31 Days: Day 30/31

S0...I will be hanging out with my family tomorrow evening for Harvest Night, thus bringing me to my last post of the month.  Obviously, I didn't have 31 posts....I did post 58% of the days (academically that is still an F---but mathematically it is at least the majority of the month).  So for now, I will lay down the "discipline" posts for a bit and either practice what I preach or stop being so hard on myself and my lack of discipline.  But speaking of Harvest Night---I came across this verse tonight:  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.   Hebrews 12:11


I also came across this definition of discipline that I hadn't necessarily thought of from American Heritage Dictionary:  A state of order based on submission to rules and authority.  So I am most excited to share how I am disciplined or where I see discipline in my life: I have submitted to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and have a persevering obedience of faith in Him since age 11 and due to this disciplined lifestyle of faith I will win a crown of glory and live eternally!  I am running the race! And will await the best possible result/reward from any type of discipline.

Excerpt from Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hebrews 12: The persevering obedience of faith in Christ, was the race set before the Hebrews, wherein they must either win the crown of glory, or have everlasting misery for their portion; and it is set before us. By the sin that does so easily beset us, understand that sin to which we are most prone, or to which we are most exposed, from habit, age, or circumstances. This is a most important exhortation; for while a man's darling sin, be it what it will, remains unsubdued, it will hinder him from running the Christian race, as it takes from him every motive for running, and gives power to every discouragement. When weary and faint in their minds, let them recollect that the holy Jesus suffered, to save them from eternal misery. By stedfastly looking to Jesus, their thoughts would strengthen holy affections, and keep under their carnal desires. Let us then frequently consider him. What are our little trials to his agonies, or even to our deserts? What are they to the sufferings of many others? There is a proneness in believers to grow weary, and to faint under trials and afflictions; this is from the imperfection of grace and the remains of corruption. Christians should not faint under their trials..............But the Father of our souls never willingly grieves nor afflicts his children. It is always for our profit. Our whole life here is a state of childhood, and imperfect as to spiritual things; therefore we must submit to the discipline of such a state. When we come to a perfect state, we shall be fully reconciled to all God's chastisement of us now. God's correction is not condemnation; the chastening may be borne with patience, and greatly promote holiness.

Hebrews 12:7-9 (NLT)

⁷ As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? ⁸ If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. ⁹ Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

SO......I finish this series with these questions:  Have you submitted to Jesus Christ's authority in your life?  Are you in fact disciplined, orderly, and obedient in your faith and striving to share in His holiness?  Do you consider yourself His child and planning on living forever?  If not, I pray you will evaluate and become disciplined-----like me!  :)  And if you want/need to talk to someone call me---I would love to share with you my testimony of discipline.

Proverbs 1:7 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Job 5:17 

"Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

Proverbs 10:17 

He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

Proverbs 12:1 

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid

2 Timothy 1:7 

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Hebrews 12:10

Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

Thanks for listening.  

Love, 

Disciplined Daughter of God

31 Days: Day 29

Well since most of our kids are going to be hyped up on extra candy the next few days and due to the fact that I have pretty much only spoken about self-discipline or the lack there of.....I thought we would take a different approach to the term tonight and focus on administering discipline to our beloved children.  Are you consistent?  I know I am NOT and it is a struggle then for the discipline strategies to work properly.  What has helped you be consistent if you are?  Do you have any great ideas of strategies that are mom-tested and kid-worked?  If so, please share.

Like I said, I am no where near consistent.  But I do have a fun tool that I have sitting and waiting to be used.  It is actually sad b/c I have probably owned these items for over a year and have yet to implement them.  They are from Doorposts and they are two different behavior charts: The "If-Then" Chart and The Blessing Chart.  The "If-Then" chart of course has unwanted behaviors listed, a scripture that speaks to that unwanted behavior, and a column for possible consequences that you can collaborate on together with your child or write in your own.  The Blessing Chart has positive character traits/behaviors that we want to see our children develop, scriptures that speak to these behaviors, and a column to write in your own rewards/privileges.  OK---so the best thing about these charts is the immediate scripture listed right there that addresses the specific behavior.  I'm just wondering why I haven't started using these yet?  I think it is b/c I have never laminated them.  :)

So what is your favorite tool for Godly discipline?  Share with us.  We need all the help we can get.....right?

31 Days: Day 28.

So honestly I haven't been disciplined in anything EXCEPT watching my beloved Cardinals WIN the World Series! Without doubt, one of the best series in recent history. (I think the D-Backs/Yankees in 2001 was also a nail biting series). So congrats Cardinals and I blame you for the lack of posts this final week of my 31 Days (lol---love blaming others when I know I probably wouldn't have done it anyways). Obviously, the players/coaches/managers/and I am sure tons more are very disciplined individuals and some of them met their ultimate career goal tonight. Most athletes are very disciplined people and one reason we should encourage our children to participate in sports, whether they are team or not. I enjoyed watching the games and I saw them till completion (a true sign of discipline).

***Note: Posting this picture so we call all remember "Buschie" the Rally Squirrel and how perhaps he should have been the MVP of the series.***

31 Days: Day 26

D-I-S-C-I-P-L-I-N-E

Deciding to make a change;
Investing in yourself
So that you can be better---
Committed to
Introducing new habits;
Persevering in order to
Like yourself ---
Imagining a

New and more wonderful you and
Enjoying the process & progress along the way!

by Amber Strickland

10-26-2011

31 Days......More or Less (Day 25)

So.....obviously not so disciplined in the blog arena as well. Blogging 31 days in a row seemed a bit unrealistic at first, and now I know it was. :) Anyways, besides having Bronchitis and being so exhausted lately....I also did have a fun getaway weekend with some besties to scrapbook. I am not totally caught up---but not too far behind. It was a good weekend to finally get away. But back to the topic at hand: discipline.

Today I want to share about one of the most disciplined people I know. This weekend my friend Cass & I really razzed our best friend Missy for many reasons. Basically the reason is because we are jealous of her disciplined lifestyle. She has disciplined herself to eat healthy choices, yet can eat some treats without going overboard. She has disciplined herself to run, even when she is having a bad day and doesn't want to. It is this discipline that allowed her the ability to run 30 miles on her birthday for Chloe and to complete 7?-some marathons. She disciplines herself to use her "Dave Ramsey" budget envelopes. It is this discipline that allows her and her hubby to be generous to others. She goes to bed earlier than others to get her sleep even when others do not. She wakes up early to consistently complete her bible study. She fasts and prays for friends and family and the church. It is this discipline that explains why she has dear friends that go to her when they know they need someone who will pray on their behalf. She is trained, she is strong, and she has good self-control. All in all she rocks and we are jealous of her. Now before we talk about the ills of being jealous---let's just agree it is a healthy jealousy. A jealousy that inspires rather than an evil jealousy that causes bitterness. A jealousy that instills one to be like her as she tries to imitate Jesus (kind of like Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1) or as Cass says as she "oozes Jesus"---whom by the way is very disciplined as evidenced through the scriptures. So even though we razz you Missy, please know it is out of sincere hope that some day we will be like you. Thank you for being my friend and encouragement and inspiration.