I Love You — Jack Hyles

I have filled this pulpit or the one next door that was like it. This pulpit, by the way, is exactly a replica of the one that was next door. By that I mean it's not the same design, but it's the same size, the top is the same width, the same depth, the same width of the pulpit, the same dimensions in every way.

Because I got used to the old one, I liked it, and we built this one exactly as that one. For almost 13 years I've stood behind this pulpit or the one next door. And I mean it when I say I've tried to acquaint you with this book.

I have taught it, preached it, outlined it, asked you to memorize it. I don't think I've ever said this publicly. I think I'll say it this morning. I never have said it publicly. I've said it to two or three people, I guess, in my life.

I'm not easily offended. I mean if you criticize one of my friends, I may hit you, I'm not sure. But I'm not easily offended if you criticize me. I've had so much practice being criticized. I hardly ever get hurt because of something folks do to me.

There's only one hurt that I feel, as far as I know, that I still feel. When folks say, I've been called everything. Down in Texas one time, somebody spread the rumor that I took $1 ,500 out of the church budget and bought new carpet for the parsonage without anybody knowing it, and that was a very lie.

It was only $500, that's all it was. But I've been called everything just to be called. I do not know of anybody that's cussed any more than I'm cussed. And I've gotten to the place to where nothing hurts me except one thing.

And I hope I can get over that. But oftentimes, see, I try to put the jelly on the bottom shelf where the smallest child can reach it. I try to make it so simple that, I don't care if it's the deepest doctrine in the Bible, I can almost make sacrilegious the doctrine of justification by acting it out.

And I want everybody to understand what I say and what I teach. And occasionally across the country folks will say about me, well, Hiles, he has a lot of converts, but he's shallow. Now, that hurts. That hurts.

I promise you I'll get over it. But I don't mean to get mad at them. I just want my people to know the Bible. And I've tried to transfer the Bible knowledge to you in these years. I was thinking, this morning I got up and I took a drive.

I do not recall the last time I took a drive on a Sunday morning. But I took a drive this morning. I passed by your house, as many of you, and drove by and prayed for you. Drove out to Baptist City and prayed the blessings of God upon those who teach in that place.

Drove up and down in front of your houses, many of you. Stopped in front of some of your houses. Prayed for God to wake you up in time to get to your Sunday school. But I drove around this morning and I prayed for you and relived some sweet, sweet memories.

Hosea’s Cords of Correction

I've been thinking this week about a precious verse that I used as our text this morning for the kids. The Lord is speaking through Hosea to his people Israel. And he takes, I think, maybe he may have even taken or had Hosea take a whip, some cords.

Why, you've whipped a horse, haven't you? Have you ever lashed a horse? Now raise your hand, please, you cruel people. And the young lady sat up down here. What do I have to say on the front? Sit up straight now.

And listen to what I have to say. Nobody snoozes here for very long. Deacons do some, but we wake them up before long. And so the writer of Hosea, Hosea's saying of it, as the Holy Spirit inspires him, he sings to the Israelites.

He sings, I have whipped you. He took some cords and he used those cords as a whip. And he said, I have used these cords to whip you, to make you go and to get you right, and to make you move for God and make you confess your sins and get back in the will of God.

He said, I have whipped you. And I have whipped you in these 13 years. I beat the fire out of some of you. I spanked you. Some of you folks have walked, somebody last week, no, several weeks ago, brought me some corn by the office.

And they gave me some corn. And I said, thank you. They said, it's just the debt I owe you. I said, what do you mean? They said, you've been giving it to me for 13 years. I was a puppet. That's how, I've got to pastor people like that.

I mean, and smart alecks. But I've whipped you. I have. There are people in this house this morning who have gotten so mad at me after a sermon they've gone home. And they've said, I'll never go back.

I'll never go back. But the dear Lord brought you back. One man came to my office not long ago. He walked in. He said, Preacher, I'm mad. I'm mad. He said, I'd leave the church, but I can't. I said, why?

Well, he said, why I'm mad or why wouldn't I leave? I said, why are you mad? He told me. I said, I'm mad. He said, I'm mad at you. I'd leave. But I can't. I said, why can't you? He said, because you're the only hope my kids have got.

