David

My Future Is In Your Hands - Psalm 31

11:00 AM

 


Psalm 31, Luke 23:44-46, 1 Peter 3:10-13

One of the age old questions asked about God is how a loving Father could allow suffering in this world. I mean for the evil to suffer is one thing. But how could our Father let us, His precious children, become broken in pain and filled with sorrow? Look at David. He is called by God Himself a man after His own heart.(Acts 13:22) Yet even he was not immune to suffering. For his life story too is one of tragedy and triumphs, successes and failures. 


In writing the Psalms, many times David was grieved to the point of physical pain. I can sure relate. Because I too have felt such grief that not only did I feel mentally, but physically sick as well. Times when my heart literally ached and I couldn’t breathe, or take another step. Hurting so much that all I could do was drop to my knees in agony and cry out, “Father!” And also like David, I have received the loving, comforting care of my soul that comes from my Heavenly Father. A care that only He can provide.


Sadly, as long as there is sin there will be suffering. And this side of heaven we may not understand the reason behind God letting it in our lives. But like David, we can trust that no matter the suffering we endure, God always has a purpose for our pain. I think of Jesus. Satan appeared before Him in the wilderness and offered Jesus the crown without the Cross. (Matthew 4:8) Christ could have walked away from the cup of agony He was about to drink. But Jesus chose to suffer. To see the Father’s will done no matter the cost. And because of what He endured, we are now blessed with the gift of eternal life.


Our suffering too can be a blessing for others. 2 Corinthians 1:4 tells us that we who have suffered and received God’s comfort, can pass that same comfort on to others. For who better to empathize than someone who has suffered from the same cause? And who better to testify of the care, love, and comfort God gives during suffering than someone who has experienced it first hand?


We will all have painful times. But our future is held securely in the hands of the One who controls the storms. No matter what we face, God will be there as our impenetrable fortress every step of the way. So trust in His perfect wisdom. And cling to His beautiful promise to, “Comfort all who mourn, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting, so they will be called oaks of righteousness.” (Is. 61:3) 


Pause and Reflect -

Do you trust in God and His perfect wisdom? Romans 8:28 tells us God uses all things for our good. Do you believe that? Has God taken a suffering and turned it into a blessing in your own life? 


Even through his suffering, David found great joy knowing God cared about each and every problem he faced. Can you find joy in the midst of suffering knowing God cares? How does the Lord’s steadfast, loyal love bring you peace in your pain?


Finally, let’s pray together -

Our dearest Father in heaven above, hallowed be thy name. Father, You are our rock and fortress. And in we find our joy. We know that while we are on this earth Father, we will face our share of trials, suffering, and hurt. But through it all we trust in Your goodness, promises, and love. Lord we pray that You will lead and guide us through the twists and turns of life, comforting us along the way. And we thank You that no matter what we face, Your grace is sufficient. Like David, Father we have taken refuge in You. And for Your righteous name's sake, May you graciously deliver us out of the difficulties we face. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen. 


Don't' forget to head over to our Facebook group at, https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion. Also check out our public Facebook page at, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083156569388 and give us a like!


I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings.


💕 Lisa


2 Timothy

All Things Working Together - Romans 8:28

11:00 AM


Romans 8:28

This world, ruled by Satan, is filled with evil. And each day grows darker than the one before. That’s why every fiber of my being cries out for the return of Jesus. Oh how I long for my glorified body, and to dwell with the Lord forever. Because let’s face it. This side of heaven is a tough place to be. 


Jesus Himself promised rocky times for His followers dwelling on earth. (2Tim. 3:12) And there’s not a single one of us who hasn’t been touched by suffering or faced trials. But the apostle Paul also gives us another promise. Everything we go through, God will use for good for those who love Him.


Still, it can be hard trying to see the good in a bad situation. But our eyes are not God’s. And where we are blind, He sees everything from start to finish. All God asks, is that we trust in the uniquely wonderful plan He has for each of us. In patience, to continue loving, obeying, and praising Him, in good times and bad. Remembering that while we wait for Jesus, neither a smile nor a tear is wasted. 


As a home cook, I love the analogy of all things in our lives, good and bad, compared to a recipe. Each experience we go through is an important ingredient needed to produce a delicious outcome. God is our Master Chef. And He knows the perfect combination of events which will lead to amazing results beyond our imagining! A perfect helping of blessings, paired with a heaping side of love, joy, and peace!


