knowledge alone can even be dangerous, but wisdom is the right application of knowledge.

As believers, we desire an even higher goal of biblical wisdom, which has as its foundation love for God and for others as we seek to discern what is right and how to live godly lives based on our knowledge and experience. If we want our wisdom to be godly, then we must ensure that our knowledge is from the Bible and that our experience is in the context of the church and good Christian leaders. “Spend time with the wise and you will become wise, but the friends of fools will suffer” (Proverbs 13:20 (NCV)). But first and foremost, if we want godly wisdom, we need to ask God for it. James 5:7 reads: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Wisdom benefits both ourselves and others. The Book of Proverbs is a wealth of knowledge about wisdom. From Proverbs, here are just a few reasons to pursue godly wisdom:

  • To get guidance: “…let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance…” (Proverbs 1:5).
  • To find the right course of action: “Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path” (Proverbs 2:9).
  • To find favor with God and other people: “Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:4).
  • To please God with my life: “For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 8:35).

The Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians in his first letter, verse 1:20 asks: “Where is the wise person? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” Then he answers his own question in verses 30-31: “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

To summarize how we press on to gain godly wisdom in support of our desire to press on to the goal of seeking first the kingdom:

  1. We continually remind ourselves and reinforce our knowledge of the wisdom from God by reading God’s Word.
  2. We develop our relationship with Christ by praying to him and thanking Him for his guidance.
  3. We ask Him specifically for wisdom, both daily and in the moment (James 5:7).
  4. We acknowledge the Holy Spirit as our Counselor, and rely on His counsel moment by moment, for each thought that we think, each word that we say, and each action that we take (John 14:26).
  5. We intentionally seek the friendship and counsel of godly and wise people (Proverbs 13:20).

It’s just that simple. If our motivation is to glorify God and edify others, I am confident that God will bless our thoughts, words, and deeds and we will be empowered to act with wisdom. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 103:2–5

Chaplain’s Corner – Goals of Christian Living: Trust

Dec1

“Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

I usually write about resolutions and goal setting in January, but I almost always begin thinking about this process about now. I am a planner by nature, and I love to have goals to work toward. As I look to the Bible for guidance, I am compelled by the passage above that whatever my goals, seeking first the kingdom should be my first and foremost goal. Which brings me to a big question: How do I press on toward this goal?

Here are five objectives that are worthy of working toward in our efforts to reach the goal:

  1. Trust
  2. Wisdom
  3. Love
  4. Joy
  5. Unity

This Chaplain’s Corner will focus on #1: Trust. Trust in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is foundational to the Christian faith. In fact, “In God We Trust” is the official motto of the United States of America. But do we?

What do we mean by “trust?” For our purposes, this concept shares some meaning with faith, belief, hope, and surrender. When we trust someone, we have faith in them, we believe them, we hope in them, and we surrender our well-being to them. Or perhaps it’s the reciprocal: when someone trusts us, they have faith in us, they believe us, they hope in us, and surrender their well-being to us. Sometimes trust must be earned. Sometimes, it is there until it is lost by a negative behavior.

Another way to define trust is to consider its opposite: distrust. Why would you distrust someone? Because they don’t do what they say they will do, either because of lying or just not being dependable. One must have character and competence. One without the other just doesn’t work. Also, we distrust someone who doesn’t have our backs; perhaps they have ulterior motives, or just are not concerned for our best interest. When you are relying on someone with something that is important to you, for example, a medical professional, a legal professional, or someone responsible for the care and education of your children, you must be able to trust them.

The Good News is that the most important person in our lives is Christ. In Him we place all our hope, faith, and belief for our eternal lives. And he is entirely worthy of our trust. We can rest in Him, confident that he is willing and able (he has character and competence) to save us. He has our backs. In Him we have our rest.

So how do we exhibit trust? How do we work toward the objective of trust?

  1. We continually remind ourselves and reinforce our knowledge of His Goodness by reading His Word.
  2. We develop our relationship with Him by praying to him and thanking Him for his Goodness.
  3. We go to Him with our needs and refuse to worry about our circumstances, knowing that he has promised to prosper us and not to harm us.  
  4. We let go of our hurts, forgiving others, and resolving to live in peace with other; trusting the LORD to avenge and make everything right.

Over and over in the Bible we are admonished not to trust in kings or other men, but instead to trust in the Lord. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7).

