God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
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Many people are going through life fearing what lies ahead - afraid to speak and act - operating in a mode of timidity, uncertainty, and apprehension.
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Yet God, through His Spirit, offers a better way; power, love, and self-discipline.
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This means that we can - you can - be boldly confident - courageously assured in all things. We are given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. And we are called and commissioned to use this power to affect others for Jesus - in love - and to live a life of obedience to Jesus - through self-discipline.
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Today, own this. Be filled with God’s Spirit. Be powerful. Be loving. Be obedient. Be self-disciplined.
Family devotions are often an emotional time (especially for Bennett). Here are the highlights from tonight...
The verse; “Do not love the world or anything in it. If you love the world, love for the Father is not in you.”
(1 John 2:15 NIRV)
Benn: I’m not really getting this? Does that mean I have to get rid of everything?
Me: Not necessarily, just the things that go against God or keep you away from God.
Benn: *starting to cry* But you (mom and dad) are things in the world.
Me: Well, for you it might be tv or technology. But for some it is moving away from their family because their family keeps them away from God.
Benn: *full blown snot cry*
Me: We have got to come to a point where we live God more than anything else. That includes our money, our technology, and even our families. And, as you fall more in love with God that’s going to get easier. Because, someday, everything else will pass away, but God remains forever.
Benn: *sobbing uncontrollably* Someday I’m going to have to live in a world without you? I already have to live in a world without Great Grandpa Poppy!
God often lays a Scripture or meditation thought before me early in the day and cuts into my life. As only He can, God reveals areas that are not entirely selfless, not entirely humble, not entirely loving, not entirely pure.
“If indeed it be necessary, O Lord, to bury the workman, that my work may be finished by other hands, help me never to think of myself as indispensable. May I be content to die with my work undone, knowing that my task is to work at the fulfillment of Thy purposes, not to work them out.” - Anonymous
It is the pride within me that causes me to take on more than God intends - more than He has called me to accomplish on my own. It is the pride within me that drives me to “do” one more thing while neglecting the best thing. It is the pride within me that deceives me into thinking I am more important - and perhaps indispensable.
Lord God, forgive me. Lord God, continue to cut into my life and reveal my prideful arrogance.
Where is God cutting into your life this morning? What is God revealing to you today?
This evening - minutes into a project in the garage - I smacked my thumb with a hammer. I immediately felt the pain shoot through my left hand and into my wrist. Although there was little pain in my thumb, I could feeling the throb.
Dropping the hammer on the floor, I walked to the far corner of the garage to assess the damage. Momentarily I waved my hand in the air and grit my teeth together in pain, Then, I calmly exclaimed (to myself), "That really hurt!".
Walking over to my workbench I decided to grab a pry bar. Except, in the moment, I couldn't remember what a pry bar was called. What's more, I couldn't remember where my pry bars were located. I probably stood in front of my workbench for two minutes trying to gather my thoughts. As I rummaged through a cabinet - and then a shelf - I continued to struggle with my thoughts. Looking directly at my pry bar I asked myself (audibly), "What am I looking for?".
Seconds later - finally with a pry bar in hand - my mind cleared and I came to a realization. I was unable to think clearly because of the momentary pain that I was dealing with.
The reality is that when we face pain - momentary or long-lasting - we struggle to think and act in a rational way. Think about it, if you have ever faced overwhelming pain - physically, emotionally, or otherwise - your pain takes precedence. Soon the thought of your pain is unshakable and it begins to overshadow all other rational thoughts. You may even find that your normal actions are overcome by the reality of your painful experience.
And when we consider the reality of our world today it is undeniable that countless people are hurting. So many individuals are dealing with the painful scars and experiences of their past, struggling with the painful reality that surrounds them, fearful of the painful and uncertain future that awaits them.
Could it be that the pain that is overwhelming our world today is causing many to think and act in confusion? Could it be that the anger and aggression that we see so prevalent in our world today is brought about by the pain that so many are dealing with every day?
This pain is leading to more hurt.
And this hurt is leading to more pain.
And this pain is leading to more hurt.
Which will only lead to more pain.
And this will continue to build more and more.
Until someone steps up and stops the cycle.
At some point someone must step forward and absorb the hurt of the world.
I believe that this is the particular call of The Church around the world today. You see, as followers of Jesus, we are the only ones equipped to step up to absorb the hurt. Because, as followers of Jesus, we are the only ones that do not have to keep the hurt of society - the pain of the world in our lives.
