TEMPTATION (Personal Reflection)

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"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Whether you're a fan of rap music or not, the lyrics of this compilation song are raw, gritty, honest, and shed light upon the secret sins many of us (even in the church) struggle with. As men and the spiritual leaders of our home, we cannot turn a blind eye toward the impact sexual gratification has on our psyche and our marriages. Our eyes are easily influenced by the images culture accentuates at every turn, yet God's Word is clear that we are constantly at war with our flesh. "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do" (Galatians 5:17). As such, we must guard our hearts from succumbing to the onslaught of temptation readily accessible in our day. Internet, TV, videos, magazines, billboards, social media, etc., all have the power to sway our attention from the truth of Scripture which cautions us to avoid temptation at all costs. Therefore, we must be willing to take extreme measures in order to protect ourselves from the flesh we struggle to gain self control over. "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire" (Matthew 18:7–9).

The most compelling aspect of this song, in my opinion, is the inclusion of interlude preaching within the rap itself. I cannot listen to this track without being confronted by the accusations presented and convicted to the core, for I admit my mind places far too much emphasis on sexual gratification as my foundation for happiness and/or my identity as a man. Keep in mind, sex within the construct of Biblical marriage is a beautiful gift from God which He gives us to enjoy. However, our twisted perversion of that gift is the focus of this post because we forget all too quickly what Scripture promises: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). As a result, suppressing who I am in Christ impacts my marriage because of unrealistic expectations I place on my wife. It also affects my family because it distracts my attention from the role of spiritual leadership I am called to exemplify for my daughters (as they observe my behavior for righteous character qualities they should look for in future husbands). The greatest gift I can ever give my children is a Godly marriage, and a healthy union begins with dying to self and aligning my desires and personal will with the Lord and His Word. Therefore, I must continually ask myself whether I am living for Christ or my flesh. Whose voice do I yield to when my sexual desires are not being met? Do I seek personal satisfaction outside my marriage to any degree? Am I prone to being mentally consumed by lust to the extent where I act out?

There are countless Scripture passages which speak to the dilemma man faces deep within his heart when it comes to sex, yet in the moment we tend to completely forget or ignore what we know to be true, that death and destruction come from yielding to the flesh and obeying its cravings. "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (James 1:14–15). There is a reason why Biblical counselors advise men who struggle with lust to wash their minds with the convicting truth of Proverbs 5-7. Scripture describes a scene where a man is led astray by his sexual desires and destroys himself like a moth to a flame in the arms of an adulteress. It is one of the most gripping examples of self-destruction in the Bible, which many of us know more intimately than we care to admit. "With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life" (Proverbs 7:21–23). Unfortunately, it is not until we experience a "moment of clarity" when the scales of deception fall from our eyes and we see our sin for what it truly is. Death. However, admitting when we've CHOSEN to sin rather than blaming others for our sinful decisions is a reality we need to reconcile in our hearts once and for all, if we truly want to gain victory over our flesh.

About 6 years ago, I wrote an extensive commentary on Matthew 5:27-30 where Jesus taught, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27–28). In that post, I wrote the following:

"Thus in considering Matthew 5:27-30, once acceptance of Christ as truth has been established, a man must confront his tempestuous process/tendencies of yielding to sin in order to understand what his degradation progression looks like when his lust becomes adultery.  In my experience, the process essentially follows this cyclical pattern: 

1. His natural propensity to sexual stimulation by means of his flesh.  

2. Temptations that stir his mind with promises of pleasure and satisfaction. 

3. Methods which provide a medium, outlet or forum for acting out on his lust.  

4. Consideration of the "balance scale" between perceived pleasure and consequences.  

5. Acceptance/acknowledgement of what he knows to be wrong, yet proceeds anyway.  

6. Hormonal escalation to the point where mental fantasy results in physical climax.  

7. "Moment of clarity" where his temporary, false satisfaction is replaced by the reality of his sin.  

8. Guilt, shame and (in reality) empty promises to finally turn away from his sin.   

9. Period of time where judgment is distracted until his sin desire is stirred and the cyclical pattern begins again. 

While most men can logically follow the pattern of this list against their own experiences as true on the whole, the reality is that the "balance scale" and "moment of clarity" typically do not garner enough attention and prayerful consideration.  The truth of the matter is that God gives opportunities for accountability to men struggling with lustful temptations.  King David echoed this emphatically and without reservation following the consequences of his adultery with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah, when he plainly stated, "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me" (Psalm 51:3).  How refreshing are the pages of Scripture when the reality of my heart's condition is perfectly united with an imperfect man, who for the most part sought God's will throughout his life, yet struggled with sin progressions I personally relate to.  David understood the magnitude of his sin. "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment" (Psalm 51:4). Therefore, he humbled himself before the judgment of a Holy God, who forgave him because of his solemn and reverent plea of repentance by fully accepting and taking responsibility for his sins. "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!" (Psalm 51:1-2)."

