Reference Letters

As a pastor, I am often asked to fill out reference forms. Sometimes I know the person very well and feel I can give a fairly accurate reference. At other times I don't know the person well at all and the reference becomes more symbolic than useful.

I have had to give references at various times. Of course, I hope that those I choose will give a good reference - thought I DO want them to be truthful.

The best letters of reference I could ever get are seeing lives changed as a result of my input into their lives. When I see that, I really don't care what people write down on paper, or communicate over the phone.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.  You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

- 2 Corinthians 3:1-3

This is so cool!! 

Smell of Life or Death

 ¹⁴But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. ¹⁵For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? ¹⁷Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

- 2 Corinthians 2

We all want to be liked by others. Some of us enjoy various levels of adversity, but we all have our limits. But we all have to make choices. Will I have principles, beliefs and standards that I am not willing to compromise even if others ridicule me and abuse me?

Paul makes it clear in this passage that as followers of Jesus Christ we will affect those around us. You would think that everyone would want to respond to Christ with what he offers to us. Life changing purpose here on earth, a fulfilling life, and of course, eternal life in heaven forever. As our lives are changed by the Holy Spirit of God, we become full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. We sacrificially reach out to those without hope and are helpless and bring them help and hope. What's not to like about that?

To those who respond favourable, we are the aroma that brings life.

But to those who refuse to respond to Christ, we are a reminder that they stand before God without hope and a future. To them we are the smell of death. We don't have to say a word.

Key Priorities

Great advice! As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to be reminded of key priorities.

¹³Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ¹⁴Do everything in love.

In this world we continuously face temptation to yield to temptation by what would lure us away from God. After all, the devil is real and will see if he can drag us to join him in rebellion against the Great Creator. So, we need to be on our guard.

We need to stand firm as indicated in Psalm 1.

Then we also need to be strong and courageous as Joshua was challenged when he took over from Moses.

The problem is that we tend to develop a "hold the fort" mentality. Hide away, keep away from anything that might tempt you, barricade yourself and hold on until Christ comes back. Make sure there is a distinct, uncrossable moat between you and "the world." Make sure you don't love the world or anything in it!

Strange though... We make enemies out of those who are not our enemies. In fact, we are told to DO EVERYTHING IN LOVE! We need to live as Jesus did - love the people. Live according to God's plan and live among the world and love each one we meet.

That is His priority!

Friday the 13th

We are a strange people. How can one number - one day - be so foreboding? All you have to do is say "Friday the thirteenth" and people get apprehensive, if they don't totally freak out. Why?

Why the 13th? Why Friday?

I know the number 13 is considered an unlucky number because Judas (who betrayed Jesus) was considered the 13th member of the group - 12 disciples and Jesus.

Even Christians. Just yesterday I was talking to someone who has been a significant leader/teacher in the church for years. When he talked about today being Friday the 13th, even he responded in a somewhat startled manner. Maybe he was kidding. Yet he reacted, none-the-less.

Let me throw some 13's at you.

1 Corinthians has a chapter 13 and a verse 13 in that chapter. Guess what that verse says? "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Doesn't sound too ominous or unlucky to me!

You become a teenager at what age? Oh right - 13. Depends on who ask as to whether that may be something to be afraid of or not.

So I say, "never fear, 13 is hear."

Now to read 1 Corinthians 15 which is all about being raised from the dead. New bodies that will never get old or deteriorate again? Cool!

It's All About Love

One of the most read and ignored chapters in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 13. Go to a wedding and what are you inclined to hear?

It's all about LOVE!

We quote this chapter in such romantic events and sing about it in our love songs. Then what? And what is it really talking about anyway?

 ¹If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

- 1 Corinthians 13

Just prior to this passage Paul is writing to the church and talking about spiritual gifts. Everyone who comes to faith in Christ receives spiritual gifts to be used as God directs. It is the power of the Spirit of God at work within us. And as we read the list of spiritual gifts we begin to categorize them and give special place to those who have certain gifts - and ignore others.

That is when Paul gets personal. "You can have all the gifts, do all kinds of things - even for God, but if you don't have love, it useless. Love is the key.

And how much priority do we put on love - and the demonstration of love toward others?

As One Body

I love the church. I love how God has designed thc church! Of course, we as people have done our best to mess it up over the years. But God's design works - if we follow his design.

I believe a powerful and essential picture of the church is that of the body - which is used in 1 Corinthians 11 & 12. The church is Christ's body on earth. As such it is his physical representative in this world. The picture of the body demonstrates how the church ought to function.