I've got to stay. He said, you love my kids. And you scold my kids. And you spank my kids. And you're trying to make something out of my kids. And I have. And I will. And I'll continue to spank you. Every time I hear one of you drinking a bottle of beer, I'm going to get the whip out of him, lash him back and say, get out of that kind of garbage.

You're a Christian. Every time I see you young folks, you young fellas, your hair getting down to your neck and you look like a worldly bunch of communist hippies, I'm going to get out the whip and I'm going to lash you back and say, look like Christians.

Every time I hear you use the world's lingo or the world of music, the dirty rock music crowd, I'm going to get the whip out and I'm going to lash you back and say, talk like Christians and sing like Christians, all the same.

And I've taken the cords and I've smitten you across the back in these 13 years. But there's something else found in this passage. I have read it and studied it and I think there's a lot here. I think that the writer is saying, I've taken the whip and I have lashed you across the back.

But then after that, I've taken the same cords, the same cords. I've tied them to the muzzle. You've seen a muzzle on a horse. I've tied them to the muzzle. And I've taken the same whip that I used to lash you with a while ago and I've tied that to the muzzle.

I'm going to pull you. I'm going to jerk you. I'm going to try to get you to get right with God. I couldn't hook you back to God. I'm going to jerk you back to God. I couldn't chasten you back to God.

I'm going to pull you back to God. I'm using the same whip. That's what the writer is saying here. I took the whip and I lashed you with it. The cords and I lashed you with it. And that wouldn't do. So I took the same cords and tied it to the muzzle.

I tried to jerk you to God. I said to the kids this morning. There are a dozen kids and there are two or three or four out here in this room this morning I'm worried sick about. Worried sick about you.

Some of you boys around 20, 21, 22, you think it's smart to drink now. You think it's smart to smoke. You think it's manly to go to the taverns while you're the biggest sissy in this building. You coward you.

You traitor you. You saved with the blood of Jesus Christ. God made you his child. Jesus died for you. And you frequent the low base places of hell. What kind of gratitude is that? So I'll continue. One lady said.

She called me this last week. No joke. Week before last. No joke. She said. Reverend Hiles. She said. I left your church years ago and went to another church. But she said. Our child. Teenage child. Is in serious trouble now.

Could you help me? I won't say it. But maybe the child wouldn't have been in serious trouble if she had stayed where somebody had lashed the child every once in a while. And pulled the child. And preached to the child.

And scolded the child. And I asked her. I said. Why did you leave? She said. Well I. Don't take this personal. She said. I like you. Alright. I don't agree with you on everything. But she said. I can't stand that.

And I said. Me? I said to her very kindly. And I said it kind enough to where I don't think she was offended. I said. Dear lady. It's not my hollering that bothers you. It's what I hollered that really bothered you the most.

If I had hollered. We're going to have a dance in the basement tonight after service. You'd like that. It's what I hollered. My conviction. And my stand. And only God knows in heaven how we need some preachers today.

Who love their people enough to take the cords of love. And lash their backs when they're in sin. When the deacons go astray. Lash their backs. When the sinners of the world go astray. Lash their backs.

And then if that won't work. Get the cord and tie it onto the muzzle. And pull. And say. Come on. Do God's will. Come on and get out of sin. Come on and live for God. But then. There's a beautiful part here this morning that I want to chat with you about in a minute.

Discipline, Burden, and the Bands of Love

It says. I took the cords and I whipped you with them. And then after I did that. I took the cords and tied them to the muzzle. And I pulled you with them. But he said after I did that. I took the cords.

Tied them to the muzzle. And lifted the muzzle. And took your burden off of you. And let you lay down. And put some meat in front of you. And I fed you. You've seen a horse. Back in the days when I was a kid.

The Metzger's dairy and the Tennessee dairy down in Texas. Used to deliver milk. And they had horses to pull the milk. The milk in those days. You remember the old horses. And the horses. And my dad used to work for the Tennessee dairy years ago.

And time and time again. I've seen. In the heat of a Texas afternoon. A hundred and five degrees in the shade. And I've seen those horses. After a hard day of pulling the truck. And pulling the milk all over town.

I've seen some kindly. Milkman. Stop his horses out the edge of town. And lift off the muzzle. And let the horse just relax a while. Without the burden. Without the load. And place something for the horse to eat.

Beneath his mouth. And the weary horse. After pulling the load. All day long. The Texas heat. Found some respite. And some rest. And some relaxation. And soon. He took his load up again. And this morning.

