Things to remember in2024

Here are a couple of things I want to remember as we head into 2024.

No matter what the coming year has in store for us, we can rejoice in the fact that our Saviour is completely faithful and He holds us securely. We can rejoice knowing we are extremely blessed to be part of His family. 

We belong to Him so we should serve and worship Him joyfully and gratefully. 

He is our Help, our Refuge, our Strong Tower. When we fully trust Him and desire to please Him He will be honoured and glorified. 

He invites us to pour out our hearts to Him.

Scripture promises there will be difficult times ahead but while we walk humbly with Him, He will always be with us, so we need not fear. 

 

I hope you are encouraged by the above quote by J. C. Ryle. 

 

Glad tidings! Adapted from a carol by F. Crosby and a writing of James Smith

 https://youtu.be/bkjhP9hfFCU?si=BjaniSAxJNwfJHhk

I found this piece by James Smith encouraging. I hope you would also be blessed by pondering on these truths. 

"This is God's representation of the gospel. It brings tidings from Heaven, tidings for sinners, tidings of good things for them; yes, tidings of the very best things — for the very worst of men! Not for them exclusively, but for men as sinners, including the very worst of them. It is the glorious glad tidings of the blessed God, giving correct views of his nature, revealing his loving heart, publishing his gracious thoughts, and making known his mercy to sinful men. These tidings calculated to gladden the saddest heart, cheer the desponding mind, and fill the despairing soul with joy and peace. Never were there such Glad Tidings! No one but an infinite God could have devised them. No one, but the All-merciful God would have sent them to rebellious sinners! O that Heaven and earth would unite to praise, bless, magnify, and adore his holy name for them!

The best thing in these glad tidings, is the SAVIOR — one who is able save such sinners as we are; one who not only can — but willing to do so. Here we are informed, that God has sent his Son, to be the Savior of the world. That the only begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, possessing the nature of the Father, and equal to the Father, in majesty, power, and glory — that this only begotten Son, came into our world, took our nature, made an atonement for sin, and opened a way in which any sinner, and every sinner who will, may be saved — saved certainly, honorably, and eternally. Yes, any sinner can be saved now. Every sinner who will, shall be saved now.

There is no impediment in the path. There is no legal difficulty in the way. Jesus has all the qualifications required in one who is to save the vilest, to save freely, and to save all who apply to be saved by him.

The glad tidings forbid despair, they prohibit despondency, they are intended to dispel every doubt and fear. There is in reality no room for a single doubt, no room for a solitary fear, if the gospel is truly understood and believed. Any sinner, be he who he may — every sinner, be he what he will — may be saved — and be saved the moment he hears the gospel, let it find him where it will, or in whatever state it will.

Jesus is an almighty Savior. Jesus is an ever willing Savior. Jesus is a loving Savior. There is no reluctance on his part. It is no difficulty to him. Therefore he calls sinners to him — sinners of every name, sinners under all circumstances. His invitations embrace all. The glad tidings exclude none. The man or woman who reads these lines, is as really, as sincerely invited by Jesus, to come and be saved by him, as if a letter had been hand-written by Jesus and addressed to that person by name. All who hear or read are invited, all who are invited are desired to come, all who come are welcomed, and all who are welcomed are saved.

Can you conceive of anything better than this?

A Savior for vile sinners;

a Savior to deliver sinners from the lowest Hell;

a Savior to raise sinners to the highest Heaven;

a Savior from sin — the cause of suffering;

a Savior from guilt — the source of fear;

a Savior from the world, which is doomed to destruction!

Precious Redeemer, may your name be soon universally known; and may the glorious glad tidings of your saving love, power, and mercy, be published in every land, in every tongue, to every soul!

Next to the Savior, comes the free and full forgiveness of all sin, and the gospel is the glad tidings of this.

Without pardon — we perish.

Without pardon — we cannot know peace with God.

Without pardon — we cannot be holy.

Without pardon — we cannot have fellowship with God.

Without pardon — there can be no Heaven.

