Author: Jayne Lawson

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15

“Thank you.” Two small words that mean so much, and hopefully you hear them often. Sometimes it’s a casual “thanks,” and sometimes it’s a very heartfelt expression of deep gratitude. No matter which, saying “thank you” is one way we express our appreciation to others.

Thanking God is important also, and it should be a part of everyone’s prayer life. We can thank God for His blessings toward us, for answered prayer, and for simply loving us. We can thank Him for many other things, but we should especially thank God for His “unspeakable gift.” The gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.

To get a small idea of why this gift from God is so “unspeakable,” consider this. God and Jesus had never been apart from one another until the cross. When Jesus took all the sins of the world upon Himself, the unthinkable happened. The Father and the Son were separated. In that most agonizing moment, God the Father turned away from His only begotten Son, Jesus. It had never happened before in all eternity past, and it will never happen again, but it happened then. And it was the most unbearable and heart-wrenching moment for both the Father and the Son. The anguish was so great that it caused Jesus to cry out from the cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

I cannot even begin to understand what God and Jesus went through at that moment. I only know that my sin contributed to that situation. Maybe that’s why God hates sin so much. Maybe it was because His own heart was also ripped out and broken at Calvary due to sin. But even though God knew what it would cost, He still sent His Son to earth to become our Saviour. There are no words to describe the enormity of the love that God has for us. Like His gift, His love is also “unspeakable.”

For the greatest of treasures wasn’t offered up by men
But a gift from the heavens that only God could send
Of all the things He could give, God chose just one
It was the greatest of treasures when the Father gave the world His Son.

(from “The Greatest of Treasures” by Dave Clark and Russell Mauldin)

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

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This Christmas season take time to thank God for His truly unspeakable gift!

“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.” I Chronicles 16:31

When I was in college, I took several world history classes. I learned that many who ruled kingdoms and empires were brutal and self-centered, and remembered only for their wicked ways. They ruled with iron fists, and their cruelties knew no bounds. Their subjects suffered endlessly and without hope because these leaders were ruthless and without mercy.

It is difficult for me to comprehend the horrors of this type of leadership because the one who reigns over me is the complete antithesis to these horrific rulers. The one who rules over me is good, just, merciful, and true. He loves me with such enormity that he would do anything to keep me close to his heart. He is so powerful that no other king or worldly power can topple him from his throne. There is total safety and security in his hands. When I disappointed him, he is always ready to forgive me and restore my relationship with him. The one who rules over me is the Creator of the universe, the author and finisher of my faith, and the one I can call “Father.” (John 1:12, Romans 8:15).

God is my sovereign.

God is holy, righteous, just, merciful, honest, loving, forgiving… I could go on and on listing the wonderful attributes of my Lord. He is the One who rules over my life. He is benevolent toward me, longsuffering and patient with me, and He loves me with an everlasting love. In fact, God loves not only me, but the entire world! He loves us all so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to become our Saviour. This is what we celebrate at this time of year – the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth as a baby who would grow up and eventually die for the sins of the entire world. How wonderful to know that God loves us so much that “… He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Such amazing love He has for us! How can we not rejoice over this?

God is also omniscient. He knows everything, and His wisdom governs His actions. He always acts in our best interests. God’s goodness, holiness, and righteousness continually shines down upon us, and His love for us is everlasting! (Jeremiah 31:3) His mercy endures forever! (Psalm 136:2) This is the God who reigns supreme over all!

One day, all nations on this earth will recognize God for who He is. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;” And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) Oh, what a day that will be! But until then, I will worship Him in my heart, looking forward to the day when I will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2), bowing down before His actual presence, and thanking Him for all He has done for me. Until then, I will continue to worship and adore Him, and serve Him to the best of my ability. I will rejoice in my heart and be glad that He is my Lord and Saviour, and I shall continually be “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)

O worship the king all glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love;
Our shield and defender, the ancient of days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

(from “O Worship the King” by Robert Grant)

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

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We are the reason He came. He is the reason we live.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

The birth of a child is a miracle. There is no doubt about it. To think of the complexity of the entire process from conception to birth is undeniably miraculous. It is a wonderful divine event that takes two – mother and father. Always has, always will.

