Following the fourth Wiseman- The rarest of perfume

April 5, 2025 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

The strong fragrance of the perfume wafted from the booths as our traveler passed by. The scent was so strong it blotted out everything else. On a table he saw a beautifully handcrafted bottle and lifted the dropper. The scent was lovely.
The seller smiled at our traveler. “Do you like it? It is one of our rarest and most expensive blends.”
Our traveler nodded, “I have never met it’s equal. At its price though, in this area, you nust not sell many bottles.”
“That’s what you think.” The seller snorted, “Why, just the other day a young woman came and bought an entire bottle, just to wash a man’s feet.”
Our traveler was instantly interested, “a man’s feet you say? Do you know who?”
“Buy a bottle and I may tell you.” The seller countered.
“A small one then. Please, tell me what you know.”

John 12:1-8 ESV
[1] Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. [2] So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. [3] Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. [4] But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, [5] “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” [6] He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. [7] Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. [8] For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
The seller wrapped the perfume and handed it to our traveler. “It’s an odd tale isn’t it?” She asked as our traveler paid her.
“It would be, if I did not know the man for which this was done. I worry about what it might mean.”
“I doubt it means anything. The wealthy have odd tastes of amusement.”
“Perhaps.” Our traveler stated and walked away.

You and I know the significance of Mary washing Jesus’s feet with the perfume. She was symbolically preparing His body for His death to come. However, imagine being a person living nearby at the time. It would sound the eccentric act of a wealthy group of friends. Judas would certainly not have been the only one who scoffed at this. Yet Mary, who chose to listen at the feet of the Savior, and learn all He had to teach, somehow in her heart she knew something was going to happen and she chose to forsake her money, Enough for a man’s wages for a full year, and to wash the feet of her Savior with her hair. It was a gesture of full humility and love, and we can tell from what Jesus said that He was moved by her actions.
What are we willing to pour out at the feet of Jesus? Dreams? Desires? Needs? Wants? Hopes? Security? What is worth an entire year’s wages to us, that we are willing to pour out on the feet of Jesus?
The best part of it is that when we pour out our silly earthly trinkets, Jesus blesses us with His gifts. His gifts of peace and joy. These thing will only bring us pleasure for a day. Jesus will bring us hope for eternity.

Christianity · Devotional · dreams do come true · encouragement · free · guidance · Jesus · lent · Love · no longer lost · power of God · still fighting

Following the fourth Wiseman- dead man called by name

April 4, 2025 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Our traveler shivers as he stands at the door to the tomb. He looks in. Empty. Just as he had been told. He had heard that his Messiah had raised a man from the dead, but despite the prophecies, it was hard for him to believe. Yet, there it was, and empty tomb. This should have caused great joy among the people, and some were very happy, but others were angry and it worried our traveler.

” Who am I to worry?
What can they do to a man who can raise the dead?” Our traveler said to himself.

John 11:43-44 ESV
[43] When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” [44] The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

The death and resurrection of Lazarus is something that we all know, but we don’t always realize the significance behind it as a sign, one of the Main signs that nobody could fake. A sign that would prove that Jesus was the Christ was the raising of the dead, it had been prophesied that this would come to pass. The pharisees and the sadducees were trying to defame Jesus and claim that his miracles weren’t real and then all of a sudden, He raises the dead.
That was something they couldn’t argue with or disprove, it trrified them and made them very angry.
We have something in common with Lazarus. We too are people that Jesus loves and weeps over when we go astray.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, just as how Jesus raises us From the death of pur sins. He calls out our names, and then has us unbound, from our garments of the dead and braces us as we walk stumbling Into the daylight of the living. We have all been dead at one time. Maybe you still feel dead. Walk out to join the living. Go to Jesus when He calls you. He is ready to show you the light once again.