We can justify in our minds all we want that we "got caught up in the moment," or leverage any combination of reasons which enabled our lustful actions. Bottom-line: WE OWN OUR BEHAVIOR. As a result, if we choose to sin, we choose to suffer the consequences of those actions. The idolatry of sex and perversion of God's design for marriage is an epidemic both outside our church walls and within. Look no further than daily social media headlines for proof. Human sex trafficking is rampant throughout the world and global pornography revenue estimates exceed $100 billion, easily dwarfing (>3x) the 4 major U.S. sports leagues (NFL/NBA/MLB/NHL) combined! If we're not recognizing the degradation of sexuality and subsequent idolatry in our world today, we as Christians are either ignorant to the facts or fooling ourselves into thinking the problem is not as bad as it seems. "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). However, fixing the problem would require PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY and OWNERSHIP over our behavior, and that is a line in the sand many who struggle with lust are unwilling to be held accountable to. In other words, we struggle admitting how twisted our view of sex has become because we've allowed it to take root in our minds. In turn, sexual curiosity has morphed into a state of desensitization where we continue to expand the depths of perversion. What was once taboo is commonplace; and unfortunately, our children are shouldering the burden of our indifference toward sexual impurity by becoming enslaved themselves. "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen" (Romans 1:24–25).

The key takeaway from the conclusion of this song is that addressing our sin problem does not begin and end with managing our libido. I know because I wasted too many years exhausting that method to no avail. Sex is merely the surface issue hiding the true root of depravity in our hearts, manifested in love of self. Certainly we can attempt to suppress our sexual cravings, but our natural propensity to yield to the flesh will always keep us from experiencing victory if we rely on our strength alone. It is only through the power of Holy Spirit that we are even capable of destroying the strongholds which pervert our minds. However, we must choose whom we will serve. "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15). In the end, God's Word is the only tool at our disposal which illuminates truth and exposes lies. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). What many of us need to realize is that spiritual amputation is the first step to breaking the chains which bind us. What does that look like though? Job offers a simple recipe for success: "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high? Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? Does not he see my ways and number all my steps?" (Job 31:1–4). In other words, I am committing to GUARD my eyes because my thoughts, intentions and actions are on full display for God, my Judge.  

More importantly, safeguarding our hearts stops the stream of resources pouring into sexual degradation all over the world. Bottom-line, the porn industry exists because addicted humans are too prideful and selfish to put an end to it. We can raise all the awareness in the world about the atrocities of human sex trafficking, but it will continue to exist and gain momentum because we are too consumed with gratifying our private, sexual cravings to recognize we are enabling a crisis of grave proportions. Yes, I understand that is an "all-inclusive" statement, and thankfully many reading this post may not struggle with lust. However, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY ADDICTED TO PORNOGRAPHY, and we are naive to believe that statistic is not inclusive of the church body. We cannot forget that supply only exists because the demand is great. How then do we cut off the demand? Heart change for Christ; because in our own power, we do not have the strength to destroy strongholds. "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:3–4). I realize many will ridicule or minimize the idea that "trusting in Jesus" will make any difference whatsoever, but we as the body of Christ must start believing 2 Corinthians 10:3–4 and walking in the light of His grace and mercy. Unfortunately, millions of souls within the church are addicted to lust in varying degrees and perversions. Therefore, if we desire and commit to make a difference in this world, let it begin at home first and foremost so that we would be an example of God's saving power to destroy strongholds.

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:1–5).

"TEMPTATION" by 116 Clique

[Intro: Andy Mineo]

This body's not mine, it's yours, it's yours, it's yours.

So every day, I'm fighting a war

To flee from it all 'til I'm free from it all.

Flee from it all 'til I'm free from it all.

[Verse 1: KB]

OK, saved at an early age

In thirty days, it felt like I had managed to murder most of my worldly ways.

Worldly ways? But a couple stayed and coupled with a couple years,

I'm wondering am I missing out on the thrills I had thrown away?

Was all this in vain? Strain to remain and refrain

And sustain through this flame in my veins.

Lust is his name, this virgin a burden,

I ain't never hit the club, maybe I just need a taste.

A lil' taste, a lil' taste is like a little rape,

A lil' drank, a poison but can it kill a man?

A heard 'em say without sex, life is a waste,

But Christ is over all, I kept my pants on my waist.

Turned beautiful chicks away, dudes swearin' that I'm lame,

Though I got a sex drive, the Spirit's holding the brakes.

There's no breaks, this is His infinite work,

Content with my rib, nothing is sweet enough to desert her.

[Interlude]

See, some of y'all done bought the lie

That sex is what makes you a man,

But that's not what makes you a man.

Anybody can go lay with a woman.

What makes you a man is being defined

By who you say you are in Christ.

If you have Christ, you have all that you need.

Everything you need is bound up in the resurrected Savior.

[Verse 2: Derek Minor]

Look, can I be real with you?

They say that women want attention, that's the real issue.

And if they only wore dresses just a little bit longer,

Then the flesh that I be feeding wouldn't burn like a sauna.

