Notes on Exodus 1 and 2

The following passages of Scripture are from Chapter 1 and 2 of the Book of Exodus.


Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; ¹⁶ and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” ¹⁷ But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. ¹⁸ So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?” 
¹⁹ And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.” 
²⁰ Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. ²¹ And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them. 
²² So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born^[c] you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”

 And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. ² So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. ³ But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. ⁴ And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.
⁵ Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. ⁶ And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 

⁷ Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?”
⁸ And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the maiden went and called the child’s mother. ⁹ Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. ¹⁰ And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses,^[a] saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

To My Daughters,

The midwives feared God and God provided households for them and dealt well with them.  The midwives put the lives of the innocents above their own.  They showed compassion and saved God's people. Obedience is a beautiful thing to behold because through it we see God working His perfect plan...weaving His beautiful tapestry in our lives and in the lives of those around us.  

I also love how God focused not on the midwives sin of deceit but remembered what they did out of obedience to Him.  For what it is worth, here are my thoughts on this.  God does not remember a believer's sin.  Our sin was buried with His Son.  It is as far as the east is from the west.  The bible tells us  that God keeps a book of remembrance for each of us...a scrapbook so to speak.  That scrapbook contains only those things that we did in faith...the gold, the silver and the precious gems.  It does not contain those things that we did in our flesh...the wood, hay and stubble.  He remembers those things that were done in submission and surrender to the Spirit of God in our life.  He remembers the works that count for eternity...the works that He specifically prepared beforehand for us that we are to walk in.  Saving those little ones counted for eternity.  The works that we do...the ones that God has prepared for us also count for eternity. 


Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name.  "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels.  And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him."--Malachi 3:16-17


These verses are so very beautiful.  Our work is not in vain.  Our God remembers them all!!!  He will make those who fear Him His jewels and will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.   

God used the midwives fear of Him and the compassion that He placed in their hearts to preserve the male Hebrew children alive...to preserve His nation...His chosen people.  Their obedience may even have encouraged Jochabed to see Moses' as a beautiful child and defy Pharaoh's next command to the parents, which was to drown the males born to them.  

Jochabed saved her son.  She built an ark for him and placed him in the very water which she was suppose to drown him in. This reminded me of Noah and the ark he built in obedience to God.  God used the ark to save 8 people alive by shutting them in it and conveying them them to safety and a new life.   

Jochabed put her son in the ark that she made and God navigated the waters and brought him to Pharaoh's daughter in whose heart He had also placed compassion.  This in turn, enabled Moses, through various circumstances all orchestrated by God, to be nursed by his mom and taught Scripture at an early age. Moses' foundation was God...specifically the God of the Hebrews...not the gods of the Egyptians.  Through Jochabed's obedience and compassion as well as the compassion of Pharaoh's daughter God prepared Moses' perfectly for the job of deliverance He would later call him to.   

God used the midwives obedience mightily in His plan for His people's deliverance from bondage.  The midwives feared God more than they feared man.  Their obedience began a chain of events that brought the nation of Israel out of Egypt and into the land that God had prepared for them.  We look back and say wow...but God will likewise use your obedience to Him to also bring beauty from ashes.  Surrender to Him and watch Him work the glory of His majesty in your own life.  

Love

Mom

YES IN HIM!!!

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. --2 Corinthians 1:20

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

I so love this verse.  What a kindness of God that by His sovereignty and perfect will I am here today in my study of God's Word. Today, knowing that my mom's time here on earth may be ending...knowing that she is suffering. Praying God's perfect will for her.  Praying for her knowing that He does not want any of us to perish but desires that all come to life in His Son.  

I will start with this verse from Luke 24.

Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”

Jesus has fulfilled the law. He has fulfilled what was written about Him in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. As fully God and fully man, the Son lived a life of perfect obedience to His Father and conquered sin and death by dying in our stead on the Cross at Calvary.  He who knew no sin became sin for us.  In rising from the dead He became the Just and the Justifier and the Author of eternal salvation for all who put their trust in Him. 

Galatians 3 that asks this important question...What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made;

The purpose of the law was to show us our inability to keep it.  None of us could possibly earn salvation or keep the standards of the law.  Even if I love the Lord with all my heart and I do...I cannot keep all His commandments...in my flesh I still sin. 

For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Here is the very good news. Jesus is the Seed that was promised. He is the better Hope by which we can draw near to God. There is nothing dependent on me or on you.  It is all taken care of in Jesus Christ.  All we need do is believe.

and more from Chapter 7 of Hebrews...