We’d love to hear from you, so be sure to head over to Facebook and join in on the discussion. https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2


Agony

The Garden of Agony - Matthew 26:36-46

11:00 AM


As we celebrate Christ, His death and resurrection, one of the most painful parts of the story is the Garden of Gethsemane. For it was there when the weight of all our Savior was about to endure overcame Jesus. Such was His anguish, that His soul was overwhelmed to the point of death. And falling upon His face, three times Jesus prayed that if possible, God would remove the cup from which He was to drink. 


Located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, (which literally means “oil press”) consisted of a small grove of olive trees. A fitting place since it was there that Jesus was spiritually pressed. You know it’s often said that our true nature is revealed during times of pressing. And how we face trials and suffering shows the depth of our relationship with God. At any time Jesus could have walked away. He could have returned to His glorious throne in heaven and never once suffered for our sins. But instead He choose God’s will over His own, and obedience regardless of the consequences. And when God didn’t remove His cup of suffering, Jesus let nothing stand between Him and that cup.


There will be times when we will find ourselves face down in our own Garden of Gethsemane. When God permits suffering and we are pressed spiritually to the point of agony. It’s then when we need to follow the example of our Lord. First, in fervent prayer we are to cry out to our Abba, Father. Emptying before Him our hearts filled with fear and sorrow. And when His answer is for us to endure, we are to humbly submit before God saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Drinking the cup of suffering is never easy. But we need to trust that God’s plans are always best, and used for both our benefit and His glory. Most of all remembering that His grace is everything we need to carry us through. (2 Cor. 12:9)


Nowhere was Jesus’ humanity on greater display that in that garden. And because, to the glory of the Father, He drank the cup filled with our sins, He now stands at the right hand of the Father, as our perfect High Priest. So today if you are feeling spiritually pressed, bring it the Lord. For He understands sorrow and pain. Hurt and suffering. Betrayal and anguish. And let Him guide you through your garden of agony. 


Be sure to head over to Facebook and join in on the discussion. Just follow the link. https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2



grief

What is So Precious About Grief? - {Psalm 46}

11:00 AM



Scripture Reading: Psalm 46


As I look around me there seems to be a lot of suffering in the lives of others. My husband and I were remarking recently that our prayer list keeps growing! There are those with incurable cancers being added all the time, those who have lost a child or parent, or spouse.

Then there are those who grieve over what could have been, should have been; mostly wayward children and parents estranged from their children and grandchildren.

Grief comes in so many shapes and sizes. There’s not a “one size fits all” answer to be found! Each of us suffer at times, and each of us will experience grief. Our stories will probably be as different as we are, BUT I have learned we can give thanks in our suffering.

Now hold on, before you go off thinking I’ve lost my mind, I was thinking the same when I first read this by, Octavius Winslow,

God has given us many precious gifts; but I believe, that next to the unspeakable gift of His beloved Son, we shall thank and praise Him the loudest in heaven for the gift of suffering.
 
This statement peeked my curiosity and set me on a journey to find out what is so precious about grief.


My first thought was of Job's answer to his wife, “But he said to her, You speak as one of the impious and foolish women would speak. What? Shall we accept [only] good at the hand of God and shall we not accept [also] misfortune and what is of a bad nature? In [spite of] all this, Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job 2:10 AMP)

Perhaps part of our problem is how we generally view suffering and grief.

Paul explained it this way in Philippians 1:29, For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.

And James tells us we need to, “ Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

I’ll admit, my first thought has never been to jump for joy when trials arrive. Most of us, I imagine, don’t even care to share about our trials; preferring to hide them away and not have to face them, so I began to wonder about what I tend to do when struggling with grief, and how all of this could be good for us.

The very first place I headed was to the Book of Psalms,

God is our refuge and strength,    a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam,    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah …. “Be still, and know that I am God.    I will be exalted among the nations,    I will be exalted in the earth!”The Lord of hosts is with us;    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah –Ps 46:1-3,10,11

Here's some of what I found in this short passage: 

Suffering Should Move Us to Run to Jesus!
We cling tighter to Jesus when difficult times come. And while we’re clinging tighter to find solace, our faith is being stretched!

Suffering Grows our Faith!
It helps in our sanctification process to become more like Jesus. I’m sure all of us will admit our trials have made us stronger, and did more to make us the person we are today than all our best days combined!

Finally, Suffering Helps Us to Sympathize with Others!
Some of the best words a person can hear while going through a trial is, “I know exactly how you feel and there’s hope!”

