Vanity Tabled

"All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:8-9)

What are you living life for? Is it worth dying for?

"For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?" (Ecclesiastes 3:19-21)

Unless you're Enoch or Elijah, everyone dies.

"And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11)

What's the point of life if it's all vanity- it's all meaningless? Everything is meaningless!

"There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind." (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)

Ah- there's the rub. The only enjoyment in life comes from God.
And there's only One Way to know God.

"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) - And that Name is Jesus Christ.

"For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him." (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

Knowing and following Jesus is the only Way to truly have life- life abundant and life eternal.

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8)

"For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)

A Wider Grace Appeal (Share Christ Our Saviour- Zeal) (song)

In Hebrews 11 in The Bible, we read about the pantheon of heroes of the faith throughout the Old Testament. It's often called the "Hall of Faith" chapter. By faith, they did what they did in service to God and strove to be faithful to Him. Some of my personal modern day Christian heroes of the New Testament age would have to be my own parents. They were faithful to follow The Lord's call on their lives to serve Him as missionaries across the world- first in Spain, then in Trinidad & Tobago and later in South Africa- as well as serving in America. It's never an easy thing to do- they had to leave the comforts of home and family and make sacrifices. Of course, Jesus says that all those sacrifices for Him will be repaid a hundred fold in Heaven. I thought it would be a nice tribute to procure a parody song for them from the harangue that I can too easily slip into at times. ;-) Their example of Christlike selflessness and hearts for the people of the world were the first witness I had to the Gospel and my need for Christ. I am so thankful for their obedience to Jesus and the life that I had growing up as a MK as a result. It gave me so many experiences and friendships I wouldn't have had otherwise, but most importantly- it showed me a great big picture of the lostness of the world and the need for the Saviour- and how the love of God spreads to encompass all the people of the world. We must continue to make a wider grace appeal and share Christ our Saviour with zeal as a result. Thanks for showing me such a great example of that, Mom and Dad. This one's for you.

(And as a special bonus with this song, my brother Kevin and I have collaborated to provide for an audio file that you can stream or download for free, thanks to Karaoke Version and Tency Music, who provided the excellent karaoke tracks that we used! :-) Stream or download the song for free at Kevin Ludwick's Bandcamp page! And while you're there, check out some other collaborations Kevin and I have done (including original songs) and Kevin's collection of his own original songs.) You can also listen to it from this blog in the player below!


"A Wider Grace Appeal (Share Christ our Saviour- Zeal)"
(parody of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 8/22/2016)
(Tribute to Mom and Dad's missionary work)
(Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 5:8, John 3:16-17, Mark 10:24-31, Romans 10:8-17, Luke 14:25-35, 2 Peter 3:8-9, Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 19:23-30, Romans 1:16, Philippians 1:21, Acts 17:26, Isaiah 1:18, Zechariah 4:6, Revelation 7:9, Jeremiah 20:9, Jude 1:20-25, Matthew 25:20-21, Psalms 31:14-15, Psalms 138)

Bry mixed with (a) lime and flamenco
Churns cocktail chocked with years
Christ's been leading Dub and Susan
They're found, called out and steered
To do what's something harder
Than believers usually seek
When they're called out for another life
The Saviour God's mouthpiece

And Lord Jesus their Saviour-
Like a mirror tell His tale
That He paid with precious blood to
Turn to white our blaze red fails

He said, "Come, let us reason"
And He used for Spain to see
Ludwicks- (for) 5 years- through their faithful hearts
Jesus te ama- si!
Then they shift scenes at God's urgings
Ten years preaching in Trinidad
Holy Ghost moved- eyes were opened
Then Christ leads (to) America- make tracks

And on to South Africa
Great Commission drove them there
Taught for 8 years- Holy Ghost saved
"Turn to Christ"- they're sharing here

All for Jesus our Saviour
....................................................................
released January 15, 2017
Singing, mixing/mastering: Kevin Ludwick
Lyrics: Nathan Ludwick
Music: Karaoke Version (www.karaoke-version.com) and Tency Music (www.tencymusic.com)

Christ is the Reason (for the Season) (song)

