The death of a patriarch and generational sin... part 1

You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (Exodus 20:5-6 NASB) 

Hi Beloveds, 

I've had the unfortunate pleasure of experiencing generational sin first hand. Truth be told, it's a beast I've battled my entire life.  I know I’m not alone in this.  As a matter of fact, I think everyone suffers the effects of generational sin in some fashion.  We all fall short of the glory of Christ, therefore the generations that follow must deal with the consequences. 

For a few reasons, this past Father's day was an extremely difficult for me.  One of those reasons was the recent passing of my grandfather.  I got a call one afternoon from my parents: "Grandpa's in the hospital. They don't think he has much time".  My paternal grandfather.  Over the previous two years, I'd received this call on a couple other occasions. There was something different about this time though, so I decided to make the almost five hour drive to go see him. 

We'd never been close, my grandfather and I.  To be bluntly honest, I harbored a great deal of hatred for the man.  He was an abusive and hard man who ruled his family by physical beatings, verbal degradation, and the spirit of fear.  We're not talking about the modern day definition of abuse, a little spank on the bottom.  We're talking about tossed down stairs, smashed into walls, black and blue with broken limbs abuse.  And that was just the physical. 

I'll never forget a story I was told about my father as a little boy...

Wrestling With God

Hi Beloveds,

This past week I was asked to serve on the leadership council for a large men's Bible study I attend.  I've attended this Bible study for the past 4 1/2 years and love it.  The men have had an enormous impact on my life, and I was eager to serve them.

As part of this process, along with a retreat and some other things, I was asked to fill out a two page questionnaire.  One of its questions struck me...  "How would you describe your relationship with God?"

Simple, right?  It really got me thinking though.

Here's the best description I can come up with right now...

24 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” 31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh. 32 Therefore, to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip. ~Genesis 32:24-32

You see, I've been in a season of growth and transition for quite some time now.  At times, the journey's been an extremely painful one.

It may shock you to hear this, but that's actually the answer to a prayer.

At the beginning of this season, I asked God to work in me... "No matter what you have to do to me...  No matter what you have to allow happen...  I don't care how hard it is or how long it takes, God.  I want this to be real!  I want to serve You.  I want to serve and love like You.  And the only way I can do that is by being as close to You as possible."  I mentioned once in "The Tale of Two Songs", I can remember listening to Matthew West's "The Motions" and just asking Him to break me.

I had no idea how painful Matthew 10:39, Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, Luke 17:33, and John 12:25 could be.  There's a reason it's in there so many times!  :)

And, therein lies how I can say my relationship with God is like that He shared with Jacob at Peniel.

I comprehend very little of why God has done things or allowed things to happen the way they have in my life.  I struggle with how much of it I could have truly impacted.  I question how my sins and the sins of others played into it and the level of their permanency.  But, I've made a decision to trust in Him and His word.  I know who He is.  I believe wholeheartedly in His promises.  Though I don't understand... Though I may stumble.. I'm not going to let go until I walk in Him and my intended blessing.  I don't care how much it hurts.  I'll walk with a limp the rest of my life if I have to, I'm not letting go.

So this guy falls in a hole...

Hi Beloveds...

On my way home from work tonight I was thinking about how easy it is to feel unequipped for the tasks God has called us to do.  So often we focus on what we can and can't do rather than what God can and wants to do through us.  We look at the failures of our past and doubt.  We doubt our abilities and even our calling.  This is especially the case when He asks us to preach, teach, or lead in an area we've failed.

We ask...  "God how can you really be asking me to do this?  Can't you see all the times I've failed?  Not just failed, but failed epically!  They'll call me a hypocrite.  It'll never work."

One of my favorite TV shows of all time is Aaron Sorkin's "The West Wing".  And as I was pondering all this, I remembered a scene from the series that brought a huge smile to my face...

The Bible is full of "small and illequiped" men and women God uses to acomplish great things.  Many of whom suffered tremendous failures while fulfilling their callings.  Why?

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 ESV)

You see, God uses the weak and unlikely to accomplish great things as a means of glorifying Himself.  When it's all said and done, there can be no doubt it was Him and not the vessel He chose to use.

Seriously, don't let the irony of the above verse, and who penned it, be lost on you.  It was written by Paul.  The same man who viciously crucified Christians before becoming a cornerstone of the church and scribing a majority of the New Testament.

He's just one of many, and our God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11).  Is there any doubt He will do the same for you and I if we let Him?

