Be Thou My Vision

  photo credit:  http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/raindrops-on-window-glass-with-cityscape-high-res-stock-photography/127855832 Chinese Christian songs you might enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neW0xVroNNs&index=4&list=RDcOV8FwM5PXQ The rain dripped like tears from the sky. It gathered in rivulets on a dark green walkway overhang and separated again as it ran down metal poles to the ground. A bicycle speeds by, splashing a muddy puddle over an older man walking on the sidewalk. Bright, bobbing umbrellas and clear rain ponchos appear in my vision and then hurry past, disappearing beyond the next building on Pudong Street. At the entrance of the apartment complex, under an arched bridge, two watchmen stay huddled at their posts on either side of the road.   From my window up on the fifth floor, I am dry and warm, but a feeling of dampness and cold sadness permeates my being. A delicious smell of curry and Indian food lingers in the apartment.  

I have been studying Hebrews this September with a group of other Christian young women. The interesting thing is, I have only met a few of them face to face. The others I have "met" through an email group where we share thoughts and gleanings from our study of Hebrews. This is my reading schedule: Day 1: Read Hebrews chapters 1-6 Day 2: Read Hebrews  chapters 7-13 Day 3: Repeat as before... I thought I'd share some of my thoughts here.  I noticed these verses,  "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes  everyone he accepts as a son." (Heb. 12: 5a - 6)  If we are the Lord's sons (and daughters) then we can expect discipline just like an earthly father disciplines us.  It is actually a sign that we are one of His, if we experience hardships and painful things in our life.  "Now no chastening seems to be j