I'd like to say. To you. I whipped you. I pulled you. This morning I'd like to lift the muzzle. A little bit. And I'd like to. Make love to you. Every once in a while. By the way. Don't enjoy it too much.

I'll be mean again tonight. I'm going to be sweet this morning. So enjoy. Get your tape recorders. Buy the tape this morning. You may never hear this again. Yes you will. And you have. I said to the teenagers this morning.

There are three words that we don't use enough. Oh we carve them on trees. Between a heart. Or inside a heart. Or write them on our notebooks. But we don't use them enough to those that mean the most to us.

And I'd like to leave these three words with you this morning. I'd like to lift your muzzle. You've got burdens and heartaches and problems and sorrows. I'd like to lift your muzzle this morning. And just say.

I love you. I love you because you're my people. I've buried your dead. I've married your young. I've counseled with you in my study. God knows this is true. I've tried to work day and night. For you to have what you ought to have.

Loving a Large Congregation

I know there are disadvantages of belonging to a big church. I know that. There are advantages too by the way. And boys on the front, sit still while I'm preaching. I'll get the whip out. Son, look at me when I'm talking.

You sit still while I'm preaching. I had to get the whip out for a minute. Now I'll get it out again too. I have to. I know there are disadvantages of belonging to a big church. I thought last night, late at night.

I can't visit all of you folks. I can recall Brother Ray when I pastored a church. Had 19 members. I could visit everybody in the church every weekend. Try to get them to come to church. Every Saturday, I'd visit everybody in the church.

Get them all to come to church. Good night. I couldn't visit all of you every millennium. I know that. I know that many of you, a little later today. About 80 years of age. She happened to bump into me in the hall.

She said, oh Brother Hiles. Let me shake your hand. And I shook her hand. And great big old tears rolled down her cheeks. And she said, I never thought I'd get to shake your hand. Isn't that something?

But that's. I know the church is big. I know I can't visit all of your homes. I know I can't. I can't even bury all your dead. I can't even marry all your young folks. I marry all I can. Bury all I can.

I said last night. I said. I said. My people can't have the pastor in their home like some people can. And my people can't have a pastor to shake their hand as often as some people can. But I mean this when I say it.

And God knows I do. I know you have disadvantages. I know there are things that you'd have if you had a smaller church. By the way, there are 10 ,000 good things you have because you have a church like this.

But there's one thing. Nobody. I don't care who he is. He may be pastoring a little church on the deserts of Arizona. Or a little valley around at the bottom of some mountain in Colorado. He may be pastoring a little church on the plains of Kansas.

Or down in the swamps of Florida. I don't care who he is. He may have a small church or a handful. But nobody. Could love you any more than I do. I mean that. I was thinking this week. Bible school. Well I.

Tuesday morning. Silly Billy. Old timer. What a time we had. I put a pie right in the pussy. I've been wanting to do it for years. Whether he's Fuadini or Clark Kent. I've been wanting to do it all those years.

And put a pie right in his face. What a time we had. And we'd sing. And I said to the boys and girls. I said go home and ask your mom. If you can come to Bible school Sunday. And I said the first thing.

Say mama you sure look pretty today. Can I come to Sunday school Sunday. If that doesn't work. I said say mom. Can I help anywhere around the house. After you pick her up. After she's painted. Say can I go to Sunday school Sunday.

I said then if that doesn't work. Hook her. Go. And I said hold your breath. After you turn purple. That'll always work. I said that don't work. Get on your back. And kick your leg. Oh my. We have in Bible school.

At 1145 we said goodbye to the boys and girls. And at one o 'clock. I walked up to the pulpit here. Same pulpit. Same platform. There was a casket here. One of our fine men had gone to heaven. One of our finest families sat over here.

And I thought as I sat over here. Ready to speak. How much we go through together. As a pastor and people. How much we share. This week for example. Vacation Bible school. Funeral counseling. Yesterday afternoon at four o 'clock.

We had a wedding here. Beautiful wedding. Rick Sullivan and Debbie Burbridge. And Rick was a little dumb. I said I Rick Sullivan. He said I Rick Sullivan. And he said my wedded wife. I said to have and to hold.

And he forgot those words. Couldn't think of them. To have and to hold. To have and to hold. He said I. I said now would you place. David place the ring on the fingers left hand. She put the ring on his right hand.

