WOYWW: Discipline Determines Destiny

 Here's the first step: Look for a picture that would illustrate 

the bible verse! And here she is!

Then I trace the picture on to my bible page

using carbon paper.

For those in the States who have no idea

what carbon paper is, apparently its like transfer paper.

 "Whom the Lord loves, He disciplines." Heb. 12:6

In much the same way that a loving parent disciplines a child so that child becomes the best he can be, so does God discipline us. We can trust that He never gives us more discipline that we can endure.

There was a man watching a father and son walking the aisles in a supermarket. The father would put his purchases in the basket the little boy was carrying. The man then asked the boy, "Isn't that heavy?" The boy smiled and answered, "Oh no! My father knows exactly how much I can carry!"

We can be afraid of discipline but whatever God gives us, is always good for us even if we don't understand it. But there is another side to this, and that is self-discipline. We can avoid much of God's discipline in the same way a child eludes a parent's punishment, if we are obedient, and train ourselves in what is good for us.

 Are we disciplined in what we eat? (this is way haaard for me!) Do we choose the books and magazines we read? What we see on the internet? Where we go? The friends we choose to be with? Are we disciplined in the way we use our time and money? Do we read the Word of God daily, and linger with the One who can give us the best advice?

Yes, God loves us, but He will use His authority over our lives to lead us in the right direction, just as any wise parent would! I don't want it any other way, would you? "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

Discipline determines destiny!

 "Daughter, your faith has healed you." Mark 5:34

The story of this woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years can be discouraging. She spent everything she had for doctors and medicine and she was not getting better. In fact she was getting worse! I know so many people who have been sick a long time. In fact I am one of them! I have Pemphigus Vulgaris, an auto-immune disorder, very strange and very uncommon. Sometimes I feel like that veiled woman in a crowd in search ofJesus. "If only I can get close to Him. If only I had enough faith."

This woman was very fortunate in that she managed to touch Jesus' garments and she was healed instantly. Jesus looked around at the crowd surrounding Him, and asked, "Who touched me?" What is important to me in this story is that Jesus looked for her. For 12 years, perhaps she was feeling neglected by God, insignificant. How many times do we pray, "Do you care, God? Do You know what I am going through?" This is what our enemy wants, that we think God does not care, God does not know what we are going through. In this battle of the mind, we need to fight for the truth.

 God does care. We matter to Him. Every single one of us. We are loved. That is what we want to know in our heart. "Who touched me?" is the cry of a God who wants to connect with us. Faith is our connection. "Daughter, your faith has healed you," Jesus said. And so with us. Our faith that whatever we go through, whether 12 years or not, whether it is about healing, or broken relationships, or lack of money or whatever, God walks with us. God is there, loving us whatever we are going through. He will never allow things to happen to us that is not good for our character. That will not make us bloom. In the next story of Jairus and his daughter, Jesus says, "Do not be afraid. just trust me."

Yes Lord, I trust You. You will work everything in my life for my good, because I love You and I trust You! (Romans 8:28)

 Here is something I am working on

for the coming "Art in the Park" in March.

 

 And this is what my brother Robert did for a community.

He drew the outlines for the flowers

and the kids painted it.

 

 Didn't it come out beautiful?

Previous Posts

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Blessings!

Patsy