Let us encourage each other as we commit to growing in how we live out our trust in the LORD.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 103:2–5

Chaplain’s Corner – Gratitude for Provision

Nov24

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2

God made us to have certain physical “needs.” We need food, water, shelter, clothing. Most of us have lived through times of hardship as well as times of relative prosperity (I say relative because prosperity means different things to different people and doesn’t always mean money). I grew up with the essentials but not really any extras. In my adult life we have had times when there was more “month than money” if you know what I mean. But somehow, we always made it.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-34 not to worry about our physical needs. Paul, who also experienced his own ups and downs, goes a step farther than just not worrying or even coveting what someone else has. Paul encourages us to be content in our circumstances. He says “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

And what is that secret? Paul trusted God. He knew that “… my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Let us give thanks for a God who answers our prayers, even the ones that seem unanswered. Let us give thanks to God who gives us what we need. “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 8:7-11).

Let us give thanks to our Good Father for His provision. Just as he sent manna from heaven to the Israelites (Exodus 16:35), just as he kept Elijah supplied with flour and oil (1 Kings 17:16), God will provide. He is Jehovah-Jireh (check out both the NIV and KJV).

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – Gratitude in Circumstances

Nov17

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2

As believers, we are not granted a pass to escape all of life’s problems. In fact, Jesus told us in John 16:33 – “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.”

We learn in Deuteronomy 8:2 that sometimes God tests us like he did the Israelites: “You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”

We know that ever since the Garden of Eden, Satan seeks to tempt us and make us fail. BUT “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

However, Jesus did promise us that He would be with us in the storms of life. He would send the Holy Spirit to be with us always, to provide his presence and power to help us to deal with the troubles we will undoubtedly experience. As the ever-suffering prophet Jeremiah proclaimed in Lamentations 3:22-23 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

I will be thankful in my circumstances, even the hard ones, because the Bible assures us that “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). James took it a step further when he exhorted the Jewish believers who were struggling with trials, prejudice, and suffering, to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3).

I pray that we will be thankful even in our circumstances, even the challenging ones, because we know that “God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

I pray that we will “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 103:2–5

Chaplain’s Corner – Gratitude for Salvation

Nov10

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2

What a mighty God we worship! He is King of kings, LORD of lords, robed in majesty and armed with strength. He is our God, and above all, we should be thankful for who He is and how He loves us.

I don’t know about you, but I am especially fond of the name of our organization. The name “Mission” conveys not only our purpose, but also that we are a place where the work of missionaries takes place. What I really respond to, however, is the name “Rescue.” It reminds me of the hopelessness of each of us before we find our salvation in Jesus. And combining “Rescue” with “Mission” speaks to the true work that is carried on in this special place.

As the Creator, he chose to make us in His image. And then, in our disobedience, our Merciful God chose to forgive us. Not only that, our loving Creator God, full of Grace and Mercy, designed a most beautiful way to rescue us from the pit of hell and restore us to His Heavenly Kingdom. All we must do is to ask for forgiveness of our sins and accept this precious gift of salvation, made possible by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, son of God. My heart is full of gratitude for His love for me, a sinner.

We serve a God who seeks us to rescue, redeem, and reconcile us to Himself; to save us by his beautiful, wonderful, and powerful name from the eternal fiery pit of Hell. Praise God, What a Beautiful Name!

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 103:2–5

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Chaplain’s Corner – Gratitude

Nov3

“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” Psalm 95:2.

Do you remember when you were a child how you took pride in comparing your stuff to the stuff of others? My (Dad, house, you name it) is bigger or better than your (Dad, house, you name it). While that sounds immature, guess what? It is perfectly acceptable to say that about our God. To quote Chris Tomlin: “Our God is greater, our God is stronger. God, You are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, awesome in power. Our God! Our God.”

My God is bigger, my God is better. Just like Samuel, I can proudly acknowledge: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. (2 Samuel 22:2-3).

What a mighty God we worship! He is King of kings, LORD of lords, robed in majesty and armed with strength. He is our God, and above all, we should be thankful for who He is and how He loves us. We worship the Creator. All other “gods” are created and are powerless against the mighty God we serve.

This week, I am thankful for God, and I am thankful for everyone in my life who has pointed me toward God: My parents, my extended family, my church, my friends, and my coworkers at Nashville Rescue Mission.