Except once.

Approximately 2000 years ago, Jesus was born of a woman who was a virgin. She was not, as some say, just a young unmarried woman. She was an unmarried young woman who had never been in an intimate physical relationship with a man, and she was the woman chosen by God to bear His Son.

Why is the virgin birth so important? Without the uniqueness of the virgin birth, our salvation would be non-existent. This sinful world needed a sinless Saviour, but ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, sin had been passed on to every generation via the fathers (Romans 5:12). A child conceived in sin could never become the perfect holy sacrifice required to redeem all mankind because “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). However, a virgin conception and birth would exempt a child from the guilt of Adam’s sin, and qualify him to become the Saviour of the world (2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 7:26).

In order for this to happen, the Saviour would need a sinless father, but there was no earthly man who could fulfill that requirement (Romans 3:10). The Saviour’s father would have to be God Himself, and to remove any doubt as to the paternity of the child, the woman had to be a virgin. “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). And so it was that Jesus was conceived and born of a virgin, which assured that He was truly the Son of God. He was Immanuel… God with us.

There are some who doubt the virgin birth, but think for a moment about the situation surrounding the announcement of this impending birth to Mary (Luke 1). She knew she was a virgin and that there was no way for her to be pregnant until she gave herself to her husband. Although she was betrothed, that time had not yet happened. This is the reason why she questioned the angel’s statement, “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus” (Luke 1:31). If Mary was simply a “young woman,” she never would have asked, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Luke 1:34). Mary herself validated her virginity through her wonder at how she could bear a child in her physical state of purity.

The virgin birth is a vital component of our faith because it clearly shows the heritage of our Lord Jesus Christ. His mother was a Jewish virgin, and His Father was God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. By virtue of these facts, Jesus is Immanuel, God with us, who was born for the specific purpose of becoming our Saviour. “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” 1 John 4:14.

This Christmas, as you reflect on the true meaning of the season, take time to thank the Lord for the trusting heart of a young Jewish virgin, who submitted herself to God and became the mother of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

(from “Silent Night” by Joseph Mohr & John Freeman Young)

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.” Matthew 1:23-25

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“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

I have heard people comment that the book of Esther has no mention of God in it, and they question its inclusion in the Bible. While it is true that the name of God is not directly mentioned in this book, it does shows how God worked to preserve His people through the Jewish queen. However, as I was meditating upon my verse today, I saw another picture of God in it that I had not noticed before.

In the opening words of the book of Esther, Ahasuerus is described as the king of a vast empire stretching from India to Ethiopia. He sits upon his throne ruling his kingdom, and if any of his subjects wish to see him, they must wait until summoned. No one approaches the king on a whim because that would be an unacceptable breech of protocol that could result in punishment or death if the king so chose.

Due to circumstances that could result in the annihilation of the Jewish people in the empire, Queen Esther has to intervene to save them, but she has not been summoned by Ahasuerus. To approach him, she faces death if the king does not grant her access to him. Regardless, she chooses to go to Ahasuerus on behalf of her people not knowing if she will even get a chance to voice her concerns. As she approaches the king, he extends his golden scepter, which allows her to come to him with her petitions, ultimately leading to the salvation of the Jewish people in the empire (Esther 5:2).

I see many ways in which Ahasuerus is a picture of God. First, Ahasuerus reigns over an earthly kingdom, God, the King of the universe, sits on His throne in heaven, overseeing His entire creation. Psalm 115:3 records “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

Second, Ahasuerus was unapproachable due to his position. To go to Ahasuerus without being properly summoned would result in death. Likewise, in Biblical times, no one could approach God in their sinful state except the priests, and even their access was limited. The holiness and righteousness of God demands that the priests follow God’s requirements exactly when approaching Him. Failure could result in death. Approaching God, even when done rightly, was a fearful thing. The Bible records several instances where people were overcome with fear when the Lord’s angels appeared (Daniel 8:17, Luke 1:12, Luke 2:9). Just imagine the magnitude of fear if facing the Lord God Almighty Himself!

