Shirlee Abbott

Discipline or Punishment: Attitude Matters

Posted on August 15, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

It’s not only the motivation of the one punishing. The attitude of the one being disciplined opens the path to punishment.

This Scripture refers to God’s Word and His people. Discipline wasn’t working.

Zechariah 7:11, 13 (ESV)
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear … “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the Lord of hosts.

Their bad attitude bought them punishment (exile), not freedom. In the end, God got their attention.

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Discipline or Punishment: Motive Matters

Posted on August 14, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

This week’s discussion is on discipline and punishment. What’s the difference?

Let’s start with motive:

Love is the motivation behind discipline:

Proverbs 3:12 (NET)
For the Lord disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

Loving discipline may involve punishment. But not all punishment is motivated by love.

Ecclesiastes 7:9
Do not let yourself be quickly provoked, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Punishment motivated by anger is foolishness.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged anger, discipline, Ecclesiastes 7:9, love, Proverbs 3:12, punishment | Comments Off

Less Envy, More Peace

Posted on August 10, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Envy–that’s a problem.

James 3:16 (EXB)
Where jealousy [or envy] and selfishness [selfish ambition] are, there will be confusion [chaos; disorder].

Wishing I had what others do (wealth, popularity or social status) rarely leads to something good. James offers the antidote.

James 3:18
People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right living [or Peacemakers who sow with peace will harvest a crop of justice/righteousness].

Sow envy, reap chaos. Sow peace, reap justice and righteousness.

Lord God, show me how to plant a good crop of right living. I need less envy, more peace.

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Count Right (Not Wrongs)

Posted on August 9, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

1 Corinthians 13:5 (EXB)
Love does not count up [keep a record of]
wrongs that have been done.

Do I keep a record of wrongs? Absolutely.
I tell myself, “I’ll get him back!”
Yup, I keep score.

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

Teach me to number my blessings, Lord, not my hurts. Help me let go of my grudges. Fill my heart with gratitude.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged 1 Corinthians 13:5, blessings, Count Your Blessings, hurts, Johnson Oatman Jr. | Comments Off

Goodbye Procrastination, Hello Diligence

Posted on August 8, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

It’s time to deal with my bad habits. Let’s start with procrastination (even though I’d rather put it off).

Proverbs 6:10-11 (NKJV)
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.

What goes in place of procrastination? I’ll aim for diligence.

2 Peter 1:5
… giving all diligence, add to your faith …

Lord, You know how I put things off. Let’s put an end to it, right here, right now. Equip me with the diligence to start promptly, work carefully and finish the job.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged 2 Peter 1:5, diligence, procrastination, Proverbs 6:10-11 | 4 Comments

Gone for Good

Posted on August 7, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Last week, I was praying about some of my bad habits (yes, I have more than a few!). God brought to mind two passages of Scripture.

First, “binding and loosing” from Matthew 16:19 (what’s prohibited and permitted).

Second, an unclean spirit is removed from the house and decides to return.

Luke 11:26
Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there.

This is the message I got from God.

Don’t just get rid of the bad. Replace it with good.

It’s time for some spiritual housecleaning. Are you ready?

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged binding and loosing, Luke 11:26, Matthew 16:19 | Comments Off

Four Faces of Prayer

Posted on August 4, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Each believer has a unique prayer voice, usually favoring one of the four faces of prayer:

- - - Protection (lion)
    - Daily needs (ox)
    - Relationships (man)
    - Future (eagle)

It can all be folded into one well-rounded prayer style. Jesus set the example:

Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come [eagle],
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread [ox],
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors [man].
And lead us not into temptation [lion],
but deliver us from evil.

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Pray Like an Eagle

Posted on August 3, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Today’s thought is wrapped around the fourth face of Revelation’s heavenly beings.

Revelation 4:7 (ESV)
. . . and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

The eagle in flight sees beyond the earthly horizon. The eagle prayer-face looks beyond the here and now and prays into the future.

What’s the plan for next year, Lord, for the next decade? Your kingdom come.

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Pray Like a Man

Posted on August 2, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Man — prayer face three of four (based on the heavenly creatures of Revelation) —

Revelation 4:7 (ESV)
. . . the third living creature with the face of a man.

The prayers of the man-face are all about other people: those who are broken and without hope, angry and bitter, overwhelmed and burned out. Human-faced prayers cover broken relationships (with others and with God).

Teach them to forgive each other, Lord, as You have forgiven us. Restore their souls, restore their relationships.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged four faces, man, prayer, Revelation 4:7 | Comments Off