𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞

“That the generation to come might know them, Even the children which should be born; Who should arise And declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:” Psalm 78:6, 7

𝐀𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧:

𝐓𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐝 - waiting time is not wasted time - it may be something God wants you to do, but now is not the right time - my daughter Victoria told me one day - “I’m not going to ask God for something that He is not ready to give me and I am not ready to receive” - “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11

𝐓𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥 - be willing and humble enough to have someone point out your strengths, weaknesses, blind spots - there is safety and wisdom in such - see the value of someone who loves God and you speaking truth into your life - avoid those who do not have God’s glory and your best interest at heart - “Where no counsel is, the people fall: But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14

𝐓𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 - honor the order God has established - take to heart the counsel of your parents, pastor, and teachers - see the value of their counsel and leadership in your life - honorable people honor others - “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:17

𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 - understand God’s great commission work through the local church in this age - get involved - grow in grace and knowledge - find your place of service and fulfill it - tell others about Christ and help advance the gospel - “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Corinthians 12:27

𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐲, 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 - don’t quit or walk away and leave people hanging - recognize people’s good faith toward you and the opportunities they trust you with - don’t underestimate that or take it for granted - Like Esau, the opportunity you despise today you will desire tomorrow - “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.” Hebrews 10:35

𝐓𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭 - “the easier you are to offend, the easier you are to control” - walking in the Spirit means being dead to self and governed/controlled by God’s Word - when you let people push your buttons, you give them control over you - your own family will ultimately pay the highest price because of how you made them vulnerable - not all silence is yellow and not all volume is golden - learn to discern when silence is strength and when volume is weakness - “He that hath no rule over his own spirit Is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” Proverbs 25:28

𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥 - cultivate a daily walk with God in prayer and Bible reading, and the attitude of gratitude - think more highly of others than yourself - “a defeat that makes you humble is better than a victory that makes you proud” - be there for others in season out of season, when it’s coming together and when it’s coming apart - be willing to suffer so others won’t have to - that’s true love - that’s Calvary love - “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

God bless our families and help us to train our children to bless others. Let’s commit to pray daily for one another this school year.

 Sincerely,