Tag Archives: YouVersion

Christian Living, Discipline of children, Guests

World Changing

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My You Version devotions have been excellent in addressing family dynamics. Today’s is no less worthy of bringing to you here at The White Stone.

DISCIPLINE

Every child is a bundle of raw emotions and energies. The role of the parent is to help the child control himself so that these emotions and energies are not destructive but constructive. Discipline is simply teaching a child to control himself.

There is a vast difference between punishment and discipline. Punishment is getting even. Discipline is inflicting a smaller amount of pain on a person than he would receive if he were permitted to go on unchecked in his action. For example, if your small child reaches out to touch a hot stove, you grab his hand and slap it sharply. You have inflicted pain on the child, but the pain is far less than what he would receive if he were permitted to go ahead and touch the stove. That is discipline.

God disciplines His children, but He does not punish them. Punishment occurs when a person wants to hurt someone as badly as he has been hurt. But God’s Word clearly says: If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12: 7-11).

via Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with God | YouVersion.com.

Discipline is simply teaching a child to control himself.

Punishment is getting even.

Oh, that parents EVERYWHERE would control themselves and heed these holy instructions!

And would it not be glorious if all Father’s children would get it through our heads and drop it down into our hearts that our GOD does NOT PUNISH us – His children? GETTING EVEN with us is NEVER what Father does. His discipline, anything and everything He allows to come upon His born-again ones are to teach us to yield to His Spirit so we will have the power to control our own flesh, emotions, and our very souls. And would it not be world-changing if human parents would imitate GOD, especially when DISCIPLINING their children?

Blessings of Joy and Peace,

Blessings of peace and honor, joy and glorifying our great and Holy King be upon you all this very day.  Father may it be that all we Your Born Again Ones will imitate You today for JESUS’ sake.  

Guests

You(s) Too?

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I am eager to get to my James study for today before my local world finds that I am awake. :)   So I am borrowing this morning to wish you a quick good morning. This comes from my YouVersion devotion for today.

CONDITIONS

Richard Wurmbrand tells of the joy believers knew while confined in Nazi prison camps. Although many were cursing their lot, hating their captors, and plotting revenge, believers were serving their Christ faithfully, sincerely, and with great joy. Both the believer and unbeliever were subjected to the same conditions. However, one reacted as a saint while the other reacted as a sinner.

Viktor Frankl reminds us that true happiness in life depends not on conditions but on decisions. If our hearts are firmly turned toward Christ then we can and will joyfully worship Him–in good times and bad. This seems to be the essence of Psalm 148. Wherever we are, with whatever we have, we should still praise the Lord.

When our praise is based on God’s goodness, rather than the conditions of our lives, then we have reached the state of true faith. No matter what the conditions, we will remain true. Like Paul, we learn both to be abased and to abound. Circumstances do not dictate our happiness–that is a result of a living relationship with Christ. And when He is in our hearts, we cannot help but sing–whether it be from the mountaintop or from the cellar.

11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

via Philippians 4 NASB – Think of Excellence – Therefore, my – Bible Gateway.

We (HE and I) are still working on this and no doubt we (HE and I) shall be till I see HIS face.

You(s) too?

Psalm 146 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

1 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

2 I will praise the Lord while I live;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

via Ps 146 NASB – The LORD an Abundant Helper. – Praise – Bible Gateway.

(emphasis mine – I will)

May the emphasis be my experience and yours too.

Joy to you,

Guests

Music

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I am checking in with you again this morning with my YouVersion devotion selection for today. It is really good and I think you will like it. You might even find it helpful as you interact with people who deny our faithful and glorious GOD.

Blessings to you Dear Friends    +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!

WHERE IS THE MUSIC?

A cynical French astronomer once bragged to J.W. Hawley, “I have swept the universe with my telescope, and I find no God.” To this, Hawley simply replied, “That is as unreasonable as for me to say I have taken my violin apart, have examined each piece, and I find no music.” Hawley’s words were wise and silenced the skeptic. Most of the time, we have to notice the subtle causes and effects of life to see God. However, there are times when He makes His presence known most dramatically.

Elijah had spent his life trying to convince a straying nation to come back to the one true God. Now it was time for a showdown. Gathered on Mount Carmel, the helpless prophets of Baal danced and chanted all day for a display from their god. After they exhausted their resources, Elijah told them to step aside. In his brief prayer, Elijah called on God to show Himself as the true God. God did so, and revival broke out (1 Kings 18:20-39).

In our day, God is again displaying His power in the world. These are times of great revival, and we are seeing dramatic miracles in ministry. Pray with us today that God will continue to move that men may know. Let it be known this day that You are God in Israel.

Guests

Not Ripe so — The Still

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I am borrowing a Word today to share with you. It has been a quiet occupation at the Thompson house for a few days. I have had some really good days of study but it’s not a ripe study yet – not ripe for sharing. But my devotion from YouVersion is  – take a ‘read’.

THE STILL

On many British vessels when disaster strikes, “the still” is sounded. This signals people to pause a moment and figure out the wise thing to do. Panic, sailors feel, can be avoided if “the still” is observed. God gives us similar advice. Rather than panicking when crisis comes, we are to be still, and know that I am God… Perhaps that could be paraphrased, “Just don’t be frightened; see how I can help you in this trying situation.” The wise believer will learn to observe “the still” in times of tension.

If we are still only in times of trial, we miss much of what God is trying to say to us. We feel we do not have time to be still, but a University of Wisconsin study revealed that the average person spends three years of life waiting. How we use that time will determine much of our future. The wise person will use it to get to know God better, and he also will seek to get alone and listen to the quiet voice of the Creator.

Poems are not written on busy street corners, and symphonies are not composed in crowds. Aloneness is necessary for creativity and spiritual growth. So often we are spiritual chatterboxes when we come to the closet of prayer. How well it would be to learn to listen in those quiet moments, and know that I am God. Psalm 46 also states that “the heathen raged.” How often we rage at this and that; how much better if we would listen to God. Let us relax and know Him. Be still and learn to love Him better.

via Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with God | YouVersion.com.

Psalm 46:10

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

via Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with God | YouVersion.com.

Don’t you like that?

The Still is the signal to pause and figure out the wise thing to do.

Next harried, screaming for NOW attention that comes barging in on you, remember The Still.

And be still and know HE is GOD and you will figure out the wise thing to do.

I really like that!

I am praying today for many things. I’ll share only a few here. Richard – that his recovery be sure and lasting. Poppins – a happy and enjoyable recovery with no unhealthy residual. Iran. You know how ABBA stopped the building of the Tower of Babel by confusing the languages of the people? I am asking that DADDY GOD do something ‘simple’ and stop Iran from obtaining a weapon of mass destruction to use on Israel and on US. And Dear Friends with challenges born from many facets of this hostile world. 

DADDY GOD, thank You. I am so grateful. Thank You. I give You applause of praise with clapping and even singing for the goodness and mercy and grace You have given to this child of Yours. You have heard my prayers for Richard and Poppins and Others and You have heard my cries for this world, Israel and America. Again I pray You will forgive us and grace us with repentance. Thank You for every Dear One who comes here to read and pray, I ask You to comfort, correct, empower, encourage and heal as each needs in JESUS Name.

Blessings to you Dear Friends    +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!