And so forth. But she was a lovely bride. And I remembered as we stood here together. On the platform. And she gave herself away to Rick Sullivan. And her father was there. And she cried. And Mrs. Burbridge was heartbroken.

And we tried to say a few words of comfort. I love you because of all we've shared. Through these years. I love you because of all you've done for me. I thought this week. Somebody said an unkind thing about somebody.

In this room. And I got mad. I hardly ever get really mad. I mean I hardly ever get personally mad. And I got mad. And I had to for a few minutes. And I said you're not going to talk about him like that.

No you're not. No you're not. You're not. Now I said I'll forget it all. You know why I said it. Because so happens that fellow has stood for me. When a few folks that stand for me. And it so happens he's my brother in Christ.

And one of my family members of our church family here. I love you because of. What you've done for me. Twelve years ago this month. Twelve years ago this month. Many of you. Families are broken. Because you had confidence in Brother Hiles.

What we're trying to do here. Many of you saw part of your families leave. And leave the church. And you stayed. Why? Because you wanted to stand by your preacher. And this morning I'd like to just lift the load for a while.

And pull the muzzle up. And put some meat before you. And say I love you. You're my people. I love you because of what you've done for me. I love you because of all we've shared together. To me there's nothing like being a pastor.

I wouldn't. People often times say to me. I'll bet you're going to be an advisor someday. I'll say I hope not. I don't want to be. I want to be a pastor. Yesterday morning I got here. And I can't tell you everything.

But I got to the office yesterday morning. And the first appointment came. And it was a young fellow needing some help. And I tried to help him. And the next appointment. Door opened. He was six years of age.

One of our Sunday school girls. Seventeen. Went to Bill Wise French last year. She can't go this year. She would be a senior in high school. But she can't go to high school this year. She's three and a half months pregnant.

Pastoral Love for Those in Crisis

One of our kids. One of our own. Good kid. Sweet girl. Not a mean girl. Not a bad girl. Got the wrong crowd. I didn't kick her out. I told her I loved her. I told her I wanted to be her dad for the next six and a half months.

Five and a half months. I told her I wanted to see her every week in my study. I wanted her to know that I loved her. And that I was far. And I was going to help her. That young girl who ought to be on her way to the Bill Wise French this morning.

That young girl who has a perfect right to be in school. Because of the wicked hands of some vile, licentious creature. Who tried to seduce her. A little naive young seventeen year old girl. She's got five and a half months to spend somewhere.

Away from her mother. Away from her dad. She's got five and a half months to suffer with nobody. To suffer with her. To be sick at her stomach. Nobody wants to care. And then she's got to go to the hospital.

And she's got to bear a baby she'll never see. And she's got to take that baby in her own arms. And hand it to somebody else's arms. That she's never seen before. And then she's got a lifetime. To wonder where he is.

What does he look like? And who has him? And is he well? That's why I preach to you kids. That's why. That's why I get the whip out. That's why I lay the whip on. That's why I get the same cords and. That's why.

I stop occasionally like I do this morning. To say I love you. I want the best for you. Oh we found a home for the baby. And we laughed a bit. But our kids. One of our girls in the church here. And they came and they keep coming.

And last night they came again. I went to bed last night. Oh I said dear God. Bless this one. And this one. They're my people. Look Chuck. People often say I'm in trouble. The preacher's going to kill me.

No I'm not. I'm going to kill you before you go in trouble. But once you get in trouble. I'm not going to kill you. Not at all. Somebody says I hate to face the preacher. I've done something wrong. Bad wrong.

I hate to face the preacher. No don't hate to face the preacher. Hate to face him before you do it. I paint sin black and dirty and rotten. As the devil who made it. And I'm going to try to warn you. And say kids don't do it with sin.

Then when you've tampered with it. Satan has caused you to stumble. And you've come and you need help. The same lips that scolded you. And tried to warn you. And tried to love you and try to help you.

I'm going to pick up the muzzle. I'm going to put some meat in front of you. And I'm going to say God bless you. You're my people. This morning in this room. I'm 28. Nobody knows this but me. She had a baby.

Nobody knows it but me. And this young lady. She's here this morning. She's one of the finest girls we have in our church. Young ladies. Fine young lady. I never think about it. She's to me just as spotless as anybody in this room.

