Full of Hope, Romans 15:13

Full of Hope

Romans 15:13, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Daughter Anna and Daughter Kellie, this is the last "daily" post for awhile. School is out, schedules change and life is about to change. Where it all leads, I do not know. But this I know, we serve a God who knows all and is already preparing our futures. He loves each of us and will guide us as we desire to love and serve him.

Anna, I pray that, as you take this trip to Guatemala, God moves on your heart and gives you a burden for the lost no matter what part of the world he places you. May he prepare you, may your heart be open, and may his grace be upon you and give you hope for what lies ahead.

Kellie, what can I say. I am losing track of you. In many ways grown up, yet still much to learn. Soon to be married. You will become the responsibility of your husband to lead and guide you in spiritual things. My responsibilities will cease, yet I will remain here for you, ~. May the power of the Holy Spirit live in your marriage and give you hope for the days that lie ahead.

Young ladies, honor the Lord with your lives. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace!

~Dad

Woe Wrap-up, Luke 11:37 - 54

Woe Wrap-up

Luke 11:40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?

Woe to you, calamity is coming... that was Jesus' message to the Pharisees. He had been accosted for not washing before the meal the Pharisees had invited him to. They did their ceremonial washing and looked clean, but he saw their hearts. They were a bunch of pretenders... they worked to appear righteous, but they had never been cleansed by God (Ps 51:7).

He is the synopsis of what Jesus saw and warned them about.

• Do more than just obey rules to look good. Show acts of kindness through fulfilling the needs of others
• Don't be showy, always trying for attention. Be humble.
• You think you are something special... nobody cares about you. (That's a tough one)
• Lead with kindness, you may be the boss, but be workable.
• When you fail to listen and obey God, you are like all those before you who killed the prophets. You will be judged by the same standard. Do what is right.
• You know the way to God, you must not keep others from it. Help others to God.

Ladies, God made that person you see in the mirror. It is proper to keep it cleaned, well groomed and in shape. So exercise, eat right, brush your teeth, and put on that deodorant. But, remember what Paul and Peter said

• 1 Timothy 4:8 ⁸For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
• 1 Peter 3:3 &4 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

As Jesus told the Pharisees, the inside is much more important than the outside. Take care of your soul, work to purify yourself. Eat the Word, then exercise your faith. Live out what you know is right. And leave the bad stuff behind - leave worldly pleasures alone. They will contaminate your inner being as well as your outer self. Yet, what you look like in the mirror is of little consequence. The mirror of your heart is God's word (James 1:23). Check yourself to see if you are in the faith (2 Cor 13:5). Pass the test and you will hear Christ differently than experts of the law. He will say to you... Well done, no calamity in site!

~Dad

Woe 6: Keys to Knowledge, Luke 11:53

Keys to Knowledge

Luke 11:53 Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were.

As Jesus ends his tirade on the Pharisees and experts in the law, he lets them know that they are a hindrance to the kingdom. Their pompous attitudes and false demeanor became an obstacle to the people to reaching out to God. Proverbs says that knowledge is from the Lord (Pr 2:6). When the Pharisees stole the keys to knowledge, what they really stole was the way to God. The ones who were to lead people to God were keeping the people from him.

The church, the people of God, hold the keys to the kingdom today. We have the responsibility to open doors that lead others to Christ. When we give this knowledge to others they will not see us but will see the one we hold up for all to gaze upon.

A and K, the Pharisees held the keys to heaven as you do now. They not only kept others out, they themselves would not enter the His rest (Hebrews 4:3). It makes me happy that both of you have enter his rest, but that is not enough. It is my prayer that each of you help others find his rest also. You hold the keys to the knowledge of Christ and his forgiveness and the new life that is possible in him. Open that door and let others in.

~Dad