Now, the gospel is the glad tidings of pardon — the pardon of all sin, the instantaneous pardon of all sin, the eternal forgiveness of all sin — for every one who believes in Jesus. All the prophets bear witness, that through Jesus, and by faith in his name — pardon may be obtained. All the apostles preached a full, free, and everlasting pardon of all sin — for every one who believes in Jesus. And by the gospel, a complete pardon of every sin, and the perfect and everlasting justification of every person, is guaranteed to every one one that believes on the Son of God. A pardon without penance — a pardon without confession to a priest. A pardon without delay. For the moment a sinner renounces all dependence on himself and his own works, places his confidence in the finished work of Christ, and confesses his sins at a throne of grace — he is forgiven all trespasses.

And, as often as he is overcome by temptation, falls into sin, and brings guilt upon his conscience; confessing his fault, pleading the name of Jesus, and trusting in God's mercy — he is pardoned afresh. Daily sins are forgiven by a gracious Father — and by constantly applying to the all-cleansing blood of Jesus, the conscience is kept clean, peaceful and happy. O what a mercy to have an open fountain! O what a privilege to have the promise of a free and perfect pardon on confession of sin and exercising faith in Jesus! This the gospel presents to us, not once in our lives — but every day, every time we hear or read it — well therefore may it be called "glad tidings of good things."

The gospel is also the good news of a better country, even a Heavenly one. HEAVEN is . . .

a rest for the weary,

a home for the homeless, and

the best company for the lonely and desolate.

Heaven comprises . . .

all that can feast the intellect,

all that can satisfy the heart,

all that can fill the soul.

It is enriched with all the wealth of God,

it is filled with the glory of God, and

it is the house and home of God.

In Heaven there is . . .

no pain or privation,

no grief or sorrow,

no losses or crosses,

no temptations or trials,

no wants or woes.

Heaven contains the highest manifestations of the greatness, grandeur, and magnificence of God. Heaven is the home of the brightest, holiest, and most dignified of God's intelligent creation. Heaven! what is it? Heaven! What does it comprise and comprehend? "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined — what God has prepared for those who love Him!" No one can give the faintest guess at what Heaven is — but whatever it is, whatever it contains, the gospel tells us that it is for saved sinners.

Nor is Heaven a place difficult of access, or hard to obtain. There is a new and living way to it, and Jesus is the way. By coming to him, and trusting in him, we enter on the way; and by confiding in him, and walking with him, we make progress in the way. The path to Heaven, is not by works of righteousness which we have done or can do — it is not by any sufferings we have endured or can endure — but it is by simple faith in Jesus. He who believes has everlasting life, and shall never come into condemnation. Whoever believes in him shall not perish — but have eternal life. Nor can we have life, escape condemnation, or arrive at Heaven in any other way — for God's word is plain and decisive, "He who believes on the Son of God — has everlasting life; and he who believes not the Son — shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him."

Reader, the kingdom of God has come near unto you — will you enter it? The good news of a Savior is made known to you — will you embrace it and act upon it? The pardon of all sin is presented to you — will you accept it? Heaven, God's Heaven, and the way to it, is set before you — will you believe and make use of it?

The gospel is God's best message to man. It contains the promise of all that man can need, and all that God can give, to every one who sincerely believes the message, is willing to receive the grace, and applies for it. No sinner that reads or hears the gospel, perishes because he cannot be saved — but because he will not. Take heed therefore how you treat the gospel, for we can conceive of no greater sin, than disbelieving God's message; or of any greater insult offered to God, than to treat his message with contempt.

Believe the gospel, and it will make you glad. Believe Christ, as presented in the gospel, and it will satisfy your soul. Enter on God's consecrated way to glory, and Heaven with all its joys, pleasures, and glories are yours. But, if you refuse the gospel — you will surely perish! If you neglect the gospel — you will surely die! If you put off — it may be too late. Now, the glorious glad tidings are presented to you — presented to you as from God.

You are told that there is a Savior, and a great One — a Savior for sinners, for sinners such as you are — a Savior for you if you will receive him, employ him, and give yourself up to be saved by him.

A pardon is now offered you, the pardon of all your sins whether secret or open, past or present, of heart and life — a pardon that will bring peace to your conscience, holiness to your heart, and a foretaste of Heaven into your soul. A pardon that will fit you for fellowship with God now, and communion with God forever.