This week, I am thankful that God loves me and made a way to ensure that I would forever be a part of his Kingdom. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

Judy

Psalm 103:2–5

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Chaplain’s Corner – Return! (It’s Never Too Late)

Oct27

“Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:7b)

Do you ever feel far from God? Like He has forgotten you? Do you ever feel spiritually empty? Our relationship to God, our closeness, our spiritual fullness, can vary from overflowing to emptiness. What is going on? What is wrong?

The book of Malachi speaks to this spiritual emptiness. Malachi is the very last book in the Old Testament; written to the Jewish people who had returned to Jerusalem from their literal exile to Babylon, but who are spiritually still in exile. In fact, God tells these Jewish people “Yes, I have already cursed you, because you have not set your heart to honor me” (Malachi 2:2). In other words, their religion was all show and outward signs. This is extremely distressing news to a person who calls him or herself a believer. A statement like this from God reveals a disparity between what we say and what is in our hearts, which is what causes this spiritual distance from God.

Malachi goes on to tell us what God is looking for.

“My covenant was with him (Levi), a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. (Malachi 2:5-6).

And then Malachi tells us what God is seeing at that time, the disparities between what God wants and what is actually happening:

  1. Disobedience: “…you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.” (Malachi 2:9)
  2. Unfaithfulness: “Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the LORD loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.” (Malachi 2:11)
  3. Hypocrisy: “You have wearied the LORD with your words.” (Malachi 2:17)

Malachi was a prophet, the last prophet to prophesy in the Old Testament. God, speaking through Malachi, says in Malachi 3:7 “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.” He is looking back to Isaiah 40:1-11, and he is prophesying about John the Baptist who will begin his ministry 400 years later: “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’” (Matthew 3:1-3).

God gives Malachi a strong message for us. He says in Malachi 3:5 – “’So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

God speaks of his character in Malachi 3:6, referring to the covenant promise he has made to the faithful in Jeremiah 31:31-34– “I the LORD do not change.”

And then God gives us a promise, a promise that we can count on- “’Return to me and I will return to you’, says the LORD Almighty.”

It’s never too late, until it is. Don’t wait!

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Passion: Staying Plugged in to Your Power Source

Oct20

Therefore, tell the people: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 1:3).

Who of us travels far without our phone and laptop or iPad charger?  We just can’t afford for the battery to run down. We must stay connected to the Power Source to stay connected to each other and our daily responsibilities. But how about when your passion for your Kingdom Purpose subsides?  If we find that our passion for our Kingdom Purpose is waning, the very first thing we should do is plug into our Power Source.

The Bible explains this concept in using an agricultural analogy common to the culture of their times–of the branch which must remain connected to the main plant to bear fruit. Whatever the comparison, we were not made to operate on our own.  We were made to be dependent upon God.

I charge my batteries and plug into my power source by spending time with God. When I don’t take the time to read my Bible, pray, and spend time in worship, my love for God and my passion for his presence fades.  It is simply the single most important thing that I can do, and everything in my life is better when I do. We do get busy, and most of us have way too much on our plates. For myself, when I was a young working mother and taking classes, my only choice was to get up extra early, before everyone else in the house, so that I could spend time with God. I knew that the rest of my day went way better when I did. I have continued this practice.

Some of you recharge your batteries just when the power goes down to nearly zero, and maybe you scurry around looking for the charger most of the time; some of you recharge every night like clockwork. Some of you have other methods. I recommend that you figure out the best way for you to keep your spiritual passion, your Kingdom Purpose, charged at full power so that you can be at 100% for God.

The last three Chaplain’s Corners have focused on passion. We have talked what passion really means, about discovering and uncovering our Kingdom Purpose, and how to keep our passion fully charged.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Uncovering Your Passion

Oct13

“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matthew 5:15).

When my younger grandchildren spend the night with us, we take great pains to make sure their bedrooms are very dark. We have room-darkening drapes, we turn out the lights, and cover all the electronic devices that emit those blue and red beams. In other words, we extinguish all the light sources to remove the distractions so that they will sleep more soundly.

In the same way, I think we sometimes hide those light sources from ourselves by all the baggage that we carry and all the things that we do to fill and complicate our lives. We become so burdened that we cannot see the light of day.  Believe me, as a former young working mother, I know what it is like to have way too much to do. Some of you are working two jobs, taking care of family, and taking classes. But stay with me, it is not hopeless. There are many ways that we can lighten our loads so that we have more time and energy to focus on our Kingdom Purpose, as we discussed in the devotional last week.