But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues^[d]? Do all interpret?

- 1 Corinthians 12

According to this picture, each part of the church is equally important. It is essential that each part be active in its role for the church to be healthy and not handicapped in some way. No one part of the body can fulfill the roles of the entire body. There are lots of implications to this analogy - and they are important for the church.

So, if you are part of the church - you have a part to play. An important part which will help complete the church and make it healthy and effective. What's stopping you?

Silent Saturday

Saturday! Passover! Sabbath! Silence!

Shock! Disbelief! It's Over!

I wonder what was going through the minds of the followers of Jesus on this day? They had witnessed the execution of their leader. Their mentor! They had given their lives to follow him and his cause. Now he was dead! Now what?

We so quickly want to pass over this day. Because of what Christ accomplished on the cross we don't mind celebrating Good Friday. But then we want to rush to Sunday morning so we can celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. But there WAS the painful, confused waiting on Saturday, the Sabbath. But what were they waiting for?

This morning as my wife and I were sitting at the breakfast with our daughter we reflected on what the women must have been going through. Why did they not abandon Jesus like the men? Was it because of the value that Jesus had brought to these women?

What value had Jesus brought to us?

Then Paul Baloche's song "To The Cross" came on the playlist we were listening to. Here are the words...

You stretched Your arms out wide
I lift my hands up high to my Savior
You stretched Your arms out wide
I lift my hands up high to my Savior

Where can I go but to the cross
To the cross
For there my shame You have washed away
Where can I go but to the cross
To the cross
For there You gave up Your life for me
You gave Your life for me

So Lord I run to the cross
To the cross
Surrender all to my Savior King
Be my ev'rything

Chains are broken
Shame has fallen
All my sins are gone
Chains are broken
Shame has fallen
All my sins are gone

© 2009 Integrity Worship Music | Leadworship Songs | Sony/ATV Timber Publishing | West Main Music | Windsor Hill Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC) | (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC) | (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC)
Jason Ingram | Paul Baloche

And... It's NOT over! It is just the beginning! But for now, we wait...

Counting Down

I wonder if Jesus counted down the days? I do. Like - it is only 22 days until our daughter Liesel leaves to go back to Dublin, Ireland. I am surprised at how this is a bit more traumatic for me than I expected. I am sure she won't mind leaving this kind of weather.

April 4th snowfall in Didsbury

I am sure Jesus didn't have to worry about weather like that - whether he was counting down or not.

Today marks the day when Jesus met together with his disciples for one last meal together. This was the evening when one of his close group would sell him out to the highest bidder. It was the night when one of them would deny he knew Jesus. Three times! It was the night he humbly knelt in front of each of them and washed their feet. It was the night he knew was coming.

It is the night which included the greatest despair and eventually brought about what gives us the greatest hope possible. When Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins. So that we (including you) might have all our sins forgiven and we can be restored to the relationship God intended from the start. So that we can look forward to eternity without the boundaries, restictions and pain that we experience in life on this earth.

Pondering Death

I have been pondering death these last few days. We are half-way through Easter Week and in two days take a day to remember the fact that Jesus Christ died to pay for our sins so that we might have life. Then on Sunday we will celebrate the amazing reality that Jesus Christ conquered death as he rose from the tomb. 1 Corinthians 15 talks about the reality that we will also all be resurrected one day.

The question that my mind "worries over" these days has to do when death was introduced into the world. I have always understood that death was not present in the world until after Adam and Eve sinned and death was part of the curse placed on mankind.

So, here is what I have been pondering... Was there no death before then? What about the food Adam and Eve ate - or any of the other "animals" for that matter? The trees obviously bore fruit. Why? Would the fruit not fall from the tree and die? Is decomposition not a form of "death?" Adam and Eve ate food. Why? What would have happened if they would have stopped eating?

Anyway, those are some questions I am pondering these days.

Betrayal & Denial

We are so quick to condemn the one and readily embrace the other. Both are recorded in John 13...

²¹After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

³⁸Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

Those familiar with the events surround the betrayal, arrest and crucifixion of Jesus know that the first prediction by Jesus refers to Judas and the second one to Peter. Judas would betray once and Peter would deny he knew Jesus three times - all on the same evening.

So, what's the difference?

One had malicious intent and the other was a coward. One could not come to forgive himself and the other was convicted in spirit and repented of his wrong.

