Shirlee Abbott

Whole Discipline

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (MSG)
May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.

I made myself a check sheet to help balance my discipline:

- - - God Time (praise, prayer, devotions, Bible study)
    - Home Time (clean, cook, wash, garden, shop)
    - Mind Time (learn something new every day)
    - Body Time (eat, exercise, stretch, rest)
    - Write Time (blog and book)
    - Friends & Family Time

Day 7 – the whole thing!

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The Power of Discipline

Posted on July 31, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Day 6.

How will I find the power for 40 days of discipline?
It’s simple (but not necessarily easy):

Not my will but Yours, Lord.
Not my power but Yours, Lord.

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Discipline the Mind

Posted on July 30, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Here’s the goal:

2 Corinthians 10:5b (NIRV)
I keep every thought under control
in order to make it obey Christ.

This is how I picture it–

My mind is a harbor, and thoughts sail in and out. I choose to let the good thoughts drop anchor and stay. The distracting, deceptive and sinful thoughts aren’t welcome. When I notice my thoughts are not obedient to Christ, I cut the anchor and watch them sail away.

Day 5 – Let’s pray:

Lord God, I’ve let some wrong thoughts get comfortable. Grant me the discipline to send them sailing into the eternal sunset.

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Discipline the Body

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Social isolation has been bad for my body. Less time out and about. Too much time too close to the kitchen.

Too little exercise.
Too much food.

My body displays my lack of discipline.

1 Thessalonians 4:4 (NIV)
Learn to control your own body
in a way that is holy and honorable.

Granted, this verse is set in the context of sexual immorality and lust. But “holy and honorable” can apply to food and exercise. Too much junk food and too much lounging about are neither holy nor honorable.

Day 4 – Less food, more exercise. More discipline.

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Flagging Discipline

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

How did I know it was time for some discipline?

There were lots of red flags:

- - - Haphazard housekeeping
    - Undone to-do’s
    - Slipshod schedule
    - Flabby flesh
    - Muddled mind-set

Clearly, things weren’t playing out well.

Job 5:17 (NIV)
Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

Day 3 – bring in the discipline.

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Discipline ≠ Punishment

Posted on July 27, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

40 days of discipline
does not equal
40 days of punishment.

Proverbs 3:12 (NIV)
The LORD disciplines those he loves.

It’s not punishment; it’s love.

Day 2 ends on a note of love.

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40 Days of Discipline

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

God and I just finished a long chat. He reminded me of the one-word I chose for 2020: discipline.

1 Timothy 4:7 (AMP)
Discipline yourself for
the purpose of godliness.

Unfortunately, I’ve dropped off the wagon. I’ve been sleeping in, ordering out, sitting down, taking it easy. Too much junk food, too many TV movies, too much social media.

Not enough discipline.

I sensed a nudge from the Spirit: 40 days! Let the discipline begin.

Yes, Lord.

So ends Day 1.

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Count What?

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

No doubt about it, God, the coronavirus isolation has tested my faith. Counting it all joy? I need Your help with that!

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Simply Count

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

“Count your many blessings,
name them one by one,
And it will surprise you
what the Lord has done.”
Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1897

Gonna be a long list!

Johnson Oatman wanted to be a good singer, like his father. He didn’t have the voice for it. Instead, he wrote the lyrics to 5,000 songs, including this hymn, “Count Your Blessings.”

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Can’t Count

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 18:21-22 (MSG)
Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”

Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.”

70 x 7 = 490

Once a month for more than 40 years.
Once a week for almost 10 years.
Once an hour for more than 20 days

Only God can forgive at that rate. I can’t.

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