  1. We must prioritize our heart desires. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). By the way, what does this passage mean by “these things?” Verse 31 tells us “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?”  Of course, we should take responsibility for the welfare of our families, but do your best, then trust God for the rest, and don’t spend emotional energy worrying. Let us keep our priorities in the right place and know that He will provide.
  • We must be particular about what we say “yes” to.  Some of us are too willing to raise our hands to volunteer for everything that comes along, or too eager to spend time in unhealthy recreation. Even healthy recreation when engaged in obsessively can be unhealthy (talking to myself, here). Our motivations can vary all over the place. Perhaps we have an orientation toward service, so we want to help. Or we volunteer out of guilt or a feeling of “should,” or we let someone guilt us into it. I find lots of different things to be interesting, so I used to be prone to volunteer just to try it out or to be with my friends. None of those reasons are necessarily bad, and certainly being willing to serve is a good thing. However, if always saying yes keeps you too busy to focus on your Kingdom Purpose, then they are not the best things. I love the gospel’s analogy of pruning: “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunesso that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:2).
  • We must confess our sins daily (if not more often). Unconfessed sin is heavy; it weighs us down with guilt and shame. It clouds our thinking and contaminates our testimony. However, the act of confessing our sins is purifying. Asking the Holy Spirit to convict us of all our sins, shortfalls, and poor choices, and then confessing them with true remorse is so pleasing to God, and it is so life-giving.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
  • We must forgive others, and ourselves. This is one of the most profoundly life-changing lessons I have ever learned. When we forgive, we are not condoning the offense. Far from it. We are instead letting go of the power that it has over us. Brothers and sisters, please don’t let someone else’s sin become your sin; please don’t let it destroy you. I am convinced that Satan revels in our unforgiveness because he knows how destructive it is. In the words of Elsa, “let it go.” And don’t “play God” by holding on to your shame after God has forgiven you.  “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25).

So, as you are uncovering your passion–your Kingdom Purpose, be diligent about your focus, eliminating all the things that hide and crowd your passion so that your light can truly shine.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).  

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Passion: What Is Your Kingdom Purpose?

Oct6

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10).

The devotion last week focused on passion, and I said we would continue in the next few weeks to learn how to remember our first love or rediscover our passion. In his book, S.H.A.P.E., by Erik Rees, the author says, “God created you as a unique masterpiece because he has a specific purpose for your life—a specific and unique ‘contribution’ that only you can make…. It is what I like to call your unique Kingdom Purpose. I define Kingdom Purpose as your specific contribution to the body of Christ, within your generation, that causes you to totally depend on God and authentically display his love toward others…. Your Kingdom Purpose is way more than a career. It is a special commissioning from God to make a significant difference on this earth. It’s the banner of your life that you carry and wave for God’s glory. “

Rick Warren, in Purpose Driven Life, says “…God has given each of us a unique emotional ‘heartbeat’ that races when we think about the subjects, activities, or circumstances that interest us. We instinctively care about some things and not about others. These reveal the nature of your heart…(and) are clues to where you should be serving.”

Stop and think for a moment: What is your passion, your Kingdom Purpose? God has wired each of us differently. We each have a different set of spiritual gifts, talents and skills, personality traits, and experiences. And when you combine all that with something that really tugs at your hearts, then you can identify your passion. Maybe it’s children, maybe it’s families, maybe it’s justice, maybe it’s serving the least and the lost. My passion is education. I want to teach the truths of the Bible and how they can be applied to our daily lives so that we can walk more closely with God.  Your passion can evolve over time based on your circumstances, or it could be the constant theme of your life because of a single powerful experience. Your passion may be very focused, or it may be global. Your career may be your passion, or it may be that your current job is a means to accomplishing your passion. Whatever it is, you can be sure that God intends for you to have a Kingdom Purpose, and he will reveal it to you if you ask him.

Rees defines five passion principles that can inspire us to “dream big and think beyond our fears, in the process of discovering our own unique, emotional heartbeats for God:”

  1. Know what drives you.
  2. Know what you care about.
  3. Know the needs you will meet.
  4. Know the cause you will help conquer.
  5. Know your ultimate dream for God’s kingdom.

All this may sound overwhelming and impossible but remember: “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

I challenge you to pray about your Kingdom Purpose. If you have questions about this, I encourage you to contact me. I would love to help you in your journey to discovering your passion.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

In Christ,

Judy