Follow Me

John 21:20-23

Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

Just like Peter, sometimes God asks us to do something we really don't want to do. We wonder why we must do it when He isn't asking someone else to do the same. It may seem like they are getting the easy way. However, what does it matter to us what God is asking someone else to do? All we need to do is be obedient to what He is asking us to do.

Feed My Lambs

John 21:15-19

 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

There are many people in this world who say they are Christians, but their actions do not support their words. If you question them, they get defensive (much like Peter did with Christ). If we truly love Christ (i.e. a Christian), then we would do His commands and follow His will regardless of the cost.

Fair

My devotional yesterday was timely and needed. I made a point of sharing it with my children as well. It is something that we need to be reminded of often.

I recommend the Jesus Calling Devotional by Sarah Young. I often find the readings timely and full of wisdom.

Light

Every Good Gift

James 1:17-18

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

We learn much about God's character from these verses.

Everything good we have is from Him. We must thank Him daily.

He is the ultimate light--the Father of Lights. It is only by Him that we see truth.

He is the same today as He was yesterday and as He will be tomorrow. He doesn't turn to the right or to the left. He is solid.

He chose to create us to have communion with Him. He put us in dominion over the earth. We can choose to worship Him now (first fruits) or we will worship Him later when the whole earth (creatures, land, people, etc.) will worship Him.

Philippians 2:10 

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

God's Presence

2 Chronicles 5:13-14

It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

Have you ever been somewhere and felt God's presence? I have. There have been some church services, Bible studies, revival meetings, and such where I knew God was there.

In today's scripture, however, God's presence was so strong that the priests couldn't even stand! What a blessing it would be if we could be in such unity that God's presence was that strong!

My Ways

"ways" = habits

Wouldn't it be great if it was our habit to follow God's commands?!

Keeping Baby's Legs Warm

The women/girls in our family wear dresses and skirts only. Somewhere along the line, all the tights for my baby were lost between now and the last time I had a little girl. I bought one package of three thin tights for $6, but the thicker, warmer tights were $6 each. Since I am quite frugal and money is tight, I couldn't see spending $6 on tights when I would need at least 4-5 pairs. I began a search on Pinterest for tutorials on how to make my own tights. I found two tutorials that I used.

The first tutorial is for baby tights. I made a pair last week and used them to make sure they would work. They are great! I was blessed by a friend with a lot of knit material that I used, but as the tutorial says, she used t-shirts that she either had or bought at thrift stores. The pair I made last week was a white pair and I made another two pair of white and a pair of red. I might make more in other colors.

The second tutorial I found is for leg warmers using adult knee-high socks. I made a pair last week using a some brown knee high socks. They worked great, but were really long on her. They kept falling down over her feet. I tried them again this week but put on a pair of socks and it kept the tights from falling over her feet. I tried another pair using crew socks that I like as well today. I will make more as I find socks I like.

I'm happy that my baby's legs will stay warm this winter and it didn't cost me anything but about a 1/2 hour of my time!

Enduring Temptations

James 1:12-16

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.

We have already established that we will encounter trials/temptations in life (see here), but in today's reading, we learn about a promise for enduring those temptations. We will be blessed/happy and we will receive the crown of life!

In contrast, we also learn what will occur if we don't endure. Temptation itself is not sinful, but if we give in to temptation, it brings sin and ultimately death. When we give in, it is easier to fall.

We are admonished to "Do not err, my beloved brethren."

"err"--Greek word is planao, which means go astray, be deceived, wander.

Do not wander towards temptation or go astray after it!

All Nations

Lilla Rose Sale!

http://www.lillarose.biz/darcyc

All Things

Numbers 22:20-34

And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again. And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

Balaam sinned against God by not doing what he was told. God was going to punish Balaam, but his donkey protected him.

Balaam didn't know his donkey was protecting him and was angry with the apparent disobedience of the donkey. How ironic that he beat his donkey for his disobedience when he had just been disobedient to God.

How many times do we get frustrated and angry over things that are meant to protect us? Have you often been upset about a slow driver in front of you? What if because of that slow driver, you were spared from an accident? Have you ever been upset about a leaky pipe? What if finding that leaky pipe allowed you to fix it before major damage was done or the insurance money allowed desired updates.

Let us be joyful in all things as the Lord is at work for us. What we may initially see as bad is actually good.

Give Me Jesus

17 Reasons I Love My Husband

In honor of 17 years of marriage, I'm listing 17 reasons I love my husband.

In no particular order . . .

He is handsome

He works hard

He is a man of God

He is a great father to our children

He loves me despite my numerous failings

He leads our home in all aspects

He makes me laugh

His free spirit has relaxed my anal-retentiveness

He is creative and a visionary

He can fix just about anything

He does things he doesn't necessarily enjoy to save us money

He helps others

He doesn't judge

He forgives

He likes my cooking

He tries to speak my love language even though it is hard for him

He does without so our children and others can have

I thank God daily that He brought Chad and I together. While we have had many rough times during our marriage, they have only drawn us closer to God and closer together. It might sound cliche, but I love him more today than the day I married him. I am blessed to have become one with him as he only makes me a better person.

 Mark 10:8 

And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

Humble Yourself

James 1:9-11  

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

We should rejoice when a humble man is exalted. When a man humbles himself before God and becomes a child of His, it is definitely a time to rejoice. That man is no longer double-minded (vs. 8).