As followers of Jesus are given the supernatural ability to absorb the hurt and then to turn it over to Jesus.
Will it be painful? Yes. Will it cause us pain? Yes. However, the hurt - and the pain - that we face is temporary and - as we walk with Jesus - it will only draw us closer to Him as we turn it all over to Him and as He takes it all away.
This scene from "The Green Mile" is a visual illustration of the way we - as The Church - can take the pain of a hurting world and turn it over to Jesus in a spiritual way.
So, are you prepared to absorb the pain?
Who do you know that is hurting right now?
Who are you praying for God to lead you to?
Someone must step forward and absorb the hurt of the world.
From The Captivating Pressnce by Albert Edward Day
When we say that God is holy, we are not naming an attribute among many others such as love and mercy and wisdom and power. We are attempting to designate something that applies to all his attributes, something that gives them an awesome dimension. We are saying that he is the changeless one. His love never fluctuates; his mercy is inexhaustible; his wisdom cherishes all that is truly good; his power can always be trusted to act redemptively. The supreme wonder and unrivaled glory is that he is all that he is, unchangeably.
"In him is no variableness", is the New Testament assurance.
So we need not speculate what will be his response whenever we turn to him, whether it be from an hour of victory or from a night of defeat; from an act of which we are proud, or from one of which we are heartily ashamed. Our heads may be held high or bent very low. We may come jubilantly to thank him for what he has done or to barely under a faint cry for help. It matters not who we are or where we are, a holy God is a God in whom there is nothing to adulterate or diminish or alter the transcendent qualities which our weakness or our sinfulness need. He is always God. Nothing is ever missing from him if he is to be what all mankind must have to make and keep it truly human on the way to its fulfillment in him. Sometimes the best of us have days when our dearest friend must say, "you are not yourself today". The fact gives them a hard time and sends them away deprived of what they should have from us.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus
Philippians 2:5 NIV
I was in a particularly grumpy mood this morning. I could have made a list of things to complain about. Yet as I began my prayer time and devotional reading I came into a right frame of mind. Soon I was journaling and making a list of things that I am most thankful for.
As I thought of individuals that I could have complained about my mind went to the words found in Philippians 2:5.
I turned to Philippians 2 prepared to read of Christ's humility and, as I began to read Philippians 2, I was not prepared for the conviction of the Holy Spirit that followed.
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ?
Is there any comfort from his love?
Is there aby fellowship together in the Spirit?
Is your heart tender and compassionate?
Although these are rhetorical questions shared with the church by Paul, let me invite you to consider them -let me encourage you to ponder them.
Are you enjoying the encouragement - the comfort - the fellowship - of Christ's presence in your life?
Are your thoughts - your motives - your actions marked by tenderness and compassion?
The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Ephesians 3:14-19
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
As I sit in this text today, I was brought to contemplate the process; submit, call, know, and receive.
Submit - "I kneel" Call - "I pray" Know - "to know...to grasp" Receive - "to be filled"
I am aware that many days I rush through this process - skipping over one or more of these "steps" and therefore lack the daily filling of Christ.
Lord, help me to submit to You first - to lay down all that I am before You and to give way to Your will in my life. Father, remind me to call out to You - to reach out and connect with You intimately and deeply. Holy Spirit, enlighten me to know Your way and Your desires - give me insight and direction from Your voice. Jesus, let me be filled with You - let me be filled to all fullness if Your love. Amen. Let it be.
This week I've been focused on the call of the prophet Isaiah. More specifically, I've been focused on Isaiah's response to God's call on him.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8
We read this same passage on Sunday morning and the challenge given to our church family was to daily read this passage and to daily respond to God's call, "Here I am. Send me!"
Just this morning, as I read this passage again, I was reminded of the call of Moses - and of Moses' response to God's call on him.
So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
Exodus 3:3-4
Similar to Isaiah, Moses responds, "Here I am.", yet Moses' response stops there. Moses tells God, essentially, "I am present", but his commitment to God is lacking.
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
Exodus 3:11
Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?
Exodus 3:13
Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?
Exodus 4:1
Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
Exodus 4:10
But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else."
Exodus 4:13
Moses responds, "Here I am. Who am I that I should go? What would I say? What if they don't listen? What if they don't believe me? I'm not a good speaker? Please send someone else."