Christianity · Devotional · encouragement · free · guidance · Jesus · lent · Love · no longer lost · power of God · searching · still fighting · True Joy

Following the fourth Wiseman- The writing in the sand

April 1, 2025 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Our traveler is weary. He has walked so many days and sene and heard so many things that his brain can no longer comprehend. It has been so much study, so much wonder that he almost needs a rest. He stops walking, in front of him, sitting on the ground, is a woman. She looks up at him, tears flowing down her cheeks.
“Did you hear Him?” She asks.
“Hear who?” Our traveler replies.
“The teacher.” She runs her hand across etching in the sand.
Our traveler stands straight and looks around. The Messiah had been there. He must have just missed Him.
“What did He say?” Our traveler asks.
“Let me tell you.” The woman answers.

John 8:3-11 ESV
[3] The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst [4] they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. [5] Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” [6] This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. [7] And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” [8] And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. [9] But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. [10] Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” [11] She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]
Our traveler reaches down and throws aside every custom He knows. He takes the woman by the hand and lifts her to her feet. He gives her his hankerchief. She takes his hand nervously.
“I know what I am in the eyes of the people, and I do not say they are wrong, but….He, He gave me a chance to change. Who does that?”
Our traveler pats her hand like a dad patting the hand of a nervous child, “The Messiah does that.”
He smiles and walks away.

The writing in the sand. The woman whom no one could throw a stone at. Jesus. We all recall the account of one of Jesus’s most famous lines. “Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone.” Yet that is always where we stop. We don’t know what Jesus wrote. It’s frustrating that the deciples did not think to record it. What we know is that Jesus saw a woman who had sinned and was about to be killed. No chance for redemption. Yet, He offered her forgiveness and a second chance. This shows the difference between the law before Jesus came and the law after. Because much of the law is still relevant. However, before Christ law, said that this was sin and she was to be punished by death. After Christ law, said that she had sinned and was to be given an opportunity through the blood of Jesus to be forgiven. She had a chance to try again and this time to do better. Jesus said He did not condemn her and that she was to go and sin no more. Did she? We don’t know. She might have gone and went back to her old sinful life and then died without hope. Or she might have changed her life completely and become the woman God had meant her to be and then died with the promise of eternal life through Jesus’s forgiveness. Where she went after her meeting with Jesus we will never know. What we know is that Jesus saw someone who was broken by sin and He have her a chance to change. Just like He gives each of us a chance to change. He does not condone our sin, He gives us a chance to stop sinning and to become all we can be through Him.

Christianity · Devotional · dreams do come true · encouragement · free · guidance · Jesus · lent · Love · no longer lost

Following the fourth Wiseman- When the sea is stormy and the Messiah is walking on the waves

March 30, 2025 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

As he stood on the boat, following the disciples across the sea to the far shore, our traveler felt a gust of wind blow hard in his face. He looked up the sky. He was not a seafarer, yet after so many years of travel he could feel in his skin when a storm was coming. The wind began to grow. He looked at the other boats who had chosen to follow the disciples across the water. Some of them were turning back, others were strapping their gear down. This was going to be a bad one. Our traveler felt his heart sink a little as the captain of his boat began to turn the boat around and head back to shore. The waves began to grow and our traveler quickly strapped himself to a tether line. He looked back as a crack of lighting filled the sky with light. The disciples had not turned back. He was filled with concern as he saw the deeper water their boat was in begin to surge and throw them. He turned,
“Father! Your people are going to drown!” Our traveler shouted out as another wave hit his own boat and threw him to his knees. He clawed his way back up to the side of the boat where he could watch the disciples. Another crack of lightning. He shuddered. A figure had passed by on the waves. He was so close he could reach out and touch Him. The figure looked and smiled at our traveler as he went by. Our traveler gasped. It was Him.
“Messiah! Wait!” Our traveler screamed but his voice was lost in the wind. In desperation he called again. “REMEMBER ME!!”
He watched as his Messiah walked on the waves to His disciples. If only he had the courage to leave the boat and chase after Him. If only.