Heaven is now set before you, you may obtain it — and eternally possess it. Is it possible, that such sinners as we are — so vile, so poor, so feeble, so utterly worthless — may obtain God's Heaven, and dwell in it with the Savior forever? It is, and more than possible, it is comparatively easy — only believe and all is yours — nor is faith left to be done by your own power, for the Holy Spirit, who works faith in the sinner's heart, is plainly, positively, and solemnly promised to every one that asks for him. With that sweet and precious assurance, as it dropped from the Savior's lips, we close our remarks on the glad tidings; "If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."

Latest song called Maranatha

 https://youtu.be/krA83x6jGng

Here's the latest song I wrote and recorded, stemming from a few conversations and sermon snippets...

As the days are getting darker, we need to be reminded to look up for our Redeemer is coming quickly! 

Thank You Heavenly Father for the blessed hope!!

I hope you are blessed and encouraged.

 

The Greatest Friend

Reading through the book of Matthew this morning, I came across this little phrase that struck me... 

"But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”" 

The Lord looked with love on the one who was betraying Him. 

Obviously we cannot hear the tone in which the Lord spoke it but what tender compassion He displayed for the man who was by that time personally indwelt by the enemy.

How amazing that our Saviour would condescend to call any human "friend" but at that moment in those circumstances is past comprehension!

He knew the depths of depravity and He still chose such a gracious loving response!! 

I don't think I've ever suffered betrayal, but knowing our human nature I would imagine I would not feel at all kindly towards a betrayer.

Only recorded in Matthew's account, Mark and John say nothing of Jesus's words to Judas in the garden of Gethsemane, while Luke recorded another equally challenging sentence, "But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”"

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." 

Thank You Lord Jesus for being willing to suffer such treatment because You love and forgive those who put their trust in You!

Heavenly Father please help us and keep us from treachery. How we need Your Grace and Mercy to live a life that will bring honour and glory to Your Holy Name!

I find it truly remarkable that Jesus spoke this to all His disciples... 

"for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God."

Thank You Heavenly Father for such a precious gift! We believe and are saved because You enabled us to hear and respond! Thank You for demonstrating Your great love and compassion for us! 

Are we thirsty? Are we seeking the Lord?

Ho, every one that is thirsty in spirit,

Ho, every one that is weary and sad;

Come to the fountain, there’s fulness in Jesus,

All that you’re longing for, come and be glad.

Refrain:

“I will pour water on him that is thirsty,

I will pour floods upon the dry ground;

Open your heart for the gift I am bringing;

While you are seeking Me, I will be found.”

Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage?

Weary of earth-joys, so false, so untrue?

Thirsting for God and His fulness of blessing?

List to the promise, a message for you!

Child of the Kingdom, be filled with the Spirit!

Nothing but fulness thy longing can meet:

‘Tis the enduement for life and for service;

Thine is the promise, so certain, so sweet.

Although this hymn is in the Redemption hymnal, I hadn't noticed it there... 

Written by Lucy Rider Meyer born in Vermont, 1849, died in 1922.

Another excerpt from James Smith

 The world's politics, pleasures, and pursuits!

The world and the Church are essentially and eternally distinct — and they ought to be distinguishable. The Church ought not to mix with the world — but to bear a practical testimony against it, that its works and ways are evil. All through our Lord's prayer, He keeps up the distinction, and twice over He asserts of His disciples, "They are not of the world — even as I am not of the world!"

Believers are not of the world. They are born from above, and possess a nature far superior to that of the world — which unfits them for its pleasures and pursuits, and qualifies them for the enjoyments and employments of the Heavenly world.

They are delivered from the thraldom of the world — and are raised above its pursuits and its joys.

They will not be conquered by the world — but overcome it by faith.

They will not be judged with it — but with Christ will sit in judgment upon it.

They will not be punished like it — neither in the present nor in the future state.

True believers are not of the world!

Look at the world's state — condemned; and theirs, justified!

Look at its condition — wretched; and theirs, happy!

Look at its character — enemies to God; and theirs, the friends of God!

Look at its course — sin; and theirs, holiness!

