November / December Issue 2006
"O, The Deep Deep Love of Jesus!"

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Our Staff...

Laura Beth Wagenschutz, Editor
Gina Allison, Columnist
Hannah Brown, Columnist
Juli Whilhite, Columnist
Rebekah Wark, Columnist
Kristina Jossund, Columnist
Johanna Spangenberg, Columnist
Ruby Wagenschutz, Columnist
Ev. Benjamin Jossund, Columnist
Pastor Mark Wagenschutz, Columnist

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Greetings from the Editor...

Greetings, Ladies! I pray this issue finds each of you happy and healthy. Winter is always a season of frivolity and fun, but also of the flu (among other illnesses)! Hopefully, none of you have come down sick. If you have, I suggest you curl up with a nice, hot cup of tea or coffee or cocoa (whatever you prefer) and take your time reading this issue . . . in fact, I suggest you do that even if you're not sick! The Lord has brought this issue together very nicely and I know you will be able to find some little nugget in each article - I did!

Before we get very far off track, I would like to share for a moment some things I've been studying out in my devotions. Okay?

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Heart-Felt Hypocrisy

I would like to talk today about the very heart-pricking subject of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is not a pleasant subject in any form of the word, but it needs to be looked at and discussed in order to warn us of our own hypocrisy. That's right! OUR OWN HYPOCRISY! Each of us are guilty at some point in our lives of hypocrisy, whether we recognize it as such or not.

I have divided this study into three simple categories to help us find our own place in it.

I. The Hypocrite in Guidance

Luke 6: 41, 42, "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to they brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye."

Being a pastor's daughter, I have seen all different kinds of people. I have seen those that others go to for guidance and direction (AKA: Counciling). Sometimes, these Councilors are very wise, very spiritual people. Other times, I have seen that those Councilors seem very wise and very spiritual to most, but are not actually wise and spiritual. Should these people be counseling others? Should they be going to people, seemingly in a very humble way, pointing out problems and shortcomings in the other person's life? No! But they do.

Now, not everyone is fooled by their supposed spirituality, but a lot of Christians are. And, I believe, the "Councilor" himself sometimes believes that he is super-spiritual. He is self-deceived! He has pretended to be "Alpha-Christian" for so long, that he has begun to believe that he is. This kind of person needs to realize what has happened, and is happening, and seek the Lord's guidance and direction in their life in order to be qualified to give proper guidance and direction to others.

Proverb 11:9, "An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered."

II. The Hypocrite in Companionship

Friends are a wonderful thing to have. If you have even one friend, you should consider yourself blessed - especially if that friend is one whom you can trust. There are many kinds of friends that each of us encounters throughout life, hopefully we ourselves will only be the best kind of friend, but the two main kinds we find are, I believe, as follows:

A. The Friendly Friend

The Friendly Friend is that friend who seems to be friendly "to your face", but really only thinks of themself. The Friendly Friend is one who whispers behind closed doors and spreads tales of those who believe them to be friends. This is the most hurtful kind of "friend" to come across in life. The Friendly Friend can do the most damage to one. I pray that each of you will be able to recognize this kind of "friend" and refrain from any close relationship with them. I am not saying, "Don't speak to this kind of person." I am simply saying that we should not become close friends, sharing personal things with them that we do not want everyone to know.

Proverb 16:28, "A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends."

Proverb 17:9, "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends."

B. The Faithful Friend

The Faithful Friend is the best kind of friend to have throughout your life. This friend will stand by you through "thick and thin". This is the friend who will "cover a transgression", seeking love, not enmity. The Faithful Friend will forgive you when you do something wrong, or hurtful. The Faithful Friend is one you can share anything with, and be confident that it will stay between the two of you. You need not be worried a Faithful Friend will spread rumors or share your "inner-most" thoughts and feelings with anyone willing to listen. The Ultimate Faithful Friend, of course, is Jesus Christ.

John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Proverb 18:24, "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

Job 16:20, "My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God."

III. The Hypocrite in Service

Matthew 23:25, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess."

The Pharisees and scribes in the verse above are being rebuked by Jesus Christ for doing all the right things, for saying all the right things, but not really being pure and holy on the inside. They were in the service of the Lord, but for all the wrong reasons! Everything the scribes and Pharisees did was for the praise of men, not the glory of God.

