"Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures."  James 1: 16-18

Who really decides what is good in this world?  Is it the lawmakers, or maybe even law enforcers?  Or is it those people we consider to be "good" people, like civil rights activists or Mother Theresa?  I mean, surely those people who do "good" things know the difference between what is good and what is bad.  Right?  So why are there so many different ideas about what is good?

The worldly view of "good" is a constantly changing roller coaster of theories and ideals.  Many of the Nazis in Germany thought they were doing "good" by attempting to wipe out the Jews.  But is it ever good to kill off an entire group of people, specifically God's chosen people in this case?  The members of Westboro Baptist Church thought they were doing "good" when they tried to cleanse the nation of a sin and started the "God Hates Fags" movement.  But their movement led to the humanly judgment of sinners, when God alone has the right to judge our sin; and He hates sin, it's true, but He doesn't hate sinners.  In fact, He loves sinners enough to die for the penalty of that sin.

Our worldly view of "good" is often skewed by sociological change, economic status, cultural biases, etc.  It is skewed by the world around us.  But there is nothing of this world that provides anything more than a few short bursts of happiness, often followed by longer periods of hurt and sadness.  Things like promiscuity, pornography, drugs and alcohol, which the world often refer to as "good," usually wind up hurting relationships, lives and, ultimately, ourselves.  

But there is one good that never changes.  It's always been and always will be.  The good that comes from above.  God's good.  When God says something is good, it is always good.  When God created the heavens and the earth, it was good.  When He formed the plants and animals from nothing, it was good.  When He molded man and woman and breathed His life into them, it was very good.  And He is still doing good for us every day.  Through His Word and His presence, He tells us what is actually good.  Because good is only good if it lines up with God.  So the next time you're wondering if something is good, find out what God thinks.  His good should be the standard for our good.

Father, help every "good" in my life to align with Your good.  Help me to have the discernment necessary to tell the difference between Your good and the world's good in the toughest situations, and help me to handle those situations while still shining Your light.  Praise You for Your goodness!  In Jesus' name, Amen.

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.  As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father;  and I lay down My life for the sheep.  And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd."  John 10: 13-16

Have you ever felt lost in the chaos of this world?  Not only feeling like you're just a cog in the wheel, but even losing your identity to the world around you?  I'm not sure that it's possible to exist in this world without, at least occasionally, feeling lost in it.  Even with Christ, it's so easy to get caught up in it all and forget who you are.  Fortunately, God is really good at providing reminders.

In John 10, Jesus doesn't just remind us that He laid down His life for us, His sheep.  He stakes His claim for us.  He reminds us that when we believed, we became His own.  We are the property of the Good Shepherd, regardless of the sheepfold we are currently residing.  When we hear His voice, we will know Him and flock to Him.  We recognize Him, and He us, so much so that all we need is to hear His voice.  Whatever you might be going through, whatever trial you're facing, just listen for His voice.  You are a sheep of the Good Shepherd.  You are His. I am His.  We were in debt to sin, but we've been bought, and that debt paid, by the blood of Jesus Christ.  My identity is found in Him.  I am all that He says I am, and He says that I am His own.

All He Says I Am by Cody Carnes

He whispers in my ear
Tells me that I'm fearless
He shares a melody
Tells me to repeat it
And it makes me whole
It reminds my soul

I am all He says I am
I am all He says I am
I am all He says I am
And He says I am His own

I was blinded by scales upon my eyes
Then He came like a light
And burned up all the lies
He set me free
He reminded me

I am all He says I am
I am all He says I am
I am all He says I am
An He says I am His own

Chains are broken
Scales are on the floor
Truth is spoken
I'm no orphan anymore

I am loved
I am new again
I am free
I'm no slave to sin
I'm saint
I am righteousness
I'm alive 

Father, continue to remind us that we belong to You, that Jesus paid for us, and that we are forever Yours.  We follow you Good Shepherd.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord.'  Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!  Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the Testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.  For thrones are set there for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:  'May they prosper who love you.  Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.'  For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, 'Peace be within you.'  Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good."  Psalm 122

​I don't think anyone would question that God's chosen people, His first love if you will, were the descendants of Abraham, the Jewish people.  The entire Old Testament, or the Tanakh, is originally written in Hebrew, short of a few select chapters.  Most of the major players in the Biblical stories we know best were of Jewish decent (though not all), including the most important, HaMashiach Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah.  God's original covenant was with His people, and He protected them and watched over them, even during times of punishment for their actions.  And, His plan for redemption was fulfilled through His people and the lineage of David.  Even the original followers of Christ were Jewish, who eventually spread the Gospel to the Gentiles and started the first churches.