Wait, is that the reason why your brain is in chains

When you at home by yourself in front of computer screens?

Or is that the reason why sick men prey on

Little girls still in school still playing with crayons?

No! It's the flesh that all men should fight

While Satan persist to tempt us with our own wicked delights.

See, God made intimacy to glorify He,

The flesh wanna do as we please glorify we (don't deserve it).

That girl is not an object for playing,

That's a woman, not a barbie, I don't care what Nicki (Minaj) say.

And just like her, sex is God's creation,

You spit inside his face when you don't use it how he made it.

[Interlude]

Sex is a gift from God but we've taken it and made it idolatry.

We've taken it and put it in the place of God and we worship it,

And so it comes out in all kinds of profane ways.

And so we blame the women for what they're wearing,

And we blame the media for what they're producing,

But we never blame ourselves

For how we've twisted God's gift to glorify us.

[Verse 3: Tedashii]

Flesh on the rise like the tide when I go surfing,

You can see just what I prize in my life when I go searching.

Roaming with my eyes; no surprise sin is lurking,

Get's me every time and inside, man, I'm hurting.

Pretending that I'm fine but it's a lie, man, I'm burdened,

'Cause what's inside is never satisfied so I serve it.

Afraid of getting caught so I hide, I'm so nervous,

Scared that I may die begging Christ to reverse it.

Lord, you are the gospel, such a bad scene,

Even if I clear my history my past ain't clean.

And I can try to clean it up, but it never seems enough,

I trust myself then hurt myself, fail, this is tough.

I need the gospel clear, see my sin for what it is,

One brings life, the other death, man, to me plus my kids.

Selfish in my ways and it's gonna' put me in the grave,

But Christ can save and set you free, no longer be enslaved.

[Bridge: Andy Mineo]

My spirit willing but my flesh weak,

And this moment is but a test see.

Yeah, Lord, you're greater than all these pleasures,

I just wanna see you as my treasure.

God I wanna

Flee from it all 'til I'm free from it all,

Flee from it all 'til I'm free from it all,

Flee from it all 'til I'm free from it all,

Flee from it all 'til I'm free from it all.

[Interlude]

Manning up is not just managing your sexual temptations.

It's not just managing your sin. 

That's not what it means to be a man.

Because you can try harder, and you can do better,

And you can hang on longer. 

That's not manning up!

Manning up is our ability to lay down all of our effort,

And all of our trying, and all of our strength, 

And say, 'I trust in Jesus!'

I trust in his perfection. I trust in his power. I trust in his resurrection.

Because He's the only one that can get me through this,

And He's the only one that can make me free.

EVERY MOTHER, EVERY FATHER (Personal Reflection)

Every mother, every father 

Called to raise up sons or daughters 

May your heart be patient 

May your mind be clear 

May our God be with you 

and calm your fears

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Children are one of life's greatest blessings for a parent and the source of some of our greatest trials and anxiety as well. No matter whether they've brought us joy or sorrow, we all need the Lord's grace and mercy to minister and shepherd them by the power of the Holy Spirit according to His Word. However, that does not assume the road is straight, the journey smooth, and the end result favorable. There are certainly days when we've lost our compass and feel incapable of gathering our wits to respond in love and not react in anger. Those are the moments we desperately need patience, clarity, and peace of mind to weather the storms of parenting, and a prayer like the one in our feature song, "Every Mother, Every Father," can help facilitate that process. God's Word affirms, "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!" (Psalm 127:3–5). Therefore, reminding ourselves how privileged we are to be entrusted by God as shepherds of His children and mirrors of His unconditional love for them is an extraordinary blessing and priceless gift. However, it carries with it tremendous responsibility not to be taken lightly. For many parents have neglected their Biblical role as mothers and fathers, and subsequently drove a wedge of dissension and rebellion in the hearts of their children because of their lack of obedience to the Lord. That is why the Bible warns, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). Our goal as parents is simply to encourage our children to seek after Jesus, respond to His invitation of salvation, and embrace a personal relationship with Him. Therefore, we are wise to first model that behavior in the hope that one day they will surrender their lives to Christ (just as we have) and live according to His sovereign will (just as we are). "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 1:4).

When I first heard, "Every Mother, Every Father," I was captivated by the beauty of its simplicity and reminded that a short, genuine prayer can convey more of our heart's longing in the moment than any eloquent supplication we could offer to the Lord. For when the chaos of life surrounds us, we need to pause and allow the Spirit to intercede on our behalf; because often times, we are too overwhelmed to think clearly. Scripture affirms, "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26–27). For those who have (or have had) the privilege of shepherding children of our own, prayer is a precious gift we have been given to communicate directly with God's heart; yet it is often under-utilized, even by the body of Christ. How can this be? In some cases, it's simply because of pride, laziness, and self-serving motives which conflict with God's will. "You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions" (James 4:2–3). However, more often than not, we find ourselves caught in the time constraints of work, school, extracurricular activities, church, family, etc., which monopolize our attention to the detriment of quality time with the Lord. As a result, we lose sight of what's most important far too frequently and fall victim to busyness and subsequent stress, forgetting what God's Word has to say about our plight.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:25–34).