Here's a late Christmas present for you! (Of course, since scholars think Jesus was probably born closer to April than December, it still seems a fitting time.) Of course, any time is a good time to celebrate Christ's birth. And when it is that time of the season, there are lots of fun things to enjoy- Christmas carols, cookies, church services, presents and family time- but the greatest gift of all is the salvation God sent us through Jesus' death and Resurrection. He paid for all our sins so that when we were wandering through life like zombies- the living dead, as we were dead in our sins- we could have the chance to be truly alive with abundant life in the here and now and eternal life in Heaven instead of hell as we deserve. Just as Jesus came at the right time (as Galatians 4:4-5 say), in that sense Time adopted the Eternal One and Joseph adopted Mary's Son born of the Immaculate Conception through The Holy Spirit's work. (To be clear, I know the "Immaculate Conception" term is used in reference to Mary; while I don't agree with that doctrine, I am using the term here to refer to Jesus Christ being kept free from original sin by His virginal conception. ;-)) And in turn, Jesus redeemed those under the law so that He could adopt us as well! Praise God for His love! Merry Christmas! Happy Easter! God loves you! :-)

(And as a special bonus with this song, my brother Kevin and I have collaborated to provide for an audio file that you can stream or download for free, thanks to Karaoke Version and Tency Music, who provided the excellent karaoke tracks that we used! :-) Stream or download the song for free at Kevin Ludwick's Bandcamp page! And while you're there, check out some other collaborations Kevin and I have done (including original songs) and Kevin's collection of his own original songs.) You can also listen to it from this blog in the player below!

"Christ is the Reason (for the Season)"
(parody of "Time of the Season" by The Zombies; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 8/31/2016)
(Galatians 4:4-5, Romans 5:8, Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, Mark 1:1-3 and 14-15, John 1:1-29, 1 John 4:19)

(Ah!) (x4) (Repeated after first 4 lines and in-between verses)

It's the time of the season
When God sent Christ
Christmastime- sing and let's be jolly
The light still shines in darkened lands
To save you by The Son for Promised Land
Go 4:19 1 John
It says Christ is the reason for loving

(Ah!) (x4)

Jesus came (Jesus came)
Who's His Daddy? (Who's His Daddy?)
(He is rich) He's the richest King (the richest King)
(But He laid) But He laid it all aside (it all aside)
And though He was God, became servant
Saviour meek and lowly
Showed us how love really ought to go
When He died- that's His reason for coming!

(Ah!) (x4)

What a Name! (What a Name!)
Man of Sorrows! (Man of Sorrows!)
(Yet He's the King) Yet He's the King of Kings! (King of Kings!)
(In Galatians) In Galatians 4:4- Time (4:4- Time)
(And Joe) And Joseph adopted God's Kid

He and Mary obeyed
Christ adopts the redeemed from the law
Christmastime! Happy Easter- God loves us!
.....................................................................................................

released January 15, 2017
Singing, mixing/mastering: Kevin Ludwick
Lyrics: Nathan Ludwick
Music: Karaoke Version (www.karaoke-version.com) and Tency Music (www.tencymusic.com)