Knowing all of this, it came as quite a surprise to me when I realized about a year ago that much of the Church today believes that the promises of God to Israel are no longer valid, and that the Church has replaced Israel in those promises.  How did I not know of this replacement theology?  Had I never actually heard anyone speak of it, or was I just so ignorant to ignore it?  Or worse, did I actually believe it and just not realize it because I rarely read my Bible?

The more I read and study the Bible, the more I discover that it is the most cohesive story ever told, from Genesis to Revelation, and it was penned by over 40 different authors over thousands of years.  The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed, and the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed (Chuck Missler), and all of it by Holy inspiration of God and His Breath (Spirit) (2 Tim. 3:16).  The Bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and those who love her will prosper (Psalm 122:6).  Not only that, but Paul makes it a point several times to give priority to Israel, as he describes the promises of Christ given first to the Jew and then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16 and many others).  He even writes a whole section of the epistle to the Romans about Israel and her destiny (Romans 9, 10 and 11).  And it's difficult to deny the "Jewishness" of Revelation 5 to the end (i.e. Jesus' titles as the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David and the 144,000 of the 12 tribes of Israel, just as a few examples).

Israel still has a destiny in God's great plan for mankind.  It differs from that of the Church, but we have not replaced them in God's eyes.  In fact, it's possible that they are even more important.  If by Israel's denial of Christ, salvation was able to come to the Gentiles, how much greater would the riches be in the fullness of Israel, if they recognized the Messiah (Romans 11:11-12)?  In fact, I'm thankful for Israel, because without them I would have no Savior and be dead in a life of sin.  My prayer is not only for the peace of Israel and the comfort of the Jewish people, but that more and more of them would come to know that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled not just a few, but all of the Messianic prophecies in their scriptures and that the way to God the Father is by Him alone.

Father, protect Your people and bring peace to the land of Israel.  Watch over Jerusalem, Your Holy city, as they deal with constant violence and destruction from Your enemies.  Bring revelation to the Church and help us all to see the importance of Israel and their role in Your plan for mankind, and remove any antisemitic thoughts.  Help them to recognize Yeshua as the Messiah, so they can bridge the gap to You and experience Your freedom.  In Jesus' great name, Amen.

"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  Matt 18: 3-4

I am very fortunate to spend most of my days working from home.  As a result, I have the privilege of having my 2 year old son home with me most days.  And although it can be frustrating at times trying to wrangle and work, I really enjoy watching him growing and molding into what will eventually become, hopefully, the man God made him to be.  But what is interesting to me is how, by watching him, I've started to see more of what God wants from me.   

My son is trusting, almost to a fault.  He believes that I always have what's best for him, and that I will always catch him when he falls and protect him from danger.  Even when I'm sitting in the floor, not looking in his direction, and he jumps off the couch toward me expecting to be caught.  If my child trusts me that much, a flawed man that will eventually miss or mess up, how much more should I trust my Heavenly Father who really does always have my best interests in mind? 

My son loves unconditionally and is forgiving.  It doesn't even matter if I've just had to punish him for something, in 30 seconds or less, he again wants to play with daddy, or give hugs and wrestle.  So often, when something happens in my life, I "blame" God instead of understanding that God loves me unconditionally, even if I needed to be chastised, and I should reciprocate that love.  After all, if it weren't for His unconditional love at the cross, I would have no chance at life.

My son is always happy to be near me.  Even when he just leaves the room for a moment, his excitement and joy is magnificent that I'm still there upon his return.  Sometimes, when he leaves the room, he'll peek out just make sure I'm following.  Why don't I search for God's presence with that much joy and excitement, or expectancy?  His presence is where I get my joy, so I should be so excited for Him to be near that I expect it every moment.

My son is eager to learn, quick to try but quick to release the heavy burdens, sympathetic and unassuming, adventurous, and so many more.  And he is most of these things simply because the world hasn't corrupted him to think otherwise.  He is led by his heart, and his mind follows.  I can only imagine what I would be like if I had only learned from God and His Word, and everything had not been filtered through the world.  But instead of developing my child-like faith as a child and keeping it, now I have to work to get it back.  I am blessed to have an inspirational example of what God wants from me.