In many ways, Satan has baited us into believing quality time with the Lord is too great a sacrifice to prioritize in our daily schedules. More pressing issues and tasks at hand demand our immediate attention. Therefore, we justify in our minds that the Lord can wait until we have more time to dedicate our full attention to Him. Why do we think this way? Could it be we take advantage of His patience and assume He is long-suffering, not realizing how passionately He abhors idolatry. "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God" (Deuteronomy 4:24). Perhaps we view daily "quiet time" as impossible to incorporate or too burdensome to carve into our schedules? Again, God's Word declares, "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). It is a heart decision whether we PRIORITIZE God first, which compels us to reconcile whether God is an accessory in our lives used to manipulate our public, "Christian" perception, or the foundation of our entire being. We would certainly never build a home without pouring a firm foundation to begin with. Therefore, we must plan our schedules accordingly to ensure God receives the first fruits of our complete and undivided attention, rather than whatever discretionary time and energy we have left (if any) at the end of our day. 

Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28–30). It seems I've quoted Matthew 11:28–30 frequently in my most recent personal reflections, but I believe we need to constantly remind ourselves of Jesus' promise in order to gain victory over the busyness of life. Why? Because in many ways, we begrudgingly approach the throne of grace out of obligation or duty rather than willful compulsion. A healthy "want to" desire is supplanted by a negative "have to" attitude, and the end result testifies clearly within our spiritual disciplines. It's embarrassing to admit, but my spiritual immaturity can easily be traced back to my heart's perspective regarding Matthew 11:28–30. In other words, I tend to view quality time with God in Bible study and prayer as work instead of pleasure, which manifests itself by my prioritization of immediate and temporary satisfactions of the world over the peace of God which transcends all understanding. In reality, it's simply a spiritual warfare tactic Satan uses to tempt me to question the authority of Scripture under the justification, "Did God really say?" (Genesis 3:1), as I discern how I will invest my time each day. In the end, I must filter Satan's lies and preach the Gospel to my heart in order to discern what is honorable and true in the sight of the Lord. "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them" (Hosea 14:9).

Scripture exhorts, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4–7). Many of us have lost our spiritual joy because we consider our faith more as a burden to manage and upkeep than a personal relationship to nurture and develop. Certainly, we desire intimacy with the Lord where our hearts are in tune with His will at all times. However, we are short-sided if we believe neglecting quality time with God has any bearing on our spiritual health and maturity. Like Esau trading his eternal birthright for a momentary bowl of soup, far too often we willingly trade our opportunity to rest in the presence of Jesus for whatever immediate task demands our attention instead. Granted, there may be legitimate needs which require our focus at times, but that should be the exception to the rule rather than the standard. For if we increasingly justify why we're not in our Bibles, nor praying or doing family devotions, nor even attending church regularly, then we are trading our spiritual birthright for a bowl of soup to the detriment of our faith. Scripture warns, "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). Granted, the focus of this verse may center on financial provision, but we are wise to ensure we're providing invaluable spiritual leadership in our homes as well, which begins with humility, sustained by faith, and bathed in prayer.

It has been said that "Every Mother, Every Father" feels like a spiritual lullaby for parents. I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment. This lyrical prayer sung in captivating harmonies can have a profound impact on our hearts if we simply stop and listen to them when the trials of life infringe upon our comforts, and confess our need of grace and mercy in the moment to God. Far too often, we try to muscle our way through whatever obstacles lie before us and strong-arm our children into doing what we say because we say so, rather than teaching them what God has to say because He loves us and His Word is forever true. It requires a shift in perspective, for no one enters into parenting knowing exactly what to do in every circumstance. In many ways, we endure trial by fire and lean upon our own strength and understanding far too often as the blueprint for universal success and happiness. What we fail to realize early on in the child-rearing days is that the spiritual foundation we pour and solidify at the beginning of their lives will dictate how well they withstand the inevitable storms of life, and that begins with making Christ the cornerstone of our homes. "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:24–27). 

In the end, whether our children accept or reject Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives is independently their decision. However, we can ensure we equip them with the foundation and tools necessary to navigate the storms of life with confidence if we're teaching them what God's Word has to say and emulating the application of His standard in our own lives. Therefore, it begins with our submission, obedience, and surrendering our pride at the foot of the cross each day by calling upon the name of Jesus to guard our tongues and guide our actions. For no one ever said parenting was easy, but shepherding a child can be the most rewarding experience this side of heaven for those who trust in the Lord no matter the circumstance and teach their children to do the same. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones" (Proverbs 3:5–8). Bottom-line, none of our children will ever be perfect, but we can ensure they know who God is, what He has done for their salvation, and how they can place their hope and trust in His eternal provision without reservation. Only then will we be able to enter the throne of grace confident we have obeyed the Lord's call to teach, admonish and exhort our children unto righteousness for His name's sake and glory. 

