Tag: freedom in Christ

Posted on in Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Wisdom, Worship

From Passover to Easter

I have been learning a lot about Passover and Easter lately! This year, Passover was last Saturday (4/12), and Easter is this coming Sunday (4/20). Perhaps they are on my radar because Season 5 of The Chosen is all about Holy Week and the Last Supper. For me, the hope we find in Jesus’ resurrection is especially poignant amid grief.

I’ve found many helpful videos providing insights into the first-century Jewish culture and the elements of the seder dinner. It is fascinating! The Last Supper, as we call it today, was the first and only mention in Scripture of how the annual Passover seder was held, outside the actual Exodus from Egypt.

Recently, I watched a Bible Project lesson on the meaning of the word Hebrew ‘pesakh.’ Surprisingly, it does not refer to ‘passing over’ but rather to a protective covering (like a mother hen). So, yes, during the Exodus, the Angel of Death passed over the houses containing the blood of the lamb, but God also hovered over them with His fierce protection. Additionally, He gave the Israelites specific instructions on what and how to eat so they would be ready to leave Egypt at a moment’s notice!

The word seder means ‘order,’ and each of the fifteen components is important. The Haggadah is a liturgical text retelling the Exodus from Egypt. For brevity, I will review a few key points that have stood out to me and post some videos that explain more at the end.

There are four cups of wine during a seder dinner based on four promises of redemption found in Exodus 6:6-7. First is the cup of sanctification, being set apart for God’s purposes. Then, the cup of judgment recalls the Egyptian plagues, and the cup of redemption, the sacrificed lamb and its blood. Lastly, the cup of hallel has to do with praise (as in hallelujah). Certain foods and songs coincide with each stage of the meal.

Jesus instituted His new covenant with the third cup. He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! He reframed each part of the meal and showed His disciples how each part pointed to Him. Though, they didn’t fully understand it until after Jesus died and rose again!

Free christianity communion passover illustration

When Jesus broke bread with the Disciples, He used unleavened bread. This was not just a pita! Matzoh has stripes and is pierced with holes, foreshadowing how Jesus was tortured. Somewhere along the way, another tradition began with putting three matzoh in a cloth bag. The middle one is broken and hidden for children to find at the end of the meal for a prize. The word for this is borrowed from Greek, ‘afikoman,’ meaning “I have come” or “I am coming.” Jewish scholars have various ideas about this, but it makes the most sense that it represents Jesus. He is the second part of the Trinity, and His body was broken, buried (hidden), and brought back. Wow!

As modern Christians, we miss a lot of the meaning found in the seder meal. I attended one many years ago but now would like to revisit it someday! While in some ways, our Communion is like a mini seder, we can see Jesus in every part of the meal. God is so good to help us remember and look for Him along the way!

We can’t really have the Easter Resurrection without Passover. Some years, the calendars are linked closer together, but both are intricately connected. I’m so grateful for the hope we have in Jesus. Learning about His life and culture makes me love Him even more!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for the love, mercy, grace, peace, and new life we can access through Christ Jesus. May we live worthy of His sacrifice. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Questions: Have you ever experienced a seder meal? What connections do you see between Passover and Easter? (I only covered a handful!)

Tasks: Check out these amazing videos about Passover/Pesakh: Bible Project; One for Israel; and So Be It!  You can also learn about the Feast of Unleavened Bread and First Fruits, which occurred on the day of Jesus’ resurrection!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #475

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free Bird Female Northern Cardinal photo and picture

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This was a pretty good week.

Work was busy as usual. On my lunch break, I was able to take a couple of walks and enjoy the nice weather. I also had a couple of patients who each knew Jesus. I could tell by their clothing and the sweet atmosphere. At the end of our appointment, we talked about faith, family, and God’s provision. It was nice for them to ask me questions and listen to me tell them (briefly) about my mom and Dave.

The weather this week grew nicer day by day. There are lots of birds chirping even before sunrise, and the grass is starting to turn green. I stopped by Trefoil Park one day after work to see the river. Nature can be so peaceful!