Father, thank You for my child, because he not only taught me how to understand a little more about You and Your unconditional love for me, but he is teaching me daily about how seek you without reservation and barrier.  Help me to continue toward a child-like faith in You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

"My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.  Awake, harp and lyre!  I will awaken the dawn.  I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples."  Psalm 108: 1-3 (NIV)

My first real encounter with Jesus was after I started leading worship for the youth group at a small Southern Baptist church when I was 16 years old.  It was leading worship for those kids that actually led me to Christ.  I had been taught about who He was, but it wasn't until then that I actually met Him.  I was sitting alone on that red carpeted stage one night when praise band practice had been cancelled, working a few songs on the acoustic guitar when I finally let go and truly started to worship Him.  His presence overwhelmed me to the point of tears, and it was that night that I understood His sacrifice and my life was changed forever.

Of course, that life is not without its ups and downs.  There are still times when my will gets in the way of His, and my plan pushes His aside.  But He has His ways of sending subtle reminders of my original life changing experience and what it still means.  Today, I was having trouble focusing my mind, and just really wasn't interested in writing.  I missed last week because I wasn't feeling well, and it would have been easier to just skip it and procrastinate again until next week.  

But as I was listening to a little worship music on my Pandora today (and by a little I mean about 25 minutes tops), I heard a familiar worship song not once, but twice.  It was a song that I hadn't heard in a long time, but that I was playing that night when Jesus first took control of my heart.  The words still mean as much to me as they did that night, so tonight I wanted to leave you with an older worship song from my youth, one that renews my thankfulness every time I hear it.

Here I Am To Worship by Mark Hayes and Tim Hughes

Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that
You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days, oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came
To the earth You created
All for love's sake became poor

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that
You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

I'll never know
How much it cost
To see my sin
Upon that cross

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that
You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

Father God, help me to never forget the sacrifice that You made to come to earth and save my life.  I'll truly never know how much it cost You to place my sin upon the cross, but I thank you for paying that price so that I can live freely in You.  I will praise you among all of the peoples of the world.  In Jesus' name and by His blood, Amen.

"The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.  They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths.  Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts them."  Psalm 135:15-18

​Have you ever noticed how difficult personal change can be without environmental change?  If an alcoholic wants to stop drinking, it's much harder if he continues to hang out at the same bars and clubs as before the decision.  If a man wants to break a bondage of lust, it would be detrimental to continue to frequent a gentleman's club.  When we flood our minds and bodies with something for long enough, it can become a part of who we are, and sometimes it can change us into something beyond our intention.  

In Psalm 135, the psalmist describes the nations as unable speak, see, hear or breath because they are like the silver and gold idols they make.  Like the metal statues they worshiped, the people had become cold and hard in their hearts, preventing them from encountering God.  

 I am no different than these people.  Whatever finds it's way to first in my mind, eventually finds it's way to first in my heart.  And that is what will eventually mold and shape me into who I am.  The world is materialistic, hardened and unjust.  When I focus on the things of the world, which I admit happens more than I would like, it doesn't take long before I notice myself becoming materialistic, hardened and unjust.  I become covetous, lustful and judgmental because I am becoming like the idol in my focus.

And after time passes with my heart in that place, even as I begin to turn away from the world, I find myself desensitized to the things of the world.  Certain perversions, like offensive language or minor sexuality, are no longer as offensive as they once were.  They are really "not that bad" or "could've been much worse."  Unfortunately, I think this is where the majority of Christians, including myself, have settled.  Our world has spent so much time in an X-rated reality, that the R-rated or PG-13 rated versions are an acceptable way to live, no longer seeing that the consequence of a half-way lifestyle is just as detrimental as the alternative.  (It's almost frightening how accurately Paul's words in Romans 1:18-31 describe our world today.) (Also see Revelation 2:12-17 and 3:14-22 for more scary descriptions.)

But there is always another way.  If I become broken and corrupt when I focus on the world, then the opposite must also be true.  God is righteous and holy.  He is good and just.  He is loving and kind.  If He becomes my priority, the focus of my mind and my heart, then I WILL become like Him, just as I have become like the world.  If I make God, in all His glory, my environment, then He can and will change me into who I was created to be in His plan.  After all, I am already justified by faith, having peace with God through my Lord Jesus Christ, through whom I also have access by faith into the grace in which I stand, rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).  Now I want to be more like Him.