22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them....For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

Jesus is the surety of a better covenant.  He continues forever and has an unchangeable priesthood.  He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.  Jesus is the word of the oath, which came after the law...The Son who has been perfected forever!

If we are in Christ, we can find shelter in each and every promise of God.  Jesus is the perfect One...He is perfect truth, perfect love, and perfect obedience.  He is our perfect Savior. We who are in Him are in the ark of safety.  Me, a foolish and weak sinner can be justified by His grace and made perfect in His love.

All God’s OT and NT promises of peace, joy, love, goodness, forgiveness, salvation, sanctification, fellowship, hope, glorification, and heaven are made possible and fulfilled in Him.  God the Father will always say yes to the Son and He will always affirm what the Son says.  We who believe wear the righteousness of Christ.  When God sees us, He sees His Son. All the promises of God are yes to the Son and because we are in Christ, yes to us!

Praying that each of us will abide under the shelter of His wing...despite how the storms might be raging all around us....There is nothing to fear in Christ. Perfect Love casts out all fear.  

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 

Love

Mom

WYSIWYG....

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. ¹³ For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end ¹⁴ (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.--2nd Corinthians 1:10-14


WYSIWYG....What you see is what you get.  The word sincere here means without wax.  Wax?  Wax was used to hide defects in pottery or statues.  When the heat of the sun hit, it became evident because the wax would melt.  Paul tells the Corinthians that he has lived a life of godly sincerity before them.  A life with no wax.  He did not try to deceive them or hide anything from them...he was open and transparent.  Ah...to live a life by the grace of God...the unmerited favor and merciful kindness that our God uses to gently exert His holy influence on our souls and turn us to Him.  My God strengthens me with the things of eternity...the things that last...the truth. He is without wax. He strengthens me by the work of His grace and merciful loving kindness to stay the course and endure to the end.  All glory to Him only...forever and ever! 


Continuing on to verse 14 Paul tells the Corinthians that he knows they recognize and understand if only partially that they are each other's boasting.  The more they read, heard and understood Paul's instructions to them, the greater their understanding would be that they would be each other's "treasures" in the day of Christ. They would be each other's reason to be proud.  Paul longed for the day when they would rejoice over each other in glory.  One commentator used 2nd Corinthians 5:16-17 to illuminate what Paul is trying to say.  Truly it blessed my heart and and I will end with it. 


Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

Paul did not regard fellow believers according to the flesh.  He saw them not with all their bangs, dents and scrapes but he attempted to see them with the eyes of God who sees us not as we are now but in our glorified state!  How wonderful if my own eyes worked this way!

Lord, let me see the work of your Spirit in the lives of those believers you have so graciously placed in my life.  Let me see them with your eyes...how they will look when they stand before you in glory.  Let me see beyond the eyes of sight that focus and zero in on sin and imperfection and see with the eyes of faith.  Let me see them as Paul saw the Corinthians...in the light of your glory and grace.  

Love

Mom who sees each of you with the eyes of faith.

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun ea good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.--Philippians 1:6-8

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.--2nd Timothy 1:12

Finally, there is laid up for me othe crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous pJudge, will give to me qon that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.--2nd Timothy 4:8

For kwhat is our hope, or joy, or lcrown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the mpresence of our Lord Jesus Christ nat His coming? For you are our glory and joy.--1Thessalonians 2:19-20

Reaching the End of Yourself...

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. ⁹ Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, ¹⁰who delivered us from so great a death, and does^[a] deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, ¹¹ you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our^[b] behalf for the gift granted to us through many.--2nd Corinthians 1:8-11


To My Daughters,


We really cannot be sure here of which trial it is that Paul speaks of...he went through many.  This one, however, burdened him beyond measure, above strength and he despaired even of life.  This was a big one.  This was one where he felt he had the sentence of death in himself and through it God taught him not to trust in himself but in His God, who brings life from the dead!  


At one point or another in all of our lives, God brings us to the point where we do come to the end of ourselves and sometimes, like Paul, despair of even life itself.  God used this kind of time in my life to bring me to His Son so that my darkest hour became the hour of my greatest hope.  My God illuminated my darkness and even now, as a believer, He uses the night seasons of my life to encourage me to trust in Him and not in myself.  Most of us like to solve our problems ourselves. God wants us to rely solely on Him and will use trials to bring us to the point where we "see" with heart knowledge that our hope is in Him and in Him alone. It is truly the greatest moment of our lives when we say, "God, I am tired of trusting in myself.  I want you to rule and reign in me.  I want you to work in my heart and conform me to your image."  Man's weakest moment becomes His greatest triumph, when he trusts God to deliver him and see him through.