PERSONAL TESTIMONY (Daniel): It is impossible for me to listen to this song and not reflect upon how blessed I am to have an angel for my soulmate and four daughters who reflect her true beauty, integrity and character. My wife is an amazing woman who not only home-schools our two oldest daughters, but manages the demands of our two toddler daughters as well. The enormous sacrifice she makes day after day is immeasurable, yet the fruit of her labor is evident because all four of our girls are genuinely sweet, compassionate, tenderhearted, and well-mannered, just like my wife. However, when I look at my middle-school daughters in particular, I see a far deeper impact of my wife's unwavering faith, humility and meekness which have not only been passed down, but planted deep in the soil of their hearts where strong roots have developed. I would be foolish to assume the investment she makes in their education is easy, for I know it comes with a great cost of patience, time and energy, which she willingly sacrifices without reservation. Daughters look up to their mothers, in particular, with great attention to detail and, at times, unfair scrutiny. But I am so proud of her because despite the demands on her schedule, she is disciplined enough to prioritize quiet time with the Lord each morning in Bible study and prayer. Perhaps that is why I fell in love with "Every Mother, Every Father" the first time I heard it, because it reminds me of my angel who represents the beauty of the lyrics and acoustic harmonies. May I learn to intercede on her behalf and sing this precious prayer over her each morning to ensure her spirit is strengthened, her countenance lifted, and her heart and mind protected, that she may rest in the arms of the Savior where grace and mercy flow freely.

SONG OF GRACE (Personal Reflection)

Lord I come, O Sovereign King

All my hope is in Your hands

From creation's majesty

You ordained redemption's plan

For Your glory's renown

And Your greatness displayed

Mercy came and ransomed

My life from the Fall

Mercy came and ransomed my heart

All the righteousness in me

Shows my desperate need of grace

For my purest thoughts and deeds

Stand to justify the grave

But The Christ intervened

Through the power of the cross

In His death I am freed

From the wages of sin

In His death, I am sealed by His blood

My soul will sing Your unfailing love

My heart will bless Your name

Forever my life will rest in Your grace

My soul will bless Your name

Now my life is not my own

Jesus, use me as You please

Gladly I will share Your pain

Just to know the lasting peace

So I give You my life

That the whole world might see

There is hope in the power

Of Your saving grace

There is hope in the power of Your name

On that day before the throne

When I'm standing as Your bride

There my heart is welcomed home

In the open arms of Christ

I will join the redeemed

In the anthem of grace

Praise the Lamb! Who purchased

His bride from the grave

Praise the Lamb!

Who purchased my heart!

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DISCLAIMER: This post is much longer than usual due to including personal perspective from the songwriter within the body of this reflection/devotion. Due to the richness of the text, this post warranted a deeper dive in order to understand and discern the meaning behind the lyrics, which inevitably produced a lengthy composition. Nonetheless, I pray hearts and minds would be open the Spirit's leading through SONG OF GRACE, for the Biblical foundation it was built upon warrants prayerful consideration. May we glean all the wisdom God has in store for us through the beauty of this song as we sing praises to the glory of His name.

PERSONAL TESTIMONY (Daniel): Rarely am I blown away by a song I've never heard before, but "Song of Grace" by Jarod Espy is arguably one of the greatest songs of worship I have ever heard. I'd rate it as high, if not higher, than anything I've listened to over the years from popular, contemporary worship ministries like Hillsong, Elevation, Bethel, Vertical, North Point, Sovereign Grace, etc. It's not just a great song, but a treasured and timeless hymn, and arguably one of the best kept secrets in Christian music to date since being released a few years ago. My prayer is that the love and popularity of this song receives the recognition it deserves and ignites a revival within worship services all across the world, because it encompasses everything we could ever want or need to know about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray this personal reflection and songwriter perspective help provide the spark to ignite that fire in the Church of Jesus Christ for the praise and glory of our Almighty King. Therefore, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).

The greatest gifts in life are typically unexpected. After publishing my previous post, LAST WORD, I challenged those within my inner circle of friends to share their favorite songs for overcoming spiritual warfare in their lives. I was pleasantly surprised to receive so many great responses, but a trusted friend and fellow worship leader from Florida sent me a link to his "new" favorite song, which inevitably sparked the inspiration for this personal reflection. Honestly, I had never heard "SONG OF GRACE" before, but the music video immediately captured my attention as I witnessed my extended family in Christ pour their hearts out in genuine praise and worship to God. Make no mistake, I loved the music arrangement from start to finish, but the beauty and richness of the lyrics, saturated in Biblical truth, pierced my heart to the point where I could not stop listening to this track over and over again. Like my brother in Christ, I too had succumbed to the Spirit's conviction that this was not just another worship song. Its spiritual roots ran far deeper than most songs written today, articulating the Gospel from a poetic, hymn-perspective which, in my opinion, echoed the beauty of prayers I've treasured from the Valley of Vision. Therefore, I consider it an honor and blessing to share the same unexpected gift I received from my friend with those who would be willing to open their hearts and minds to the power of this song and its prophetic words.

