Not Enough Words

My dad told me I started talking in small sentences before I was one and he reminded me that I really hadn’t stopped since. I was a chatterbox – got marked down in school for talking during class and even won first place in the state speech contest.

But this morning, I am having a hard time coming up with enough words to express my wonder and amazement in the goodness of God and His overwhelming love!

Shocking, isn’t it?

In the book of John, we see Jesus’ interaction with those who are hurting, outcast, needy and sometimes completely alone. Jesus has turned the water into wine, fed the 5000, calmed the storm, walked on water, healed the blind, defended the adulterous woman, healed a lame man and the centurion’s son and eaten with tax collectors and other sinners.

The religious leaders always questioned His authority to do such things.

“It was winter, and the time came for the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. 23 Jesus was in the Temple area at Solomon’s Porch. 24 The Jewish leaders gathered around him. They said, ‘How long will you make us wonder about you? If you are the Messiah, then tell us clearly.’

25 Jesus answered, ‘I told you already, but you did not believe. I do miracles in my Father’s name. These miracles show who I am. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give my sheep eternal life. They will never die, and no one can take them out of my hand. 29 My Father is the one who gave them to me, and he is greater than all. No one can steal my sheep out of his hand. 30 The Father and I are one.’” John 10:22-30 ERV

Every time Jesus did something wonderful for the people, these men were there to question his motives and his character. They wanted to kill him for doing good!

In the face of accusation, Jesus stays on point. “I am doing what my Father sent me to do – the Father and I are one!”

That truly is the definition of love; love is patient and kind, love suffers long, love thinks the best.

Jesus is our example for walking in love. When we are falsely accused and maligned, when the folks around us are so angry that they would like to destroy us, can we walk in love? I started to pray “Lord I want to walk in that love” and then I realized what that meant. It’s a hard prayer to pray. That truly is where I desire to be – Christ like.

The words of the song “Reckless Love” came up in my heart.

“Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God,”

I thank the Father that He is conforming me to His image so I can walk in that depth of His overwhelming, never-ending reckless love. Now I will sit in silence and let Him speak to my heart.

Breaking the Budget

It seems that Dave and I have always lived on a budget. Even now we make adjustments, so we know where our money is going and that we are being good stewards of what we have.

Have you ever taken time to evaluate your spending habits? Everything has a category and an amount and it should all line up each month.

This morning I was thinking about spending; groceries, vehicles, clothing, furniture, entertainment, health and extravagances. The way we assign value differs from category to category. I want to get a “good deal” on vegetables and meat and so I set an amount that I won’t go over when it comes to a pound of meat or a pound of grapes.

We shop for the best buy when it comes to our furniture and vehicles and are always looking for a super sale. Then there are those things that we will willing go into our savings to purchase; a child’s wedding or college education, medical expenses for a loved one. These require sacrifice but a sacrifice of love.

In I Corinthians, Paul repeats a phrase that he had used earlier in the book.

God paid a high price for you,” I Corinthians 7:23 ERV

I want you to stop and think about your value this morning. Do you understand how priceless you are to the Father?

We’re not like a bunch of grapes or a bag of tomatoes that can be bought cheaply for $.99 per pound. We’re not like the new dress or new car that He waited for the big sale to purchase. We are invaluable to Him.

“God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field. One day a man found the treasure. He hid it again and was so happy that he went and sold everything he owned and bought the field.

45 ‘Also, God’s kingdom is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 One day he found a very fine pearl. He went and sold everything he had to buy it.” Matthew 13:44-26 ERV

The earth is the world, God the Father is the man, we are the treasure, or the pearl and Jesus is the price that was paid!

What is it that would cause you to sell all you have – your home, your jewelry, your cars, your boat, your horses, your RV, cash in the CD’s and empty the savings account? What would be valuable enough to have you sell all to buy one treasure?

We are that treasure! God gave His only begotten Son to purchase us!

No words can convey what I am feeling in my heart this morning as I realize in a deeper way God’s love for me.

” And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.” Ephesians 3:18-19 ERV

Father, I will take my words from the Psalms

“Your faithful love is better than life, so my lips praise you. 4 By my life, I will praise you. In your name, I lift my hands in prayer” Psalm 63:3-4 ERV

“God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.” I Corinthians 6:20 CEV

Our heavenly Father broke the budget when He paid for our sins!

