Home

Starting Sunday my husband and I should be on vacation. We are excitedly looking forward to it. There truly is No place like home. And I miss my family and can't wait to spend some time with them too.

But it is only Thursday.......and we are in Raleigh, NC with no load yet. We need a load bringing us within 200 miles of home. And as we sit and wait, we get a little impatient.

Well, ok, a lot impatient!

We pray and we hope that that load will come.

I love my job. I really do. I am not unhappy doing it or being here where the day is sunny and warm, but my heart is longing to be at home.

This reminds me of how we should be looking forward to going home to a Heaven.

This World is not my Home

This world is not my home I'm just a passing through

My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue

The angels beckon me from heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Oh Lord you know I have no friend like you

If heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do

The angels beckon me from heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

I have a loving mother just over in Gloryland

And I don't expect to stop until I shake her hand

She's waiting now for me in heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Oh Lord you know...

Just over in Gloryland we'll live eternaly the saints on every hand are shouting victory

Their songs of sweetest praise drift back from heaven's shore

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Oh Lord you know...

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Philippians 3:20 ESV)

By the Grace of God I am what I am.

Sometimes I need reminded.

re·demp·tion

riˈdempSHən/

noun

1.

the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil. "God's plans for the redemption of his world"

synonyms: saving, freeing from sin, absolution More a thing that saves someone from error or evil. "his marginalization from the Hollywood jungle proved to be his redemption"

2.

the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt.

synonyms: retrieval, recovery, reclamation, repossession, return More

exchange, cashing in, conversion paying off, paying back, discharge, clearing, honoring fulfillment, carrying out, discharge, performing, honoring, meeting archaic the action of buying one's freedom.

1 Peter 1:18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 

Rom. 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

When we follow the specific plan for salvation that God has laid out in His word, we can be sure that we have been redeemed. Our sin is was washed away during our baptism which represents our old selves being buried. When we come up out of that watery grave we are new and our sins are remembered no more. 

Remembered no more by God. However, we sometimes recall our faults and sins because we have trouble forgiving ourselves or we have shame that is hard to overcome. 

Also people from our past enjoy reminding us of who we once were. I believe that they do this so as not to feel so badly about their sin and actions.

We have to accept God's grace. We have to believe and know that He loves us that much, that those things are gone forever from His mind.

Because of this, we do not have to fear our past.

1 Cor. 7:23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. (You do not have to fear what someone says about you.)

OUR SIN IS GONE!!!

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Are you living your life so that people see a new you? Are you living so that people will not believe slander that people might bring up against you?

Your only answer to them should be the same thing that Paul said when people reminded him of his horrible past of killing faithful Christians, "For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. (1 Corinthians 15:9, 10 NASB)"

Filling the Void

Bill and I will be taking our vacation starting next week. Our son-in-law will also be on vacation. He and Bill are going deer hunting in Ohio. 

They have been talking about it for weeks now and more and more as the time is coming closer.

Starla has confessed to us that her Bill is already in "vacation-mode" and she feels sorry for his co-workers this week.

It is nice to have vacation after months of hard work. We work hard, day after day, earning a living and many times get so caught up in our work that it seems to dominate our lives and we actually become what we do.

Many things besides work can also dominate our thoughts and lives, for example, our children and their activities, our pastimes, our houses, our belongings, etc.

We can really let ourselves be filled with just about anything.

But the fact is, there is a place inside of us that no person, no job, no material thing, no amount of money can reach. It is a place deep inside of us that our Creator has made that can only be filled by Him. It is a hollow spot that makes us feel empty and forever seeking until we allow Him in to fill that spot.

Blaise Pascal wrote in Pensees, There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.

Solomon wrote about this thing in Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep. (Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 NASB)

Paul also wrote about this need,

So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; (Acts 17:22-27 NASB)

People need to hear about God. They need to know that He is the answer for what they are seeking.

If you have the time click on this song link. Listen to the words and read the verses that accompany the slides. And share God with everyone you meet.

http://youtu.be/zHlkRcZqz7A. God Shaped Hole by Plumb

Sacrifice

Can you believe Christmas is less than 2 months away? It is time for me to think about what to buy my family. 

It seems like each year there is less to spend. I wonder how some families manage.

