Be Humble, Proverbs 25:6

Be Humble

Proverbs 25:6 Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among great men.

It is easy to be proud. Pride is like sin, I am at its center. Man wanted to be like God and Satan deceived them (technically in 1 Timothy it say it was Eve who was deceived not Adam, 2:14) They decided to step up and sit next to God and rule their own lives. They knew how it was to be done, things would be much better if they would control their own destiny. Oh, how wrong they were!

Proverbs is full of admonitions telling us to flee pride and to live humbly. In this scenario a man seeks to be one of the important people. He wanted to cozy up to the boss, get in with the top dogs, he was going to prove how great he was. The next verse tells of the downfall of this mindset... if you try to exalt yourself you are in danger of being humiliated before everyone. It would be better and a more lasting recognition if you allow the leader to lift you up and present you before everyone as special.

K and A, it is totally fine to strive for leadership. Godly leaders in our world are rare and sorely needed. I believe each of you have qualities that will make you good leaders. I do not know to whom God is calling you, but if you remain faithful to him and his Word, he will guide you and you will lead others. Paul says that setting your heart on being a leader is a noble venture, (1 Timothy 3:1) worthy of the effort. So, be humble, learn and meditate on God's Word, and live in faith, love, and holiness with propriety (2:15), then others will recognize your abilities and place you among the great!

~Dad

Bless Your Enemy, Proverbs 24:17 & 18

Bless Your Enemy

Proverbs 24:17 & 18 Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.

How can you love an enemy? Isn't the very essence of an enemy someone who is against you, someone who desires your demise? This person hates you and wishes you ill. It is natural to despise them. When they attack, fighting back is normal. If we do not stand up for ourselves who will?!

But this is contrary to the way of Christ. Christ says that we must love our enemy, to do good to those that hate us (Luke 6:27). That may be true, but how far must we take this loving? Sure, we shouldn't lash out, but wouldn't it be okay to take pleasure in what God is doing. He's the one who said it for him to avenge (Deut 32:35), so he is the one who is punishing them. I'm just agreeing with him.

K and A, when God is punishing others, he is doing it to draw them back to himself. He does not do it out of spite or with any evil motives. He desires all to come to him and be made right and pure (1 Tim 2:4). Therefore daughters, When your enemy trips and falls, do not rejoice and say... you got what you deserve. Instead, lift them up. God may be trying to use you to reach their souls and bring them home. After all, you would be in the same condition, if God had not sent someone to you. Desire the best for others, especially your enemy.

~Dad

New Beginnings Genesis 8:15 & 16

New Beginnings

Genesis 8:15 & 16 Then God said to Noah, "Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives."

The last time I wrote to you daughters was at the end of the school year. You, Anna, had not taken your cross-cultural trip to Guatemala and you, Kellie, had not taken the big step down the isle into marriage. Life was soooo different...

For Noah and his family life started anew. For over a year, Noah and his family lived on the ark taking care of God's creation that he had brought to them. It must have been an arduous task, an unbelievable adventure that will never be repeated. they had complete reliance on God and their faith in his provision and protect was proven true. A new life was beginning and continued faith would carry them through.

Young ladies, although you two walk vastly different paths in life, one in her junior year of college and the other as a married young lady, I pray that you have the same goal in mind; faithfully trusting God for his provision and protection. He will see you through the new adventures you encounter as you maintain faith in him. He is more than able to supply you needs. In fact he gives out of his glorious riches (Phil 4:19). He has much more than we can fathom and will bless you abundantly as  you remain steadfast to him. He also will protect you. You know the verse... God will not give you more than you can bear... although this is not a quote and most often it is used for pressures of life and I think that is a fair extension of God grace, this verse, found in 1 Corinthians 10:1, deals with temptations. Anna just because you go to a Christian college and Kellie just because you are married, do not be foolish. Satan and temptation is real. In fact, unless you constantly and continuously put yourselves under the control of the Holy Spirit, you carnal, or fleshly, or even natural desires can and will rule in your life and you will fall to temptation. But, look for the way our for God has promised to not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear and will provide the way out and you will find it if you look for it!

If we return to the story of Noah for a moment we see that this pristine land didn't even last one generation. Ham looked upon his fathers nakedness as his father lay drunk and his descendants were cursed forever! Sin is real but it is overcome when we confess our sin and then yield our lives to the control of the Holy Spirit. Memorize and meditate on Romans 6:1-14. Then read Romans 7. After this read and meditate on Romans 8:1-14.

Daughters, Victory over the self and worldly pleasures are possible when you yield not to temptation but to the Spirit! God will carry you through as you each begin your new walk in life.

Yield Not to Temptation Hymn