Luke 18:10 - 14, "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

I believe more people are guilty of "Hypocrisy in Service" than we realize. We stay very busy doing things for others, but what is our motivation? Are we doing it "just to help others"? Or are we doing it to get the praise of men? Are we doing it to bring glory to God? Or are we doing it so others will think highly of us?

One way to test yourself and see on which side of this coin you land is to ask yourself this question: Am I doing for others what I would gladly do for my family? Or: Do I willingly do what others ask and complain when my family asks me to do something for them and no one else is there to see it?

It has been said that the people we are most comfortable with (our families) know our true character. They see us when there is no one around to "impress". They see our worst side. This should not be the case, but it is! It should be that, those with whom we are the closest, receive more attention and help from us than those "outside". How are you at home? What is your testimony among your family? What do your parents have to say about you? Do you have your siblings' respect, or their disdain?

Job 27:8, "For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?"

Welcome to our New Subscribers...

We would like to say "Welcome" to our newest subscribers :
Miss Bethany, Miss Anna, Miss Stacy Ryan, and Miss Emily H.
Welcome, Ladies! We pray we can be a blessing to each of you as you read what the Lord has laid on our hearts.

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The Hope Chest of Proverb 31...

By: Miss Gina Allison

God’s Glorious Gem

“Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”

Proverbs 31:30

We live in a world where beauty and fame is sought by every man and woman. We want to be loved and accepted, it’s a natural hunger in our hearts. But favor or popularity comes and goes with the fickleness of the audience. And outward beauty fades with age. Our bodies grow old and youthful good looks disappear. And even in youth, few women believe themselves to be beautiful. We all look in the mirror and wish that something was different. Our hair color is too dull or too bright; our nose too long or too small; our mouth is too large, or our teeth crooked. We want to be shorter or taller, skinnier, or more filled out. Proverbs 31: 30 says, “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain…” These things have no eternal purpose. They are as dust blown away by the wind. Favor is not always as it appears to be, and physical beauty is empty and of no lasting value.

In the view of eternity it is only one person’s opinion which matters- God’s opinion. I Peter 3, verse 3 and 4 give us God’s opinion. “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” God looks on the heart, he sees the beauty (or ugliness) inside. When God looks at you does he see beauty or does he see ugliness? “A gentle and quiet spirit is precious to God- very valuable in his spirit such virtue is priceless.” (John MacArthur Jr.)

You cannot change your outward appearance, not your physical features (except through drastic measures). In the “Art of an Attractive Appearance” we talked about the importance of maintaining a pleasing outside to be a faithful testimony of Christ. Now I want to focus on the even more important subject of inner beauty. As Psalm 45:13 says, “The king’s daughter is all glorious within…” Dear Christian young lady, you are the daughter of the King of the Universe. God wants you to be his glorious gem. I like to compare a woman’s inner beauty to that of an amethyst.

· They are all various shades of purple. We as humans are all of one blood, no matter the “shade” of our skin.

· They come in many different shaped and sizes. We women all are born with different physical appearances.

· They are found all over the world, not in one central location. Not only do womankind populate the earth, but your location is not an excuse for not possessing or hiding your inner beauty.

· The rocks must be broken to see the beauty inside. Many times it takes a “breaking” in the life of a woman or young woman for her true inner beauty to be beheld by those around.

· If you look at an amethyst geode, the outside is still the rough rock, gray and hardly attractive to the eye. Our physical bodies are flawed and few women are beauty queens by man’s definition.

· The amethyst is the most prized form of quartz, for what is on the inside. The gems are valuable, not the outside rock incasing the beauty. Your inner beauty is valuable to God, and to the godly young man who will chose you as his wife.

So what is inner beauty anyway?