The man rich in earthly possessions should not rejoice because those possessions won't save him. They will disappear as quickly as the grass withers. He, too, needs to humble himself before God.

He Prays for Me!

John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Jesus Christ prays for those who believe; He prays for me!

What a reassuring thought--to know that the Son of God knows me and prays for me.

Know His Faithfulness

James 1:5-8

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

I find it funny that the scripture says, "If we lack wisdom". I would think we all do, but we just don't like admitting it. our pride gets in the way of truly seeking wisdom.

If we ask God, He will give us wisdom. He doesn't desire us to be unwise, but desires us to seek Him.

When we do ask, we need to ask knowing He will be faithful in granting our request. If we doubt, how can we truly receive all that God has for us?

There will be times that God uses trials and temptations to grant us wisdom. Sometimes we have to experience something before we fully understand.

Let us be firm in the resolution that God will grant us wisdom.

Horse & Rider

Yesterday's sermon was another good one. Our relationship with God was again stressed.

Morally Strong

Are We Any Different?

Amos 1:13

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border

God would not turn away His wrath from the Ammonites because of they took the children of pregnant women in order to benefit themselves. What makes us think He will not punish America for the same thing?

The Hebrew word for "ripped up" is 'baqa' which can also be translated "cut out." Is that not abortion?

Why did they do this? "that they may enlarge their borders." Why would they want to enlarge their borders? Selfishness. They would do whatever it took to benefit themselves. They thought they couldn't be successful without doing this.

The Ammonites were in no way repentant of their deeds so God could not show them mercy. Are we (as a nation) repentant?

Enduring Trials

James 1:2-4

 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;"

fall-Greek-peripipto=to fall into something that is all around

Temptations are all around us. We are going to fall. The question isn't if, it is when.

John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The important thing to remember is: it is through trials that our faith grows.

Romans 5:3

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Our faith causes us to have hopeful patience through the trial, which in turns helps us grow more mature in faith.

Also, when we endure the trials, we know we are in good company. Even Christ endured trials.

1 Peter 4 

 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy

 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

So, let us not grow weary for we know rewards come to those who endure.

If God Be For Us

Numbers 13-14 (see below for full text)

The Israelites were told they would be blessed with land flowing with milk and honey. The Lord was ready to give it all into their hands. Unfortunately, when they sent the spies into the land, most of the spies came back focused on the difficulties that may arise. Fear was causing them to miss the blessing of the Lord.

Are we often like the Israelites? How many times do we miss out on blessings because of fear? Too often, I am sure.

For instance, take the issue of leaving family size up to God. Do we focus on the finances, the size of our home or vehicle, etc. or do we trust God when He says He will provide?

The topic can be any number of issues (not just family size). Do we focus on our fear or trust?

Numbers 13
 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
 2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
 3 And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
 4 And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.
 5 Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.
 6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
 7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.
 8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. {Oshea: also called, Joshua}
 9 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.
 10 Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.
 11 Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.
 12 Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.
 13 Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.
 14 Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.
 15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.
 16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua. {Oshea: also called Joshua} {Jehoshua: or, Joshua}
 17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:
 18 And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;
 19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;
 20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.
 21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.
 22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
 23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. {brook: or, valley}
 24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. {brook: or, valley} {Eshcol: that is, A cluster of grapes}
 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.
 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
 30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
 31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. {men...: Heb. men of statures}
 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Numbers 14
 1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
 3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
 4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
 6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
 7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
 8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
 9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. {defence: Heb. shadow}
 10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
 11 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
 12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
 13 And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)
 14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.
 15 Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,
 16 Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.
 17 And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,
 18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
 19 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. {until...: or, hitherto}
 20 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:
 21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
 22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: {Surely...: Heb. If they see the land}
 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
 25 (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.
 26 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
 27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
 28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
 29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
 30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. {sware: Heb. lifted up my hand}
 31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.
 32 But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.
 33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. {wander: or, feed}
 34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. {breach...: or, altering of my purpose}
 35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
 36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
 37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.
 38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.
 39 And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.
 40 And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned.
 41 And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.
 42 Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.
 43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you.
 44 But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
 45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
 (KJV)

Head to Heart

For a reason unknown to me, yesterday's sermon didn't record. I apologize for that. I figure the next best thing I can do is to share the scripture references from the sermon. You can read them and see what God speaks to you.

John 6:1-14
Matthew 14:14
John 1:43-45
John 3:30
Joshua 7:21
2 Samuel 14:26
2 Samuel 18: 9 & 14
Ezra 2:65
John 14:1-11
2 Corinthians 13:5

Peace

Helping Others

Numbers 11:4-9

 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?  We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium. And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.

A few things stand out to me in these verses.

First, the people were asking for someone to "give" them food to eat. They didn't want to go out and find it themselves, they just wanted it given to them. They were lazy. In fact, they were wishing htey were slaves again just so they could be given food.

Second, when God did provide them with food, manna, it wasn't a free ride. They had to gather it, and then grind or beat it and then bake it. There was work involved.

Now, if I think about America's system for "helping" those less fortunate, I see a difference. The government just keeps giving them things and many (not all) become slaves to the system. They become accustomed to being given things instead of working for it.

Shouldn't we look to God for an example of how to help others? Shouldn't we give them food, but still require some kind of work (remember, these are able-bodied people)? Even God's commands for gleaning required work on the part of the recipient.