Let them gossip about me and harass me and tell falsehoods about me. I will not deny you, Lord God of the universe. Let them cheat me, beat me, threaten me. I will not deny you, Lord God of all that exists.  Let them imprison me and execute me. I will not deny you. How can I? You are my heart, you are my soul, you are my being. Oh, for the privilege of dying for you. Let my death have meaning. Do not give me a peaceful moment in which to die.

Father, what I just told you. Help me keep my promise. May the promise I just gave you be what will happen, not just a wish. I know, I know. I am certainly not going to die for you sitting here in the comfort of my home. What I just said is easy to say. You know my heart. Strengthen my heart. Somehow.

Thank you, Jesus, God materialized. Other religions cannot fathom that. Either their god is too far above mankind to do such a lowly thing, or their god made us and went on his merry way without another thought, another care. When I think about your glorious body that can appear and disappear at will, that can walk on water, that can go through walls, that can rise to the clouds, and know you are going to give me a glorious body like yours in heaven, well, I am flabbergasted. More amazing is that you care about me at all. You have made so many promises I cannot count them. Your blessings are beyond comprehension. How I delight in you and bow before you in gratitude.