The inner beauty a young woman should posses all those character qualities we have been studying throughout each of the Hope chest of Proverbs 31 articles. These qualities are:

Initiative is doing something before you are asked to do it.
Diligence is applying energy and concentration to an assigned task, something expected of you.
Determination is giving whatever is necessary to complete a task, and reducing a seemingly impossible task to achievable goals.
Thriftiness is making the most with the resources available and not encouraging you or others to spend more than necessary.
Orderliness is learning to organize and care for personal possessions and also having a regular pattern of behavior.
Discipline is controlled behavior resulting from personal training expected to produce a certain pattern or character.
Resourcefulness is seeing value in objects, ideas, and people, repairing, reusing, and recycling, and making wise use of your time, talents, energy
Creativity is using your talents for good, seeing things from more than one perspective, and using principles to solve problems
Self-control is exercising restraint over my impulses, emotions, and desires, so that my thoughts, words, and actions are under the control of the Holy Spirit.
Endurance is maintaining commitment to a goal during times of pressure and keeping my focus on the objectives God has given me.
Compassion is using words and actions that will bring comfort and healing to those in physical, emotional, and spiritual need.
Generosity is recognizing that everything I have belongs to God and then learning how to be a wise steward of His time, money, and possessions.
Availability is being willing to offer myself at any time to meet the needs and demands of others.
Flexibility is being willing to set aside or arrange my plans and schedule to meet the needs of others.
Security is simply freedom from danger, fear, anxiety and want.
Contentment is freedom from care or discomfort because of satisfaction in present circumstances rather than fretting about the future or desiring something different or better.
Virtue is possessing personal moral standards, which will cause others to desire a more godly life.
Reverence is respect for the property of others and learning to care for our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Love is learning how to give to the basic needs of others without motive of personal reward.
Loyalty is adopting as your own the wishes and goals of those you love and learning to stand by them even when you feel they don’t deserve it.
Kindness is the quality of being warm-hearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic.
Wisdom is the use of knowledge in a practical and successful way.
Discernment is the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure or beneath the surface of a problem. It is the ability to evaluate people, problems, and things.
Responsibility is learning to assume the protection of that which was entrusted to you. It is the quality of being reliable and trust worthy.

Inner beauty consists of much more than being a woman of character. You can have all the “godliness” you want, but still be lacking in true inner beauty. See the rest of Proverbs 31:30 says, “… but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” Inner beauty begins with a right relationship with God, first in the area of salvation. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, then you can never be beautiful inside. Your heart is filled with sin, and ugliness. Isaiah 64: 6 says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” All the good that you could do, in the eyes of God it’s the same as filthy rags. If you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, please seek someone out who can show you the way to be saved. Christ will give you a clean heart and make you his glorious gem.

That is how the relationship begins, but it must continually be cultivated through study of the Bible, prayer, meditation on the scriptures, and applying those scriptures to your daily life. But what does it mean to “Fear the Lord”? To fear the Lord means to stand in awe of his power, to honor him because he is God, and to literally fear his displeasure because of disobedience. We fear him; henceforth we obey him. So a “woman that feareth the Lord” is a woman who honors God first and foremost with her life. How? By her obedience to the commands of Almighty God, found in his Word, the Bible. It is only by following these commands that a woman finds true fulfillment in life and becomes God’s glorious gem. And this woman “shall be praised.” “My son (or daughter), forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.” (Proverbs 3: 1,4)

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Nana's Notebook...

By: Mrs. Ruby Wagenschutz

FACING THE UNKNOWN

"Whereas, ye know not what shall be on the morrow,
For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth
for a little time, and then vanisheth away."
James 4:14

Do you have any idea what blessings will come your way or the trials and difficulties you may encounter next year, or next month, or next week, or tomorrow, or even the next second? Of course, most of us have hopes and dreams, even plans about what we desire to do with our lives, but in reality, every breath after this one is unknown to us.

We know what has happened to us and what we've done up to this moment. Our past (a very short time if you are a young person - or a very long time if you are my age), has probanbly been a source of joy, as well as hard lessons learned from our mistakes and our experiences.

Everyone of us faces the unknown. Those of us who have accepted Christ as our Saviour have an ultimate advantage -- we belong to the "I Am" - the God of the past, the present and the future.

If you have not accepted Christ as Saviour, there is one thing of which you can be absolutely certain: You have no hope of a home in Heaven apart from Jesus Christ. John 3:3 tells us, "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." And in John 3:18, we read, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God."