What makes this particular reflection/devotion so unique is the inclusion of personal testimony from the singer/songwriter, Jarod Espy. Typically when I use a song as inspiration for a devotion post, I research online to find background information on the meaning behind the lyrics. However, none could be found in this instance. Therefore, I decided to step out in faith and personally reach out to Jarod through his website to gain perspective, if he was willing to share. Within a couple hours, he responded with genuine excitement and interest to partner with me on creating a devotional experience that would draw people closer to the Lord and His Word through our collective effort. I must confess it is a tremendous blessing for me to share how the Spirit inspired and spoke through Jarod to compose this masterpiece, because this song and reflection/devotion are intended to bring glory to God alone, not man. In other words, "But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand" (Isaiah 64:8). Make no mistake, the Holy Spirit inspired this beautiful hymn to bring honor and glory to the only One who is worthy of praise, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I am tremendously encouraged though knowing how prayerfully considered this song was in its revelation, which should be a huge affirmation to the church universal due to the amount of discernment Jarod gave during the 3 months it took to compose SONG OF GRACE.

Jarod's Perspective: Approaching lyrics on a song like this comes with much prayer. When writing songs for the Church, I believe there is a great responsibility to be a good steward of the lyrics. We are literally writing words that people will be singing to God. I don’t take that lightly. With God’s grace, I want to make sure the things I write are coming from a flowing river of what God is doing in my life today and not a stagnant pond. In other words, I need to be actively walking with the Lord and hungering for His Word. His Word is the source and the Spirit is the guide. I happened to be going through a difficult season in my life during the time of writing this song, and God’s grace was something I needed to hear.

The beauty of true, Biblical worship is that it transcends our fleshly senses and aligns our soul with the Creator of the universe. For the born-again believer, true worship exposes the arrogance of our pride, magnifies our sin and need of redemption, focuses our attention on God's saving provision, and unites us eternally with Jesus Christ through His death, burial and resurrection. Therefore, when we reflect upon who we are as sinful human beings and compare that to the beauty and majesty of our holy and sovereign Creator, we cannot help but proclaim unending praise and thanksgiving for what He has done on our behalf to save our souls from eternal damnation."For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation" (Romans 5:6–11).

I love how the opening verse of SONG OF GRACE begins. "Lord I come, O Sovereign King, all my hope is in Your hands. From creation's majesty, You ordained redemption's plan." I believe it is imperative worship begins with recognizing our human fragility compared to almighty God, Himself. Paul put it this way: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30), because acknowledging Christ as Lord and King is crucial to understanding the magnitude of grace God bestows on His children. Only God alone is sovereign (supreme, ultimate and absolute). Therefore, placing hope and trust in anyone or anything other than His sovereignty is foolishness, for the Lord declares, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:13). Moreover, God cannot be defined from the humanistic confines of our time continuum, because He created it and even transcends our understanding of it. "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). Therefore, we are wise to worship God for the majesty, splendor and glory of His Creation, while also understanding that His redemptive plan of salvation required Him to sacrifice His beloved Son to ransom our lives from hell itself. This He foreknew and ordained before the creation of the world to ensure we had ample opportunity to choose salvation over death, because the hope of eternal life rests in the palm of His hands.

"For Your glory's renown and Your greatness displayed, mercy came and ransomed my life from the Fall. Mercy came and ransomed my heart." How could anyone gaze upon the majesty of creation and boldly declare there is no God? It is hard to fathom, yet millions have suppressed the truth of God for a lie without realizing what is truly at stake. "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse" (Romans 1:19–20). Without a doubt, the greatness of God is immeasurable and His glory famous, yet how many of us truly grasp the enormity of His mercy? Regrettably, far too often we fall victim to minimizing God's mercy in favor of grace, yet both are critical aspects of His love which satisfy one another. While grace is the unmerited favor of God, blessing us with what we don't deserve (i.e. salvation through Jesus' blood), mercy is God intentionally pardoning us for we do deserve (i.e. the sins of mankind), therefore enabling grace. Make no mistake, mercy came through the power of the cross to ransom and redeem our souls for no other reason but the unconditional and eternal love of our heavenly Father. But why? Perhaps the prophetic lyrics of "In Christ Alone" can give us a clue:

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied –

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

Even though God is rich in mercy, his wrath upon sin must be satisfied (Romans 5:9). That is where His grace comes to fruition full circle—pouring out His wrath upon Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. However, we must choose whether we'll accept that free gift of salvation before our time on earth comes to an end, lest we fall from the throne of grace forever without Jesus to stand in our place at judgment when God's wrath is revealed. For those who have made the decision to surrender allegiance to Christ, forsaking all others, the outpouring of praise from our hearts cannot be quenched. Therefore we sing, "I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable" (Psalm 145:1–3).