God call each one of us. He has a specific purpose and path for every individual that He has created and given life to. And when God calls us, we are challenged to respond to His call, "Here I am. Send me!", just as Isaiah did.
Yet, believers in Christ mimic the response - the attitude, the actions, and even the words - of Moses; "Here I am. Send someone else."
Week after week, believers show up in church buildings and respond "I am present" but when God calls them to worship - when God calls them to share - when God calls them to love - when God calls them to go - they respond "Not me.".
"Present" is not acceptable! It's time - now more than ever - for The Church to hear the call of God and respond - in a bold voice, "Here I am. Send me!"
Let the response begin with you. Let it begin today.
Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because Godʼs love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
(Romans 5:1-5 NIV)
We have been justified - pardoned - acquitted - of our sinful acts - this means that we are declared blameless in God's sight.
This justification comes through faith - our confidence of and assurance - in Jesus Christ.
Because of this we have peace - unity and harmony - with God our Father. And why wouldn't we have peace with The Almighty God, knowing that He views us without blame? Furthermore we have peace with Jesus knowing that He has reconciled us with God.
Now we stand unified with Jesus as our Savior - as the one that saves us from the penalty of sin - and Lord - as the one that leads our lives.
Through Jesus - our Savior and Lord - we have access to God's marvelous, matchless grace. This grace in which we stand safely and securely in.
So, given all of this, let us boast. We do not boast in our own selves or our own abilities. No, let us rejoice - with great joy - I say it again, rejoice - in Jesus Christ - in the hope of the glory of God.
We have this hope only through Christ - and in what He has done for us. We have the hope - the great expectation - that we will one day soon stand before God and He will impart His glory on us.
Yet, we not only rejoice in hope, we also rejoice in our current suffering. We are able to rejoice because we trust that our suffering - our trials, our hardships, our distress, our pressure, our trouble - produces perseverance. We learn not to give up or give in - even in the midst of suffering. This perseverance, then, produces spiritual maturity - because it drives us to a total dependence on God and a complete reliance on Him.
In all of this, we will not - now or ever - be disappointed. How could we be disappointed? We are basking in God's eternal and unsurpassable love. And, God's Spirit is living in us bearing constant witness to His great love to us.
Since we have been justified by faith, what else do we need?
Every night, when it is time to turn in for the night, my wife and I go through a series of routines; taking the dog out, locking up the house, taking kids to the bathroom one last time, and much more. Often I take this opportunity to pray over each of our children one last time before the day concludes.
Tonight the words of Zephaniah 3:17 came to my mind as I prayed over each of my children. Zephaniah writes, "The Lord will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
As I stand next to the beds of each of my children - praying for them, delighting in them, rejoicing over them - I am struck with the awareness that God is doing the same in my life.
And, tonight it occurs to me that God does this often with no thankfulness from us - often with no awareness that He is taking the time and the energy to love us.
Why does God take great delight in us?
Why does God comfort and quiet us?
Why does God rejoice over us in song?
Why does God do any of this? Because He loves us more than we can ever hope to understand and more than we will ever be able to love him back.
What an amazing God we serve!
Let us rest tonight knowing that God loves us for who we are - who He has created us to be.
Love. The foundation of the teachings by Jesus. Love is why Jesus came to dwell among us. Love is why Jesus healed the sick and fed the poor. Love is why Jesus led His followers and taught the multitudes. Love is why Jesus allowed Himself to be nailed to a Roman cross. Love is why Jesus did not remain in the tomb. Love is why Jesus went back to heaven and sent His Spirit. Love is what Jesus called us to.
Jesus's words are recorded for us in John 13:34-35 (ESV); "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Yet, love is not something that we are left to do as though love is simply a verb - an action that we choose to take. Instead, love is to be who we are in Jesus and through Jesus. Love is to be a noun - how we are defined.
In Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan we find that Jesus is calling us to a new level of love - a level of mercy to all. Jesus calls us to consider the love of the good Samaritan and to "go and do likewise".
Jesus calls us to love without limits. We must love without parameters. We must love without boundaries. We must love without question.
So, the question that we must all consider; "who are you withholding love from?".
In Matthew 5:44 Jesus calls His followers to "love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you".
Are there any prejudices in your life? Are there any preconceived opinions that you have formed - not based on reasoning or actual experiences - that you need to rid your mind of?
Are there any racisms or classisms in your life? Any there any favortisms that you hold on to or show toward a certain group of people - perhaps those that belong to a particular social class - that you need to rid your heart of?