But there was a day when. I helped replace the little baby. She's here this morning. The other day I was down in Texas. Preaching about two weeks ago. Up walked a little boy. Nine years old. Cutest kid you ever saw.

And a blonde headed kid. Nice looking guy. He said do you know who I am? I said did I help you find. Did I help you find a mommy and a daddy? He said yes sir. His mommy and daddy came up over to St. Catharines Hospital.

I saw a little lady come out of the hospital. And place her baby in the hands of that lady from Texas. I'm simply saying. We've been through a lot together. You're my people. You're my people. And after these 13 years.

God knows I've taken the same cords. And I've whacked your back. And I've taken the same cords. And I've pulled you from the front. And I've taken the same cords. And I've lifted the muzzle. And tried to put meat in front of you.

I want the best for you. God knows I do. I want the best for every one of you. You boys on the front. You wonder why I point at you and say sit still. I've told you enough to make you want to listen to Him.

Make you want to turn out right. For good and for God. This morning I drove down the highway. I thought the kids were going to travel. I said Lord I can't drive all the way to Murfreesboro. And pray protection for the kids all the way.

But I'm going to drive a ways. I drove a ways down the highway. And I said Lord. All the way down now. All the way down. Take care of our kids. All the way. Take care of them. Why? I love them. Little snotty nosed rats.

I still love them. They're mine. They're my people. And so I come this morning and say serve God. What? And if I can't get you to serve God one way. I'll lash you back and say serve God. And if that won't work.

I'll use the same cords and pull you and say serve God. And if that won't work. I'll use the same cords and pull up your muzzle. And stroke you and feed you. And say I love you. And turn just for a moment to you unsaved folks this morning.

Hell, Heaven, and Loving People to Christ

If I could paint hell as awful as it is. I would. If I could remind you of the awfulness of hell. The torments of the unredeemed. I believe in hell. I believe that folks who die without God. Burn forever and ever.

And if I could this morning. Go to hell and come back and tell you. The awful torments of the unredeemed. Forever and ever and ever and ever. Screaming and crying and begging for mercy. And begging for water.

And burning in the fires of torments. Without good or without God forever. I would. I'll take those same cords though. And try to pull you. As I would tell you about a city which has foundations. Whose builder and ruler is God.

For the streets are paved with gold. And the gates are made of pure pearl. For nobody shall ever enter. Who has cancer. And no one shall ever have tuberculosis. And no one shall ever die. For no cemetery shall ever spot the horizon.

Where no tears are ever dropped on stained handkerchiefs. Where no shoulders ever bend. And no backs ever stoop. And no arthritis is ever felt. And no wrinkles ever furrow the brow. And where nobody shall ever say I don't feel good.

And where no doctors can make a living. And where nobody shall need an undertaker. And where nobody will ever see sin. And where no hippies will run down the street. Defaming the flag of the gospel of the Bible.

A place where there will be no cancer. A place where nobody will die. And little boys and girls will say mommy I don't feel good. And the doctor will come out and say your child has leukemia. A place where nobody will ever suffer again.

A place where no sin shall enter. A place where no liquor shall be found. A place where no dope shall be found. A place where Jesus is forever and ever. If I could pull you to Christ. By telling you how wonderful heaven is.

I'd do it. If I could scare you to go to heaven. If I could scare you into being saved. By reminding you of the wrath of God. If I could get you to be saved because of the city. That he's building for us today.

I'd do that. But sometimes I have to come to you. I have to love you to Christ. I was driving on Willow Court. Two blocks over here one Friday afternoon. House soul winning. Suddenly I got burdened for a man that lived out on the south side.

About the 7500 block south. And I just got overwhelmed for him. I had to see him saved. I turned around off Willow Court. Went down to Calumet Street. Drove down to 173rd. Turn right. And I forget exactly where the house was.

The man worked. That day he was home sick. I didn't know he'd be there. But I was put burdened for him. Crying all the way. I knocked on his door. Man nobody could reach. I tried to win him. Every pastor I've ever been here tried to win him.

I told him how to be saved. He said no. I begged him. He said no. I didn't know what to do. I cried. He said no. I said please. God burdened my heart for you to see you saved. Please I beg you to receive Christ.

He said no. I turned. Said goodbye kindly. Walked out to the car. Got almost to the car. Forgot to weep enough. And I fell at his feet. In his front door. Front door. And I put my arms around his ankles.