And there lies the key for each of us. We all have sinned. We know it and the Bible reminds us of it. What do we do when we come to the place where we admit our sin? Do we respond like Judas or Peter? Do we spiral down in our despair and bring about our own end? Or do we humble ourselves before God and seek his grace, mercy and forgiveness - and find life?

Broken And Spilled Out

¹Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ²Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” ⁶He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

⁷“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. ⁸You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

⁹Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. ¹⁰So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, ¹¹for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

- John 12

A Day You Will Never Forget

I wonder what it would have been like that day? You see the crowds gather. You see the excitement and the shouting of the crowd. You wrestle your way through the crowd and see people waving branches and throwing their coats on the road.

You see a man riding on a young donkey. There is something unusual about this man. People are shouting and calling him king. But he doesn’t look like he is dressed like a king. As he passes by, he looks at you and you feel a warm flow through you. You also see sadness.

Suddenly some church leaders angrily push their way through and start talking to the man. He is to tell these people to be quiet – they are causing a public disturbance. You overhear the man say something about the stones crying out if the people are quiet.

It’s A day you would never forget. The day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem for the last time. That day, the crowds worshipped Him and proclaimed Him as their Messiah - their King.

I invite you to get your Bible and read Matthew 21:1-11. As you read this passage you can discover something about this man and what he provokes for a response in us.

Who is this man? 

A. He Is The LORD  vs.3

"If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them.”

B. He Is Your KING  vs.5

“'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'”

C. He is JESUS  vs.11

"The crowds answered, "This is Jesus…”

D. He Is a Prophet vs.11

“The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

What response does he provoke?

A. As Lord, He calls us to OBEDIENCE.

B. As King, He calls us to HONOUR & WORSHIP

C. As Jesus, He calls us to respond to Him as Savior

D. As Prophet, He calls us to pay attention to His prophecy.

Such Irony

Isn't it ironic? The very people who were instrumental in the execution of Jesus were also centrally involved in bringing about the very thing they tried to stop. The Romans tried to stop the uprising they feared might be taking place in Jerusalem. The Jews tried to stop the one they feared would attract many away from their religious order and practices and jeopardize their desire for political freedom.

Listen to what it says in John 11,

⁴⁵Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. ⁴⁶But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. ⁴⁷Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. ⁴⁸If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

⁴⁹Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

⁵¹He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, ⁵²and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. ⁵³So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

 - John 11

A Jewish high priest prophesied that Jesus would die for the all the "children of God." Yes, they managed to kill Jesus, but his death (and his resurrection) brought about freedom and life that they could not stop.

And I find it ironic that Rome, who desired to conquer and rule the world, was eventually conquered by the Christian faith and became the centre of Christianity for centuries.

Jesus said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."

The Plight of A Prophet (Pastor)

Kind of sounds like he might be a pastor. People watching him to see if he might slip up. In Jeremiah 20 we read,

¹⁰I hear many whispering,
“Terror on every side!
Denounce him! Let’s denounce him!”
All my friends
are waiting for me to slip, saying,
“Perhaps he will be deceived;
then we will prevail over him
and take our revenge on him.”

It is fascinating how friends and even fellow Christians can watch leaders (especially pastors) to see if they will slip up. To see if they will make any mistakes - and then judge them. As a pastor you know this comes with the territory.

I used to use the describe it this way.... When you are new in ministry of the church you start at the bottom. Every time you do something good, you are raised up in people's minds. However, once you become a pastor, you are put on a pedestal and every time you make a mistake (of any kind) you drop in people's minds. As a pastor, there seems to be no way but down.

Sounds like Jeremiah 20. But just as for Jeremiah the Lord is with us.

¹¹But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior;
so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.
They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced;
their dishonor will never be forgotten.
¹²LORD Almighty, you who examine the righteous
and probe the heart and mind,
let me see your vengeance on them,
for to you I have committed my cause.

And because the Lord is with us we can sing with confidence!!

¹³Sing to the LORD!
Give praise to the LORD!
He rescues the life of the needy
from the hands of the wicked.

Eternal Youth

"Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

- John 8:31

Never see death? Wow!! Jesus must have caught the attention of the people with that bold statement.

If I could invent some concoction that would keep people young and keep them from dying, I would be rich! People would flock to me and would pay big money for this product.

The fascinating thing is - we already have the potential to "never die" and be "forever young." And it's free. Well, free for us anyway. It came with a huge price.