He can take your greatest sin and turn it into His greatest victory!  Are you willing to give it to Him?  I am!

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

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.  (Matthew 19:26 ESV)

This is His redemption!  This is how He restores 100 fold that which the devil has taken and destroyed (John10:10, Joel 2:25-26)!

Please remember this process requires faith and submission...

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.  (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV)

If you revel in your sin and refuse Him, He will not force Himself on you.  (True love never does.)

I'm not saying you have to be perfect.  His grace and mercy abound. (Romans 5:19-21)  But we're not to stay there.  (Romans 6:1-2).  He wants you healed and redeemed!  He wants others to look at you and be jealous for His love!

For me, I know my sins are not the end of my story.  They are the begging of my ministry.  A ministry that, by the power of God, will shake heaven and earth!

God bless beloved!

Jesus Never Moves On by Tim Challies

                                              Hi Beloveds

I tend to be a big fan of Tim Challies.  He authored a post today titled "Jesus Never Moves On".  I wanted to re-post a link to it here, because I think it's that spot on.

Truth be told, I have many of the same thoughts written in drafts of my own.  There's only one point I might add.  Our bridegroom loves us so much, that He will also never force Himself on us.

Please take a moment to read it...  "Jesus Never Moves On" by Tim Challeis

God Bless

Lifehouse Everything Drama - Performed at Lakewood Church

Hi Beloveds

Please take time to watch this video all the way through...  thoughts after...

My church's drama team does a version of this that brings tears to my eyes every time I see it.  A video has an impact for sure, but there's something about seeing it live.

I've written incessantly about free will.  How a loving God will never force Himself on us, even if that means loosing us to our decisions.  To me, that relationship looks a lot like this video.  Him standing by our side, waiting for us to choose Him despite worldly temptations and trials.  Holding Himself back out of love.  (I hope that makes sense as I don't have more time to explain.  If not, just read some of my other posts.  My last post.  The post titled "Scars", etc.)

This is true love.  A love that draws us to Him.  A love offered with no expectations and great risk.  Agape love.  Death on a cross, to wash us clean and bring us back to Him.

I Love You God!

Safe Jesus?

"The people who hanged Christ never, to do them justice, accused Him of being a bore; on the contrary, they thought Him too dynamic to be safe. It has been left for later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround Him with an atmosphere of tedium. We have very efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah, certified Him “meek and mild,” and recommended Him as a fitting household pet for pale curates and pious old ladies."
~ Dorothy Sayers 

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
~ C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Beloveds...

These are two of my favorite quotes.  The first, by Dorthy Sayers, is self-explanatory.  The second, if you're not familiar, is a description of Aslan, C.S. Lewis's representation of Christ in his popular Chronicles of Narnia series.

Both describe Christ as "unsafe", and I wholeheartedly agree.

We've painted ourselves a "picture perfect Jesus".  Warm, fuzzy, and always gentle.  It's preached from the pulpit.  A Jesus who is only about forgiveness.  Our "Jesus" would never do anything abrasive...  Always turn the other cheek.

But, The Bible depicts a very different Savior.  (Matthew 23:13-36) (Matthew 15:7, 13, 16) (Matthew 21:12)  These are just a few from Matthew.  Verses like this can be found throughout the Bible!

Don't get me wrong, we serve a loving God and Savior.  This includes, but is not limited to, everything in 1Corinthians 13.

We must consider the whole picture though....

Partial acceptance of the true and biblical Jesus has caused staggering damage in modern society.  It's lead to the emasculation of men and the destruction of families.  (If you're looking for a good book on the subject, check out "No More Christian Nice Guy" by Paul Coughlin.)

The same God who loves us so much He would sacrifice His only begotten Son to have us by His side for eternity, is also a God of judgment.

26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ~ (Hebrews 10:26-31)

Ask Noah, Moses, Pharaoh, Job, or the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah what happens when the Lord rages.  Ask the merchants running change tables outside the temple, the apostles, or Pharisees about "gentle Jesus".

He is not safe!

But, as Mr. Beaver is quick to point out, He IS good.  He is just, infinitely patient, and quick to forgive.   

A God of both love and power!

Can you be ok with that?  Can you get to a place where, like David or Job, where you say... God is God?  Will you say, no matter what He chooses to do with me, I will submit?  Can you say it as He corrects you?  Can you find His love in that correction?  Can you say it through trials not brought on by any action of your own?