Our sufferings make us sensitive to others when they’re afflicted and if we have already made it through the same trial, we can offer hope and peace in the midst of their trial.  

Nowhere in scripture have we been promised an easy life; in fact just the opposite. We have been told that life will be hard and that our afflictions will be many. Even Jesus warned His disciples before He was arrested, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

But He also promised that He would never leave us, or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) And that He has a purpose and plan for our life to give us hope for our future. (Jeremiah 29:11). 

The more I studied, the more I believe Mr. Winslow is right; we will one day give thanks the loudest for the gift of suffering.

Blessings,

sue

2 Corinthians

Be Gracious To Me O Lord {Psalm 31:7-10}

12:00 AM



Monday Nov. 4, Psalm 31:7-10

“We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, 'Blessed are they that mourn,' and I accept it.” (C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed)  

Suffering and grief go hand in hand with living in a fallen world; and Jesus tells us that no one, not even Christians, are exempt. (John 16:33) David knew this well. Feeling humiliated and grieved to the point of physical pain he laments, “My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body also.” (vs. 9) I can relate to that kind of pain. For I too have felt such grief that not only did I feel mentally sick, but physically as well. My heart literally ached and I felt as though I couldn’t breathe, or take another step. It hurt so much, that I couldn’t even get on my knees to pray. It was all I could do to cry out, “Be gracious to me O Lord!”

Throughout the ages people have asked how a loving God could allow suffering in the world. And in the depths of my despair I too have asked that same question. How could my Father let me, His child, become broken, in pain, and filled with sorrow? But time, hindsight, and prayer have taught me that instead of asking why, trust that no matter the suffering I endure, God always has a purpose for my pain.

“For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” (Prov. 3:12) Sometimes my anguish is a result of my own doing and God lets me suffer the consequences of my actions. Other times God uses my suffering to polish away the junk and impurities polluting my heart, in order to make me into a shining example of Him in my life. “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” (Is. 48:10) And more often than not, just like He did with Paul, God uses my sorrows to show me how completely helpless I am without Him, strengthening my dependence upon Him alone. “We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself … But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” (2 Cor. 1:8-9)

As long as there is sin, there will be suffering. And whether or not we know the reason behind God letting it in our lives, of this we can be certain; He will never make us suffer alone for, “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart” (Ps. 34:18) Not a single tear we cry goes unnoticed by our Father in heaven, who collects each and every one in His bottle. (Ps. 56:8) And if we let Him, He will be there each step of the way lovingly seeing us through the pain; ready, willing, and able to fill our aching hearts with peace and gladness. So no matter the suffering, trust in His perfect wisdom. Believe in His plans to use all things both good and bad for our benefit. (Rom. 8:28). Have confidence in His purpose for our sorrows and His ability to show His glory through them. And finally, cling to the beautiful promise of God to, “Comfort all who mourn, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting, so they will be called oaks of righteousness.” (Is. 61:3) 


healed

Holy Ground {Isaiah 53}

12:00 AM

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53

Isaiah 53 is holy ground.
"Isaiah’s prophetic pen allows us to peer into the events of Calvary and witness their spiritual significance. The physical horrors Jesus suffered on the cross are enough to move the most cynical person to emotion, but understanding their spiritual importance will inspire the most sinful person to devotion. The cross calls for more than just our tears, it is meant to capture our allegiance." -Tim Jennings
What we see in Isaiah 53 should shock all believers. This chapter has the power to transforms us, and soften every stony heart If we're willing to look at it closely!
Think about this a moment: Adam was called to obey God perfectly, but failed and all those who have come after him were cast out of the Lord’s presence (Gen 2:15-16; 3, Rom 5:12-21).
God’s own people, who were rescued from Egypt and called to obey God,—even its leaders—broke the covenant and were not permitted into Promised Land.
If even those called and rescued by the Lord failed, what hope do any of us have!?

 “He grew up before Him like a young plant,
    and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
    and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
    a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.(Isaiah 53:2-5)