Jarod's Perspective: Verse #1 speaks to God’s sovereignty and His plan of grace from the beginning of time. Jesus is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8). "He chose us in Him (Christ) before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4). This can be a hard concept to wrap the mind around, but there is great security in it. It establishes the song on a place of God's sovereignty. I can trust Him because He has planned my redemption from the beginning of time. “Lord I come, O Sovereign King, all my hope is in Your hands...” because... “from creation’s majesty, You ordained redemption’s plan.” But I also wanted to make sure it spoke to God’s Glory in our redemption. We are saved "to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:6), because "all things were created by Him, through Him and FOR Him" (Colossians 3:16–17). This keeps God as the focus and the inspiration for the lyric: “For Your glory’s renown and Your greatness displayed.”

"All the righteousness in me shows my desperate need of grace, for my purest thoughts and deeds stand to justify the grave." Simply put, WOW! The more I wash my heart and mind with the convicting reality of this verse, the more I realize how foolish I am to ever consider righteousness as dependent upon my own strength and ability. "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away" (Isaiah 64:6). Think about it. Everything within us which we proudly consider pure and righteous, only testifies to the desperation of our eternal plight if we stake our hope in self-preservation rather than submission and surrender to Christ. Plainly stated, our absolute best, not simply our worst, testifies to how desperately we need the Lord. That is why Paul confessed, "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith" (Philippians 3:8–9). 

"But the Christ intervened through the power of the cross. In His death, I am freed from the wages of sin. In His death, I am sealed by His blood." Only through the power of the cross are we freed from the bondage of sin. From death comes life—it doesn't logically make sense, but perhaps that is the point! Logically, we should receive the just wrath and punishment for our sins. However, God ordained an escape clause in the eternal contract (mercy) which allows us to not only avoid permanent separation from Him in favor of continual torment, anguish and regret in hell, but a priceless inheritance in heaven reserved for those who simply accept His free gift of grace. It just sounds too good to be true—AND IT IS! Therefore, we should be overwhelmingly thankful because we are saved by grace through the atoning blood of Jesus, the good shepherd, for the forgiveness of sins. "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:14–15).

Jarod's Perspective: I came across an old Martin Luther hymn called, “Out of the depths I cry to Thee,” written 500 years ago. I had never seen this one, but there was a lyric on the page that immediately struck me: “Thy Sovereign Grace and boundless love show me, O Lord, forgiving; My purest thoughts and deeds but prove sin in my heart is living.” I had to read over it several times. The message here was, “Lord, forgive me, for even my very best proves that I am a sinner.” Wow! That is deep. “My righteousness is filthy rags.” This became the idea that inspired Song of Grace. Whether our sin is blatant and easy to identify, or not so obvious and even oblivious to us, we are all in need of His grace. None of us can earn it. Not even our best is good enough to earn it. We are all in desperate need of a Savior. Paul said, "My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me" (1 Corinthians 1:4).

What then is our response? PRAISE. "My soul will sing Your unfailing love. My heart will bless Your name. Forever my life will rest in Your grace. My soul will bless Your name." Praise is simply the overflow of joy and thanksgiving from our hearts to God, pouring out like a waterfall upon the rocky landscape of trials and tribulations in our lives. It overcomes spiritual warfare because it testifies to the saving power of Jesus Christ, affirms our faith, and strengthens our trust and resolve in the Lord's will for our lives despite the difficult circumstances we may face. Let us be clear though: Praise does NOT eliminate our trials. Rather, it shifts our focus off temporary trials and directs our attention on the permanency of salvation and God's sovereign provision, which elicits a response of thanksgiving for those who are saved by grace alone. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8–9). 

Sadly, many people reject the gift of saving grace because it forces them to reconcile whether God is real and His Word is trustworthy. Scripture reminds us, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18), and many who reject God altogether do so because they view Him through the lens of legalistic religion vs. pure and vulnerable faith. Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13–14). Consequently, the call and response between what Jesus promises to those who trust in Him and the chorus of this song is beautiful. For when we place our hope and trust in Christ, choosing to enter eternity by the narrow gate, our hearts have no choice but to sing of His unfailing love and bless His name for the sheer honor and privilege of resting in His grace and mercy.

Jarod's Perspective: Then we go to God’s intervention, the cross, and the power to free us from the wages of sin. This is the victory of every believer and this is where the song starts to turn to praise, leading to the refrain. The chorus is simply our response to His grace—what we’ve just sung in the verses. Because the verses are so heavy, I wanted to keep the chorus simple. So I thought of songs like, How Great Thou Art: “Then sings my soul!” Then Scripture came to mind: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name!" (Psalm 103:1). The chorus is based off that inspiration. When I think about His grace, it overwhelms me. My soul knows its Savior, and simply wants to respond as that Psalm proclaims: “Bless His name!”

"Now my life is not my own. Jesus, use me as You please. Gladly I will share Your pain just to know the lasting peace." It is interesting that the "ownership" aspect of faith in Christ is a tremendous burden to reconcile for many who are lost yet searching for answers. They simply cannot fathom how spiritual freedom results from surrendering one's heart to the Lord. What they fail to realize is that obedience and submission to Christ is liberation, not bondage, because lasting peace comes from knowing and applying the absolute truth of God's Holy Word in our lives. Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28–30). When we place our trust in Christ, we begin to cast off fleshly tendencies which perpetuate our love of self. In turn, we embrace our "born-again" identity and endure trial, pain and persecution for His name sake. Why? Because the mark of a true Christian is love—for what we have been given, we willingly share with our neighbor AND our enemy for His name sake, even if it results in trial, pain or persecution. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34–35).