And kissed his feet. And I said you've got to get saved before I go. He said you love me don't you. I said yes I do. We bowed and he received Christ before I left. I tried to whip. It works on some. I tried the lashing.

It works on some. I tried the pulling. It works on some. But for him nothing would do but pulling up the muzzle. Taking off the load. Relaxing the tension. Putting meat at his face. This morning if you're not saved.

If the fires of hell won't bring you to Christ. Maybe the glories of heaven will. If the glories of heaven won't bring you to Christ. Couldn't you say with the apostle. The love of Christ constraineth us.

Come to Christ. You will never be sorry. That you did. May I leave you with these words. To my people. I love you. Heavenly father in a sweet way this morning. May the muzzle be lifted. May the muzzle be lifted.

People to eat the meat as the burden is. Relaxed for a moment. I pray that our people. Because of the love of Christ. Shall serve thee. Yes thou dost spank us. And that makes us want to serve thee. Thou dost pull us with the same cords.

And that makes us want to serve thee. But ah when you use the bands of love. The bands of love. And lift the muzzle. And place the meat before us. And say I love you. Oh we want to serve you more. And more.

And more. And more. Our heads are bowed in prayer. Our eyes are closed. This morning. Are you serving him? If I could take the whip this morning. And slash it across your back. And make you serve him.

I would. If I could take the same cords. And hook it up to your muzzle. And pull you. Even if it hurt some. Let the love of Christ make you want to serve him. Oh I've been singing that song lately. I will serve thee more and more.

I will love thee o 'er and o 'er. My my my. The love of Christ constraineth me. The love of Christ constraineth me. This morning. Why don't you dedicate yourself to serve him better. But wait a minute.

If you're not saved this morning. If you want me to. I'll put my arms around your ankles. If you want me to. I'll kiss your feet. If you want me to. I'll look up in your eyes and say please. Please. I beg you.

I'll do whatever is necessary. I want you to become a Christian. I want you to be saved. With every head bowed. And every eye closed now. Every eye closed. I wonder how many would say Brother Hiles. I do not know that if I died today.

I'd go to heaven. But I want to know would you pray for me. On the lower floor would you raise your hand. Let me pray for you. You don't know that you're saved. But you wish you did. You don't know that if you died today.

You'd go to heaven. But you wish you did. God bless you. I see your hand. God bless you. I see your hand. God bless you. I see your hand. Who else on the lower floor. You'd say pray for me. I'd like to be saved and know it.

Pray for me. God bless you on my right. I see that hand. Who else on the lower floor. God bless you down here on the front. God love you. Who else on the lower floor. Would you lift your hand please. The balcony on my left.

The east balcony. You'd say include me in the prayer. The center balcony. The balcony on my right. The south balcony. Would you raise your hand and say pray for me. I'd like to be saved and know it. May I see your hand.

Invitation to Salvation, Baptism, and Church Membership

Our heavenly father. These I guess a dozen or two on the lower floor. And three or four in the balcony. I pray for every one of them. Oh God today. May the bands of love lift up the muzzle. And may the tender compassion of provisions of Christ.

Help them to realize they need a savior. May they come to thee this morning in faith. Make it so. Make it so. Our heads are bowed. In a few moments we're going to sing that song. The choir is going to sing all to Jesus I surrender.

Leave your seat and come down the aisle and say yes to God. God loves you this morning. God loves you. Think about that. God loves you. My, my, my. What wonder, what wonder, what wonder. Leave your seat and come to Christ.

Wait a minute. How many of you have been saved but you've not been baptized since you got saved. Would you raise your hand all over the house please. Way up high, all over the building. You know you're saved but you've not yet been baptized.

All over the building. God bless you. Yes, thank you. You can lower your hands. Now this morning you come. We have the water. We baptize you before you go home. We have the robes and towels. All we need is a willing heart.

Come this morning and lead the way. And obey Christ in baptism. Then there are many who ought to join the church by transfer membership. I invite you to come. I'll meet you at the front. If you want to join the church by transfer.

If you want to be baptized. If you want to receive Christ and leave the building knowing you're saved. You come on the first stanza. Heavenly Father. We've tried to whip. We've tried to pull. We've tried to love.

May one of these reach everyone in this house who needs to come to thee. In Jesus name. Amen.