The chapter begins by revealing that Jesus would deliver His people, not by the power of a sword, but through the power of suffering. And His suffering would begin by the way He chose to enter this world, in poverty. Like “a root in a dry, [parched] ground” (picture that for a moment) He would struggle to survive. (Isa. 53:2).
Not only that, but His suffering would intensified by the rejection He experienced from others (Isa. 53:3). The Amplified Bible tells us that He was as one who people would hide their faces from. I’m sure most of us know what it feels like to be rejected by another.
BUT what is most shocking to me is that man’s rejection of Jesus resulted in the horrific, physical abuse. Isaiah says, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] we are healed. Once more the Amplified Bible tells us that He was beaten “beyond human likeness”.
AND what so amazes me is that Jesus didn’t have to suffer. He chose to! It's one thing to suffer when you have no choice or when you have done something to deserve it, but Jesus willingly chose to suffer on our behalf. (John 10:18; 12:27)
The coolest part of all of this is, Jesus purposely suffered for a reason! We were always on His mind and in His heart! And I believe had God’s Law called for a thousand deaths, He would have done that for you! “He shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days… . Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities” (vv. 10b–11).
I'd like to leave you with this thought, for I don’t want you to  miss what is perhaps the most beautiful truth taught in Isaiah 53: Jesus our Messiah did not fail to save His people!
Born in Adam, we were God’s enemies as long as we remained in Adam. When Jesus our Messiah went to the cross, He did so willingly! The spotless Lamb - His righteousness was offered for our unrighteous and "by His wounds we are healed"! And made whole. Reconciled, redeemed [bought back] to God our Father forever.

I can't help but to give Him thanks and pray that He never has to face our rejection again!

Bethesda

Do You Wish To Get Well? {John 5}

12:00 AM


Monday Sept. 21

A feast of the Jews was happening in the City of David. And as the Jewish law required all men to attend, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem, coming upon a pool located near the sheep gate called Bethesda; meaning “house of mercy”, or “house of grace”.  It consisted of two pools surrounded by covered walkways in which laid, “a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered”. (vs. 5:3) At certain times an angel of the Lord would go into the pool and stir up the water. The first person to enter the water after it was stirred, would receive healing from their affliction. Now as you can imagine people came from all around to play this "healing lottery", each vying to be the first one in. It was there that the Lord encountered a man who had been suffering with an illness for 38 years. “When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, ‘Do you wish to get well’?”

At first I thought, “What a silly thing for Jesus to ask. Of course the man wished to get well!" But after reading the man's response, I began to understand why Jesus asked the seemingly odd question. He tells the Lord, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” (vs. 5:7) Think about that for a minute. Like clockwork for almost four decades, this sick man kept returning to the pool on his own, with no chance of being the first one in. Now wouldn't you think that after awhile it would occur to him to try something new? Maybe get there a little earlier, or pay someone for help. How could he honestly expect different results from doing the same thing over and over? So as Jesus asked, did he really wish to get well after all? And I have to tell you as soon as that question popped into my mind, God put in my heart how that man and myself have more in common then I care to admit.

I can’t tell you the countless times the words, “I wish” have passed over my lips. 'I wish I was healthier. I wish I was more organized. I wish I was more intentional. I wish, I wish, I wish." And like the man at Bethesda, instead of taking action to change my circumstances, I keep doing the same things while expecting different results. Whether it be through repeating destructive patterns, wallowing in self pity, or lack of personal accountability, I too have found myself by the edge of the pool waiting for healing. 

In my case, the paralysis I feel isn't a body problem but rather a heart problem. I've never done well with change. It's painful and causes me fear. It's more comfortable to stay stuck on my mat, making my troubles part of my identity rather than to let them go. For letting go means letting go of control over my life. It means setting aside the excuses, becoming accountable, and working hand in hand with the Lord for the healing I desperately desire. And it means having complete faith in God and His ability to get me off that mat, and freed from my afflictions; including those self induced.

No matter who we are, each of us at different times in our lives need the healing that only God can provide. The man at the pool of Bethesda was just one of many hoping for a miracle that day. And he received it through the compassion of Jesus. Christ offered this man grace and mercy, and He offers it to us as well. Our Lord wants no one to suffer in sickness and so He shed His precious blood to become our perfect path to healing. “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.” (Matt. 8:17) Whether the healing we need is  physical, emotional, spiritual, or all three, Jesus not only provides deliverance from our troubles, but also peace, hope, and joy. So if you find yourself, like me, at the edge of the pool lying on your mat wondering when your healing will come, be proactive. Pray, trust, believe, and be ready to put in the work for change when Jesus asks, "Do you wish to be well?'



great joy

SoulSearching Sunday~In Spirit And Truth

12:00 AM

Sunday, October 14, 2018


Week Forty-one...

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was Luke 20 - John 4...

 1. Take a few quiet moments to remember the most painful event or circumstance of your life. Compare your suffering to the agony Christ experienced for you. Ask Him how He wants to bring healing and victory through a trial you are facing right now.