Do you recognize any areas of your life where you are withholding love - through your words, your thoughts, or your actions?
Let me challenge you, not only to begin to love but, to become love to all those that you encounter today.
Reading from Mark 6:34 this morning; When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
It reminded me of a conversation I recently had with a friend and the thoughts I came to following this conversation.
If sheep do not have a shepherd they will get lost.
If sheep are not led by their shepherd they will seek another flock.
If sheep do not feel loved by their shepherd they will not trust his care.
If sheep are injured by their shepherd they will bite back.
Reading in my devotions this morning; The sheep were dependent on the shepherd for the opportunity and direction to find food and shelter. Jesus knew that what people needed then, and still need today, are compassionate leaders who will provide selfless direction for the people near them.
Which brings me to this thought for the day; "Am I loving the people that God is placing before me today?"
This includes my wife, my children, my friends, my church, and every stranger that I encounter. Am I love the people that God is placing before me today?
I opened a meeting this evening by reading 1 Peter 4:7-8;
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
This passage has been heavy on my heart throughout the weekend. I have been wresting with the call to "love one another deeply". What does this mean? What does this look like?
This evening I came upon a post that I wrote exactly three years ago, "A New Command".
We find that Jesus commands us to love, stating that "by this all will know that you are my disciples". Couple this with the call that Peter gives for us to "love one another deeply" and we know that love is important.
My greatest concern is that the line between love and hate has become far too grey in The Church, that The Church is walking a very thin line between love and hate. And, the question that is heavy in my mind is, "How do we know when our love has become hate?".
Does my love become hate when I think negatively about a brother in Christ? Does my love become hate when I share gossip about my sister in Christ? Does my love become hate when I begin to slander my Christian sister? Does my love become hate when I wish harm on my Christian brother? Where is the line between love and hate.
Christ calls me to love and so I love. But I love with caution. I love with the awareness that when my love is not deep - error-overlooking, attack-bearing hurt-forgiving - love, it is short of the love that Christ has called me to. I love with deep love, focused on Christ's love. Anything less is hate.
Deuteronomy 6, as the Israelites are preparing to enter the Promised Land, a bountiful land that God was giving them to process, the people are told to obey God's commands.
The Israelites are told to obey God's commands so that they may enjoy long life and so that all may go well as they increase greatly in the land.
The foundation for God's commands to the Israelites - and the foundation for all God's commands to us today - to know that God is the Lord of all and to love Him with all heart, soul, mind, and strength.
And in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 God gives instruction for applying His commands to our children - and the generations to follow.
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Applying God's commands to the next generation is a multi-step process.
First, we as adults, are called to apply God's commands to our own hearts. We must know God's commands for us, know why they are important for our lives, and live as they are important for our lives - with faith and obedience. Only after we have applied God's commands on our hearts can we seek to lead the next generation.
Next, we are to impress God's commands on our children - and to the next generation. We are encouraged to impress God's commands on the next generation by talking about them, writing them out, and using symbols to commit them to memory. We are called to impress God's commands on the hearts of our children in all ways at all times, because it is vitally important.
So, let me encourage you today to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let me encourage you to write God's commands on your heart - faithfully submitting to Him. Let me encourage you to teach them to the next generation - applying them in all ways at all times.
That you may enjoy a long life and all may go well.
I was reading in Genesis 3 this morning and I began to think of the effects of our sinful acts. Of course there are the effects of our sin that are far-reaching, but the immediate effect is a relational break.
Look at the immediate effect of Adam and Eve's sin (vs. 7-8);
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
this is the first relational break that our sin brings about - a relational break between us and God. This break is a wedge that has been driven between God and mankind since the first sin and it still exists today.
Yet, God in His grace, invites us into His presence (vs. 9-11);
But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
We are invited to draw close to God, however sin drives us further and further away from His presence. And still, even in the midst of our sin, God calls us back to Himself. In love and grace, God gives us the opportunity to confess our sin to Him and to be reconciled.
However, what we see is more evidence of the relational break that sin brings about (vs. 12);
The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
This relational break, this distance that sin puts between us and God - this distance that sin puts between us and the ones we love - it does not have to exist.
God, in His infinite love and grace sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay our sin debt and we no longer have to bear the shame, the guilt, and the pain of our sinful actions.