Songs to the God of my life

"For You are the God in Whom I take refuge; why have You rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" (Psalms 43:2)
"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God." (Psalms 42:5 and 11)
"O Lord, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before You. Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles and my life draws near to Sheol." (Psalms 88:1-3)
"But I, O Lord, cry to You; in the morning my prayer comes before You. O Lord, why do You cast my soul away? Why do You hide Your face from me?" (Psalms 88:18)
"Consider the work of God: who can make straight what He has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him." (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14)
I am so glad that The Lord included verses like these in The Bible. There are so many times in life when it might feel like "the darkness is my only friend" (as the end of Psalms 88 says) and that I just am not close to God or I just am not hearing from Him or something. Sometimes I cry out to God and my only answer is the silence of God. Sometimes it feels like He's playing hard to get; of course, I think He and His ways are just plain hard to get. (Isaiah 55:8-9) I'm glad that there is still joy in the journey though- and I do know that in the end, The Lord is always there and never leaves or forsakes me. Instead, He suffers alongside me. I trust in The God Who is not distant- the God Who is always very near- the God Who left His throne to come to earth for me and suffer alongside me. As Moses left the palace of Egypt to suffer alongside his people, so Jesus left His Heavenly throne and palace to suffer alongside His people that He had made who went astray from Him.
"For because He himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted." (Hebrews 2:18)
(See also Hebrews 4:14-16 and all of 11 and 12:1-17 and all of Romans 8.) We have to keep looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In our struggle against sin, we haven't yet resisted to the point of shedding our blood- but He did. Jesus spent the hours leading up to His crucifixion weeping alone in the Garden of Gethsemane, begging God the Father to take the cup from Him if possible- but nevertheless, Thy will be done! His friends couldn't even watch an hour with Him.
And in the horrible suffering Jesus endured- not merely in the physical- but also in the spiritual sense- the moment when He was ripped from the presence of God and felt as utterly cast out as the psalmist in Psalms 88- when He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we might be justified- He suffered incredible pain and loss- but He also overcame it. He rose again and defeated sin, death, the devil and hell- so that none of us would ever have to face eternal punishment. He bought us our salvation at an incredibly high price. "So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood. Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His Name." (Hebrews 13:13-15)
For the moments that I feel faint like Relient K, I know that you should never underestimate my Jesus because He will be strong when I am not. And even when I can't feel Him near and I don't think I'm getting any answers and I feel rejected, lonely, in pain and suffering and all alone- I will still trust and know that He's here. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." (Job 13:15)
Three of my favorite songs express this so well in different ways. (I love how all three of these speak of how we share with Jesus- not just in His glory when we are with Him in Heaven- but also in His suffering.) These are not the kind of songs you sing at church for worship, even though I think they sure can be a form of worship. It's a brazen, raw and honest outpouring of the heart to God- something that I think God loves to see and something I strive to do in prayer. I'm glad to know He's always listening and still giving rest to all those who take up His yoke. (Matthew 11:28-30) Whether I always feel it or not, I trust that that verse is true. And I trust that ultimately, our present suffering can't compare with the glory coming!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fIP_bKxjLs
("Joy in the Journey" by Michael Card- one of my favorite theologian songwriters- an encouraging song that acknowledges the weariness that comes in the journey while we are strangers on this earth in the time of our exile. (1 Peter 1:17-19)) "Who belong to eternity stranded in time and weary of struggling with sin."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2STr5qPlIM
("Hard to Get" by Rich Mullins- one of my all-time favorite songwriters period! And one of my Christian heroes. I love how both this song and Michael Card's song speak of the comparisons between our present state and God's state. "You who live in eternity hear the prayers of those of us who live in time." (1 John 5:14)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvytewIxll0
("The Silence of God" by Andrew Peterson- one of my newest favorites. Andrew Peterson is a huge fan of Rich Mullins as well and it's evident from his songs, though he has his own poetic style as well. He's also a fan of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien! This song speaks so well to the aching and hurt that comes with hearing only the silence of God in response to our cries. But it doesn't mean that God doesn't hear us- "And The Man of all Sorrows, He never forgot what sorrow is carried by the hearts that He bought." (Hebrews 12:1-4)

Proud Eyes (song)

It's the original sin. This came even before the fall of man. First there was the fall of Lucifer. Why did he go from an angel in God's Heaven to the being Satan, the devil of hell? Pride. The Scriptures tell us he wanted to ascend above God- he eyed the throne fit for only The Almighty and God put him in his place. And it's those proud eyes that get us every time too. We've seen it played out so many times. We do well on something and quickly become haughty about it. And it gives God sad eyes to see us think we can do things on our own without Him. And our quick downfalls bring us quickly back to Him. Keep your eyes on Him and don't let the pride of life bring you down.

"Proud Eyes" (parody of "Sad Eyes" by Robert John; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 11/26/2015)
(Proverbs 8:13, Ezekiel 28:1-19, Isaiah 14:12-21, 2 Peter 2:18-19, Jude 1:14-16, Revelation 13:5, Obadiah 1:3-8, James 4:6-10, James 4:13-17, Isaiah 2:22, Malachi 4:1, Luke 14:11, 1 Peter 5:6, Proverbs 16:5, 1 John 2:15-17, Luke 12:13-21, Philippians 2:1-11, Psalms 8, Proverbs 6:16-19, 2 Samuel 22:28, Psalms 18:27, Psalms 131:1, Proverbs 21:4, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 1 Corinthians 8:1, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Jeremiah 50:31-32, Daniel 3-4, Daniel 5:20, Psalms 5:5, Psalms 101:5, Psalms 119:21, Psalms 119:78, Proverbs 14:16, Proverbs 28:25, Psalms 2, Romans 1:28-32, 1 John 2:16, Proverbs 16:18)