Such Great Love

I want us to stay with the writings of the Apostle Paul this morning. He shared the message of God’s love with so many people – Romans, Grecians, Turks, Jews. Face-to-face, he told them of the great love of God.

And because of those written words, we are also being taught by him.

“God made us free from the power of darkness. And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. 14 The Son paid the price to make us free. In him we have forgiveness of our sins.” Colossians 1:13-14 ERV

Jesus told his disciples that He was the Good Shepherd and He would give His life for the sheep. That’s exactly what He did when He died on the cross for us. His words from the cross, “It is finished” meant that the payment for sin, our sin, was complete. Nothing more was required for our forgiveness. No more sacrifice. It was done!

“Christ first said, ‘You don’t want sacrifices and offerings. You are not pleased with animals killed and burned or with sacrifices to take away sin.’ (These are all sacrifices that the law commands.) Then he said, ‘Here I am, God. I have come to do what you want.’ So God ends that first system of sacrifices and starts his new way. 10 Jesus Christ did the things God wanted him to do. And because of that, we are made holy through the sacrifice of Christ’s body. Christ made that sacrifice one time—enough for all time.” Hebrews 10:8-10 ERV

When Christ came to earth the Jewish people were making the same sacrifices that had been made since they wandered in the wilderness. Animal sacrifice was required as an atonement or covering for sin. These sacrifices were made over and over again, year after year.

But when Christ came and offered Himself as the spotless, sinless lamb of God all other sacrifices were no longer necessary. One sacrifice was good enough for all time.

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God. He takes away the sins of the world!” John 1:29 ERV

Our sins are gone and we have new life in Christ.

 You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him. Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful…God lives fully in Christ10 And you are fully grown because you belong to Christ, who is over every power and authority…13  You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins. 14  God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross15 There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.” Colossians 2:6-15 CEV

I can only give you short pieces of God’s word in our times together each day. I would like to encourage you to read the whole book of Colossians. It’s a short book. Only four chapters but the wealth of God’s love is poured out in a powerful way.

” God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient.” Colossians 3:12 CEV

There is no love greater than the love God gives freely to us!

The Greatest Love

My heart is filled with the great love the Father shows me on a daily basis. For over 40 years my focus has been on His goodness and love.

Before that I was caught up in the do’s and don’ts, the rules and regulations of religion and not in the relationship that the Father offered me. This morning, I was reminded of something I wrote years ago and feel it is just as honest and true today as it was then.

I hope it touches your heart.

20th Day of Thanksgiving.

There was a time when I was very insecure and was hounded by feelings of unworthiness and low self-esteem. I just didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere. I hope none of you have ever felt that way because it’s awful.

Yes, I knew that God loved me but at that time those were just words in my ears and not a truth I held in my heart. I can’t tell you how the Lord did it but He made His love a reality to me personally!

I came to see in the Scriptures that God saw me as valuable, lovable and worthy of His attention.

This morning as I was reading Jesus prayer to the Father from John 17, I saw that again.

“I am not asking you to take them out of the world. But I am asking that you keep them safe from the Evil One. 16 They don’t belong to the world, just as I don’t belong to the world. 17 Make them ready for your service through your truth. Your teaching is truth. 18 I have sent them into the world, just as you sent me into the world. 19 I am making myself completely ready to serve you. I do this for them, so that they also might be fully qualified for your service.

20 “I pray not only for these followers but also for those who will believe in me because of their teaching. 21 Father, I pray that all who believe in me can be one. You are in me and I am in you. I pray that they can also be one in us. Then the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me. I gave them this glory so that they can be one, just as you and I are one. 23 I will be in them, and you will be in me. So they will be completely one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you loved them just as you loved me.” John 17:15-23 ERV

Verse 20 and 23 are the verses that really hit home with me. First Jesus said he wasn’t just praying for his followers that were with Him but that He was praying for those that would believe in Him because of their message. That meant He was praying for me. And secondly, He prayed that the world would know that the Father loves us as much as He loves Jesus! Did you get that? He loves me as much as He loves Jesus!

That was life changing for me!

Today that is my prayer for each one of you – I want you to know, really know, down deep in your heart know, that the Father loves you as much as He loves Jesus!