In the garden God shed blood to cover the shame of Adam and Eve in the Garden (vs. 21);
The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
In much the same way Christ Jesus shed His blood on the cross to cover the shame of all of mankind (Isaiah 53:5); But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Let us no longer be separated from God and one another. Christ has paid the price and made communion available to all.
Two weeks ago, Kim and I announced that we were seeking a new appointment in the coming conference year and that we would be leaving Robinson near the end of June.
Since this announcement, I have received one question countless times; “Why?”
I had a conversation with one member and explained that we were not leaving because of disappointment or conflict. I told this person that this has been a decision weighing on our hearts for a year – one we have been praying for months. They asked me, “Does the church want you to leave?” I responded,“No, I don’t think so.” Then they asked, “So, the conference is wanting you to leave?” And I told them, “No, in fact it would be less work for the conference if we were to remain in Robinson.”
“So”, they asked,“why are we leaving?” My response was simple, “Faith!”
James 2:14, 17; What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?Can such faith save them?In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Kim and I believe that God is calling us to go. We do not know where He is calling us to go to, but we believe that He is calling us to go in obedience to Him.
Kim and I believe that God is calling us to go. And so we go, faithful that God is leading us.
Hebrews 11:1-2, 6, 8; Now faith is confidence in what we hope forand assurance about what we do not see.This is what the ancients were commended for. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to himmust believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,obeyed and went,even though he did not know where he was going.
Kim and I believe that our going is an act of faith. And there are costs involved in ever act of faith. Our going means that we are leaving Robinson – and our friends and church family hear in Robinson.
James 2:23-24; And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”and he was called God’s friend.You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
We are not leaving because we don’t love you. We are leaving – oddly enough – because we love you! We are leaving because we want you to know that this is what faith accompanied by action looks like – that this is what faith – lived out – looks like.
So, let me leave you with a question for you to consider; “Are you living your faith out? When it’s difficult? When it’s painful?
It is a normal occurrence that I have the chance to dress our youngest, a twenty-two month old little girl. On the brink of turning two she is daily giving us more of a glimpse of her independence and personality.
Just the other day she woke early and the first thing she wanted to do was get dressed. However, we ran into a bit of an issue when I put her shirt on her. As she attempted to slide her arm into the sleeve it did not work perfectly! As she met opposition she gave a bit of an attitude and quickly pulled her arm out of her shirt.
We tried again, this time I helped her out by guiding her arm into the sleeve. Yet, when she attempted to put her other arm in, again she ran into opposition. This did not please her and she was done! She was done with the shirt, done getting dressed, done with me, and done with the day!
It occurred to me how often in life I act in just this way. As soon as I encounter opposition, I tend to give a bit of an attitude and turn in the opposite direction. Often I forget that I have a Heavenly Father that wants to help guide and direct me in the path that I should go. And, even when things do not function perfectly He is there to lead into guide, even encouraging me along the way.
And I doubt that I am alone in this. How often, when things don't go perfectly, do you get an attitude or turn to go in the opposite direction? How often do you forget you have a Heavenly Father that loves you and wants to guide you just the way He would have you go?
Let us remember, anytime we face opposition, He is there with us - and for us.
I cleaned the bathtub today. I typically clean the bathroom once a week and wipe the tub out every other week. But today, I deep cleaned the bathtub to get all the soap scum and hard water deposits off.
I knew that this task was overdue and that it was something that needed to be done after several months. However, I did not realize until I started just how dirty the bathtub was. With every swipe of the Magic Eraser I was taking off layers of soap scum.
I was not looking for any praise for this completed chore, however, after my wife saw the tub, she thanked me for cleaning it and told me just how nice it looked.
Then it struck me, the cleanness of the tub was obvious, she did not need a before and after picture. I thought, "we don't realize the filth that we're sitting in until after we see it all stripped away".
And isn't this true of our lives as well? Most of us sit for years in our own "filth" - whether that be an addiction, abuse, depression, worry, or many other things. And, for most, we do not realize the extent of our filth until it has all be striped away. Month after month - year after year - we allow the feelings of sorrow, hatred, worry, or doubt to accumulate. Every month that we sit in our " filth" makes cleaning it up more difficult. And, for some, they never see the beauty of a clean, healthy life.
The great news for us is that we do not have to clean up our "filth" ", we simply have to turn our lives - our past, present, and future - over to God. He filters our "filth" through the sacrifice of Chrst and sees our beauty, cleaning out "filth" up and helping us see the beauty around us and allowing us to live a clean life in Him.