Look at its god — Satan, the most degraded, depraved, and despicable being in existence; and theirs, Jehovah, the high and lofty one, the holy and happy one, the great and glorious one!

Look at its end — destruction; and theirs, salvation.

The world is darkness — they are light.
The world is corrupt — they are purified.
The world is in chains — they are free.

We are not of the world, even as Christ is not of the world!

If we are poor — let us not, then, envy the world.

A saint in rags — is preferable to a sinner in robes!

A believer in a hovel — is happier than a worldling in a palace!

A Christian at the worst — is far better off than a worldling at the best!

Whatever we have — we have with God's blessing!
Whatever the world has — it has with God's curse!

We are training for greatness and grandeur!
The world is preparing for shame and everlasting contempt!

The world is no model for a Christian! We should . . .
  not dress so expensively,
  nor furnish our homes so extravagantly,
  nor live so luxuriously — as the world does!
But as strangers and pilgrims in the world — we should abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

Let us not be dejected — if we are stripped of what we now have. We are not of the world — we do not have our portion here. We need but little of this world's goods, and our Heavenly Father will see to it that we have enough. He will not allow us to lose anything that is essential to our holiness or happiness. As our lives are insured by our Heavenly Father — so all our needs are anticipated, and provided for. Lose what we may — we shall never lose . . .
  our God,
  our title deed to our glorious inheritance, or
  our place at the marriage supper of the Lamb!

Let us not be much troubled about the world. As we are . . .
  chosen out of it,
  redeemed from it, and
  shall soon leave it —
we should not allow ourselves to be very much affected by any of its affairs. The world's politics, pleasures, and pursuits — should be looked upon by us with the eye of a foreigner — for we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth, as all our fathers were. We arrived in the world but yesterday — and we leave tomorrow!

Let us not, therefore, mix up with the world, or be much taken up with its schemes and cares, its speculations or its prospects.

Let us always keep up our distinction from the world. Not in a spirit of pride or self-righteousness, as if conscious of some supposed superiority in ourselves. But in a meek, lowly, and loving spirit — let us avoid all that is really evil, and abstain from what has the appearance of evil.

Heavenly Father, as You have chosen us out of the world — give us grace to live above the world, and enable us to glorify You in the world! Make us like your beloved Son, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. Oh, to live in this world as strangers and pilgrims — as those whose treasure is above — and whose hearts are there also!

Another encouraging snippet from James Smith.

 “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God, and are called according to His purpose!” Romans 8:28

If you are a sincere believer in Jesus, whatever may be your present difficult circumstances, however trying, however perplexing, “It will all end in mercy!”

You may not think so now. You may be writing bitter things against yourself. You may be misinterpreting the designs of God’s providence. You may be doubting the precious promises of God’s holy Word. But, notwithstanding your mistakes, your doubts, your fears, your false conclusions – “It will all end in mercy!”

You do not think so- nor did Jacob once, nor did Joseph once, nor did Job once, nor did thousands once – who are now in glory!

They were mistaken – and so are you!

They judged by appearances – and so do you!

They changed their minds- and so will you!

All your troubles are appointed in infinite love!

They are all weighed out by sovereign goodness!

They are all limited by perfect wisdom!

There is no “chance” in what happens to the Christian!

Everything is divinely arranged and appointed!

 

Cheer up, my poor weary fellow-traveller! You will soon arrive at Home, and then you will see clearly and enjoy sweetly the blessed truth – that to the believer “all will end in mercy!”

 

Take comfort, poor afflicted fellow-Christian! Your afflictions are God’s furnace, in which He is refining you! He is only fitting you to occupy a mansion in Heaven, and to sing the sweet and everlasting song – the theme of which will be, “It all ended in mercy!”

 

Fear not, poor feeble, fickle, faltering follower of Jesus! Though your faith is weak, though your fears are strong, though your doubts are painful, though you conclude that case is singular and your condition hopeless – “the year of release is at hand,” and then…

Your doubts will expire, your fears will flee away, your groans will be silenced, your feeble hopes will be realised, for “it will all end in mercy!”

 

My brother, are you in poverty, under persecution, or in bodily sickness? Cheer up! Your light shall soon “break forth as the morning!” Write it down in your memorandum book, or impress it upon your memory, or, what is better still – pray the Holy Spirit to give you the sweet inward assurance of the fact, that “It will all end in mercy,” for “we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose!”