I wish there wasn't so much emphasis put onto material things. I know several people that make very big sacrifices to see their children happy.

They will sacrifice their own gifts, they will sacrifice on the food budget, they will let bills go unpaid and sacrifice their credit.

A sacrifice is always something being deprived for the benefit of something else.

In the biblical Old Testament, animals were sacrificed on the alter to atone for people's sin. Then God sent Jesus to be a sacrifice, once and for all, for the sins of all mankind.

Now, in the Book of Romans, Paul writes about God's loving kindness. And then he writes,

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (Romans 12:1 NASB)

He says, therefore (because of what I just wrote) I URGE (strongly push) ALL OF YOU, because of God's tender kindness, to offer up your bodies as a LIVING AND ESPECIALLY SET APART SACRIFICE, pleasing to God, THIS WOULD BE your spiritual service of worship.

Now read that again.

Our worship service is us offering ourselves to be used by God for His purpose. 

We honor God by denying ourselves and our wants and desires and preferences, and giving ourselves into being of service to and for Him, willingly and lovingly.

We are a LIVING SACRIFICE.

The only thing wrong with me being a living sacrifice is that I keep crawling back off the alter.

I offer myself to God, but say no when asked to help in the nursery. 

I offer myself to God, but skip out on assembling with the saints.

I offer myself to God, but play on the computer and don't have enough time to read scripture.

I offer myself to God but forget to thank Him for all of His blessings.

Oh, Dear Lord, please help me. Help me in my desire to be pleasing to you. Help me learn to make myself that sacrifice because nothing I can have and nothing I can do compares to the joy and blessings I have in you.

Who do you Follow?

We get excited when we see celebrities or go to concerts and see our favorite artists perform live. It gives a sense of "coolness" to actually be in the presence of someone that everyone knows.

Jesus knew about those humans feelings. He understood people. In the following scripture He was questioning them about John the immerser, who was His cousin and also a prophet.

As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings' palaces! But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. (Matthew 11:7-9 NASB)

He wanted to know, why did you go out to see him. Were you going out of curiosity, were you going to find faults in him. Or were you really interested in his message?

I have traveled long miles to hear a preacher speak. And I must admit that there are some speakers that I would prefer to listen to. But it is the message, that message of Jesus and God's love, that I go to hear.

But sometimes people get hung up, not on the message, but the speaker. People get so "star-struck" that that person could say just about anything and they would nod their heads and shout "Amen."

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church because they were dividing themselves according to who had baptized them. (1 Cor. 1:12)

I also know people that will come or go to a particular church just because of the preacher.

Paul warned the young preacher, Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-3, to preach the truth whether it was popular with the people or not.

I need to make sure that I am listening to the truth. I need to be checking it out and not hearing it only. I need to look up the scriptures that are preached and read them and understand them in the context in which they were intended.

Be a Christian (a follower of Christ)  not a preacher-ite. Do you live to be pleasing to God or to your preacher?

Sheep among wolves

There have been a couple of times since I started driving truck with my husband that we have gone into areas that are somewhat frightful. We go into truckstop parking lots that are full of every kind of illegal activity. We have driven into areas that are very crime laden and to be honest, sometimes I am afraid.

I have already walked through areas where I felt like a little ewe surrounded by wolves.

Bill never ever allows  me go alone and that brings me comfort. And we stay away from those situations as much as possible.

But let's be real, this world is harsh and mean and getting more so all the time.

Jesus chose 12 men from among His many followers. He set them apart, taught them, gave them authority and sent them out. The verse below is one of many things He said to them.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16 NASB)

They would live the rest of their lives as sheep among wolves. It would not be an easy life for them. I think they might have thought otherwise.

Why do we wonder then, why our lives aren't better or easier? Do we think that we deserve better than Jesus or His chosen?

Jesus told us to "go out" into the world. So we will be among the wolves, but He also gives us other advice, "be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves."

So I had to ponder on this for awhile. I had to look up the words and I'm still pondering and thinking about it. 

Shrewd- discerning awareness, astute, clear eyed, knowing and smart.

Innocent- free from sin, harmless in intention

How would a sheep ever survive living among wolves?