Father, help me to refocus my mind and my heart.  For all the parts of my life that have settled in the world, help me to turn those places back to You.  Align my life with Your plan.  Make me more like You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." John 15:16

Last Tuesday was Super Tuesday, and the primary election was held here in Texas to determine many local leaders as well as the candidates for the President of this great country I call home.  I had every intention of still writing a post last week, but as the line at the voting booth continued to get longer and longer, I realized that it was going to be a much more time consuming event than I had anticipated.  It was obviously not my first primary election, but it was my first since moving to small town Texas, and what can I say?  I miss judged the single voting center in our town, not realizing that the whole population of the town would be there at once.

As I was standing in line, having conversations with others about life, the candidates, the state of the country, etc., I couldn't help but wonder if God was as displeased with the overzealous circus we call leadership as many of those I was standing around, or even myself.  After all, we've removed Him from all things pertaining to state:  government, laws, schools, everyday decision-making, even the common belief about creation.  Even the candidates and officials who claim His Name don't seem to be clinging to the Almighty God I serve.  In fact, it actually seems that there is more of push to remove God from everything, including the church, than to a revival of His principles.

Obviously, many Christians see this occurring and want fruitful change.  But who is responsible for that change?  Jesus told His disciples in John 15:16 that they were chosen by Him, and He appointed them to go and bear fruit, that their fruit might remain and foster real change.  He went on in verse 18 and 19 to warn them that they would be hated by the world because they are no longer of the world, but chosen by grace to God. When Jesus told them to "go and make disciples of all the nations" (Matt. 28:19), everyone they reached were then chosen by Him, appointed to go and bear fruit, even among the hatred of the world.

So who is responsible for fruitful change?  We are.  It is our job as believers to bear fruit and fill the streets of Heaven with souls in Jesus' name.  If we want things to change in our nation, that too is our responsibility.  We are very fortunate to live in a place that allows the people to have a voice.  As Christians, we need to use that voice.  Every vote that is cast in these elections count.  Prayerfully consider the candidates, and vote according to God and His Biblical principle.  If you feel like that means stepping outside of the current two party system we have so clung to for so long, then do that.  I don't care if you're Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green Party or none of the above, go vote.  Not only is it our right as Americans, it is our responsibility, and not one to be taken lightly.

God, I pray that every Christian in our nation will pray and seek You and Your Word for guidance as we make the increasingly important decisions about who will lead us over this next chapter.  Just as you anointed the kings and prophets of Israel, anoint the new leaders of this nation.  I pray that every believer will choose to use the voice we have been granted, and vote to draw a dying nation back to You, the Creator of Heaven and Earth.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matt. 28:19-20

As I close the God in Three Parts series that I've been writing, I wanted to once again bring the focus back to where it belongs, the one God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.  I've spent several weeks now breaking down the differences between the persons of the Trinity, but I don't want that to water down the fact that each member is God, not a god, but the God.

The metaphors that I've used (primarily the image of man and the puzzle with pieces) are focused on smaller parts summed together to make a whole.  I've used these because they're easier for me to understand.  My feeble human mind needs to see things in a form that makes sense.  Unfortunately this puts my infinite God in a very finite box.  It might not necessarily make sense, but God isn't a whole made up of smaller parts in the Father, Word and the Holy Spirit.  Each part of the Trinity is equal to the whole.  The math doesn't add up, but the Father is 100% of God, the Word is 100% of God and the Holy Spirit is 100% of God.  There's no way to describe this in a natural way, because my God is outside of the world we can understand.

The closest I have come was in an article I once read, which stated that "God is one in essence, but three in Person."  Meaning that there are three Persons of God that make up one essence, sharing all of His attributes, while existing within multiple consciousness.  We see this more clearly in Matt. 28:19, when Jesus told His followers to "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  There are three names in which we are to baptize, but the word for name used here, onoma, is in the singular form.  There is one name of three persons.  His is the Name above all names, and whether you call Him Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit, His name is God.

"And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me.  Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth!  For I am God, and there is no other."  Isaiah 45:21-22

Father, thank You for teaching us more about You everyday.  I pray that we continue to seek Your face, and continue to desire to learn new things about You, the God of the universe, in all Your glorious essence.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." John 14:16-17

There is definitely considerable amounts of discrepancy to go around within the church about the Holy Spirit.  Every denomination has a different opinion about Him, even going as far in some cases as believing that He's crazy and needs to be ignored.  I would argue that the Spirit is the most important part of the Trinity to a believer, but don't stone me for heresy just yet.  I know that it's by Jesus' blood sacrifice that I am redeemed, and by the belief in that sacrifice that I am saved by grace, but it's the Spirit that remains in the world today and allows me to move in God's purpose.

