my title was not what i was really thinking (Isaiah 63)

7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

it literally means fear ok. fear is so powerful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah82CaBRk7c

I so miss teaching the youth with all these crazy fun game stuff...

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom^a you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God^b may be complete, equipped for every good work. 1 Tim 3

 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. ¹⁴ For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words. Thess 4

I think the thoughts from this came from something I wrote about lions:

Jesus I return to you
the true Daniel
who takes my place
in the den
of lions
who bids me come
abide in him
but promises
that I will win
for nothing here
upon this earth
can roar so loud
that breaks sins curse
but only Christ
who for me died
can take away
my stubborn pride
he woos me come
and be his bride
no lion here
just by his side

//

though you're in pain,
don't play the blame game
Jesus is here -
he hasn't disappeared
He bids you come
turn now from fear
Have faith, he'll help your unbelief

There are others in the den, that Jesus has called to join,
and he asks us to trust him & call them out
- trust me, the lions cannot separate you from me he says.
Is that my utmost desire?
To be with Jesus always?
If it isn't then it's no wonder we're not evangelising.

When obedience to God contradicts what I think will give me pleasure, let me ask myself if I love Him. - Elizabeth Elliot