Yes, today is a day of gratitude. I am grateful for the love of God!

What’s It Worth?

I’m wanting to stay on topic from yesterday’s blog.

Did you copy the verses I gave you? Are they in your phone or on your computer so that you can read them again and again? Well, if not, here you go again.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it.” Ephesians 1:3-5 ERV

Yesterday friends came to visit and in conversation they mentioned a movie they had seen, Worth. If you haven’t seen it, it deals with compensation for those families who lost loved ones on 9-11. Their biggest struggle was in determining how to compensate families fairly.

This morning, I woke thinking about my worth or value and the verses above came back to mind. My second thought was these verses from the Psalms.

“I look at the heavens you made with your hands.
    I see the moon and the stars you created.
4 And I wonder, “Why are people so important to you?
    Why do you even think about them?
Why do you care so much about humans?
    Why do you even notice them?”

But you made them almost like gods
    and crowned them with glory and honor.
You put them in charge of everything you made.
    You put everything under their control.
People rule over the sheep and cattle and all the wild animals.
They rule over the birds in the sky
    and the fish that swim in the sea.
Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:3-9 ERV

God made man, us (male & female), in His image. He saw us as having value and worth. Remember the first set of verses this morning, from before the foundation of the world He decided to make us His children.

Our worth and value to God the Father is so great that He sent Jesus to die for us.

 Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ERV

If you think I’m trying to make a point, you’re right! I want you to see yourself as God sees you. You are priceless, no expense was too great to purchase our redemption.

“Christ sacrificed his life’s blood to set us free, which means our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because of God’s gift of undeserved grace to us. God has great wisdom and understanding,” Ephesians 1:7-8 CEV

I need us to go back to the story of the prodigal son again. Look at the son’s mindset.

 I will go to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of your workers.’ ” Luke 15:18-19 CEV

That phrase in other versions says, “No longer worthy”. Sin causes us to look at our unworthiness but love, the Father’s love, shows us our value.

“…when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him… ‘Hurry and bring the best clothes and put them on him. Give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate. 24 This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.” Luke 15:20-24 CEV

God determined our value before the world began. He established our worth and determined we are priceless!

Love So Amazing

That’s really the message of the cross. The love!

Love is a noun, a verb and an adjective. Love is all encompassing!

In the garden, God and Adam and Eve had perfect communion. God walked with them in the cool of the day; they talked about the things they saw and did. But that communion was interrupted when disobedience took control.

The cross restored that!

Romans, chapter 5, shows what God has done to restore the relationship that was broken. It touches my heart deeply. I will ask you to read it, sometime between now and Easter. Let it speak to you, let God reveal to you the depth of His love expressed on the cross.

“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinfulNo one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.

But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. 10 Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by the life of his Son. 11 And in addition to everything else, we are happy because God sent our Lord Jesus Christ to make peace with us.” Romans 5:6-11 CEV

16 There is a lot of difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gift. That one sin led to punishment. But God’s gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to him, even though we have sinned many times. 17 Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has treated us with undeserved grace, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings.

18  Everyone was going to be punished because Adam sinned. But because of the good thing that Christ has done, God accepts us and gives us the gift of life. 19 Adam disobeyed God and caused many others to be sinners. But Jesus obeyed him and will make many people acceptable to God.” Romans 5:16-19 CEV

God’s plan was for us to be reconciled and restored in our relationship with Him! Jesus’ love for the Father was so great that He willingly gave His life for our redemption. There is no greater expression of love than that.

The words to an old hymn are rising in my heart.

” O the love that drew salvation’s plan!
O the grace that brought it down to man!
O the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary. [Refrain]

Refrain:
Mercy there was great and grace was free,
Pardon there was multiplied to me,
There my burdened soul found liberty–
At Calvary.”

This song was written in 1895 and has been sung hundreds of thousands of times. So many have walked the road to the cross and found mercy, grace, forgiveness, and liberty but if I had been the only one Christ still would have died – just for me, just for you!

He’s not willing that anyone should perish. His desire is for all to come and find new life, At Calvary!

In Case You Wonder

I have a few questions for you this morning. Are you in love – have you ever been in love? How often do you tell the person you love, “I love you”? Your spouse, your kids, your grandkids, your friends, do they know you love them?