In my continuing image of man metaphor, the Holy Spirit is God's soul.  He is God's all-present, all-powerful, life-giving soul that dwells with us and in us.  As I mentioned a few weeks ago in the post "Breathe Life into Me," the Greek word for Spirit is pneuma, which means breath.  So the Holy Spirit is God's Holy Breath, that fills all the spaces around us and all of the sinful, breathless holes in us.  

Although He showed up all the time in Old Testament stories, at Jesus' baptism by John was the first time God's Spirit (His Breath) came to earth and remained here with someone permanently (Luke 3:21-24).  Before that, one or maybe two people per generation, usually the prophets or kings, would have visits from the Spirit of God, but He never stayed permanently, except in the Holy of Holies in the Temple.  When God's Word became flesh, He gave up His deity in order to die for our redemption (as I mentioned last week).  When the Spirit came down upon Jesus, He reunited God's earthly soul with His Heavenly one, and brought with Him all the power that exists in God's Almighty breath.  In that moment, Jesus regained His intimate connection with God and His miracle-filled ministry began.

But Jesus was still the only connection between God's power and man, since He had not yet died and bridged the gap for us.  He was a living Holy of Holies, by which the Spirit moved, but I can't find a single time in scripture the disciples performed a miracle unless granted specific authority by Jesus while He was still alive (Matt. 10 & Luke 9).  The power of the Spirit was poured out by the authority of the Word.  But just before Jesus left and ascended back to Heaven, He promised He would send a Helper who would dwell with all believers forever (John 14:16-17), who would guide us into truth, not speaking on His own authority, but on the authority of God (John 16:13).

Our connection to God is by way of His Holy Spirit on the authority of Jesus Christ.  When we receive the Holy Spirit, we have access to the same power of God as Jesus because the same Spirit that was in Him dwells in us.  To make that even more powerful, when the Holy Spirit dwells within you, your soul and God's soul now occupy the same space, allowing Him to breathe His life into yours, molding you into the person He designed.  But it all still rests on the authority of God.  The Holy Spirit is our God "feed" on earth.  It's by Him that we hear God, move in His will, receive any of His gifts, gain revelation and insight, and even pray.  Jesus said that it was better for us that He leave so the Holy Spirit could come to us (John 16:7).  If I trust Jesus with my life, why wouldn't I trust Him about His Holy Spirit and receive the fullness of what God has for me.

Father, thank You that You sent Your Spirit, Your Breath to earth so I could have Your guidance into truth.  Help me to continue to align my thoughts and my desires with Yours by way of Your Spirit.  Breathe Your life into me daily so that I can move in accordance with Your will.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made...  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  John 1:1-3, 14

The Word is the part of the Trinity with which Christians should be the most familiar.  Had He not become flesh, lived a perfect, sinless life, died as a blood sacrifice and defeated death through His resurrection, we would still be under the control of sin with no real life of which to speak.  In keeping with the image of man metaphor I've been using, the Word is God's body, or at least His earthly one.  He represents the benevolence and unconditional love God showed His people, giving us a chance at repentance and atonement, not to mention tearing down the wall that we sinners of the world had built between us and God.  Obviously, we know Him as Jesus.

But Jesus didn't just appear to come to earth and atone for our sins.  He was with God in the beginning of it all.  He was a part of God before anything we know even existed.  He is the the Word of God, that spilled from His mouth calling all creation into being (John 1 and Gen. 1).  When Jesus came to earth, God formed a human child within Mary, just like all of the rest of us were formed within our mothers.  He was fully man, just like you and I.  But instead of an earthly father to share DNA with this child, God imparted Himself into Jesus, making Him both God's Son and also fully God, allowing Him to remain sinless and deny His flesh.  

The Word gave up His deity in order to have the ability to spill His human blood and die as a sacrifice for the atonement of sin.  God made Himself a man without blemish, a spotless Lamb, to be sacrificed on His altar to atone for the sins of His people (Lev. 3:27-35).  There is no greater love than to lay down your life for those you cherish (John 15:13).  No greater gift or sacrifice that has ever existed.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."  John 3:16-17

God, thank You that Your Word became flesh so that I could deny mine and follow You.  Thank You that, through Your sacrifice, my debts are payed-in-full and I will one day kneel before Your throne with awe and thanksgiving.  In Jesus' name, Amen.