I think they would have to be very wise and alert, Watching and guarding their every step. I think that any chance that they had to be in the company of other sheep they should take the opportunity because there would be more safety in numbers and they could help protect each other. The more sheep they could gather together, the better off they would be.

I think they would have to be very non threatening to the wolves and not do anything that would provoke their anger. 

I don't think they should ever eat with the wolves as this would probably prove to be very dangerous. 

I think that even in their sleep they will have to be ready for attack.

I think the sheep will not ever be able to rest until the Shepherd comes and destroys the wolves and takes the sheep away to eternal safety.

Work hard to gather and surround yourself with sheep until that day.

Harvest

I love this time of year. Fall, there are so many colors and smells. There is so many fruits and vegetables in abundance.

There is an excitement in the air, a kind of energy or maybe it is just the feel of urgency, needing to get things done before bad weather.

Nothing ever gave me such comfort as a well stocked, warm house, with all my family members at home.

Fall is also apple picking time. I enjoy going to the orchards to buy apples, cider, and  apple butter. And then going home to make pies, cobbler, apple dumplings, and apple crisp. 

I love apples. But what I liked best was that someone had already picked and sorted all the apples, all I had to do was purchase them, then my work would begin once at home.

Jesus knew something about a harvest too. He saw the plentiful harvest, the distressed and dispirited people. 

And like me with my apples, He saw so much promise in the bushels of people. 

Jesus purchased this harvest, with His blood.

And now our work begins. It is up to us to spread the love of Jesus. We, like Jesus, need to have compassion on the distressed and dispirited.

Let's roll up our sleeves and get busy. We can't harvest the fields if we don't go to the fields. Where do you find hurting people? You don't have to look far.

Jesus was going through all the cities and villages. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. 

Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." (Matthew 9:35a-38 NASB)

Get on Board

I am a Christian. That means I follow Jesus. 

But sometimes the storms of life rage all around me. The uncertainty of the future surround me in darkness. Every kind of sadness and sorrow blow in like the wind. Fear and dread cover me like the waves of the sea.

"Lord, I am perishing. How will I survive this?" I question.

But Jesus is with me. We are in the same boat. But He is resting calmly. He wonders why I am not.

He rebukes my storms. He holds the future. He is the author of joy. He conquers fear.

And because I am in His boat, I am amazed at the peace and calmness He brings.

Are you in the same boat?

Get on board.

When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!" He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" (Matthew 8:23-27 NASB)

Good Medicine

I see a lot of heartache and sadness, a lot of illness and disease. It seems that everyone is having struggles of some kind. 

Problems of any kind can affect us physically as well as mentally, emotionally and even spiritually. 

We can be quickly overtaken by our problems and even other people's problems.

When all you see are mountains and not the Maker of the mountains, it wears you out.

When all you feel are the shadows of doubt and not the Light beyond the clouds, you lose hope.

When your "muddling through" becomes the mud of sinking sand, you get discouraged.

It is all too easy to do.

 

A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22 NASB)

Joy is the solution. 

Keeping our focus on Jesus and knowing that He gives us hope and victory.

Relying on others for support, encouragement and guidance, and maybe even correction, will help us to be stronger.

And putting  our selfish wants, desires and expectations aside will line us up to where we need to be.

Having Joy is not easy, no, but we must choose to be joyful. Our attitudes are up to us. No one else can give us our attitudes. We choose them ourselves. 

I want a joyful heart.

Fruits

Someone once told me that a person can do hundreds of good things in their lifetime and make one mistake that results in something bad, And people will always remember that one bad thing.

I am not real sure that is always the case.  But if a person is known as a good person, people who aren't so good like to see and point out their faults. It makes them feel a little better about themselves.

But on the other hand if a person is usually mean, hateful, and downright nasty and they do a nice thing. It is hardly ever acknowledged because most people would wonder about their motives and if there might be strings attached.

And along those lines, the children of such people usually raise little versions of themselves. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. (Matthew 7:17 NASB)

However, we are not saved by our deeds or works. We can be the nicest, kindest person in the world but that will not get us into Heaven. 

Only by abiding in Christ can we get there. 

Look up the word, Abide. What does it mean? 

When it comes to my family tree, God is my Father, Jesus is my vine. I do not want to be apart, or fall from the tree. I want to abide there always.

Busy or busybody?

May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. 