Thirdly, Ahasuerus could decide to show mercy if one did approach him. God could also choose to show mercy with certain individuals. Luke 1:50 states, “And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation,” and we are reminded that God’s mercy “endureth forever” (Psalms 118, 136).

Lastly, Ahasuerus had the power to deal with any problem in his kingdom, which meant that if there was a situation in the region, the king would be the one to whom the people would go. Our God has the ultimate power to control any and all situations in this world, past, present, and future. Revelation 19:6 states, “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” If we have needs or concerns, God is the one to whom we should go, for there is nothing that He cannot do to remedy a problem or situation (Luke 1:37).

The comparisons do not stop there. The most important picture that I see is in regards to approaching God. Esther was initially concerned about approaching the king, even though she was his queen. She had no way of knowing whether Ahasuerus would grant her mercy, allowing her to live, or sentence her to death (Esther 4:11). When we approach God, we no longer have to be afraid of God’s judgment. We are told in Hebrews 4:16 that we can approach the throne of God without fear. In fact, we are to come to Him BOLDLY! That means God is always extending his divine scepter in a gesture of His infinite mercy toward us! We never have to fear death if we have accepted Jesus as our Saviour because through Christ we have a personal relationship with our heavenly Father. He is always available to us, and because of His mercy, we will always find Him wiling to dispense His grace to help us in our times of need.

Maybe the name of God is not mentioned in the book of Esther, but it certainly paints a beautiful picture of the mercy and grace of our heavenly Father. Sometime the picture painted tells more than the written words could ever do.

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

O, yes, He cares – I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares, He cares.

(from “Does Jesus Care?” by Frank Graeff)

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37

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So thankful that God cares for me and wants me to come boldly to Him!

“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” Psalm 95:2

It’s still the simple things that I am most grateful for…

…God

…family

…church

…health

…life

Thank You, Jesus for all You’ve done, thank You, Lord

Thank You, Jesus for victories won, O thank You, Lord

For Thy love and tender care, for Thy Word and answered prayer

Thank You, Jesus for all You’ve done, thank You , Lord.

Thank You, Jesus for love like Thine, thank You, Lord

Thank You, Jesus for grace divine, O thank You, Lord

For Thy cross of Calvary, for Thy blood that cleanseth me,

Thank You, Jesus that Thou are mine, Thank You, Lord.

(from “Thank You, Jesus” by John and Ruth Hallett)

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High” Psalm 92:1

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I hope you and those you love have a very blessed Thanksgiving.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

A friend of mine recently shared on social media a poem about thanking God. I thought it was so appropriate since this is the Thanksgiving season, but when I read it, the poem wasn’t exactly what I expected.

When I think about thanking God, I can remember so many ways He’s blessed my life.  Here’s a partial list of things for which I am so thankful.

*My husband of 41 years whom I cherish more and more

*My son and daughter and their families who “keep me young”

*My friends who fill my life with joy through a shared faith

*A Bible-believing church that loves the Lord Jesus Christ

*My health that has more ups than downs

*My beautiful home that is warm and cozy

*My finances that meet my needs and then some

This list goes on and on, but nothing on my list was included in the poem I read. In fact, the flavor of this poem almost seemed like an antithesis to Thanksgiving because it focused on thanking God for all the times He has seemed to say “No” to a prayer!

As I pondered this, I realized that it equally as important to thank God for all the times He’s kept me safe from myself by not answering a prayer in the way I wanted. Sometimes the outcomes of particular situations have baffled me, and I found myself asking God why He didn’t answer in the way I thought was best. Maybe it was in regard to someone’s illness. Maybe it was to provide work for someone without a job. Maybe it was to restore a family relationship. Again, this is a list that could keep on going. I had never thought of thanking God for His divine intervention when I prayed “amiss.” I wonder how many times His hand spared me or someone for whom I prayed from something worse had my initial prayers been answered exactly as I had prayed. I needed to be reminded that God answers in ways that are best and right for me or those for whom I pray. He is ALWAYS good, and that is truly something for which to be thankful.