Unfortunately, over the last 2,000 years wolves in sheep's clothing have sought to manipulate the minds of the weak and exploit their spiritual immaturity for selfish gain, which Jesus sternly rebuked in His seven woes to the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23). "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15). Make no mistake, Jesus came to abolish man-made religion as a means to salvation, because we are saved by grace through faith alone and not by works (Ephesians 2:8–9). The Bible clearly warns, "Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin" (John 8:34), thus accepting slavery in the form of self-exaltation and self-preservation is futile thinking. We will never be good enough to earn our way to heaven.  However, Jesus offers a far different and unique perspective for eternal reconciliation with God: Marriage. "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25–27).

"So I give You my life that the whole world might see. There is hope in the power of Your saving grace. There is hope in the power of Your name." Keep in mind, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Consequently, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31–32). Because Jesus is the manifestation of absolute truth, we can rest in the eternal assurance that surrendering our lives to Him is not slavery which binds us, but marital covenant which frees us. Marriage begins with a public proclamation of unity, forsaking all others until death due us part—and that is exactly the eternal promise Jesus made to His bride, the Church, when He gave His life unto death for her. That is why hope is not merely an aspiration, desire or wish for a future outcome, but a realistic expectation of eternity based upon the power of saving grace. As Will Reagan famously wrote, "There is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain," and we are wise to heed that advice, grounded in the truth of God's Word which testifies to His glory and majesty. "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9–11).

Jarod's Perspective: Living in His grace. Now that we have received His grace, it doesn’t just end there. How do we live in it? We share it with the world. “Now my life is not my own...” (1 Corinthians 6:20; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3). “Gladly I will share Your pain...” (Philippians 1:29; Colossians 1:24; 1 Peter 4:13). The Bible speaks so much on rejoicing in suffering, but this is the idea: Am I willing to do whatever it takes to reach the world with the grace I have found? Often times, worship songs today speak on the idea of suffering as to how God will deliver us and help us. There's certainly nothing wrong with that, but it can almost lend itself toward seeking momentary satisfaction from God. I wanted to approach this song not focused on my personal wants and needs, but actually with a willingness to suffer and be glad in it for His sake because I have all I need in Him, knowing that “lasting peace” is something which transcends our circumstances and even our lives. It is our eternal inheritance, not just momentary. "For this momentary light affliction is preparing for you an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

"On that day before the throne when I'm standing as Your bride, there my heart is welcomed home in the open arms of Christ. I will join the redeemed in the anthem of grace: Praise the Lamb who purchased His bride from the grave! Praise the Lamb who purchased my heart!" Words cannot describe how glorious it will be when we stand blameless and without blemish before the throne of grace ALL BECAUSE OF JESUS! I realize many will still reject Jesus as Lord and Savior for whatever reason, but even the great French mathematician, physicist and inventor, Blaise Pascal, once said, "If I believe in God and life after death and you do not, and if there is no God, we both lose when we die. However, if there is a God, you still lose and I gain everything." What then have we to lose by accepting Christ? Simply, our pride. Jesus said, "I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7). Heaven awaits those who place their eternal trust in the Lord. It's as simple as that. As a result, if we have accepted Christ's death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and turned from our sin in submission to His will, we can rest assured the Father will welcome us home with open arms and declare, "Let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found" (Luke 15:23–24). Therefore, let us join the redeemed in the anthem of grace and glorify the name of the Lord who is worthy to be praised. "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!" (Psalm 72:18–19).

Jarod's Perspective: Finally, in traditional hymn fashion, the heaven verse. I wanted this verse to come from the perspective of the Church as the Bride of Christ. That you and I are part of a Bride from every generation, whom Christ purchased with His blood. I love that imagery. And that one day, we would join the other saints who have gone before, all gathered as His bride, praising Him as it says in Revelation: "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready" (Revelation 19:7). "Worthy are You...for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9). What an eternal perspective! What a day! With this thought, I wanted the song to culminate in a great point of exultation, which leads back to the chorus “my soul will sing...”

POST REFLECTION: It has been a tremendous honor working with Jarod on this post and understanding the heart of this song and how the Spirit inspired it. I pray those who listen to SONG OF GRACE are blessed beyond measure and would encourage their local church communities to include it in their worship sets. For more information, please visit [http://jarodespy.com/] to access FREE worship resources including sheet music, loops, chord charts, and instrumental video tutorials which he has prepared to help equip and train the local church. My sincere thanks to Jarod for his sincerity, humility and willingness to share his personal testimony in writing SONG OF GRACE, and allowing me to publicly share that perspective with others. To God be the glory forever! 

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