I went to the movie theater for the third week in a row. Yesterday, I watched The Chosen, Season 5, Episodes 6, 7, and 8. It was so good. It was humorous at times, but also poignant. I appreciated seeing Scripture play out, and I am still thinking about it all. Go see it if you can!

Lydia attended week two of her rifle class. She’s doing so well, and really could be a natural… like her Mom. 😉 She is tightening up her groupings and is right on target.

This morning, we got out the door early for haircuts and a little shopping. For lunch, we used an old gift card for Olive Garden and took home some leftovers. The rest of the day has been spent catching up on Saturday things. I’m grateful for the slower pace!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Pivot

Grace and Faith Alone

Today, I am back in Galatians, ‘journibling’ my way through the book! It’s taken me longer than it should, but I am now in the first section of Chapter 3, where the theme is discussing faith in Jesus versus works. There’s something about writing God’s Word slowly and intentionally that makes you notice things more.

I appreciate the bigger picture and see how it ties into daily life. For instance, I have been watching many short videos about Jewish believers in Jesus (Messianic Jews) sharing their testimonies of faith. They are physical descendants of Abraham, but now they share his spiritual inheritance, too. We Gentiles (non-Jews) are also invited and grafted into God’s family through faith in Jesus. Thank You, Lord!

Truly, no amount of works (things we do) can earn us salvation. It is only because of Jesus’ bloody death on the Cross that we can come to God! Our hope is in Jesus Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone.

Free Stone Stairs Medieval photo and picture

Recently, I was reminded yet again of the back-and-forth we feel when it comes to faith versus fear. I know I am not alone in this!

A few weeks ago at church, someone announced a special training opportunity. The concept has been on my heart for a while, but I was unsure about the details. I found a friend who knew more and asked her about it, but her answer was not definitive. I put it out of my mind, thinking I would let it pass.

For some time, God has been telling me NOT to put more on my schedule. I’ve said ‘no’ to a lot of things so I can have some flexibility. I thought it was just for Lydia, but perhaps it was for my Mom, too. And maybe now, it is so I can say ‘yes’ to this new thing…

Free Stairs Stages photo and picture

Well, I got a personal invitation yesterday and signed up for the informational meeting. It is not a full commitment, but I hope to learn more and see if it is a good fit. On my way home after work, I prayed about it more. I simply reminded the Lord of what was on my heart, but that it could be more involved than I have the time or capacity for. As I was talking it out, surprisingly, I answered my own doubts with solutions. “But, God, You already know all this. My time is Yours, my life is Yours. If this is from You, You will help me do it.”

I shared this with Lydia when I got home, and she was really proud of me! She told me she wanted me to go through with it and thought she already told me! I don’t recall that, lol! It might just be more confirmation; either way, it feels good to see God moving, and I just want to stay in tune with Him.

Now, instead of being nervous, I am excited! I don’t know how it will turn out, but I will just take the next step. Indeed, living by faith is the only way to live. We cannot do anything on our own, nor were we created to do it all solo. God came up with the plan, Jesus showed us how to do it, and the Holy Spirit empowers us. We aren’t responsible for results, but just showing up and bringing our best. What a relief!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for calling us with purpose! Help us to listen and honor You with everything we do. Give us wisdom to know what to do and the courage to do it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you on the fence about doing something God has called you to do? How can you take the first step?

Task: Read more about writing God’s Word and my other experiences with Journibles in John (here) and Ruth (here).

 

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Prayer

Finding Grace #474

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free Birds Branch photo and picture

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This week flew by!

Work was fairly busy but good. I had a lot of nice patients and was able to help them. I also got to demonstrate a helpful program to help my coworkers chart faster and find information easier. It was fun to show them all the tips and tricks!

We had more snow over a few days this week. It was very thick and wet. I shoveled the sidewalks, but thankfully,  my snow service is still under contract for a couple more weeks!

Yesterday after work, I went to the movie theater to see The Chosen, Season 5, Episodes 3, 4, and 5. I loved the portrayal of how Jesus treated His female followers. It brought tears to my eyes—so good. The rest was full of confusion, emotion, intrigue, and politics. It really helped me understand all the events of Holy Week!