May the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! (2 Thessalonians 3:5, 16 NASB)

What beautiful thoughts and blessings! These are lovely words written by Paul to the church of Thessalonica. He must of thought very highly of them.

But if you notice there are two verses here and ten verses between the two that I haven't printed.

If you read those other ten verses you will see that Paul is addressing a problem that he sees happening in this particular church. The sin of idleness. 

The first century Christians believed that Jesus was going to return very soon. So soon in fact, that they stopped working and continued to meet house to house, waiting for Him to return. 

But because they weren't working, (idleness) they had no means to support their families and began to count on the church for support. 

The Greek word used here is, periergazomai. Peri means "around" and ergazomai, means to work or labor. So they were actually "busy" going in circles. Or busy doing nothing. 

Paul had apparently already written to them about this particular thing once. But they said, "Jesus is coming soon." 

They were so concerned with "being with each other" that they became idle and "lazy" in the work of expanding the Kingdom. They became undisciplined and this led to sin. 

Wow!

When I read this last night, I realized that I am guilty of this very thing. Lord, have mercy. 

Lord,  I sincerely want to be pleasing. I desperately want others to see and experience Your love. Lord, please rescue me from idleness and carelessness, and all things that distract from Your true work. Please Lord, direct my heart into Your love and Christ's steadfastness. Please, give me peace that only You can give. And please, help me to live a disciplined, fruitful life and not give way to undiscipline and idleness, which leads to many sins.

In Jesus' precious name, Amen

Noisy Cymbals

I used to be a school bus driver. I had a regular bus route every morning and afternoon.

But to make extra money I began driving the band to and from football games.

Boy, they were always wound up and rowdy  on the way to the games and if the team won it was a noisy ride home. 

But if we lost, the ride home was usually solemn and silent.

So I would drive in the dark quiet.

Once during one of these long, dark, quiet trips home, some of the equipment shifted and all the cymbals  clattered loudly to the floor.

I about jumped out of my skin, and from the reaction, it startled many of us.

The peaceful silence that we all knew was invaded and we did not have it again the remainder of that trip.

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1 NASB)

When we  talk to others about God and about His word, we need to be doing it in love and gentleness, in a teaching way.

Otherwise we, like the clattering cymbals will bring about more chaos than music.

What is valuable?

As most of you know, my husband and I live in a truck. Granted, it is a really 'homey' truck and we are very self sufficient. We have a fill size bed, satellite tv, sink with hot and cold water, refrigerator, freezer, microwave and convection oven, toilet and enough small appliances to cook anything you can imagine.  

But it was a very hard decision when packing up our truck home as to what to bring and what to leave behind.

You quickly learn that you don't need most of what you think you might.

In the world people strive and become slaves to what the world counts as valuable. People fight and kill each other over valuables.

What do you count as value? What could you do without?

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, (Philippians 3:8 NASB)

Big Barns

He who dies with the most toys, wins!

Have you ever heard that saying? What it is meaning is, he who is the richest, or has the most stuff.

But friends, a large bank account won't buy you a ticket through Heaven's Gate. And God doesn't care about all the "stuff" that we place as important.

Remember the poor, old woman that put her last two "mites" into the offering? Was she not considered "rich" by Jesus? She knew what truly was important.

I pray that as I work my way through this life, paycheck to paycheck, like most people, that I don't get too hung up on material things. Because today could be the day I see God face to face. I do not want Him to look at me and say, "you fool" like He did this man. I want to hear, "Well done, faithful servant, Enter in."

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:19-21 KJV)

Your Psalm

Today I thought it would be good to be creative in worship. Won't you do it with me?

Let's write a Psalm.

First list 3 descriptions of God.

Then list 3 faults of your own.

Finally list 3 reasons that you know God loves you.

Give it a try then post onto Whew.

I am excited to see how many Psalms we can get.

Rhonda's Psalm

God, you are a comfort to my soul.

You are a best friend to me.

God, you are a masterful creator of so much beauty.

I am weak in giving compassion.

I sometimes do not forgive readily.

I need to talk with You more than I do.

But you want me to be completed by You.

You see a purpose for me.

You love me enough to chastise me.

I love you, Lord.