The determination of your final destination is in your hands. You must recognize you are a sinner in need of a Saviour and ask Christ to forgive your sin and give you eternal life. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13

SO, how do we deal with the unknown? I certainly don't have all the answers, but I believe it is very basic. We must simply LEARN TO TRUST GOD, LEARN TO TURN OUR LIFE OVER TO HIM! Notice what I said: We must LEARN to trust God. Trusting God does not come by osmosis - just attending worship services hoping something good will rub off on us. We need to learn about God. Read and study His Word. Search for Him and His will in every aspect of our lives. Sing praises to God for His goodness to us. Pray (talk) to God personally and regularly. And I believe the most important part of learning to trust God is to wait on Him. We are often impatient, wanting God to answer and work immediately in accordance with our desires, not in His time and in accordance with His perfect plan.

Is trusting God easy? Of course not! Nothing that is worthwhile is ever easy. Trusting God may bring heartaches and tribulations. But no matter comes our way, no matter what others may say to or about us, we need to remind ourselves, "I am a child of the King. I will always be a child of the King."

Our time is short; our opportunities to serve Christ may be limited; Jesus may come soon. Today is the only time we have, but we do not face the unknown alone. The lyrics of an old pop song keep running through my mind, "I'll live my life by myself, I'll face the unknown, I'll make my way by myself, by myself alone." NOT SO!

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." II Corinthians 4:17, 18

We can face the unknown because we know the One who holds the future in His hand!

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Pure Prayers...

Job 16:17 "Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure."

Requested By: Miss Laura Beth Wagenschutz
Request: I would like to ask prayer for the salvation of my aunt Lisa. I also have one unspoken.

Requested By: Miss Morgan Guiley

Request: Dorothy's pregnant!! (Dorothy that had Savannah) She's not due until January, but it looks like she'll have a long, tough pregnancy--5 months of bed rest, and already, she can't stand up for more than 15 minutes at a time! Plus, (naturally), she's scared, so if you think of it please keep her in your prayers!

Requested By: Miss Juli Wilhite
Request: I have a dear friend named Jennifer who's a pastor's daughter. Recently, she "tossed Christianity" into the trash, moved out from home, and is dating an unsaved guy. She's also left church. Pray that her eye's will no longer be blinded by the devil. We are praying for her safe return to her family and church, but most importantly, to God.

Requested By: Miss Hannah Brown
Request: Please pray for my Great-Grandparents' health, also for my Great-Grandma's salvation. I also have 2 unspoken requests.

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The Treasure Box...

By: Miss Juli Wilhite

God’s Gift

(John 3:16)

Christmas! My favorite time of year...the sweet aroma of cookies and pies baking in the oven, decorations, carols, getting together with relatives, mom’s turkey dinner, bells chiming and so on. Don’t you just enjoy getting gifts? Be honest! I’ll admit that I do. However, what’s more important than being on the receiving end? It’s being the one who gives. I’m a “giftsy” person, meaning, I delight in giving little gifts or even jotting a note to someone. Let’s look at Noah Webster’s definition of giving: to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation; bestow. That simply means that when you present something to another person, it is done with a willing heart and without expecting anything in return. Too often we find ourselves giving in hope of getting something in return. How selfish we as humans can be! We’re so concerned with our own welfare...how is this going to benefit me? And yet, there was One who, over 2000 years ago, gave up so much to come to earth and give us eternal life.

Have you ever thought about how much Christ gave up to come and give His life? He left behind everything that was perfect and holy and dwelt among sinful men. What a miracle happened that starlit night when Christ was born! Imagine, God in the form of man. Doesn’t that fill you with awe? Luke 1:78,79 states, “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” He, our Redeemer, offers us eternal life. All we have to do is reach out and accept this priceless gift. What are we? Someone wisely stated that we Christians are simply glorified mud-balls. Yet, He still loves us with an everlasting love.

Well-known is the verse that reads, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Let's break this apart. “For God so loved the world...” What does this mean? Skin color, language, race, or any other barrier that ‘hinders’ us humans does not limit the love of God. His immense love is for the whole world. “...that he gave his only begotten Son...” The Greek word monogene, translated, means only begotten or only born-one. He sacrificed His only and dearly loved Son. “…that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” All we have to do is believe. Think of the chair you are sitting on. You trust it to hold you up, right? Likewise, all we have to do is place our complete trust in the Christ of Calvary, and He will give, or bestow upon us, life eternal.

