Thursday Morning: 09 May 2019 – Mark 8:27-9:1 ~ What’s your perspective?

Thursday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Guidance – Thursday)

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Mark 8:27-9:1 (NLT)

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus

Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.”

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”

But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Predicts His Death

Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.

Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!”
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Morning Reflection:

What’s your perspective?

As they were walking along, he asked them,
“Who do people say I am?” – Mark 8:27

In today’s reading, Jesus is viewed from three perspectives – popular, revelation, and human. Let’s look at each of these perspectives.

+ Popular opinion – What’s the buzz? What are people saying about me? (Mk 8:27) The social media of the day assigned Jesus the prophet’s role of preparing for the Messiah. But few people apparently believed that he actually was the Messiah, in spite of what they had seen and heard.

+ Revelation – “But who do you say I am?” Matthew’s version of the event adds further insight –

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John,
because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you.
You did not learn this from any human being.” – Matthew 16:16-17

Peter’s confession of faith was God-given (not something he came up with himself). Since Jesus was the Son of God, He was the Messiah, the King over the long anticipated earthly kingdom; Jesus was both Messiah and God. This confession marked a turning point in the disciples’ recognition of Jesus.

+ Human -The disciples apparently agreed with Peter’s confession of faith, but they were unprepared for Jesus’ further revelation that as Messiah he would suffer, die, and rise again. They understood what Jesus was saying, but they couldn’t reconcile it with the popular view of Messiah ushering in an earthly kingdom. Jesus’ rebuke is strong – using the word for silencing demons. Satan attempted to distort the disciples’ understanding of Jesus’ true Messianic mission.

Questions for consideration:

In light of the different perspectives listed above. who do you say Jesus is? Please explain.
What influence do popular, or human, perspectives have on your understanding of Jesus? Please explain.
What is the significance of Jesus’s prediction of his suffering, death, and resurrection? Please explain.
How does this affect your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Prayer for churches to rise up:

Lord Jesus: Awaken your church to the critical needs of believers around the world who are suffering calamity and great persecution. Grant that we would be faithful in prayer, and generous in our giving for physical support. Rally your church around those who are suffering for your name’s sake. And empower us by your Spirit to engage our political leaders, especially here in America, in order to remind them that Christian persecution is a real issue that must be addressed in our time. I ask this in your name, and for the Father’s glory. Amen.

My Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Reveal to us, once again, the identity of your Son, Jesus Christ, and the significance of his Messianic mission to suffer, die on the cross, and be raised to life – all so that we could enter into your promised Kingdom – now on earth, and forever in heaven. Drive out any fear or anxiety that we may have about our future; and empower us with your Holy Spirit to love you wholeheartedly, and follow you unreservedly. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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“This I Believe” – Hillsong Kiev

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Wednesday Morning: 08 May 2019 – Mark 8:10-26 ~ on demanding miracles

Wednesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Grace – Wednesday)

O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Mark 8:10-26 (NLT)

Immediately after this, he got into a boat with his disciples and crossed over to the region of Dalmanutha.

Pharisees Demand a Miraculous Sign

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with him. Testing him, they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.” So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake.

Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”

At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all? When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?”

“Twelve,” they said.

“And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”

“Seven,” they said.

“Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.

Jesus Heals a Blind Man

When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?”

The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.”

Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly. Jesus sent him away, saying, “Don’t go back into the village on your way home.”

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Morning Reflection:

on demanding miracles

“When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived,
they came and started to argue with him. Testing him,
they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven
to prove his authority.” – Mark 8:11b

Jesus responds to the religious leaders unbelief with grief and disappointment. His ministry had already included sufficient miraculous signs to persuade open-minded people of his deity; he was not about to “perform” for unbelievers.

Jesus’ miraculous signs were intended to fulfill Old Testament prophecy, e.g.

feeding the multitudes – the Good Shepherd, providing his flock – Ezekiel 34:5
healing the blind – the Messiah, opening blind eyes – Isaiah 29:18.

And they were an expression of God’s love and compassion for those who were helpless and hopeless. Jesus’ performed signs and wonders only in response to what the Father told him to do.

Why is this important? Because Jesus wanted his disciples to understand who he was – both Son of Man and Son of God – so that they could have a realistic and fulfilling relationship with him.