Lydia started a rifle class this week at a local marksmanship facility, where she took the air pistol class a few years ago. She enjoyed it and is looking forward to the rest of the classes this month!

We had a lovely little serenade from some robins and finches this morning. Then, we got some groceries and came home to make some muffins and an egg bake. Lydia did a little cleaning for me while I am doing some paperwork.

Today also happens to be my parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary. It stings a little since they came so close (6 weeks short), and now my mom is not here to celebrate it. But, we are trusting God’s wisdom, mercy and grace. I am grateful for some church friends who invited my dad to join them for some fun today. It is tough, but I am glad he does not have to be alone. Thanks for your ongoing prayers!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #473

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free Bird American Robin photo and picture

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This was a good week, but it felt rather busy!

We enjoyed having a dear friend visit on Sunday after church and Monday after work! We caught up and ordered Chinese food. It was great to see her!

We had an inch or so of snow, but it is gone again. The grass is still fairly brown and the trees are still bare. But, the songbirds are coming back!

Work kept me on my toes this week. I had several scheduled patients and also had a few unscheduled calls to make, along with some projects and meetings. I’m glad I was productive, and it always feels good to help people. A couple of Veterans even thanked me for what I did for them!

Yesterday after work, I saw The Chosen, Season 5, Episodes 1 & 2 in the movie theater. It was amazing. If you can see it on the bigscreen, do! Otherwise, you’ll be able to catch in Amazon Prime (soon) and later, the free Chosen app.

This week, I had to work through some minor challenges with Lydia. Mainly, she didn’t understand why I said no to an invitation she received. I didn’t have peace about it and needed her to trust me with little explanation. She thanked me later, and I am grateful that God is working in both of our hearts. We had fun hanging out together during that time instead.

Today, we did “Saturday things.” That means some cleaning, general chores, phone calls, and relaxing. I am grateful to have the time available at home! Also, I did see another robin today!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Wisdom, Words

The Heart of the Matter

The week before she died, Lydia and I visited Mom and Dad in Florida. I’ll be forever grateful to the Lord for those four days together. One day, in a brief moment of reflection, Mom mentioned how each of her kids is like her in certain ways.

Her words felt somewhat like a blessing, so I committed them to memory: Mom looked at me and said, “Livi, is bold and strong, but kind. Patrick, he’s got my sense of humor. Now, Micah is the most like me. Not much gets in his way. But you, you have my heart.”

It is cool to see how my parents’ traits are spread across each of us. We all love learning and are uniquely creative. We all rise to the occasion and use our strengths to help people. Let me explain… I’m the second oldest, but I’ll write about myself last.

To start, the picture above is one of my favorites. It was taken right before Dave and I (right) moved to Fargo in 2010. We were so young, lol! Up top is Patrick, then Olivia, and Micah, next to me.

Olivia is the firstborn and a great leader. Livi always went before us and prepared the way. Even now, she can pull the ‘big sister’ card, and we all fall in line. She also didn’t balk too much when I tagged along. She has always been gracious and patient with me!

Coming in third, Patrick is so funny. He clearly has my mom’s quick wit and way with words. Pat is full of one-liners and movie quotes. Pat is super smart but humble. He can be serious and deep, but we all appreciate his lighthearted joy. 

My youngest brother, Micah, has the best mix of Mom’s fire and Dad’s drive. As a classic strong-willed child, he most certainly required the most discipline—perhaps more than the three of us older kids combined! Yet, this has served him well, as he is very responsible, playful, and a good friend. I love seeing how God has matured Micah over time.

I am perhaps Mom and Dad’s most compliant one on the surface. Cheerful, quiet, and patient, I’m go-with-the-flow… more cerebral, like Dad. However, internally, I can also be equally stubborn and “particular.” I want to do what is right and will stand on principle! As a child, I was fairly emotional, but I learned to hide my feelings at times. Somehow, I thought showing emotions was a weakness, and I did not fully realize the error until years later when God went to war against all my fears.