Eternal life isn’t the only thing Christ gives to us. Think about the air we breathe, the ground to tread upon. What are we giving back to him? Are we using our lips to tell others about God’s most precious gift. What about our hands and feet? Have we taken Mark 16:15 to heart? “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Now, I know, women aren’t supposed to preach, but can’t we give out a tract to our neighbor, the cashier at our grocery store, or even the mailman? Lift up the name of Christ through the songs you sing. We really have no excuse for not serving our Maker. This holiday season, stop, and ponder all that He has given. Have we thanked him?

“God”…The greatest Lover

“So loved”…The greatest degree

“The world”…The greatest number

“That He gave”…The greatest act

“His only begotten Son”…The greatest Gift

“That whosoever”…The greatest invitation

“Believeth”…The greatest simplicity

“In Him”…The greatest Person

“Should not perish”…The greatest deliverance

“But”…The greatest difference

“Have”…The greatest certainty

“Everlasting Life”…The greatest possession

(--Selected)

Prayerfully,

Juli

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An Encouraging Word...

By: Mrs. Kristina Jossund

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Dearest Abba Father,

Fall has come close and wrapped its cozy days around us…As the crisper winds blow the sky is filled with all the last bits of golden warmth the season has to offer. Soon the icy pinks, purples and blues of winter will overtake the sunrise and sunset and we’ll know it’s only a matter of time before winter finishes her conquest and covers the ground with her fluffy white blanket.

Why did you make it all so beautiful? You could have given us a truly ugly and desolate world. A world of no absolutes; where the sifting sands were not just in the minds of men, but constituted the very ground we walked on. You could have us living in terror of your next game in the skies or seas, or loving destruction just because it gave You a rush. You could have a world with no color, no music, no sunshine, and no laughter. You could have a world with nothing to look forward to, and nothing to look back at. You could have done this and so much more, and it would have been no less than what we deserved.

Yet in the beauty of Who You are You chose to bless us. You provided the unique splendor of each season, and promised that they would continue to endure. You not only painted the world with vibrant and rich colors, You also gave us five senses to interact with and enjoy it. There is not only wind, but I can feel the breeze caressing my cheek. There is not only the variety of many fruits and vegetables, but I can taste the sweetness of their taste and tell the difference between their textures. There are not only birds in the trees and crickets in the grass, but as I lay in bed at night or am about my work during the day I enjoy listening to their song as they harmonize with the wind rustling the trees. There are not only mountains, water, sunsets, sunrises, rainbows…but also the sight to thrill my soul as I take in the panorama of Your handiwork.

Yet it doesn’t just stop with the physical world. Your goodness overflows into my mind and soul. You designed me to be able to think, reason, learn, imagine… I can read, write, speak, communicate…You’ve blessed me with the dearest of relationships. I’ve experienced the thrill of love, the beauty of forgiveness, the pain of longing, the grief of loss, the security of commitment, and the joy of fellowship. You’ve taken even what was ugly and hurtful because of sin, and made it into something beautiful.

Yet You did not stop with the body and soul – but provided through the sacrifice of Your own life the eternal security of my spirit. I will live with You in Your eternal Home and I know that in Your presence is fullness of joy and at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. You didn’t leave me an orphan here in a strange land, You provided Your Spirit to keep, comfort, and teach me. If ever I am in need You have given everything I could ever use to meet it. You are the Great I Am – I am never in want. In the midst of a world troubled by sinners, I can find a perfect rest in the shelter of Your wings.

Who is a God like unto my God? Early will I praise You. You are worthy of worship and worthy of praise.

I don’t deserve the least of all Your blessings , but my heart overflows with Thanksgiving and joy.

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Bea's Bulletin...

Congratulations to Miss Ashley Wasson, the winner of our 2nd Annual Christmas Cookie Contest!

Thanks to all who participated. Start trying out new recipes to submit for next year!

Who knows . . . YOU could be our next winner!

(Winning recipe shown in "What's Cooking?)

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What's Cooking?...

By: Miss Hannah Brown

Gingersnaps - Christmas Cookie Contest Winner

3/4 c. butter 4 c. flour
1/2 c. shortening 1/2 t. salt
2 c. sugar 2 t. baking soda
2 eggs 1 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. molasses 1 t. ginger
extra sugar for rolling

Mix butter, shortening, sugar, eggs, and molasses until smooth. Sift flour and rest of dry ingredients together. Add to butter mixture. Mix well. Chill for 12 hours. Roll in small balls and dip in sugar. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375* for 12 to 15 minutes.