 He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. (Luke 22:44)

 2. Although Jesus had just left the disciples, they were filled with “great joy” after they worshiped Him. What caused their joy? What in your worship experience brings you joy?

 While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up to heaven. They worshiped Him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.  (Luke 24:51-52)

 3. God wants you to worship Him in spirit and in truth - with all your heart, mind, emotions, body, and will. Evaluate your own personal worship, writing down each of these elements above. Next to each write on or two ways you can involve that aspect more in your worship.
But the time is coming and is already here when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship Him that way. For God is spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24)



Joy

Rejoice in Suffering {Romans 5}

4:06 AM




By Lisa Thayer

When I initially read this chapter, I thought, there’s nothing more to be said.  This is perfect!  So I read it again, looking for something that stood out.   Then I remembered why I thought this chapter was so good – I had studied it and written about it last year. 

I have been in a state of busyness at my home and having already written something previously has helped me out this week.  I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I have.


Many people feel it isn’t right for God to judge us because of Adam’s sin.  We confirm our unity with Adam by our own sins.  We are made of the same stuff and are prone to rebel, and we are judged for the sins we commit.  Because we are sinners, it isn’t fairness we need – it’s mercy.  

Paul reminds us in verses 13 and 14 that for thousands of years the law had not yet been explicitly given, yet people died.  The law was added, he explains in 5:20, to help people see their sinfulness, to show them the seriousness of their offenses, and to drive them to God for mercy and forgiveness.  This was true in Moses’ day, and it is still true today.  Sin is a deep discrepancy between who we are and who we are created to be.  The law points out our sin and places the responsibility for it squarely on our shoulders.  But the law offers no remedy.  When we are convicted of sin, we must turn to Jesus Christ for healing.

We see in 5:14 that Adam is the pattern.  If you’ve ever sewed or knitted, you follow a pattern.  Adam is the representative of created humanity.  Christ is the representative of a new spiritual humanity. 

In verses 15-19 we understand that we are all born into Adam’s family – the family line that leads to death.  All of us have reaped the results of Adam’s sin.  We have inherited the guilt, a sinful nature or the tendency to sin, and God’s punishment.  Because of Jesus, we can trade judgment for forgiveness.  We can trade our sin for Jesus’ righteousness.  Christ offers us the opportunity to be born into his spiritual family – the family line that begins with forgiveness and leads to eternal life.  If we do nothing, we have death through Adam; but if we come to God by faith, we have life through Christ.

What we have as Adam’s children:
* Ruin 5:9
* Sin 5:12, 15, 21
* Separation from God 5:18
* Disobedience 5:12, 19      
* Death 5:12, 16, 21
* Judgment 5:18
* Deliverance 5:10, 11
* Law 5:20

What we have as God’s children:
* Rescue 5:8
* Righteousness 5:18
* Eternal Life 5:17, 21
* Relationship with God 5:11, 19
* Obedience 5:19
* Deliverance 5:10, 11
* Grace 5:20

John Piper says, “1) First, it humbles us morally and intellectually.  Morally, because I must admit I not only do bad things, but I AM bad.  I not only need natural training, I need supernatural rebirth.  Something about me needs to die and something new needs to be created.  I am deeply in need for something beyond what I can produce.  And I am humbled because this doctrine of original sin, pushes the ability of my reason to the limit of its powers and leaves me behind.  Most of us will have to settle for a large dose of mystery here.  How are we connected to Adam such that it is just for his sin to be counted as our sin, and just for us to be condemned?  Paul does not make that explicit.  We do not doubt the justice of God; we doubt our own ability to explain it.  The doctrine of original sin is therefore morally and intellectually humbling truth.

2) It deepens our gratitude for salvation.  The more we know about our fallen condition, the more grateful we should feel that we are saved.  This is why Paul erupts with thanksgiving in Romans 6:17, “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart.”  Knowing that we are not just sinners but “slaves of sin” will make us sing for joy to be justified from sin’s guilt and delivered from sin’s power.”

Jonathan Edwards puts it this way, “This doctrine teaches us to think no worse of others, than of ourselves:  it teaches us that we are ALL, as we are by nature, companions in a miserable helpless condition: which under a revelation of the divine mercy, tends to promote mutual COMPASSION.  And nothing has a greater tendency to promote those amiable dispositions of mercy, forbearance, longsuffering, gentleness and forgiveness, than a sense of our own extreme unworthiness and misery, and the infinite need we have of the divine pity, forbearance and forgiveness, together with a hope of obtaining mercy.”