Our God, girls, can bring the dead back to life.  He has revived me time and time again. Trust Him to work in your life.  


who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,


He has delivered us, He is delivering us and He will continue to deliver us! Past, present and future deliveries guaranteed.  How great is that?  Remember how He has seen you through in the past.  He is faithful.  He will do it again.


you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.


Paul sees his deliverance as being helped by the prayers of many. Pray for others...intercede on their behalf...bear their burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ...ask others to do the same for you. 


Prayer glorifies God.  It thanks Him for His perfect work in our lives, it thanks Him for His sovereignty and it changes our hearts. Prayer is an act of humility.  When we pray, we acknowledge our own helplessness before God and our desperate need for Him.  Praying helps us to put aside self rule and submit to God and His plans.  It reminds us of where our true help comes from and makes us thankful.  James tells us that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.  Prayers is a part of the delivery process.   Pray.


Love
Mom

MORE ON COMFORT

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. ⁶ Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. ⁷ And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.--2nd Corinthians 1:5-7

To My Daughters,

There is so much "comfort" in these three verses!  Here is what they tell us. 

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

The comforts of Christ will be equal to any suffering you endure for Him.   Paul is not talking here about the suffering of Christ on the cross for our sins...the atoning sufferings of Christ.  He is talking about the kind of suffering a believer faces because he names the name of Christ.  If you are truly His, you will suffer for His namesake.  You will perhaps face rejection, hatred, betrayal, persecution and more.  Read Isaiah 53...read the Gospels...Christ endured them all! He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. He has gone before us and can comfort and console us like no other!  God, as your Father, suffers when His children endure affliction.  He assures us, however, that His love will comfort, console and strengthen us during these times and it will be enough.  His grace will be sufficient and we will be able to do all things through Him who strengthens us.  THAT is a beautiful picture. One of my favorite verses in all of Scripture comes to mind here.  

In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.--Psalm 94:19  

How beautiful is that.

Verse 6:

Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 

I love this too...so both my sufferings and my comfort are for the strengthening and consolation of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Those who have gone through hard times, trials and tribulations are best equipped to speak comfort and encouragement to those that are facing similar circumstances. Paul uses the word salvation here.  I don't think he is talking about the salvation of their souls. I think he is saying that they would have the strength to endure through whatever they were facing. They would see the comfort and grace Paul received and know that God would do similarly for them in their own trials and tribulations.  The same is true for me when I read the word of God and see those that went before me....the cloud of witnesses so to speak.  I see the consolation they received and am encouraged to endure and stay the course, knowing that His grace is truly sufficient and knowing that heaven (the salvation of my soul) is just around the bend.   

And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

Here is the verse that comforted me the most today as I meditated on it. There are so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering much for His namesake and are a beautiful testimony to those God has placed in their lives of His grace and mercy.  My hope for them can be steadfast.  As they partake of the sufferings of Christ, they will also partake of the consolation.  His comfort will be equal to their need.  His grace will be sufficient.  Sometimes my heart gets overwhelmed when I see a sister or brother in Christ in deep grief or pain.  What a comfort for me to remember this verse.  God is there in the midst.  Sufferings do not come alone...the consolations of God follows and accompanies them!  

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Psalm 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me  All the days of my life; 

 And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

Love

Mom

The God of all Comfort!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. ⁶ Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. ⁷ And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.--2nd Corinthians 1:3-7


To My Daughters,


Aside from knowing that my salvation is assured and that heaven awaits this is my most favorite part of knowing God.  I do not need my thumb...I do not need my blanket...I HAVE GOD WHO IS ALWAYS WITH ME!!!  I have God who has gone through and understands all my trials and my woes.  He is my first thought when i wake up and my last thought before I sleep.  He commands His lovingkindness toward me in the day and His song is with me at night. Nothing can separate me from Him and His love...and He changes not!!  


God uses our trials and troubles and through them gives us a heart of compassion for others as they go through the trials of this life. Be you a believer or a non believer, you will suffer in this life.  We live in a fallen world amongst fallen people. Believers have the assurance that God works all that they go through for their good and His glory! 


