because of love...

Starting my day... even before the covers come off... praying for those... hurting... struggling with life... in need of healing...

Name after name... coming to mind... taking them before Him... socked feet still tucked in...

Morning routine underway... and I ask...

Why do some people have such trouble in their lives...? So many things... one after another...?

He answered quickly... surprisingly...

Because I love them...

Hmmm... how is that love...?! I wonder to myself... not directed to Him...

Discipline... He answers...

And immediately I know... it's not the punishment kind... it's the training kind... the loving-parent kind...

And have you forgotten the exhortation 

that addresses you as sons?

"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor be weary when reproved by him.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves

and chastises every son whom he receives."

Hebrews 12:5-6 ESV

Getting to the treadmill... a bit later... in my reading I find this...

God's great love and purposes for us are all worked out in messes in our kitchens and backyards, in storms and sins, blue skies, the daily work and dreams of our common lives. ... God deals with us where we are and not where we would like to be.

--- Eugene Peterson, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places

There it is... God's great love... for us... worked out in messes... in storms...

The messes of the world... brought on by the rebellion of its people... leading to sin... brokenness... death... difficulties... in every area of life... God uses... to reveal His love... working out His purposes... bringing each one of us back to Him...

Could it change your attitude today... regarding a difficulty... challenge... mess... or storm... if you receive it as a token of love... from your heavenly Father...?

He treats us no differently... than He did His one and only begotten Son... whom He loved...

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 2:10 ESV

Lord... remind me in the difficulties... challenges... and pain... 

it is all... because of love...