Next week we celebrate Easter week. And we celebrate the very fact that Jesus Christ came to this earth, gave his life for us, died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose from the grave to conquer death. And as a result, death on earth is not the end for us. When we put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ we have the promise from God himself that we will live forever and will never die. And in that forever state we will never get old, our bodies will never deteriorate.

And we will never see death. Totally cool!!

Conditional Clauses

We don't like them! If we are honest, we would prefer the "if's" were removed from the following statements.

³¹To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

³³They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

³⁴Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed....

⁴²Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.

- John 8

In his dialogue with the Jews, Jesus made some statements that are quoted frequently. The problem is, we don't read them as conditional statements. For example...

We quote part of verse 32 "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" and we apply it to any situation where it is convenient or beneficial to us. And expect to experience freedom - as we decided according to our terms. Somehow we miss the first part of that conditional statement. "IF you hold to my teaching." This statement indicates that we will be set free if we LIVE out the teaching that God has given to us. Knowing information is not enough. We need to live it. And it needs to be God's truth - not just whatever we claim to be our truth.

And "IF the Son has set you free - you will be free indeed."

And "IF God is your Father, you will love me..." Jesus said.

I guess that means that in our relationship with God, we have a responsibility.

I wonder why he chose to do it that way?

⁴They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; ⁵they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

⁶Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. ⁷The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

⁸The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” ⁹So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

- Numbers 21

Why did God choose to have Moses make a snake and have the people look at the snake to be healed? Could they not just have gone to the tabernacle and ask for prayer? Couldn't they have prayed from their own tent and have been healed? I wonder why? Would the people not be tempted to start worshipping the bronze snake?

And, why did Jesus have to die on a cross? Lifted up from the ground for all to see? Why not a quick death? Why not in a day when there was the electric chair where one could be executed in privacy away from the public eye?

²¹Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

²²This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

²³But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. ²⁴I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

²⁵“Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. ²⁶“I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

²⁷They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. ²⁸So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. ²⁹The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” ³⁰Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

- John 8

I wonder if the reason has something to do with "faith." The people had to exercise their "faith" to be healed. The very act of looking at the snake was an act of faith. And you had to do it the way God said.

The effect Jesus brought about on the cross also has to do with faith. Once again, those who want to receive the benefit Jesus brought need to exercise their faith.

And what will I do about it?

Oh the questions I have...

What would we do? What would I do? What would we have done if we would have been in Jesus' shoes? Would we have condemned the woman like the religious leaders did? Would we have cried out in righteous indignation at the woman? How dare you? What were you thinking?

Would we have responded like Jesus? Would we have had mercy for the woman? Would we have extended the offer of forgiveness? Would we have required penance?

And where was the man? I presume there was a man involved in the adultery. What about him? Why were they not accusing him? Why was he not brought to the kangaroo court? Were only women not allowed to commit adultery?

¹But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ²At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

⁹At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

¹¹“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

- John 8:1-11

Oh, the grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus! We - I have so much to learn!!

No Fear

It is amazing how fear can rule us! Paralyze and immobilize us!

Especially fear of people.

I love how Jesus responded to people. Maybe it was because he was/is God. Maybe it was because he lived by faith as he calls us to live by faith. When Jesus encountered people who tried to harm him, he didn't retaliate or try to defend himself. Yes, there were some times when he stayed out of the public eye for particular reasons. But that was hard to do given his popularity. And when they tried to harm him prematurely, he knew he was okay.

At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.

- John 7:30

We might be afraid because we know we are not God as Jesus was. But are we any less safe than Jesus was?

I don't think so.

As much as God expects us to use our judgment and common sense He has given us, we are still in his hands and he will not allow anyone to harm us before our time.

So, today I can live without fear - because the Lord is my Shepherd, and I shall not lack anything.

Persistent Prayer

⁸This is what the LORD says:

“In the time of my favor I will answer you,
and in the day of salvation I will help you;
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people,
to restore the land
and to reassign its desolate inheritances,
⁹to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’
and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’

“They will feed beside the roads
and find pasture on every barren hill.
¹⁰They will neither hunger nor thirst,
nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them.
He who has compassion on them will guide them
and lead them beside springs of water.
¹¹I will turn all my mountains into roads,
and my highways will be raised up.
¹²See, they will come from afar—
some from the north, some from the west,
some from the region of Aswan.^[b]”

¹³Shout for joy, you heavens;
rejoice, you earth;
burst into song, you mountains!
For the LORD comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

¹⁴But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me.”

¹⁵“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!

- Isaiah 49