John 6:16-21 ESV
[16] When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, [17] got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. [18] The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. [19] When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. [20] But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” [21] Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
There will be times when we go ahead without Jesus and we lose sight of Him. The storms then come and we become afraid. Where is He in those storms? Walking across the waves toward you. Even when you walk away from Him, He is walking after you. Just because you left Him does not mean He has left you. He will chase you over the waves and will guide you safely to the shore.

Christianity · Devotional · encouragement · free · guidance · Jesus · lent · Love · no longer lost · power of God · Prayer · searching · still fighting · True Joy

Following the fourth Wiseman- A speck in the crowd

March 29, 2025 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

The word had hit the streets two days before. The man called Jesus was teaching on the hillside. Our traveler had been jostled and bumped through the crowds for hours. He was no longer the only one seeking the Messiah and it was almost a fight to even reach His destination.
Exhausted, dirty, and bruised our traveler finally reaches the hill where Jesus was speaking. He was joyful and discouraged to see that there were so many people he could not even count them all. There was no way he would reach the Messiah at this point. He was a speck in the crowd. Our traveler decided to sit down with the others and listen to what his King was saying. As time went on he began to feel hungry. He looked around and realized that he was not the only one. Then there was a shifting in the crowd, the deciples of Jesus were walking through, speaking to people. Next he saw a small boy stand and walk with the deciples toward Jesus. Later he learned what had happened.

John 6:1-13 ESV
[1] After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. [2] And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. [3] Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. [4] Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. [5] Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” [6] He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. [7] Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” [8] One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, [9] “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” [10] Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. [11] Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. [12] And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” [13] So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.

Our traveler sat with food in his hands that could only have been a gift from God. He wondered at it. He wondered at how he had been so blessed as to see these things and to hear the words of his King. The others had seen the child, the other Wisemen had given their gifts and had blessed Him and been blessed by His presence. Yet he, the one whom he had thought had missed out, was now seeing the miracles of the man who was God.

So often we feel we have missed our chance. Imagine always being so close to your desire and never reaching it? We leave our traveler in a crowd where he would be like a where’s Waldo picture, such a small part of something so big. Yet, even when we feel like we are just a spring inside the massive clock of life, Jesus still sees us. He still offers us His love. We can feel like we have missed our moment. Like God could not use us because we have fallen too far behind. But He has a purpose. We are never too far gone. He is always with us and someday we will see His reason.

Christianity · Devotional · encouragement · guidance · Jesus · lent · Love · no longer lost · power of God · Prayer · searching · still fighting

Following the fourth Wiseman- those who believe are truly free

March 27, 2025 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Our traveler is amazed as he ponders all the things the priests complained about the Messiah saying.

John 5:19-21, 24 ESV
[19] So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. [20] For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. [21] For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.
[24] Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
He had never heard such words before. Now we who believe have passed from death to life. It is so simple. All the sacrifices at the temple, vanished with the words the King spoke. He would free them from judgment by His own power. Our traveler stopped for a moment.

“But how? What sacrifice will take the place of all of these?”

We know that Jesus is God. Yet there were many back in Jesus’s time and there are still many now who want to claim otherwise. They say He was just a nice man, a prophet, a magician, a rebel, an outlaw. People are afraid of Jesus. His purity and complete love and forgiveness is so different from what this broken world shows and teaches that people don’t want to touch it. It scares them. Yet despite that Jesus keeps reaching out. Like a person reaching toward a dog that does not understand good intentions, Jesus relentlessly stretches towards us. Just like that dog we bite at His hand and run away. But because He loves us He chases after us. Paitent and determined. He is always reaching out, all you have to do is reach back.

Christianity · Devotional · dreams do come true · encouragement · free · guidance · Jesus · Love · no longer lost · power of God · Prayer · searching · still fighting

Following the fourth Wiseman- Even from a distance He is close to us

March 23, 2025 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

A young child bumps into our traveler on the street. He looks up, his eyes all lit with the joy of play and apologizes before running off. Our traveler smiles and begins to carry on his way when he hears two women speaking.