I don’t miss an opportunity to tell my kids each time we talk or text that I love them. Dave and I start and end our day with I love you; and there are many times in between.

So, when I started to pray about what to share this morning, I heard the Lord say in my heart “Tell them again”! It was a powerful urging. Did someone mess up yesterday and is feeling low this morning? Does someone feel alone and forgotten? We all need a reminder, a daily reminder and that is why I’m here to say, “In case you wonder, God loves you and His love is unconditional”.

“I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. 21 I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me.

22 I have honored my followers in the same way you honored me, in order that they may be one with each other, just as we are one. 23 I am one with them, and you are one with me, so they may become completely one. Then this world’s people will know that you sent me. They will know that you love my followers as much as you love me.” John 17:20-23 CEV

The last few days I have taken you through Jesus’ final night with his disciples. His words constantly affirmed His love for them and now we have these verses from His agonizing prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. He had committed whole-heartedly to laying down His life out of love for us. Why?

Because He loves us. Not only that He prayed that the world would know “that you love my followers as much as you love me”. He wants us to know and to never wonder about the Father’s love. I want you to know that God the Father and God the Son love you – you don’t ever have to wonder if that’s true. It’s a fact that has been established on the cross.

“I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will bless you and be kind to you! May God bless you with his love, and may the Holy Spirit join all your hearts together.” II Corinthians 13:13 CEV

I said the other day that I find the love of God written on every page in the Bible. It’s the most amazing love letter.

I will say it again, just in case you wonder, God loves you and He wants you and the world to know about it!

Love Much

The Bible is all about people and God’s relationship with them. I am intrigued and amazed as I read, and not only read, but study God’s interaction with us of the human race. I hope you allow yourself to see the Bible when you read it.

It’s in “seeing” the relationships that Jesus cultivated that we see the heart of God. This morning, I want you to see Mary. The other day I asked you to identify with the characters in the story of the man who was crippled and today I would like you to see yourself in this story as well.

Mary was a woman with an unscrupulous past. She was a prostitute. Shocking yes; unlovable no. Jesus has been invited to dinner at Simon’s house. He was a religious leader and a citizen of good standing. There were other guests, but it is these three that are important. (Luke 7:36-50)

Jesus and Simon were in the house getting ready to eat when Mary arrives. Who let her in? Had she been summoned for one of the guests? If not, why did the servants let her enter? Why did no one stop her?

She did something strange. She went and stood behind Jesus. Standing behind someone was a place of deference. A place of submission. The custom of the day was to recline at a meal. Mary was standing near Jesus’ feet.

“Then she came and stood behind Jesus. She cried and started washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. The woman kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.” Luke 7:38 CEV

This action brought ridicule from Simon. He didn’t speak it out loud, but he thought it in his heart – ridicule of both Jesus and Mary. Jesus knew his heart and asked a question about forgiveness.

Two men were in debt, Jesus said. One owed 50 silver coins and one owed 500. Both were forgiven their debt by the moneylender.

“Since neither of them could pay him back, the moneylender said that they didn’t have to pay him anything. Which one of them will like him more?” 43 Simon answered, ‘I suppose it would be the one who had owed more and didn’t have to pay it back.’” Luke 7:42-43 CEV

You’re right, Jesus said.

Simon hadn’t even shown Jesus the common courtesy of washing his feet or given Him a welcoming kiss. Mary not only washed His feet with her tears but kissed them and wiped them with her hair. Then she poured an expensive perfume on His feet. While Simon did nothing.

“‘So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.’ 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your sins are forgiven.'” Luke 7:47-48 CEV

This is a story of God’s love in action. Both Mary and Simon had debts of sin that needed to be paid. Jesus was there to forgive them both. One harbored resentment in his heart and one was humbled by God’s compassion.

“But Jesus told the woman, ‘Because of your faith, you are now saved. May God give you peace!’” Luke 7:50 CEV

I’ve been like both of our main characters – resentful and critical and humbled and contrite. God’s love and forgiveness was the same toward me in both situations. It doesn’t change. What changed was the peace I felt when I humbly received His forgiveness and His love.

I love much because of His love for me.

Deeper than the Holler

I often wonder what people do who don’t like being alone with just their own thoughts.

My morning quiet time is filled with thoughts that seem to run amuck but then I find that they all come together at one destination. Take this morning for instance. I woke up with the words of a Randy Travis song running through my head.