Through my grief journey, Mom was impressed by my resilience. Our weaknesses can become great strengths if we let God work in our lives. In my case, I dug deep and clung to Jesus as He remade me! During this time, He graciously showed Mom and me some problems in understanding each other. Our differences were getting the best of us.

God challenged us to get to the heart of the matter. Moving past our annoyances and personality quirks, we soon discovered that we shared the same passion for those in need! Our hearts were one regarding compassion and serving others. We might go about doing things differently, but we often arrived at the same conclusions! Isn’t God good?!

Mom was always quick to tell us how proud she was of us. In the same way, make sure you tell your loved ones how much you appreciate them. Spend time together and challenge each other to grow. Focus on the good, and don’t take your time for granted.

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Father God, thanks for all Your blessings. Thanks for challenging us and infusing our weaknesses with Your strength. Give us wisdom and courage as we share Your heart with the World. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you more like your mom or your dad… Or, are you a really good blend of their traits? How do you resolve conflicts with others who are different than you?

Tasks: Listen to this song. Thank God for His blessings and favor!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #472

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This was a fairly normal week!

On Monday, a friend brought us some dinner. It was sweet of her to make us soup and cookies! When we give her back her dishes, Lydia plans to fill them with some treats in return. 🙂

Our snow is pretty much gone, other than a few small piles from the sidewalks and parking lots. It has been fun to see and hear more songbirds. I even saw my first robin of the Spring. It was on my deck singing one morning. Perhaps it is one-half of the pair that nests under my deck.

I took some lovely walks this week. Mostly inside due to the chilly wind, but one day, a coworker and I walked along a park near the VA. It was so good to be outside!

I got my taxes done this week. I enjoy seeing all God has done in my life and finances over the last year. He is always so faithful to provide for me!

Yesterday, I took the day off to enjoy some time with Lydia for her Spring Break! She had an appointment and then we did a little shopping. Later, Lydia made some cookies while I watched the new show, House of David, on Amazon Prime. It is dark and complex at times, but also beautiful!

Today marks one month since my mom relocated to Heaven. We miss her so much. I decided to buy myself some pretty flowers (above). Otherwise, I was on-call and had to go in for two patients. Then, I caught up around the house and called my aunt. Tonight, I am relaxing while Lydia is going to watch a hockey game with friends!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Travel, Worship

Finding Grace #470

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free Trail Winter photo and picture

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This week was full of family and friends, which was joyful as we celebrated my mom’s life. But, of course, there was also sadness and grief. 

We spent Sunday and Monday working around my parents’ house and hanging out with loved ones in Florida. We helped my dad by going through my mom’s clothing and accessories. We chose some of my mom’s personal items to keep or share with loved ones. We also made decisions about what to donate. Mom always loved blessing others, so I think she would be pleased.

On Tuesday afternoon, we flew back to Fargo. It was difficult to leave my dad, but his brother, John, stayed behind with him for a few days. Lydia and I had three flights and arrived home around 11:30 p.m. Everything went smoothly, praise God. We went straight to bed so that we could get up early for work and school.

Work went well, though, to be honest, my heart wasn’t really in it. I think it will be a struggle for a little while since convincing people to change food habits pales in comparison to grief and thoughts of eternity. My coworkers have all been so kind to check in and let me talk, as needed. I know from previous experiences with grief that it just takes time to process and move forward. But I also appreciate your prayers!

Often on Friday afternoons, I would call my mom to check in. So, it is sad not to be able to do that anymore. On top of that, yesterday, I went to the grocery store and saw random items Mom would typically buy. I was sad, but when I got home, a card was in the mail and reminded me that God comforts us like a mother does her child. Perfect timing, Lord! A little bit later, I called my aunt. We reminisced together and it was exactly what I needed. God is so good.

Today, I caught up around the house. I made some sourdough bread and some sourdough pancakes. Lydia hung out with a friend, and one of my friends visited me. She listened to me talk about Mom and encouraged me. It was so kind of her!