To be in love with a God that powerful is not safe.  It was never meant to be.  That's why faith is needed.

Think of it this way...

He gives us free will.  He lets us choose life of death.  Blessing or cursing.  Because the only way He can truly be in a relationship with us is by giving us that choice.  Anything less, and we are just pawns. Automatons to be played with.  He wanted a fulfilling relationship.  He wanted, dare I say it, a lover.  

Read Song of Solomon!

Not safe!  But, when you feel His love surround you and rush through you, you quickly understand He is both worthy and trustworthy.

All Sons & Daughters "Reason To Sing"

All Sons & Daughters "Reason To Sing"

We sang this song in praise and worship on Sunday.  Actually, we even did this version which includes the extended verses.

It hit me pretty hard.

We all have those moments when we wonder where God is.  Those moments we scream to the top of our lungs, "God,Why?!".

Our suffering is our world, and it's all we can see.

The truth is, this thing was never about us.  The life we live and its daily experiences were never ours to begin with.  It's always been all about Him. 

Our purpose, to worship and glorify Him.

The times in our life when we face trials, they offer an opportunity to exercise faith.  Can you believe, without seeing, that all things work for the good of those who love Him?  Even those things we believe might kill us inside?  The faith to believe a gracious and loving God would let them happen? 

One of my favorite lines...
"I need to know that you're still holding the whole world in your hands, and that is a reason to sing."

God, I not only need you to show me that You're still in control, but I need you to show me You're good, because right now I'm having a hard time seeing it.

Now I have no idea if that's the way the author intended it to be interpreted, but I think it's a real interpretation every christian faces.  And I think God's OK with that.  I also think He'll answer.  He answers with a grace and mercy so powerful we hit our knees.  Unmerited favor, at the perfect moment, which can only be from Him.  Right in the middle of our struggle and doubt we're overwhelmed by love.

Matthew 11:12, Difficult Verse Explained Beautifully

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. ~Matthew 11:12


I must say, there aren't many Bible verses that confuse me. Usually I can read the entire chapter, look through a few different translations, read a concordance for the Hebrew/Greek, check with the Holy Spirit, and feel pretty darn comfortable. With that being said, even after aforementioned due diligence, I continued to struggle with this one.

Is this verse saying the kingdom of heaven is under attack? Why "from the days of John"? Who are the "violent men"? Are they evil? Are we being called to defend the Word against those who would manipulate it? Are we the ones who, through our decision to accept Christ, violently take hold of salvation?

As I looked for a more detailed explanation I came across this...  Taking the Kingdom by Force

Though I still have some questions, I thought this was a beautiful and well educated analysis.

Fireflight - Desperate

Be strong beloveds.  He is with you!  Love this song!

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  ~1 Corinthians 10:13(KJV)

Seek and you will find, they say but I've been looking everyday for a way past this wall that's in front of my face. I'm on hands and knees searching for my faith.
I know there's so much at stake but I don't know if I can take one more pat on the back saying I'll be okay. Can't you see me whole life is in disarray?
You've got me desperate.
I know You hear me, Would You give me a sign? Reel me in before I've fall out of line. You've put me on a path I don't understand I'm standing on a ledge waving my hands.
You've got me desperate (do You see me?) Desperate (do You hear me?) Desperate (will You help me?) You've got me desperate.
I know You're my only hope The only One who truly knows how it feels, what it's like when it all starts to fall You're the One I can trust who hears when I call.
You've got me desperate.
I know You hear me, Would You give me a sign? Reel me in before I've fall out of line. You've put me on a path I don't understand I'm standing on a ledge waving my hands.
You've got me desperate (do You see me?) Desperate (do You hear me?) Desperate (will You help me?) You've got me desperate.
Some things I'll never figure out Until I let hope erase my doubt.
You've got me desperate.
I know You hear me, Would You give me a sign? Reel me in before I've fall out of line. You've put me on a path I don't understand, I'm standing on a ledge waving my hands.
You've got me desperate (do You see me?) Desperate (do You hear me?) Desperate (will You help me?) You've got me desperate.
You've got me desperate. (Oh do You see me?) Desperate (do You hear me?) Desperate (will You help me?) You've got me desperate!

God Loves Broken People by Sheila Walsh

God Loves Broken People by Sheila Walsh

This is probably one of the best books I've ever read! If you, or someone you love is struggling, PLEASE read this book.