“My love is deeper than the holler.
Stronger than the river.
Higher than the pine trees growin’ tall upon the hill.
My love is purer than the snowflakes,
That fall in late December.
And honest as a Robin on a springtime window sill.
And longer than the song of a whippoorwill.”

As I thought on those lyrics my mind was drawn back to yesterday’s Bible reading.

14-15 As long as I live, show me the same kindness the Lord does. And if I die, never stop showing this kindness to my family. Be faithful to us, even when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the earth.” 16 So Jonathan made this agreement with David and his family, and he asked the Lord to hold them responsible for keeping it.

17 Jonathan loved David as himself, and because of this love, he asked David to repeat this agreement for himself.” I Samuel 20:14-17 ERV

Jonathan and David had an unusual friendship. Jonathan’s father was King Saul, whom David would replace as king. Saul hated David and made many plots to kill him. Jonathan’s friendship with David made him more loyal to David than to his father. There was a deep love between the two of them, so great was that love that they were willing to die for one another and willing to commit to raising the other’s family if something happened to either one of them.

Their love was deeper than the holler.

Now add a third thought – yesterday had been a rainy afternoon. The kind where you could only sit inside and watch as it poured down. It was an afternoon for movies. The first, Gods and Generals, we have seen a number of times before.

It is a movie about the Civil War and the love General Lee and General Jackson had for their homeland of Virginia. They were willing to lead men, like-minded men, into battle to protect their families and their homes. The second movie, The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks was about a son’s commitment to see his father’s final wish fulfilled.

These men had a love that was stronger than the rivers.

“I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep…17 The Father loves me because I give my life. I give my life so that I can get it back again. 18 No one takes my life away from me. I give my own life freely. I have the right to give my life, and I have the right to get it back again. This is what the Father told me.” John 10:11,17-18 ERV

Final thought.

Men love with an earthly love. God loves with an unconditional, sacrifical, willing to give up life love!

Now for the final destination of those thoughts. The love a couple have for one another is deeper than the holler. The love of two friends is stronger than a river. The love of country is higher than the pine trees and the love of a son for his father is purer than the snow.

But the love that Christ has for us immeasurable, incomparable and inexhaustible.

“And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.” Ephesians 3:18-19 ERV

Now those thoughts are certainly worth more than a bank full of pennies!

A Parent’s Love

Do you remember a time when you had to leave your child somewhere and it made your heart ache? Maybe it was the first day of kindergarten, maybe it was college or boot camp, it could have been at the door to the operating room in the hospital.

A sinking feeling for sure. Even now those times bring tears to your eyes and ache to your heart.

This morning I want to tell you about Hannah. She longed for a child. The Lord heard and answered her prayer and as a response of devotion to Him she gave her little boy to the Lord’s service.

“When the boy was old enough to eat solid food, Hannah took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh…Then Hannah gave the boy to Eli. 26 She said to him, ‘Pardon me, sir. I am the same woman who stood near you praying to the Lord. I promise that I am telling the truth. 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord answered my prayer. He gave me this child. 28 And now I give this child to the Lord. He will serve the Lord all his life.’ Then Hannah left the boy there and worshiped the Lord.” I Samuel 1:24-28 ERV

The story of Hannah and Samuel isn’t just a fable that makes a good read. It is the true story of a loving mother and godly woman. Imagine how she must have wrestled with her emotions as she made the decision to take Samuel to Eli, the priest, and leave him there.

Now imagine, if you will, another parent who was willing to give up their child. This time, however, the child was given as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ERV

Hannah gave her son to a loving God but God gave His Son to an unloving world. Hannah knew her son would be well cared for, God knew His Son would be hated and abused.

It’s important that we realize the great sacrifice our heavenly Father made in giving His Son. We can’t take it lightly. He gave Him so we can have life eternal.

He gave because of His great love for us!

“Christ died for us when we were unable to help ourselves. We were living against God, but at just the right time Christ died for us. 7 Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person. 8 But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:6-8 ERV

Maybe you’re going through a tough time right now. Maybe you feel that you have been abandon, left all alone – let me assure you that isn’t true.

“…for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” Hebrews 13:5 AMP

Our loving Father will never abandon or desert us. We can rely on Him!