Greetings, Samara
Obviously, I’ve been off for a few days. Some people think I’m off all the time. Anyway, I just returned last evening from Eastern Washington where I worked at my brother’s place to trim some of their big maple trees. I just finished up yesterday morning. My brother and I took off on Tuesday and did some serious skiing at Mission Ridge up by Wenatchee. We had a great time. But it sure was cold, feeling colder than it was due to the high winds.
Anyway, hope you’re doing well—enjoying your Winter Break from school.
Did you get my text that I sent Monday morning?
We may take Kaden and Nicholas up to the snow today. The plan is not yet set. (Actually, I did take the boys up into the snow in the hills above Colton. They had a lot of fun.)
Have a good day—being wise. (With me sending this so late, I guess the day is now behind you. So how did it go?)
Love, Tua.
What do you suppose the Bible means when it uses the word “fear”—as in, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom”? I believe it has to be related to respect, desire to please, and worry about not pleasing. If that is a valid view, it only makes sense that “Fear of man will prove to be a snare.” Why? Because wanting to please people as a priority objective in life cannot coexist with wanting to please God—you can’t do both at once—any more than a person can walk in two directions at the same time. Duh!
If we are to be kept safe and pleasing to our LORD along this road of life, to what degree are we to TRUST IN THE LORD? I think you know the right answer if you remember Proverbs 3:5-6. We are to trust in the LORD with ALL our hearts. Right? Half a heart won’t do. A quarter heart won’t do. Any other fraction won’t do. Any fraction of NOT LOVING GOD or NOT TRUSTING IN THE LORD will prove to be all the enemy needs to snare us, trip us, and harm us—even destroy us. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” That sounds like a really bad snare. Jesus goes on to say in the same verse—“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). That sounds like a much safer option.