“It’s so wonderful to see him running like that again.” Says one woman.

“Yes. He’s such a nice boy. Polite and thoughtful. If he had not made it it would have crushed his family.” Replies the other.

“But how he lived is the amazing part. I heard that he was blessed by that man who is traveling and healing people.”

“Yes. And He did not even come to the house.”

Our traveler walks over to the two women and asks them if they would be willing to tell him what they had heard?

John 4:46-53 ESV
[46] So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. [47] When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. [48] So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” [49] The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” [50] Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. [51] As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. [52] So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” [53] The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.

Our traveler smiles, thanks the women and walks away. He has healed someone. He was not even close by and He healed this child. Our traveler shakes his head, he is always so close and yet still he can’t seem to catch up to the Messiah.

We think that Jesus has to be physically present to preform miracles. We feel at times that if we do not feel Him close by He is not there to help us. But that is never true. Jesus is as close as the mention of His name. We do not have to lay hands on a person for our prayers to make a difference, because Jesus is with all of us, always. Jesus loves us. He can heal and save even if we are not near the person we are praying for, and even if we do not feel His presence, He is always right here! What a savior He is.

Christianity · encouragement · free · guidance · Jesus · Love · no longer lost · power of God · Prayer · searching · still fighting · The Bible · True Joy

Following the fourth Wiseman- the well

March 22, 2025 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Our traveler sits on the edge of a well, wiping cool water across his face. He drinks from the well and then gives water to his camel who drinks deeply from the water satchel that the man holds. Suddenly a woman comes up to him and shakes his arm. In horror he almost drops the satchel. People in these parts were dangerous to his people, even the women could be a threat.

“W-what is it you want?” Our traveler stutters.

The woman, her face filled with a glow states excitedly. “Have you yet heard of the man? He told me everything I ever did!”

Intrigued and with a suspicion of who the man might be, our traveler asks her to tell her story.

John 4:7, 9-10, 14, 32, 34-35 ESV
[7] A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”
[9] The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) [10] Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
[14] but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

She shuddered with excitement and continued, saying, “so I ran to the village and told all the people.”

John 4:29 ESV
[29] “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”

“Can you believe that!?!”

Our traveler smiles, “oh yes. I can believe it. Which way did He go?”

The woman points and our traveler takes his camel’s halter and leads him once again in the footsteps of the Messiah.

Can you imagine? It’s a typical day. You go to draw water like every day. There’s a man there, but that’s not strange. Suddenly He speaks to you. A person of low social standing and of a part of the country that is hostile with His part of the country. Not only does He speak, but He speaks in riddles. You’re confused, possibly irritable and then you look into His eyes as He says John 4:26 ESV
[26] Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
You can see from the light and kindness in His eyes that He is not crazy or cruel and teasing. He’s telling you the truth. He is the one you have waited for. More than that. He has come to speak to you. A lowly and sinful woman from a people who have been told they are less, unwanted, unloved even by the master. (Not completely Unjustly, the Samaritans had been known to attack Jews when they came to their cities.) Now you stand face to face with the God you had been told would not love you. What does He say? I will give you living water. I am the Messiah you have waited for. He tells you that you are welcome to come and be part of His Kingdom. There we see Jesus. Reaching out to those who hated Him and were hated by others. There we see the haters and the hated change and be renewed as people who seek and love God. Drink of the living water and never thirst again.

Christianity · Devotional · encouragement · guidance · Jesus · lent · Love · no longer lost · power of God · searching · still fighting · The Bible · True Joy

Following the fourth Wiseman- John 3:16

March 21, 2025 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

We find Our traveler sitting on the beach today. His eyes are looking at the clear water and the way the breeze moves it, but they are not focused on that. His mind has full control over him, he has heard words from His Messiah through a passerby. The words were nothing he had ever experienced before, and he now can do nothing but sit and think on them.