Most and Least Bible-Minded Cities... fun and interesting study.

Hi All...

This is a Barna Group study I thought was quite interesting.  It breaks down the most and least Bible-Minded cities in the United States.

Top 6
Knoxville, TN

Shreveport, LA 

Chattanooga, TN

Birmingham, AL

Jackson, MS

Springfield, MD

...all major markets are included.  Here is a full list.

Don’t You Dare Be Caught Rejoicing with Those Who Weep by Justin Taylor

Hi Beloveds...

Here is a great, quick, read from Justin Taylor over at Between Two Worlds.  I think as guys we can be especially bad about this sometimes, wanting so desperately to just fix things.

Don't You Dare ...

Love

The Singing God Post by Sam Storms

Hi Beloveds...

I love music. God speaks to me through music. That's just our thing.

(This is the reason I often attach appropriate songs to my posts or write about a particular song outright.)

I can be in the car, on the way to work, ask Him to play me a specific song on the radio, and He will.  If I just need Him to talk to me, I ask, and the perfect song comes on.  Even though I've come to expect it, it still moves me.  He knows each and every one of us intimately.  This includes our "love languages".

This post/ book excerpt by Sam Storms at TheResurgence.com made me think of this.  While the post is well done and a good start, it only scratches the surface.  There's a generational sin component here which remains unaddressed.  (Huge topic on my heart over the past few years, and I hope to write about it soon.)

We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11).  This starts by knowing and excepting God's love.




I Love This Song!! (Song of Solomon 8:6-7)

Why do the right thing if there's mercy and grace?

Beloveds,

Do you know someone who's casual with God's mercy and grace. They may rationalize it, saying God loves them and wants them to be happy. A "good" and "loving" God would never let them suffer stress and difficulty.

To do the right thing is just too hard. They would rather sin, ask forgiveness, and move on. They're convinced God loves them so much He would never want them to feel the full weight of their sins.

The beautiful and ugly thing is, I don't think they're wrong! Case in point, the man who died next to Jesus on the cross. (Luke 23:32-33, Luke 23:39-43)

If, before it's all over, they've excepted God into their heart, they will be forgiven. There's NO sin, so big or intentional, it can't be covered by the blood of Jesus.

So why do the right thing?

Great Article by Tim Challies... Amazing Grace

Hi Beloveds...

"Pleasing Grief and Mournful Joy"

I thought this was a great article from Tim Challies over at Challies.com.  I really like the way he writes anyway, but this post struck me as being particularly well done.

Beyond the beautiful story, there are two things that stick out to me...

1)  I love the whole, we love Him because He first loved us, that is it's underlying truth.  He never uses those words, but it's there.

2)  I agree with the idea something promising freedom can ultimately enslave.  I believe this goes beyond abortion and into many other areas of life.  Drugs, Sex, Divorce, etc...

Worn - Tenth Avenue North, LIVE at K-LOVE.

Love this song!  Strength from God when we're weak.  Life from death when the "devourer"(1Peter 5:8) has done his worst.  Forgiveness and redemption for the times we've let him.  Hope this blesses someone!

Worn-Tenth Avenue North...

"Worn"

I’m Tired I’m worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes
To keep on breathing
I’ve made mistakes
I’ve let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed
By the weight of this world

And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn

My Experience Buying A New Book Today (God Loves Broken People: And Those Who Pretend They're Not by Shelia Walsh)

Hi Beloveds...

I love the way God works.  I was asking God to minister to me this morning and He told me to "go to the book store to get a book".  I said "ok, but I have no book in mind so You need to show me the book when I get there".  With that I got ready and was on my way.


Now I don't know about you, but I'm a bit of a Bible addict.  So the first thing I do when I walk into any christian bookstore is go to the Bibles and spend a minimum of 10-15 minutes browsing.  Has anything new come in?  If there's nothing new, I look over the ones I've already seen, just to make sure nothings changed since the last time I looked them over.

It was not more than 3 minutes after I had completed this obligatory ritual, and was walking around, when God lead me straight to the book I was called there to get.  My heart dropped in my chest.  Oh how well our God knows just what we need and when.  It was the perfect book in so many ways.

So I started to think about whether I should buy the book from the bookstore or on amazon.  I mean, I'm on a budget here, right?!  I took out my phone and did a price check.  No joke, the book was about a tenth of the price on amazon.  But then I heard God say "Buy the book here, they need the money".

