You are in training...rejoice!

Hey all,

Things have been hopping with D14 Academy..I apologize for my absence from here!

I just want to encourage you today....God has you in training.  check out this out in Hebrews 12:5-11 in the Message:

So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?

My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline,
but don't be crushed by it either.
It's the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.
God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

God's "chastening" is, simply put, His instruction, His training!  He is not trying to punish us or beat us down, but He want to teach and instruct us, just like we want to do for our kiddos - only better 'cause He is the perfect Parent.

I love that, and I hope that encourages you like it did me!

Dee