Sunday, May 09, 2010

Discipline of the Lord - Heb 12

Today's Bible study led me to Heb 12 and a look at the Lord's discipline. We are not to despise His discipline - but love it, endure it, be trained by it, strengthen ourselves through it, pursue peace and sanctification....all good stuff. BUT since this is a passage often brought up when I teach on parenting, I decided to look it up again.


I struggle not to see God as a crotchety, old man with a big belt in the sky, waiting for me to step off the blanket so he can WHACK me back into line....KWIM? Do not think this reflects on my father....it's how these passages and much of the Bible were caught by me.... It's what I created in my mind. It's why I NEED to discipline myself to DIG into the Word of God. My perspective colors my preceptions of who God is.

Somehow, in some circles of society and church, we've come to equate discipline with physical spanking and such. And we're to LOVE it.

But the word for discipline is Strong's 3809 - paideia....it means "instruction of children",  training the Lord approves, nouthesia is mainly instruction by word but paideia is instruction by DEED.  Synonyms of the word are INSTRUCTION and RECTIFICATION.

It is NOT 2851(Kolasis) or 5098 (timoria) which mean penalty, punishment, penal infliction, retribution

If God wanted to say that he punishes His children as a father and we're to love it - He would have. He would have used either Kolasis or Timoria.

He didn't. He painted Himself as a father who graciously and lovingly takes the time to instruct His children by word and DEED. He educates us and trains us...can we do less for our children? Can we see Him as a father who shepherds and mentors as well as the "stern disciplinarian"?  How can the children of this father not love Him? He cares for their good and takes the time to train them.

Gone is the crotchety old man, to be replaced by  a picture of Michael coming home late from work and STILL taking young men out for a walk to discuss how godly men handle anger, authority and purity. Training in word and DEED. THIS is discipline.  THIS is a picture of my God.

Catch that the rest of this chapter ties instruction/discipline to grace, holiness, sanctification.....How can I NOT love the discipline (paideia) of the Lord? How can I NOT commit to train my children by word and deed for the same purposes? It takes time; but look at the fruit that this training brings in the lives of God's children.

 Bring it on.
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

It's Haha Nohi (Mother's Day)

We had fun discussing Haha Nohi with Akikosan. I loved the way they say "Happy Mother's Day". They don't. Instead they say, "Itsumo Arigato," - always thank you!

My Mother's Day began at 4:30 a.m. The sun was shining and I've not had time to shop for black out curtains yet. ::snort:: I met Mary S. at the Pachinko Parlor at 5:30 a.m. No, we weren't playing. I think Michael was a tad bit alarmed when Jared told him that was my second time this week to visit the pachinko parlor - both times meeting rides to Towada.

This time Mary and I went to the Y500 Kimono/Obi shop. It's cramped, smells, crowded...but wow....piles of kimonos and obis to search through. It was great fun! Mary, thanks for opening this world to me. There are about five "rooms" like this.


See how the kimonos are hung on the wall? I'm thinking this may be the "quilt" from Japan.....Mary makes fan-like wall hangings with  obis to accompany the Kimonos.

I bought two obis for y500 each
They can be made into wall hangings - or TABLE runners. I'm not sure what I'll do with each at this point. I envision the leaves being for a table.

I also bought two children's kimonos - thinking less wall space -
boys

Stacia's claimed a kimono and obi

I bought a few antiques...these spools are from Sendai and 100 years old. He said they make great wine bottle holders....I thought they would work well for glass floats. LOL


When I got home there were all sorts of love notes taped around the home.

We headed for church. . . Sunday School.... Stacia developed Pink Eye somewhere in here....so all but Jared left - he had slides to do.

Joel and Mary invited us to the Mother's Day Brunch. Picked up Jared and he joined us too.

I got emails from all the kids...or FB comments. The blog was a surprise this a.m.

We went on a family "bike ride".



Then EVERYONE watched the second half of Pride and Prejudice with me. I fell asleep last weekend.

The kids took advantage of last week's Asian Bazaar and bought me all sorts of Asian treats for today.

Glass floats from Hokkaido - though I still plan to go find my own. LOL

Zander's glass

Japanese Pottery

Japanese Pottery Dishes - think they'll be great with the Polish Pottery

Darling little tea set - I love making a pot of tea

Then Kim called. She takes care of the deployed spouses in her dh's squadron. They've adopted us as Michael is their chaplain. She must have spent hours today running around delivering things to spouses...wow. The keyspouses amaze me.


I have been TOTALLY spoiled this year. Amazingly spoiled...but I've loved it... ::snort:: I'm missing the four older children and Michael....but I'm taking joy in the place God has led us. It's a good place.

Did I mention Stacia has pink eye....several of us are worried now....hope to see the doc in the a.m.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...