So this Thanksgiving, I will be thanking God for all He’s done for me, but I am also going to take some time to thank Him for what He chose not to do.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

(from “Blessed Assurance” by Fanny Crosby)

“But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.” Psalm 69:13

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The poem to which I referred is entitled “Thankful for No” by Carol Bessent Hayman (1927-2017), former Poet Laureate for Carteret County and the town of Beaufort, North Carolina.

“The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11

Have you ever felt like everything was collapsing around you, and there was nothing you could do about it? There are a plethora of situations or circumstances in life that can feel like that, from financial woes, health issues, or family troubles to political strife, cultural shifts, and global conflicts. When confronted with any of these (or a host of other things), emotions such as fear, confusion, and despair creep into our lives and threaten to overcome us.

It is during times like these, as the walls of our comfort zones crumble, that we must remember we have a firm foundation upon which to stand. That is the Word of God. God promises to give His people strength to endure. Psalm 46:1 reminds us that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” The strength we need to endure or overcome obstacles does not come from within us; it comes from God Himself. Isaiah 41:10 records a promise from God. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” If God said it, you can depend upon it!

When that awful feeling begins in the pit of your stomach, and fear starts to escalate within you, remember that God is your salvation. You need not be afraid. Trust Him, for He is your strength, your song, and your salvation! (Isaiah 12:2)

God has a plan for each of us, and He has a plan for this world. There is nothing that can thwart that. Even when everything is disintegrating around you, God’s Word still stands strong, and it will do so forever. (Psalm 119:89) It is the solid rock upon which we can trust and depend. We may not see the answers, but God does. He sees what we cannot – the big picture. In fact, when problematic situations occur, God is often using those to accomplish His will. The knowledge that God is aware and continues to be in control generates peace. Peace of mind. Peace in our hearts. Peace in our lives.

I don’t know about tomorrow; I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from it’s sunshine for it’s skies may turn to grey.
I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said.
And today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow, And I know who holds my hand.

(from “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” by Ira Stanphill)

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

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Which verse helps you in times of trouble? I’d love for you to share that with me!

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17

Long before the age of live-streamed digital music, the only portable device I had to listen to music was the transistor radio. Often it took quite a bit of effort to tune into the station desired to hear the tunes I liked. Sometimes it was impossible to hone in on the right frequency due to bad weather or wrong location, and sometimes the batteries were too weak to receive the signal. It would be impossible to make a connection.

Isn’t it wonderful that God is not like a transistor radio? He’s always available to listen when we call out to Him regardless of where we are. His “battery” never needs recharging, so there is no down time with God. He never sleeps! We don’t have to be in the “right” place… we can pray at home, in our car, in school… anywhere! Jeremiah 29:12 states, “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.” All it takes to get in touch with God is for me to call upon His name.

It’s kind of mind-boggling to think that I have unlimited access to speak with my Creator, the God of the universe, and that He cares enough about me to listen when I do so. After all, I am but one in billions that He has created, and yet He cares for me! (1 Peter 5:7) The Bible says in Isaiah 65:24, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” While radio signals float around aimlessly in the air until they find a receiver, it’s not that way when I pray. Even before I utter the words, God is aware of my heart’s prayer and hears as only He can hear.

In the “olden days,” radio stations would often go off the air late at night, and then resume broadcasting in the morning. Not so with God! He is always accessible. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says that we are to “pray without ceasing.” God wants to hear from each of us continually! It is amazing to think that God wants me to talk to Him “nonstop!” That’s how much He loves me and wants a relationship with me! I need to be tuned in to God at all times because I know He hears me, and when He hears me, He acts (Psalm 34:17, 1 John 5:15). What a blessed assurance to know that God is listening to me every single time I call out to Him!

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!

(from “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by Joseph Scrivens)

“But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” Psalm 4:3

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Take a moment right now to “have a little talk with Jesus.”