James Smith

Stepping Heavenward excerpts

 I came across this book recommendation recently and I’ve found it delightful and helpful. “Stepping Heavenward” by E. Prentiss. (born 1818, died 1878).

"A fictional story of a young girl and the many challenges she confronts in her adult life."

These excerpts are some I found particularly encouraging.

 

“After alluding to my complaint that I still “saw men as trees walking,” he says:

“Yet he who first uttered this complaint had had his eyes opened by the Son of God, and so have you. Now He never leaves His work incomplete, and He will gradually lead you into clear and open vision, if you will allow Him to do it. I say gradually, because I believe this to be His usual method, while I do not deny that there are cases where light suddenly bursts in like a flood. To return to the blind man. When Jesus found that his cure was not complete, He put His hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up; and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. Now this must be done for you; and in order to have it done you must go to Christ Himself, not to one of His servants. Make your complaint, tell Him how obscure everything still looks to you, and beg Him to complete your cure. He may see fit to try your faith and patience by delaying this completion; but meanwhile you are safe in His presence, and while led by His hand, He will excuse the mistakes you make, and pity your falls. But you will imagine that it is best that He should at once enable you to see clearly. If it is, you may be sure He will do it. He never makes mistakes. But He often deals far differently with His disciples. He lets them grope their way in the dark until they fully learn how blind they are, how helpless, how absolutely in need of Him. What His methods will be with you I cannot foretell. But you may be sure that He never works in an arbitrary way. He has a reason for everything He does. You may not understand why He leads you now in this way and now in that, but you may, nay, you must believe that perfection is stamped on His every act.”

 

“I can’t be good two minutes at a time. I do everything I do not want to do, and do nothing I try and pray to do. Everybody plagues me and tempts me. And God does not answer any of my prayers, and I am just desperate.”

“Poor child!” he said, in a low voice, as if to himself. “Poor, heart-sick, tired child, that cannot see what I can see, that it’s Father’s loving arms are all about it!”

I stopped crying, to strain my ears to listen. He went on- “Katy, all that you say may be true. I daresay it is. But God loves you. He loves you!”

“He loves me,” I repeated to myself. “He loves me! Oh Dr. Cabot, if I could believe that, after all the promises I have broken, all the foolish, wrong things I have done, and shall always be doing, God perhaps still loves me!”

“You may be sure of it,” he said, solemnly. “I, his minister, bring the gospel to you today. Go home and say over and over to yourself, “I am a wayward, foolish child. But He loves me! I have disobeyed and grieved Him ten thousand times. But He loves me! I have lost faith in some of my dearest friends and am very desolate. But He loves me! I do not love Him, I am even angry with Him! But He loves me!””

I came away, and all the way home I fought this battle with myself, saying, “He loves me!” I knelt down to pray and all my wasted, childish, wicked life came and stared me in the face. I looked at it, and said with tears of joy, “But He loves me!” Never in my life did I feel so rested, so quieted, so sorrowful, and yet so satisfied.

 

(Several years pass with many heartaches before the next two excerpts.)

“But I see, too, that the great points of similarity in Christ’s disciples have always been the same. This is the testimony of all the good books, sermons, hymns, and memoirs I read- that God’s ways are infinitely perfect; that we are to love Him for what He is, and therefore equally as much when He afflicts us as when He prospers us; that there is no real happiness but in doing and suffering His will, and that this life is but a scene of probation, through which we pass to the real life above.”

 

This last one is when Katherine is visiting an old saint on her deathbed.

“Yes, I am tired,” she said, “but what of that? It is only a question of days now, and all my tired feelings will be over. Then I shall be as young and as fresh as ever, and shall have strength to praise and to love God as I cannot do now. But before I go, I want once more to tell you how good He is, how blessed it is to suffer with Him, how infinitely happy He has made me in the very hottest heat of the furnace. It will strengthen you in your trials to recall this my dying testimony. There is no wilderness so dreary but that His love can illuminate it; no desolation so desolate but that He can sweeten it. I know what I am saying. It is no delusion. I believe that the highest, purest happiness is known only to those who have learned Christ in sickrooms, in poverty, in racking suspense and anxiety, amid hardships, and at the open grave.”