People who have not gone through betrayal, the loss of a loved one, financial difficulties or physical pain and suffering, find it difficult to comfort someone who is suffering. As believers, if we desire to be used by God to comfort others and identify with Jesus, we will suffer. This suffering will work the image of Jesus on our hearts and enable us to minister His mercies and love to those He places in our path. We can say to them as I am saying to you...Put your faith in God.  He will do for you as He has done for me in my times of trial.  He will be your shelter and your hiding place...the One who changes not and never leaves you nor forsakes you.  He will be the One who perfects all that concerns you and performs all things for you.  


We do not have to live our lives fearful of what is coming at us around the bend.  Our God is for us, who can be against us.  By His grace and His power we can have joy through the adversities we face and be a testimony to His comfort, care and grace for all around.   


Beloved, taste and see that the Lord is good.  Accept Him now as your Lord and your Savior.  Watch as you find His comfort waiting for you in every cranny of your life...in every trial, in every storm and in every challenge.  The God of mercy awaits you.  Experience His faithfulness and mercy firsthand and then by His grace comfort others with the comfort you have received.  Assure them of His faithfulness...assure them of His love. 


Love
Mom

But for the Grace of My God...

For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.--1 Corinthians 15:9-10


To My Daughters,


1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


Paul declares himself here to be the least of the apostles who is not worthy to be called an apostle because he persecuted the church of God....God's people.  Paul had made similar declarations...


For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.--1 Corinthians 15:9


To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,--Ephesians 3:8


This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:15


The least of the apostles...the least of the saints and the chief of sinners....that is how Paul identified himself.  Now if that is how Paul identifies himself how can I possibly think of myself any differently!  The more Paul knew and saw of the beauty, grace and majesty of God the more he saw himself for who he really was...a sinner saved by the grace of His God. 


1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, 


In the Book of Exodus God identifies Himself this way:  "I AM WHO I AM."  Our God is the Becoming One, He becomes whatever our need.  


Then in Exodus 34 He describes Himself:


Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. ⁶ And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, ⁷ keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” 


Girls, the God we serve is a God of perfect justice but at the same time He is a God of mercy!  He is known for His mercy. Justice is getting what we deserve.  According to God's law, we all deserve death and eternal punishment.  I DO NOT want justice, I want mercy.  I want to be spared judgment.  When I believed on Him who died in my stead, I was justified.  I put on not my own righteousness, but Christ's. I am, according to the Bible, a joint heir with Christ.  That is grace..not just being spared the judgment I deserve but getting blessings that I do not deserve.  


Do you understand now why Paul said it is only by the grace of God that I am who I am? He knew what and who he was without God.  The more he knew of what he truly deserved the more he understood the glorious gifts God was bestowing upon Him. Paul had experienced His Lord's forgiveness, long suffering and grace.   How then could Paul cry out for justice for anyone else if he himself had received such mercy.  


If you are praying for God to bring judgment upon someone who is doing you some evil, then you are not praying according to the will of God and you do not understand grace. Whatever you are it is by the grace of your God! God suffers long and bears with our sin.  God's will is that no one should perish but all should come to life in His Son. Pray that His goodness will lead not just those you love to repentance but also those that are your enemies.  Pray for His richest blessing, which is salvation, upon them and their families. Pray that He would give you the grace to love them with His love.  


1 Corinthians 15:10 and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.


This attitude of Paul's is 180 degrees different then the attitude he had prior to his conversion. There was a time when he thought he was something. Here is what he says in the 3rd chapter of the Book of Philippians.


though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.--Philippians 3:4-6


All of Paul's credentials he says meant nothing.  He may have looked righteous on the outside but on the inside his heart was black and full of sin. All his attempts to earn God's grace and approval that might have elevated him in the eyes of men, were a waste of time.  He saw them as rubbish when compared to the excellencies of the true knowledge of God. 


The life Paul lived after his conversion was in response to the goodness and grace God had bestowed upon him. He could live it no other way. Paul understands that he was a billboard for HIS God's grace and mercy for others to see, marvel and perhaps turn from their own futile ways to God.   The works we do should be the inevitable outcome and outflow of the love that He has poured out in our hearts.  If you understand grace you will understand that there is no other acceptable response to God but wholehearted commitment and service.  


Serving God, girls should not be a have to...if it is there is something wrong with your view and understanding of God and the grace you have been shown.  Serving God should be a complete and utter "get to" from start to finish.  This is why all of us who believe are still here...to show the glory and light of God to others through our words and our life.  


Love 
Mom