John 3:16-21 ESV
[16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. [19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. [20] For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. [21] But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

What was your first thought when you read this verse for the very first time? For God so loved the world. He have us Jesus. We wouldn’t give our place in a Tim’s lineup to people, and God gave us who are so unworthy, His Son. He sent Jesus to save the world. God knew what Jesus had to say would be hard to swallow. He know that people would feel like they were being condemned to death by how narrow the path is, so Jesus reminded us that He came to save the world. He is the light. Yes, the path is narrow, but it is possible for those who know and love Jesus. Run to the Light. Run toward Jesus. This verse, John 3:16-21 is the whole gospel in a nut shell. Jesus came to save us because He loves us and we weren’t making it on our own. He came to be a light to show us the way. The only way to Heaven is by knowing and loving Jesus. Those who love their sin will hate Jesus and will hate those who love Him. But Jesus will continue to shine bright, so even those who once hated Him can come to love Him. Those who love Him, walk in light.
We quote John 3:16 to the place where it’s almost over used. Non Christians quote it as a joke. Athletes put it on their jerseys (which is wonderful). It’s written in the air by sky writers during big events. We hear it all the time. But do we take it in? How do we feel? How did you feel when you first read this verse? Do you still feel like that? Our traveler is lost in his thoughts of overwhelm because of the mesmerizing words. Do these words still overwhelm us? Or have we forgotten how precious they are?

Christianity · Devotional · encouragement · guidance · Jesus · Love · no longer lost · power of God · Prayer · searching · still fighting · The Bible · True Joy

Following the fourth Wiseman- the wedding

March 18, 2025 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

We find Our traveler sitting down at a small outdoor food stall. He sips his water and tears at his bread, but his ears are alert! Something has been on the air. A buzz of some sort of gossip. He has heard small bits and peices but has yet to hear the whole tale. Yet, he knows in his bones that the word that is being spread is about his Messiah. A small boy stumbles past and our traveler reaches out to catch his arm.

“Whose house do you serve in child?” Our Traveler asks.

The boy looks carefully at the stranger and sees he has gentle eyes. “I serve the bread maker sir.”

Our traveler smiles, “is there any chance you were at the wedding that happened recently?”

The boy pulls away, “my master forbids me to speak of it.”

Our traveler is confused, “but why? I heard something wonderful happened.”

The boy grins, “wonderful and mysterious.” He looks around, “there…was a miracle.”

Our traveler leans closer to the child and drops his voice, “really?”

“Yes. Not just any miracle, but one like stories from the days of our ancestors. Let me tell you what I heard and saw.”

John 2:7-11 ESV
[7] Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. [8] And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. [9] When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom [10] and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” [11] This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Our traveler smiles, “do you know who the man was?”

The boy shakes his head, “One of the guests I suppose.”

Our traveler thanks the boy for his tale and gives him some money. As the child leaves our traveler whispers to him, “imagine, if that guest were someone great. Perhaps even, the Messiah.”

The boy looks at our traveler with a show of shock and then a smile creeps over his face, “yes. Imagine of he were.”

The feast at Cana was not really supposed to be the first sign. Jesus Himself says so. If you asked me I would say that the first sign was the fish overflowing the nets. However, the water turned to wine is considered the first sign. Jesus’s time was not yet, however His mother insisted He help when the risk of public ridicule loomed by the wine running out early. Jesus was pure, meaning He obeyed His human mother and showed His first public miracle. Many have tried to show how He might have done this. Many have found suggestions. Yet the truth is He turned water into wine by His authority over the earth. A true miracle. For those who want to claim it ws a trick, it would be nice if someone reminded them that no one expected the wine to run out and that Jesus would have to change the water. Even the greatest magician needs time and planning. This could not have been set up. Also, there were witnesses. Up close where they could see all that was happening, not in a crowded room from down in the bleachers wher you cant really see what is being done. There was no chance for slight of hand. This was a miracle. No matter what people say. Jesus began His signs and wonders with this insignificant problem. Which reminds us of how loved we are. Even when we run out of drink at a wedding Jesus cares enough to provide.