Questions for consideration:

Do you believe that God gives miraculous signs today in order to bolster faith in Jesus Christ? Please explain.
Have you ever witnessed a God-given miraculous sign? How did you respond? Please explain.
Have you ever asked for a God-given sign to bolster your faith? What happened? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Prayer for the families and loved ones of those being persecuted:

Heavenly Father: Comfort the families that are affected by the persecution of their loves ones. Open up safe channels and opportunities for them to support and/or visit those who are imprisoned, or otherwise detained. Empower them by your Spirit to remain faithful to you and to their loved ones, even as they wait patiently for deliverance and release. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

My prayer:

Heavenly Father: Open my heart and mind to your Kingdom presence around me. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear of the life-giving presence of your Son, Jesus Christ, through the work of your Spirit moving among us. Have mercy on me and all those who need help, hope, and healing. Make me a channel of your blessing to others, and may I always point them to Jesus – the true source of any goodness that may result. It’s in his Name I ask it. Amen.
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“Make Me a Blessing” – SERAPHS Official

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Tuesday Morning: 07 May 2019 – Mark 7:24-8:9 ~ on feeding the dogs

Tuesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Peace – Tuesday)

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Mark 7:24-8:9 (NLT)

The Faith of a Gentile Woman

Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret. Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter.

Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.”

“Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.

Jesus Heals a Deaf Man

Jesus left Tyre and went up to Sidon before going back to the Sea of Galilee and the region of the Ten Towns. A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him.

Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue. Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!

Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the news. They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.”

Jesus Feeds Four Thousand

About this time another large crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.”

His disciples replied, “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?”

Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”

“Seven loaves,” they replied.

So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd. A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them.

They ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. There were about 4,000 men in the crowd that day, and Jesus sent them home after they had eaten.
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Morning Reflection:

Good News for Gentiles

“Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.”
And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed,
and the demon was gone. – Mark 7:29-30

Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,”
which means, “Be opened!” Instantly the man could hear perfectly,
and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly! – Mark 7:34-35

In today’s readings, Jesus has moved away from the conflict of Galilee and traveled northwest to the Mediterranean coast into the Gentile world of Tyre and Sidon – ostensibly to get some rest. But his reputation has preceded him and Gentiles come to him for healing.

The Gentile Woman: Her persistent request for help for her demonized daughter demonstrated her faith in Jesus – she believed he could, if he would. And her repartee with him showed that she was fully aware that she was a beggar – without rights or standing – depending solely on Jesus’ mercy and grace. And when she went home her daughter was healed.

The Gentile Deaf Man – He was brought to Jesus by his friends – again Gentiles who believed in Jesus’ healing power. Was the man himself a believer? We don’t know, but Jesus took him away from the crowd and dealt with him personally, using signs to communicate what he was doing. And the man was healed instantly.

Jesus rewarded Gentile faith as well as Jewish faith. Jesus had come to deliver both Gentiles and Jews.

Questions for consideration: In the cases cited above, family and friends plead with Jesus for healing on behalf of a loved one.

Do you have a loved one who needs healing and/or deliverance? Please explain.
Do you believe that Jesus can, or will, heal that person? What’s the difference? Please explain.
Have you prayed for that person to be healed, or delivered? What has been the result? Please explain.
At this point in time, what more can you do – persist in prayer, believe that it is done, thank God for working wonders, something else? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Prayer for those who are doing the persecuting:

Merciful God: Open the eyes and soften the hearts of the people who have brought unfathomable suffering and abuse upon Christians around the world. Remind us again that you sent your Son to save the whole world, and that you don’t want anyone – even these people – to perish. I ask this in Jesus’ name, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

My prayer:

Heavenly Father: Have mercy on me, my loved ones, and friends – especially those who desperately need your forgiveness, healing, and deliverance. Make a way where there is no way and change their lives. Show them your loving-kindness in ways they never before imagined, that they may be completely amazed and give glory to your Name, through Jesus Christ your Son, my Savior. Amen.
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“I’m Amazed” – Jason Crabb / The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
[Live at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola]

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Monday Morning: 06 May 2019 – Mark 7:1-23 ~ monitor your heart

Monday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for the Renewal of Life – Monday)

O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Mark 7:1-23 (NLT)

Jesus Teaches about Inner Purity

One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They noticed that some of his disciples failed to follow the Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating. (The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions. Similarly, they don’t eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to—such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.)