Don’t forget to turn your clocks one hour forward! Spring is around the corner!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Personality, Wisdom, Words

Debbie Torpedo

Well, it’s been about a week and a half since my mom, Debbie, went to Heaven. I miss her so much and know I’m not the only one. She was like a mother figure to many people. Mom took many people under her wing and encouraged them. She was gifted at identifying their strengths and helping them grow into who God made them to be.

My family has received many messages from people about how Mom changed the course of their family’s life. She taught a friend to pray in public; now that friend’s son is a pastor. Mom challenged another woman to love her husband by making time for him. That marriage has never been stronger. Mom mentored many and called us all a little higher.

Mom knew how to get right to the heart of the matter. Although she sometimes spoke harsh truths, she did it with love and grace. Her conviction was always mixed with witty charm. I don’t know anyone else who could do that like she did!


Most of us would just keep quiet despite seeing a glaringly obvious problem in someone else. Not Mom. If she loved you, she would not let it go. She would speak up so you could make it right. She was a force, but came from a place of love. Mom wanted the best for and expected the best from her friends and family.

Mom did not worry whether someone liked her. She gave tons of compliments but would also risk telling someone the truth. She did not do it to demean or gloat, but to correct an error. In essence, she loved you too much to leave you that way.

Mom looked sweet, but she could pack a wallop when needed. One of her favorite lines was, “Don’t let the freckles fool you!” Similarly, a dear family friend called her “Debbie Torpedo”—because you never saw it coming!

If you’ve experienced “being laid flat” as I like to say, I’m happy to report that God really refined my Mom over many decades of walking with Him. When I was little, she was still working on controlling her fiery temper… So, I know how it feels! But, as my parents and siblings often discussed later as adults, it was just the forge we needed.

Mom and Dad didn’t set out to raise weak kids who would flounder in the real world. My parents have been through some tough circumstances, and they wanted to prepare us. So they taught us first about Jesus and second about showing up and doing hard things. They promoted independence and standing on our own two feet.


My parents held us to high standards and expected us to rise to that level. For every gift we received, we wrote a thank you note. She would tear it up if it weren’t “thankful enough” or legible, and we would have to start over. We can laugh about it now, but there were many tears. 😉

Mom and Dad didn’t ask us to do anything they weren’t already doing. They lead by example. Mom was well known for writing cards to people. She cultivated this discipline over decades. When her arthritis flared up and she was in so much pain (often daily), she would reach out and bless others.

Indeed, I have learned so much from my mom. At the end of her life (though we did not see it coming), Mom, aka “Debbie Torpedo” still had some of that fire, yet her faith in Jesus tempered it. She was born a fighter, but He made her into a warrior. She did not blame Jesus for the pain or complain about it. She praised Him and blessed others. That’s an example worth following!

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God, You are so good and wise. Thanks for working in each of our lives and transforming us. May we submit to You and use our strengths for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions:  Have you ever had someone speak a harsh truth to you? Was it done in love or spite? Did you resist change or did you grow through the process?

Task: If you want to read my mom’s obituary but haven’t, here it is.

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Prayer, Travel, Wisdom

Finding Grace #469

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.
I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!
Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!
This week was bittersweet, a mix of difficulty and blessing. As you may know, my mom died last weekend, a couple of hours after I posted my weekly recap.
So, the week was spent trying to get many things in order! Sunday and Monday were spent packing and planning, contacting people who loved Mom. I also worked a half day to tie up some loose ends. Sometimes, those tasks are helpful when grieving because they give your mind something to focus on. In terms of packing, we essentially threw in the same items from last week and a few more outfits.
On Tuesday morning, we flew to Florida again. This time, we had an early flight and two layovers. Thankfully, we arrived safe and sound and could continue helping Dad plan Mom’s services. It was soothing to go through pictures and remember how much fun we had with Mom. God has come through for us in so many ways.
This week, family and friends from several states gathered together in honor of my Mom. And, today, we had her memorial service at my parents’ local church. They are a very loving group, and it felt good to be amongst those who knew my parents well, even if just for a short while.
Thanks again for all the love and support. I appreciate your continued prayers, especially for my dad, Tom. Life is short, just a vapor, really. Please get to know Jesus and live for Him. And, hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight.
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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!
There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!