“My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD or loathe His reproof, For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father¬†corrects¬†the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12

“MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;¬†FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.¬†It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?¬†But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” Hebrews 12:4-8

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.” Rev 3:19

It is amazing to see how many scriptures refer to the discipline of the Lord. These are only three amidst many. It is also interesting to note how the thread runs throughout scripture and in each case it is addressed to sons even though one was written from Solomon to his son, another to the Hebrew Christians, and another to the church of Laodicea. The overarching theme is that God disciplines His children and if a “child” does not receive discipline then that child is not really a child of God, but is “illegitimate”.¬†

When addressing the religious leaders of His day, Jesus, in John chapter 8:37-47, calls them the seed of Satan. He says, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.” He also says in verse 47 “He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

I find this remarkable in that they were Abraham’s descendants and yet they were of their father the devil. I believe this is because, as Paul stated in Romans 9:6-7 “not all Israel are Israel” and “nor are they children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, In Isaac your seed shall be called. That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God…”

So God being the perfect Father knows how to perfectly discipline and guide those that are His. He does not discipline those that are not His sheep. They do not hear his voice or know him. Many claim to know Him and in the day they stand before Him they may say “we knew you”, and in return Jesus will say “I never knew you”. Along with this I remember how Jesus told the religious leaders in John 5 “you search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

They were not willing because they were not His. We may grow up reading the scriptures all our life but not only must we hear, read, and know the Word of God, but we must also be awakened to it. Our spiritual eyes which have been blinded must be opened by the power of God (the Holy Spirit) so that we can understand. For the natural man does not understand the things of God because they are spiritually discerned, indeed, they are foolishness to him (I Cor 2… I think).¬†

So what great mercy God displays to us when he awakens our hearts, opens our eyes, and enlightens our minds to His salvation which is before us. So as mankind, throughout history has displayed this moral or spiritual inability to incline their hearts to God, He has shown great mercy and generosity to us that we may see and taste and have life… and that more abundantly.

While going through life and experiencing hardship/trials, persecutions, and discipline… it can make one wonder which it is… for God uses all of them and all things to conform us to the image of His Son Jesus. In the midst of all three though the response is the same. A wholehearted trust and devotion to God and seeking His will in our life, along with growing in His grace and knowledge. Through the difficult times it seems we grow the most and the roots are the strongest… able to endure the erosion of the years, able to endure amidst future droughts, and able to endure violent storms.

I am hesitant to say it, but I believe God will honor it still. I remember praying years ago that as God disciplines me, and as He brings trials in my life, as I know that He will… I ask that I can learn the easy way and not the hard way. I ask that I will be a child with a soft heart that can learn with a glance of His eyes and not with a backhand to the bum. I believe that He has answered that prayer and that He is able to conform us in numerous ways according to the unsearchable wisdom of His mind. Ways which are different for each individual according to the mercy and grace granted to them. It may involve the same internal struggle and emotions but not necessarily the external circumstance. Some people may be agonizing in their body to bring their spirit to where God wants it while others may agonize in their spirit only. It is not a difficult thing for God to conform us… it is difficult, most of the time (it seems) for us to receive it. May we receive it (the process) with a cheerful readiness.

So whether we experience good times or difficult times (in the flesh), may we always submit the lesser loves to the greatest Love, and put away anything that might raise itself up in our minds in the place of God. As Corrie Ten Boom talked about not holding too tightly anything of this world because then God prys it from our fingers, I think we must hold alone to Him tightly for then we can endure all things. When He sees us holding other things so tightly He knows we cannot endure whilst holding those things. Being the Perfect Parent that He is, He does what good parents do. In fact, there is no one good but God.

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11. I like the exclamation point.

I thought this was my year. I was so close. I was doing so well. I was first in the league for so long… even going into the playoffs. I was completely dominating the competition. Then in the first week of the playoffs I got DomiNated. My brother Nate (whos team is appropriately named DomiNate) beat me in the first playoff game which determines who will go to the championship.

So now I am looking at my team and making some adjustments but I am just playing for 3rd place. It takes all the excitement out of it. Nathan has won once before and he is playing against a friend who has never won… so I am not sure who to root for. I would like my friend who has never won to win but I also like to root for my brother. I usually always want my brother to win… unless he is playing me… of course.¬†

So I will go another year without the championship trophy… despite having a killer team for the last 3 years. The winner of our league gets dinner paid for by everyone else so it is still fun to get together with the guys. Last year we went to Eastland Cafe¬†and had a blast. So cheers to all of you fantasy football losers out there. There is always next year, Lord willing .

Haha… President Bush makes me smile. I just watched the shoe tossing event. Bush effectively dodges both shoes, brushes off the secret service guy, and after says “All I can report is, it is a size 10”¬†and then later he said¬†”I didn’t know what the guy said, but I saw his sole.” Ha. I think I would get along with President Bush real well.¬†I thought it was a stark comparison to what would have happened under Saddam… no doubt.

The biggest full moon of the year is going to be tonight. Go out and look at it. And no, I didn’t just happen to know this… I read it in this article. Shoooot.

The heavens declare the glory of God.

“Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.”

It’s 33 degrees outside. I moved south so I wouldn’t have to deal with the cold. Clearly I did not move far enough south. At least if it snows it is gone in one day. Warmth! I need warmth. Maybe we can create a bubble… a biodome over Nashville that allows a 75 degree day every day. We can have the option to enter and live there for a time and the option to leave (so it doesn’t become a Truman Show). You build it and they will come.

Something I struggle with is the difference between “stepping out in faith” and “acting in faith”. From studying scripture I think that both occur, but it’s just that… well… I see God giving such excellent instruction to those who have gone before us… those who are the great cloud of witnesses to faith.

I see how God instructed Gideon… and Gideon believed God’s Word and acted in faith. I see how God told Joshua to have the priests step into the Jordan and they acted in faith based on what God had said (they didn’t just step out blindly). I see how the kings, when they inquired of God were instructed as to what they should do.¬†

A striking and humbling story to me is that of Asa. It really shakes me actually. I see how he sought the Lord and turned Judah to seek the Lord and how he relied on the Lord for deliverance from the great Ethiopian army. But then. Yes, then he did not rely on God when Israel came against Judah.. instead he relied on Syria and God sent a prophet to rebuke him. Asa was angry and threw the prophet in prison. Then, just as striking to me, the scripture says that Asa became diseased in his feet, yet he did not seek the Lord but the physicians. II Chronicles 16:7-14 (or for his whole life chapters 14,15,16)

Do you see it. How the scripture rebukes him for not inquiring from the Lord but instead the doctors first. So sure we can go on to look at who we turn to first and where our trust is… but look at faith in action and it is based in what God tells us after we seek Him and trust Him.¬†

I am afraid too many times I lean on what I think or what society tells me or what is “feasible” instead of what God is telling me. I want to act in faith based on what He tells me. So like Philip, when an angel of the Lord told him to go down to Gaza… and in faith he went. Then the Spirit of the Lord told him to overtake the chariot… and in faith he did and preached Christ to the Ethiopian eunuch.

Oh that the Lord would give me ears to hear so that I may hear, trust, and obey