Shirlee Abbott

Loving Discipline

Posted on January 3, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

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

Your discipline, Lord, is proof positive of Your love. Even when I’m not lovin’ the discipline, I’m grateful for the love.

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Blessed Discipline

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Short and to the point:

Psalm 94:12 (NIV)
Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord.

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Fit for Discipline

Posted on January 1, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

When the word discipline popped into my head as I prayed for guidance for 2020, I looked to the Bible for clarification. Here’s one of the first verses I found:

1 Timothy 4:7 (AMP)
Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness
[keeping yourself spiritually fit].

God neatly tied last year’s one-word, fit, to this year’s potential word, discipline. Guess that nails it. 2020 is my year to discipline myself for the purpose of godliness.

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Discipline with a Smile

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

“He may sometimes chasten us, it is true, but even this He does with a smile, the proud, tender smile of a Father who is bursting with pleasure over an imperfect but promising son who is coming every day to look more and more like the One whose child he is.”
A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

Thank you, Rev. Tozer, for this reminder to look for the smile behind our discipline.

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One Word: Discipline

Posted on December 30, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

I’m one of those folks who select one word for the new year. I find it more motivating than a multitude of New Year’s resolutions. My 2019 word was fit as in “fit for service in the kingdom of God.” I lost weight and exercised more–but fit was more about soul than body.

For 2020, discipline dances in my head. What do you think?

Sounds punishing!
Noun or verb?
Who’s giving, who’s getting?

There are spiritual disciplines (such as silence, Sabbath-keeping, study, fasting, service). Yep, I could use more disciplines in my life.

There’s self-discipline (self-control). Check. More would be better.

And there’s God’s discipline. Not my decision, really.

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Safe Shelter in Church

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

Sexual abuse in the church makes news, hurtful news. People use their positions of honor and power for personal pleasure. Brothers and sisters, this should not be.

1 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV)
Flee from sexual immorality.

Our enemy looks for every opportunity to give Christ a bad name, to hinder ministry and hurt believers. Let us take every opportunity to pray for purity, unity and safety:

Mighty God, make our churches safe spaces for those who are vulnerable. Lead our leaders “not into temptation;” teach them to flee from all immorality. Deliver us from the evil of sexual abuse, in our churches, in our communities, in our country, in Jesus’ name.