Yes, the radiant face, worn by sickness and suffering, but radiant still, said in language yet more unspeakably impressive.

“To learn Christ, this is life!”

Under the Surface

 When I was putting some books away in my cupboard I came across this little gem called "Under the Surface".

On closer inspection it turned out that it contains many hymns written by Frances Ridley Havergal.

Here is a selection that stood out to me so far. 

Here's the link to the song I recorded today

 https://youtu.be/br90Cvs7JAQ

Time for a song

 https://youtu.be/fHg0kQDBPPg

This is the latest one I uploaded, although I wrote most of it in 2020.

I hope you will be blessed by the truth of it. 

Hell

 Awhile ago, I looked at what the Bible says about Heaven.

The other day, a friend challenged me to tell them what the Bible says about Hell and the other names that seem to refer to the same place.

Here’s my attempt.

 

Tartarus: only (1) ref in KJV : deepest abyss of Hades; eternal torment

Abyss/bottomless pit (9)

Hades, (10) “unseen” place or state of departed souls

Gehenna (12) valley of Jerusalem, figuratively place or state of everlasting punishment

Sheol, (65) world of the dead (as if subterranean retreat) and accessories and inmates: grave

 

In 2 Gospels, it states Capernaum will descend to Hades.

Gates of Hades will not overpower the Lord’s Church. (interesting side note there was a cave in Caesarea Philippi where the Greco-Roman gods were worshipped/sacrificed to. It was here where Jesus told His disciples that the Gates of Hell would not prevail against the Church.)

David spoke of Christ’s soul not being abandoned to Hades, nor decaying.

The Living One has the keys of death and of Hades.

Death and Hades were given authority to kill ¼ of the population.

Death and Hades give up the dead in them and they’re thrown into the Lake of Fire which is the 2^nd death.

Jacob said he’d go down to Sheol in mourning.

Korah and those who rebelled with him descended alive into Sheol.

God’s anger fire burns to the lowest part of Sheol.

The Lord kills and makes alive, brings down to Sheol and raises up.

Cords of Sheol can surround people.

David told Solomon not to let Shimei go to Sheol in peace.

Sheol is deep. Those who go there do not return. Some make their bed/home there in darkness.

Sheol consumes those who have sinned. No one praises God there! The wicked “return” there… (interesting…)

God brought David’s soul up from Sheol, kept him alive that he wouldn’t go down to the pit.

The wicked in Sheol are put to shame.

God bought back souls from the power of Sheol.

“my soul has had enough troubles and my life has drawn near to Sheol.” Psalm 88:3 (Reading this Psalm made me think Heman the Ezrahite must have had a very rough time of it!) 

Man cannot redeem his own soul from the power of Sheol. 

It is a terrifying place but God (being omnipresent) is there too! Of course there is nowhere He is not (apart from in the thoughts of the wicked.) 

Fools go there- it is open before the Lord, it is down/below.

The disciplining of children, if they take heed, can rescue their souls from Sheol.

It is never full or satisfied. It has a large appetite.

In Sheol there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

Jealousy is as severe as Sheol.

It is enlarged and excited to receive Lucifer whose pomp and music has been brought down to Sheol and Lucifer himself will be thrust down there.

Though people think they can make a pact with it, it is deception- it would not stand.

It has gates. It cannot thank God.

It has power and sting.

Hell is fiery; bodies and souls are thrown there; people are sentenced there and God has authority to cast there.

The tongue is set on fire by hell.

God casts the sinning angels there.

The fire is not quenched and the worm doesn’t die.

Demons implored the Lord not to command them to go to the abyss.

An angel was given the keys to the bottomless pit.

Abaddon/Apollyon is the “angel” as king over the pit.

The beast comes up out of it, and Satan is thrown into it.

The devil, beast and false prophet are tormented in the Lake of fire and brimstone day and night forever and ever.

Eternal fire was prepared for the devil and his angels.

It will be a dreadful place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. We all deserve Hell but Thank You Heavenly Father for providing the way of escape!!!