Loose Cannons

When I recently spoke with a family that had stopped coming to church, I heard every kind of "reason" imaginable. They began tearing down and talking badly about other members. They also criticized the Sunday School teachers and the leadership. 

They also had many "reasons" why they believed God not only understood them but blessed them in their Sunday morning services around the tv preachers.

However they could be persuaded to come back if they could, 1. Have their old pew back, 2. Teach the jr church EVERY Sunday, and 3. If so and so would publicly apologize to them.

Well now! I was speechless.

And to make matters worse when they became disgruntled and left in the first place, they went all through the community trying to degrade our church and it's members.

They were a loose cannon. 

A cannon on a ship was a wonderful asset. It was used for protection and to keep the vessel and passengers safe. But if a cannon got loose, it was a terrible hazard causing much harm to the vessel and the passengers.

loose cannon (Wictionary)

Noun

loose cannon 

(nautical) a cannon that breaks loose during battle or a storm and causes serious damage to the ship and its crew

(idiomatic, by extension) an uncontrolled or unpredictable person who causes damage to their own faction, 

When will God's people ever learn to handle conflicts in the way God designed? Jesus teaches this in Matthew chapter 18. 

"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. (Matthew 18:15, 16 NASB)

If people were brave enough and godly enough to do this many problems could be resolved. But people would rather go and tell "their story" to anyone who will listen. 

God cannot be pleased. I have said it before and I say it again, if I fail you or let you down, and I will someday, come to me! Let's talk through it. I can take it and I promise to try to keep my cannons tied done tight.

What is missing?

Two weeks ago while at our home church, I sadly realized that there are several people and a couple of families that weren't there. I was told that they don't come anymore.

I shake my head. I made some phone calls to these people. I got no response.

What happens to make people who seem strong and faithful fall away and stay away? I wish I had the answer. I will keep trying. 

But let me ask you this, If a person or family comes to church after missing for many weeks, maybe months, how do you respond? Do you make sure to speak with them? Do you question them as to where they have been? 

I want you to remember the actions of the Father of the prodigal. The son was not immediately scolded and questioned. He probably would have left again if he would have been treated like that.

I hope that we are holding onto our faith. I hope the scriptural words below could be said of each of us.

'I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. (Revelation 2:19 NASB)

Are your deeds more than they used to be?

Is your love for others stronger than it used to be?

Is your faith stretching and growing all the time?

Are you serving in the church and community more than you ever have?

Is your "stick to it ness" perseverance good?

I believe that too often we cannot answer yes to all these questions. We sometimes like to live the "good enough" life. Or maybe we think someone else can do it.

God hates a lukewarm Christian! Be aware. He will spit you out!

Let's work hard. Let's not compare our works and faith with someone else. If we all work with enthusiasm for God, if we all get excited for Christ, maybe we can encourage others to get excited too.

Call someone today that you haven't seen in the church building lately. If they don't answer, don't cross it off your list. Keep calling until they do answer. They need to know you are thinking about them.

Appointed Time

I became aware of several deaths over the past few days and the thing that they all had in common was, that they didn't make sense.

One was a vicious murder because the victim "looked wrong at the killer."

Another was a young girl that died after overdosing on drugs.

And yet another was a 3 day old baby.

We are in sorrow, we shake our heads in wonder. How can these things happen? 

Scripture tells us that we all have an appointed time to die. Only God knows when that will be and as you can see, there are no set rules or standards. It can be anyone at anytime. 

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, (Hebrews 9:27 NASB)

Is today your appointed day? We never know. You love, honor, obey and serve The Lord and teach others to do the same.

Hug and love your friends and family.

Don't hold bitterness and grudges.

Life is but a vapor. It could be gone at any time.

Heartache, Broken Pieces

http://youtu.be/tUpfhoo5jzQ

If you can watch this video. Music has been soothing my soul so much recently. 

On Sunday while at a church event I received a text from my oldest son. He was asking for prayer for his friend John. 

John's 23 year old daughter had overdosed on drugs and died.

How sad! 

How terribly sad!

The more I read and see even among my Christian friends and families, I see that people are broken. This world is hurting and our Hope and change has changed most of us into hopelessness.

People need Jesus. He is our hope!

I was nothing before Him. Please watch the video and maybe share it on your own page. You never know who needs to hear and believe the words.