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Some thoughts on authority and submission...

By: Ev. Benjamin Jossund

There is much confusion in the area of authority and submission. Teens often desire to make their own decisions and to be their own boss. Often a longing to be on their own is found deep in the heart of Christian young people. We live in a day when we are encouraged to follow our heart and buck authority. Your parents are human, and you see their faults more than you see other parents' shortcomings, and you often feel like you have it worse than the other teens. Let’s look more closely at this issue and see if there is any wisdom to be gained.

What is authority?

Luke 7:8 "For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it."

* Authority is the God-given responsibility to carry out the commands of God.

Parents have the God-given command to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This gives parents great authority\responsibility in the lives of their children. As a young person you should never be out from under your parent’s God-given authority. Parents who have rules and standards ought to be honored and obeyed because they are attempting to fulfill their God-given duties. If your parents try to step outside of what God says, then God deals with them. It is never the child’s right to confront their parents. It is God’s will for you to submit to your parent’s authority.

Someone always asks “What if my parents are wrong or they tell me to do something bad?” We need to seek to establish principles and not escape routes for our lives. It is a rare exception that a parent will insist on a child doing something wrong. If this happens the child should make a humble appeal. In the extremely rare case that a parent continues to insist on open disobedience to the Scriptures, gladly suffer the consequences and do right, as we are to obey God rather than man. However the vast majority of conflicts between teens and parents are very simply a clash of wills. Your parents have no desire to control everything you do, they simply must control what you do. There is a big difference. God has given them the responsibility to watch for your soul.

What is submission?

Psalm 40:8 "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."

* Submission is a Christ-like response to authority.

Submission is not just being obedient, but delighting in doing the will of your authority. If you think about it your parents probably have given you an incredible amount of freedom. You are probably able to clean your room on a regular basis. The dishes can be done just as soon as the meal is finished. You are free to have an incredible relationship with your brothers and sisters. Make sure you ask permission, but I’ll bet your dad won’t be too mad if you took out the trash.

Within the boundaries that you parents have set up, you do have a lot of freedom. Submission is not me grudgingly doing what I’m told and inwardly counting the days until I turn 18. Submission is joyfully occupying myself in the activities sanctioned by my authority. Authority is only a curse when we want what isn’t ours to have yet. Your authority is not the enemy. You can have very pleasant teen years, your parents can be your friends, and you can escape much of the heartache in the world if you’d learn the joy of full submission. Can you say “I delight to do thy will, O my God:…” in the area of honoring and obeying my authority? This is the key to having joyful teen years, and indeed a joyful life.

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A Word From Our Subscribers...

Greetings,
I received the issue you sent me. I thought it was for singles only, but I found so much in there for the married life. It was truly a blessing to me!
Blessings, Nat

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About Daughters of Faith

Daughters of Faith is a ministry of Twin Ports Baptist Church, 208 52nd Ave. East, Superior, Wisconsin. 1(715) 398-6947
We are an Independent, Fundamental, KJV only, Bible-Believing Baptist Publication.
All of our columnists write according to these convictions.
Daughters of Faith is a bimonthly publication and is, therefore, published in these months:
January, March, May, July, September, and November.
If you would like to submit anything for publication, we need to have it before the 10th of these months.
Thank you...

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How To Get Involved With Daughters of Faith

We would be happy to consider anything that you submit for publication.
Our staff enjoys hearing ideas from our subscribers and we want each of you to be involved!
Here is a list of some ideas for things to send in:

Poetry
Recipes
Jokes
Short Devotional Paragraphs (Under 700 words, please)
Funny/Cute Children's Church Stories
Prayer Requests
Quotes

Any ideas you may have for new articles!
We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to send any submissions to: Miss Laura Beth Wagenschutz, wagentrails@juno.com

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Subscription Information

To Subscribe to Daughters of Faith, please send an e-mail containing your name and e-mail address to: wagentrails@juno.com

To Un-Subscribe from Daughters of Faith, please send an e-mail containing your name, e-mail address,
and a brief statement of your reason for un-subscribing to: wagentrails@juno.com