A real, disciplined life

A couple of days ago, I ran across this verse, which one of my Confirmation students selected last year, "Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that God corrects; a father's delight is behind all this."

I have to admit, most of my Confirmands don't pick verses like this. Each of our four students affirming their baptisms this year will get their own copy of The Message, thanks to a generous gift in memory of Ilda Stevens. They will claim verses that speak to them.

This contrast grabbed my attention today:
"A seductive woman hasn't a clue about Real Life."
"My friend, listen closely. Keep your distance from such a woman. You don't want to squander your wonderful life, to waste your precious life. You don't want to end your life full of regrets, saying, "Oh, why did I reject a disciplined life?"

Keeping our focus on the insights and wisdom God is trying to communicate to us will not only have us on the right path, but will lead to the real, abundant life Jesus promises in John 10:10.

At the end of today's reading, I was reminded to "Enjoy the wife you married as a young man! Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose—Never take her love for granted!" I will do that, but we need to remember that we, as the church, are the body of Christ. He delights in us. We should do everything we can daily to churn up and share all the love we can with God, other church members, and our neighbors.

Dozens of times last weekend, I heard these words from one of the youth or adults I went up to Calumet with, "I love you, Pastor Awesome!" Keep it coming, so I can pay it forward. Amen.