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” Revelation 1:7

Many people think this refers to the next prophetic event in Biblical prophecy, but it does not. The next event will be the rapture of the church. This is the moment in time when “…the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Jesus does not set foot on the earth at this time. Instead He will quickly return to heaven for the 7-year time of celebration with those who have accepted Christ as their personal Saviour.

Revelation 1:7 refers to the return of Jesus when He physically steps foot on earth to rule and reign during the 1,000-year millennial kingdom. At this time, everyone on earth will see Jesus coming in the clouds, and since this happens at the end of the 7-year tribulation period, most of the people who witness Jesus’ return are those who have rejected Christ. Because of this, there will be great cries of despair when the people realize that they have rejected the Son of God, and now will face judgment for their sins.

According to several Biblical scholars, there is no other prophetic event that needs to be fulfilled before the rapture happens. In fact, the signs of the times written of in 2 Timothy 3 are clearly seen in today’s world. While there is no specific time mentioned, we are given detailed descriptions of the global situation just prior to the rapture. These indicators could be the headlines of today’s news! It appears as though the rapture could happen even today!

If you are born again… you’ve repented of your sins, asked Jesus to forgive you and become Lord of your life… you will soon hear that trump of God and take your heavenly flight, but what of those you hold dear to your heart? Have you shared Jesus with them? Will they be meeting Jesus in the air when that call comes? If not, I urge you to share Jesus with them today! Don’t wait a moment longer to tell someone about Christ because the truth is… we may not have another moment!

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12

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I have RSVP’d to my heavenly invitation. Have you?

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

“You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family” is an old adage that implies that family relationships can be very difficult to manage, while friendships are easier to maintain. Friends are often chosen based upon similar likes and dislikes; we tend to gravitate toward those who are like-minded. On the other hand, family members are not chosen; we are born with them. No matter their viewpoint, family members are a constant in our lives, thus being “born for adversity.”

It is important to understand that God placed each of us in our families for a purpose. We may not understand that purpose, but we do know that God never makes a mistake, and that includes placing us into the family into which we are born. He chose my parents for me, my children, and even my grandchildren as well. We were all chosen by God to be part of a particular family.

Friends, however, are chosen by us. Certain friendships only last for specific periods of time, like high school or college friends. Other friends may last a lifetime. Friends are even classified differently. There are “casual friends,” “Facebook friends,” and “best friends.” Even those in our “church family” are usually classified as friends. Most of our friends enrich our lives in one way or another, even if they were only friends for a short time. Sadly, when disagreements do occur, some friends chose to end the relationship and our lives do separate ways.

Conversely, when there are disagreements between family members, no matter how ugly, family is still family. Nothing negates that. There is a tie that cannot be broken, even if sometimes we may wish it could be. Being family doesn’t mean that everything is good and loving between all members, it simply means that there is a distinct connection will always be there. It takes a lot of effort to make a family successful because we are each unique individuals with our own opinions, feelings, expectations, and desires that often get in the way. Despite the adversity we may find ourselves surrounded by at times, we must strive to do God’s will within our familial role because ultimately, it is our heavenly Father to whom we are accountable. Additionally, we are often “the only Jesus they will ever see.”

I love my family more than I could put into words, but I must admit they sometimes drive me crazy! (I am sure I do the same to them!) We have also had our share of hurtful issues that took a long time to heal, and there are others that are still a work in progress, but through them all, we are still family… born for adversity perhaps, but nevertheless, born to be together, good or bad. Remember, God never makes mistakes.

Having said all this, I would like to offer another old saying that I prefer more than the first one: “Variety is the spice of life.” God is the master chef, and the members of my family are the plethora of spices He uses to season our relationship with its own unique flavors resulting in a fabulous one-of-a-kind recipe!

You’re the only Jesus some will ever see,

And you’re the only words of life some will ever read,

So let them see in you, the One in whom is all they’ll ever need,

‘Cause you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.

(from “You’re the Only Jesus Some Will Ever See” by Gordon Jensen)

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

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In your family, are you the sweet flavor of love and forgiveness or the spicy hotness of discord?