Stapler- A Paper's Eye View
Reflections- "This do in remembrance of Me"
Leap- The Leap of Faith
Fears- Hopelessly Alone
Over the last few weeks, I have been memorizing Hebrews 12 for Advanced EXCEL. Several of the verses made me really think about the "chastening" of the Lord. What is the "chastening?"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourges every son whom he recieveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
~
Hebrews 12:5-11So, what is this chastening? These verses state that only sons are chastened. Unbelievers will not recieve the chastening of the Lord, only believers will. Is chastening punishment from a Holy God? Most people I know would give an adament "YES!" to that question. But what does the word really mean? And can believers even be punished by God?Let's look at a few verses and see what God actually says:Psa 103:12~As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Rom 8:1~There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2Cor 5:21~For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1Cor 6:17~But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.When God looks at us, He sees His own righteousness. If we are one with the Lord, how can He punish Himself Who knew no sin? There is no condemnation for Jesus took it all upon Himself on the cross. I think it is safe to say that God does not and cannot punish us for our sins and "mistakes." The price has already been paid. It is finished.Chastisement is definitely not punishment. So what is it then? The Greek words translated chastening and chastisement mean tutorage, train, instruct, and educate. Therefore, whom the Lord loveth He instructs, teaches, educates, trains. That takes some of the sting out of the word chastening for me.The chastening of the Lord is simply God's tutorage. He may use the seemingly bad things we go through as tools for His teaching and It may not always be pleasant, but it is not punishment. It is God lovingly teaching us more about Himself and our standing in Christ. If we endure(remain under) chastening(tutorage, education, training) then God deals with us as His sons and daughters(Heb. 12:7a).
Stapler- A Paper's Eye View
Reflections- "This do in remembrance of Me"
Leap- The Leap of Faith 
Fears- Hopelessly Alone.JPG)
Coffee- Happiness in a cup!
Time- Make every second count
Squirrel- The new and improved hypoallergenic kind!
White Trash- Because nothing says it quite like a stroller propped up against a propane tank...
Date- Countdown to a deadline
Police- Those coffee-drinking, donut-eating, protectors of the community!.JPG)
Self-Portrait- Enjoying the Spring Flowers 
Making A Statement- "Our guns may be silent, but Dixie will never die"
A Memory- Bygone Summer Days
Weather- When it's raining, we often forget to look for the small, yet beautiful, moments.
Broken
Green- "Go Green!"
Music
A Favorite Thing- My Engagement Ring
A Tool- Old Shovel 
Funny- Sometimes, the camera angle is the only thing that makes the picture:)
