Strickland Sentiments

Monday, October 3, 2011

31 Days: Day 3.

It is funny once you commit to something how God continues to bring up the same topic in your head. One of the things I have not been so disciplined in is my First Place Bible study---I've been off and on. But today I opened up my study ( a few days late) and what do I read? 2 Timoth 2:3-7:

"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs---he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this."

The bible study goes on to explain these three metaphors. Paul uses them to help us understand how to live a Christian life. "Soldiers, athletes, and farmers discipline themselves to achieve their goals and expect results from their efforts. What are your goals for your Christian Life? What results do you expect?

By looking at these examples, it is easy to see that God desires us to be disciplined---to train like an athlete, to work hard like a farmer, to obey, serve, and please our commanding officer. The good news is he offers grace, not only that but is the Source of grace that strengthens us to be disciplined and to do the work needed.

So why discipline yourself? We discipline ourselves to achieve our goals and to see results. What results do you want to see? What is a specific action you can take to pursue these results?

***Disclaimer---I know I am preaching to the choir. I just read some of this today. Obviously I know some of it---but it is clear that I should be doing what God desires and I am ashamed to say I do not. God wants to see me disciplined enough to achieve my goals, even more so His goals and see results. Results that are surely to benefit His kingdom. I have been slapped in the face. I pray that I can take a bit of my own medicine and work on my own desire to be disciplined.

Do you have a desire to be disciplined?

Sunday, October 2, 2011

31 Days....Day 2.

I chose this old font because it is a whimsical and fun font---wouldn't you agree? I mean what is not fun about "Discipline"?

So just to make sure I was on the right page I looked up the definition of the word:

dis·ci·pline.
noun \ˈdi-sə-plən\

1: punishment

2 obsolete: instruction

3 : a field of study

4: training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character

5 a: control gained by enforcing obedience or order b: orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior c: self-control

6 : a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity

So just to be clear on what I struggle with is discipline as defined by self-control. Let's face it. I don't got it.

Another way I look at the term discipline is making yourself do something you don't necessarily want to do so that some day you can do things without having to make yourself---b/c it has at that point become ahabit. So questions for you my readers: What thing are you making yourself do so that at some point it will become second nature or habitual to you? And how are you making yourself do something you initially didn't want to do? Can discipline be a fun word? These are the burning questions I have--

Saturday, October 1, 2011

31 Days......

So I just read a challenge about writing on the same topic for 31 days of October. It is going to be a challenge, but immediately I knew what topic I would write on: the big D-word. Discipline. I can recall starting my journals every six months like this---"Dear Lord, Please forgive me for my lack of discipline......" and so forth and so forth. I have written about the topic before. Discipline seems to be my nemesis and it is for this reason that I plan on writing about it for the next 31 days. I have no idea what that means.....will I write about things that I want to be disciplined in? Will I write about the ways I have been wrong with the idea of discipline? Good ways to discipline? How God discplines his children? Even I do not know. But that is why it is a challenge. Day 1 done. Now if only I can be discplined enough to complete 30 more days......

***Also, I hope to get a cool pic for this series and maybe link you to all the other 31 Day blogs....but that might have to wait till tomorrow.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Shingles Say What? & Other Tidbits......

So I just found out I have shingles. This after a week + mix up thinking I had an allergic reaction to a bee. It was very quickly confirmed by a doctor (not my own) that I did not have a bee sting, a spider bite, or poison ivy. It was much more painful, my neck was burning and stinging more than it was itching and we just assumed that I was having an allergic reaction to whatever the bee was carrying. After 4 more days, the rash was worse and now I had the front half my neck itching and the back half of my neck burning. But only on the left side. So Sunday morning, our wonderful family doctor who worships alongside us graciously looked at me and immediately diagnosed shingles. When I read the description of symptoms online, they fit me to a T. No doubting it, that is what it was. I go and tell Chris and he says, "I thought that was really bad and painful?" And I replied, "THIS is what I have been trying to tell you!". It does hurt a lot at night and in the morning. Now I won't give Chris too hard of a time, because I have reciprocated the same lack of concern multiple times when he had ailments. But none the less, it was quite funny. So please pray that these don't form any blisters/become contagious. Besides the fact that I actually got these the week I turned 35 and often shingles is associated with aging (which my father in law was quick to remind me about)---I think this came along due to stress. Ugh....I haven't had any of that--right? :)

In other news, the auction is wrapping up loose ends. We will hopefully be posting a grand total soon, but preliminary estimates are close to $1600. PRAISE THE LORD! Thank you all for your support and encouragement. It is so overwhelming (in a good way). For those of you that don't know, I also got a job. I am a Title I Para at South Point where Eden & Eli attend. So in that regard, it couldn't be more perfect. I drive them to school and take them home shortly afterwards. I like South Point and am grateful for this answered prayer and this step in helping us bring Chloe home and working/teaching with kids which I also love to do. The downside, is I won't be a part of my normal day MOPS group that I have been in for six years. But now I will attend night MOPS, which is a bit different b/c most of them are working moms. Weird to think after 6 years I am a working mom? The last time I worked full time I was pregnant with Eli and in Forsyth, MO. The hardest hit from this transition is definately the cleanliness of my home. :)

Also, this past Saturday I ran my very first half marathon. It was a very fun weekend of friends, food, and running. My time was 2:39. Not bad, for a girl who had shingles while running. The weather was beautiful. The course was very hilly. And for some reason I enjoyed most of the entire run! Weird, huh?

(Still Smiling and this was afterwards!)

Please pray for Ethiopia, the drought in Eastern Africa, for some movement on the waiting list, for stress to be relieved during this time of transition, for our kids, Eden as she takes on more responsibility (Bible Bowl, homework, piano, choir) and balances school and other activities, Eli as he transitions to full day Kindergarten and being completely drained by the early evening, Tobe as he heads to the babysitters and I don't get as much cuddle time as I would like, and Chloe wherever she is at for her health, safety, and quick referral to our forever family, for necessary funds to come in (I would LOVE to be done with fundraisers by the end of the 2011 year), and for God to be glorified in all that we do.

On the most final precious note, my Tobiah was being sad one day about having to go to the babysitter's (although he does normally loves it) and we had to have a talk with him about why mom is working and why he heads to Mrs. Amanda's, etc. We told him "mom was doing her part to help bring Chloe home" and it would be good if you could help us by having a good attitude when heading to the sitters. Now each morning, he cheerfully wakes up and lets us know he is "doing his part" to help bring his litter sister home. He literally says it "I am doing my part." Isn't that precious? I think so.