Ummm, ok God.  I was obedient and went to the register to pay full price for my book.

Now I believe blessing falls on those who get their eyes off themselves and onto others.  If you are looking to have a prayer answered, ask God, but then find someone who is facing the same situation and pray for them.  Serve them in some way.  God will lead you there, if you humble yourself and ask Him to show you.  We are called to love.  (Matthew 22:37-40)

I start by asking the lady behind the counter if she had heard anything about the book.  "Have you read this?  Have you heard if it's good?"  She told me that she had not, but she really liked the author and was confident it would be good.  With that she checked me out.  As she was finishing she started to ask me if I wanted to buy a $5 Bible to donate for....  My knee jerk reaction was to say no.  Guy on a budget remember.  Silly me!  Then the rest of what she had said settled in...  for the crisis pregnancy center.

Oh God!  Beloveds, if you knew my life right now you would understand how this effected me.

Let's just say I quickly changed my mind about the donation!

We serve an amazing God who loves us so deeply.  He loves those we love more than we ever could.  He is always with us.  If we turn to Him, He will answer!  Let Him love you.  Let Him lead you to where He intends to heal you.  Let Him love and heal others through you.  You CAN trust Him!

I'm excited about my new book.  I know it's just what I need.

I will let you know how it is.  :)


I love You so much God!

K-LOVE - Jason Castro "Hallelujah" LIVE

I thought this would be a perfect song to go along with my last post!  :)

Scars

Hi Beloveds...

So I was talking to a good friend last night.  He's an amazing man in Christ.

I'm blessed to have many friends in my life.  I've learned, for me personally, there are only a handful though who can handle the full weight of who I am in a moment of desperate need.  They've been tested by the fires of hell and refined.  Through the process they've been strengthened. There is nothing I can say or do that will break them or make them give up on me.  If I need to verbally vomit, I can.  If I need to cry, I can.

Though two of them are very much "men's men",  I feel safe and know they will never judge.

They've gotten to be where they are by walking some of the very same steps I walk today.  They offer no expectations,  just a love that prompts the desire to pay it forward or return the favor after I've made it through the fire myself.

So I had called this particular friend looking for some advice.  We got to talking about sin, judgment, and the scars that are left behind.  Here is a snip-it of thought that came out of that conversation...

I've had the verse about King David fasting for the life of his son on my heart.

¹⁶ David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground. ¹⁷ The elders of his household stood beside him in order to raise him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food with them. ¹⁸ Then it happened on the seventh day that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him and he did not listen to our voice. How then can we tell him that the child is dead, since he might do himself harm!” ¹⁹ But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; so David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.”
~2 Samuel 12:16-19

Over the past 3-4 years I've had some similar experiences.  For me it was not the life of a child but my wife and marriage.  I was grappling with how a servant of God could offer such a costly and heartfelt plea for forgiveness, I mean real blood and tears, yet in the end death still comes.  It was to the point David's servants thought he might kill himself.

Loving God?......  I say yes!

We sin.  We must ultimately face the judgment for that sin.  The Bible teaches us Christ came to forgive our sin and wash them away.  As far as the east to the west, right? (Psalm 103:12)  But I can think of no place where it says there will not be consequences for our actions.  Christ took the ultimate cost of our sin, eternal death.  Not all consequences here and in this dispensation.  Walk in life and be blessed.  Walk in death and be cursed. (Deuteronomy 30:19)  Decisions have consequences.  If there were no consequences, what would the purpose of free will be?

When you can see this operating in your life it provides comfort and stability.  Yeah, I can sin, but I know what is going to happen.  If I walk in His will for me, I know what's going to happen then too.  I will be blessed.  A bit Pavlovian?  Maybe.  But my point is this, we don't have to go through life in fear wondering what will happen next.  When we understand this, we can begin to let it shape our decision making.  We ultimately can start to let Him lead us.

Where does He lead us?......  Back to Him where we are loved, protected, and provided for. 

A relationship with Him!

What is more loving than that?!!!

Free will can leave scars, but scars are the remembrances of wounds healed.

²⁰ So David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he came into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he came to his own house, and when he requested, they set food before him and he ate.
²¹ Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” ²² He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ ²³ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
²⁴ Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her; and she gave birth to a son, and he named him Solomon. Now the Lord loved him ²⁵ and sent word through Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah for the Lord’s sake.~2 Samuel 12:20-25

Love