So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.”

Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,

‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’

For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.”

Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition. For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents. And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”

Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used. “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.)

And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”
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Morning Reflection:

monitor your heart

“It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you;
you are defiled by what comes from your heart.” – Mark 7:15

Hypocrisy: “God requires soul worship, and men give Him body worship; He asks for the heart, and they present Him with their lips; He demands their thoughts and their minds, and they give him banners, and vestments, and candies.” (C. H. Spurgeon.)

Evil thoughts are the ground out of which the evil actions and attitudes grow. Sin proceeds from the heart (human nature) to the thoughts (human mind) to actions (human deeds).

It’s a never-ending cycle leading to sin and death. Only Jesus can break the cycle by making us new creations in him with – clean hearts, renewed minds, and godly living.

Questions for consideration:

Hypocrisy is a universal problem for believers. Can you think of ways that hypocrisy has crept into you life? Please explain.
Have you monitored your heart lately? What’s going on inside you? Please explain.
As you go through the “vile things” that Jesus lists, are any of theses a problem for you -“sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness?” Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Prayer for Christians in the midst of persecution:

Heavenly Father: I pray for Christians suffering persecution and hardship because of their faith. Meet them in their deepest sorrow and comfort them. Strengthen them in faith that they may continue to follow you, and empower them with your Spirit to respond in love to the evil shown by their persecutors – that doors will open to share the Good News of your Kingdom. I ask this in Jesus’ name, who lives and reigns with you in unity with the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

My Prayer:

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy Name. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“New Heart” – Mosaic MSC

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Saturday Morning: 04 May 2019 – Mark 6:30-56 ~ disciples serve as waiters

Saturday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Sabbath Rest – Saturday)

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and set aside a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared to meet you in worship, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Mark 6:30-56 (NLT)

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.

So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”

But Jesus said, “You feed them.”

“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!”

“How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”

They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”

Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.

Jesus Walks on Water

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.

Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him.

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. They brought the boat to shore and climbed out. The people recognized Jesus at once, and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was. Wherever he went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.
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Morning Reflection:

disciples serve as waiters

Jesus said, “You feed them.” – Mark 6:37

The on-the-job training of the disciples continues in today’s reading – leading to a deeper understanding of who Jesus was and a deeper commitment to him.

Jesus is the ultimate provider of all our needs – teaching, healing and daily bread. In telling the disciples to feed the crowd, Jesus highlighted the inadequacy of their resources (physically and spiritually) to complete the task – the numbers didn’t work – too many people, not enough money, and not enough food; they were stymied. From a human perspective it was impossible, but not from God’s.

+ Jesus: By thanking God for the food and then providing it miraculously for the people, Jesus disclosed that he was not only the Son of Man but also the Son of God.

+ The disciples: Jesus served the people through the disciples who presented what he had provided to the multitudes. The disciples served as waiters. Servants can only serve what the master provides.

Questions for consideration:

Have you ever witnessed God do something that was impossible from a human perspective? Please explain.
Have you ever been asked to do something for God that was impossible from a human perspective? What happened? Please explain.
Where in your life right now are you being challenged to do something that is beyond your ability? In practical terms, what would it mean for you to rely on God to produce the desired outcome. Please explain.
In what way do you need to rely on resources that only God can provide, or multiply, to get you through he day? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Prayer for the practical needs of persecuted believers:

Heavenly Father, our provider and sustainer: Attend to the needs of your family suffering great hardship and persecution, especially –

+ That they would have access to a Bible…
+ That they would have the courage to remain in their homeland…
+ That those rejected by their family and friends would be welcomed into your family where they are loved and supported emotionally and physically…
+ That socially vulnerable women and those who have lost custody of their children would be protected and their children returned…
+ That those who are destitute would find jobs and safe places to live…

Heavenly Father, you know each one of your children by name: Have mercy on them and attend to their needs. I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

My Prayer:

Heavenly Father: You know our needs for teaching, healing, and daily bread – and you know our inadequacy to sustain ourselves. Work your wonders in our lives and give us what we need today – that we might grow in faith and love, and give generously to others what we have receive from you. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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“First” – Lauren Daigle