Look right in Proverbs- review 6 things God hates
Seven abominations
Two hands blood spilling, witness who breathes lies,
Lying tongue, heart that makes plans of hate
Sows discord

(Chorus 1)
Proud eyes- Turn to 6:16
Why don't you go read those lines?
Proud eyes- you know that one's first- hey!
Then read 1:3-8 Obadiah

Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4- read there!
His pride was broken- tree upends
Isaiah 2:22- Psalms 2- How do we fare?
God hates to see us self-depend
8:13 Proverbs

(Chorus 2)
Proud eyes- Ezekiel 28
Isaiah in 14- kicked out
Proud eyes- God threw devil to the grave
Where he will have to stay in fire!

(Chorus 3)
Proud eyes- Turn to 4 in James
Why don't you go read those lines?
Proud eyes- You'll do this stuff today
Then we should actually say, "If God wills"

(Chorus 4)
Proud eyes- Turn to Psalms in 8 (Turn to Psalms in 8)
Why does God take heed or mind? (Why? Why? Why?)
Proud eyes- Philippians 2:8 (read!)
If Jesus lived humbly, so must I....

(fade)
Proud eyes- turn and live humbly....

Hooked on a Tree Limb (song)

Note: Here's another one from the archives. This song came to mind today when someone mentioned not hearing the original one in a while until the "Guardians of the Galaxy" movie made it popular again. Since I previously posted parody song lyrics that told about the fall of David and subsequently his family due to his sin with Bathsheba, I thought this might be a nice follow-up song, as this one talks more about that family fallout that David went through. And by the way, I love B.J. Thomas [a great Christian artist known for "Home Where We Belong", as well as "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" :-)], but this Blue Suede's version. So enjoy (or pretend to do so anyway) another one. :-)

I don't want to step on anyone's feelings or their blue suede shoes, so no disrespect to Absalom here. But yeah- this song is from his point of view, but there's also an omniscient narrator thing going here, as David's reaction to the death of his son bears a resemblance to another Father who mourned for His creation.

"Hooked on a Tree Limb"
(parody of “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Suede; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 5/26/2013)
(2 Samuel 11-24 [specifically chapters 13-18], 2 Samuel 18:33, Luke 13:34, Romans 5:8])

[Ooh-Ab-sa-lom, ooh-Ab-sa-lom, ooh-Ab-sa-lom! x5] (fades in background, but continues through first verse)

I can’t stop this spearing
Deep inside of me
Well, I just now realize
What this did to me
Overthrowing
With an armed turf fight
To get me crowned
As the King of Israel-ites! (iiiitttess!) 
([Ooh-Ab-sa-lom, ooh-Ab-sa-lom, ooh-Ab-sa-lom!] ceases) 

(But) I’m hooked on a tree limb
I’m high like the ceiling
They sure will rub out me! 

It’s a complete tragedy
(It’s)David’s sin multiplied
Swirled up lots of hurting
Me and my brother wound up dying
Look it up- 2[Two] Samuel 11- Read to end
I just ain’t a victim
Also am (a) villain
All my good looks
Befit me for the throne
Sweeping up folks
Like a politician,

(now) I-I-I-I’m
Hooked on a tree limb
I’ve lied and deceived them
Joab ignored the king 
(Instrumental interlude) 
[Ooh-Ab-sa-lom, Ooh-Ab-sa-lom, Ooh-Ab-sa-lom! resumes] 

Dad gave me love
I tried to take his throne
Weeping for me
Yet I did you so wrong 
[Ooh-Ab-sa-lom, Ooh-Ab-sa-lom, Ooh-Ab-sa-lom! ceases] 

I-I-I…. I’m hooked on a tree limb
I died from the spearing
It’s sure a sad ending
But look at Dave’s weeping
Reminds me of Jesus
34 in Luke 13 
God had Him nailed on a tree then
When you and I were just sinners
He’s sure in love with us!
{Christ booked me for Heaven
And His rise means we’ll rise then
Romans 5:8- go read!} 
{repeat} (and fade)
.....................................................................................

