United Church of God

Letter From Dan Preston - August 21, 2020

Letter From Dan Preston

August 21, 2020

Greetings brethren and Happy Sabbath! Last week's memory verse was Exodus 23:14 (NKJV), "Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year."  Read below to find clues for this week's memory verse!

Back to school time

For most of North Carolina, this past Monday was the beginning of the regular school year.  Although, not much was regular about it.  Many have switched to online classes, others are virtual school only, and some have a hybrid schedule where they go one or two days a week.  In any case, I must applaud our students and educators both for overcoming the challenges set before them this year!

It's hard to say what school will look like in the coming years.  Are virtual schooling and hybrid classes the "new normal" or will our kids go back to the way things were, inheriting the experiences that generations before them did?

Bigger challenges ahead

Whichever way things wind up, I am sure God will guide us all through this trial.  But the truth is, this is a relatively minor inconvenience.  Bigger challenges lie ahead, for both my generation, and my sons generations.  The Bible tells us there will be famines, pestilences and war.  These things aren't pleasant to think about, but the Bible tells us they will happen.  

All trials share a common lesson: overcoming adversity.  In the school room, it might be having to practice dozens of math problems until they finally master a core concept.  Outside the school room, it might be discerning good from evil, overcoming a negative mindset or enduring a hardship.  Whatever the case may be, the goal is the same: overcome.

Our part

As parents, we are the most important educators in our children's lives.  And while teachers can help overcome challenges with 'readin', writin' and arithmetic,' parents - and other trusted adults such as church family - can help them learn to overcome spiritual challenges.

We all have things we struggle with.  By sharing what we have endured and overcome with our children, we can show them how to inherit the kingdom of God, and all things that God has in store for us!