Season for the Reason: Lifting Rocks and Rolling Stones

             There is an age-old paradox that is asked at times regarding the existence of an omnipotent God. "If an omnipotent being has the power to create a stone He cannot lift, how can He be omnipotent?" Of course, the inherent problem with the wording in this question is that it ignores the fact that God's thoughts and ways are above our own and in fact, are not our own. (Isaiah 55:8-9) God is capable of doing anything He wants- including, if He so desired, creating a stone that He could not lift and still be omnipotent. How could this be done? Since the definition of omnipotence means being all-powerful, God would have to lower Himself and limit Himself in order to perform this feat. Just because we can't understand something doesn't mean it can't be done. In the case of creating and lifting a stone heavier than an omnipotent being can lift, the Omnipotent God did this when He came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Though Jesus was fully God, He was also fully human. "...though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:6-11)
     Though Jesus often showed displays of His power as God (see Matthew, Mark, Luke and John for accounts of the numerous miracles He did of healing the sick, miraculously changing water into wine, feeding 5000+ with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread, walking on water, raising Lazarus and others from the dead, etc.), He also limited Himself and did not use all His power. Jesus tells Peter to put away his sword in the garden of Gethsemane when He was arrested and reminds him of His power. "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?" (Matthew 26:53-54)
        Because of the heart of stone in our flesh that we all have that is bent towards sin, God needed to do a heart transplant for all of us to give us a heart of flesh instead. (Ezekiel 36:26) He accomplished that by having His own heart broken for us (figuratively and literally) when Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for all our sins. He then was buried in a tomb with a huge stone to guard the entrance. Mary Magdalene and other women wondered to each other who would roll away the stone for them, in order for them to anoint Jesus' body with spices. (see Mark 16:1-7) But, of course, they didn't have to worry about that because God used His power to roll the stone back via one of His angels, as Matthew 28:1-10 talks about.
          Beyond the physical, the greatest stone God lifts is a spiritual one. As 2 Corinthians 3:3 talks about, people's lives changed by Christ are the greatest testimony to His power, as written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tables of stone but on tables of human hearts. The stone tablets of The Ten Commandments Moses received brought us the ministry of death because the Law condemns us, as we have all broken it many times over- and our hearts are already tainted by the sin nature handed down from Adam and Eve from the start. We have all been condemned to Hell as a result, "for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) However, the ministry of the Spirit has even more glory than the Law's ministry of condemnation. Moses had a glow on his face because of The Lord's glory shining through that Old Testament covenant of the Law that he had to put a veil on. That veil still lies on people's hearts today because they are hardened. When one turns to The Lord, it is removed. With unveiled face, we behold the glory of Christ and begin the process of being transformed into His image (more so than our physical creation in His image) from one degree of glory to another. (see all of Exodus 34 and 2 Corinthians 3.)
            This spiritual stone is one that God moves when we ask Him to do so- He doesn't force it upon us. "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12) Somewhat ironically, when that spiritual stone is removed- after we make the choice to call on the Name of The Lord to save us (Romans 10:9, Acts 2:21, Joel 2:32)- we then become a living stone that God uses to build up His church. (2 Peter 2:4-10) Of course, Jesus is the Stone the builders rejected Who became the cornerstone. Whoever believes in this cornerstone laid in Zion will not be put to shame. (see Isaiah 40:6-8, Isaiah 28:16, Isaiah 8:14 and Psalms 118:22) And as 1 Corinthians 3:11 tells us, this Cornerstone Jesus is the foundation laid that God builds His church upon. Those of whose who are living stones get built and molded together upon that Foundation- the church's one foundation, in fact, as the hymn says. 　
         And as Jesus says in Matthew 16:18 to another living stone (Simon Bar-Jonah, nicknamed Peter by Jesus- which means rock)- He's going to build His church upon the rock of Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. And as Revelation 21 tells us, The Lord has 12 precious stones that He uses to adorn the wall of New Jerusalem in Heaven. The only way to get to see those stones in a kingdom that can never be shaken is to put faith in the Cornerstone Jesus and build your life upon His foundation. That requires having a stone of blindness and doubt moved from our hearts, which we can't do on our own, but God can do for us if we'll let Him. All we need do is ask.