Faithful Discipline (Elfchen Series #181)

Teaching

Clear

Path ahead

Father’s guiding light

Spirit’s daily, quiet intervention

Conscience

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Justifying

Righteous

Fatherly lessons

Understanding, character counts

Faith’s season of grace

Integrity

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Acquiring

Experience

Father’s goodness

Backed with love

Endurance, walking with peace

Self-control

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From My Journal (12/15)

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From Big Sky Buckeye

When we are able to humble the ego within, we will be better prepared to persevere as we build the necessary discipline in our daily lives.

Do you write a daily journal?  This inspiring thought comes from my journal, and much of what is written in my journal comes from reading and commenting on other bloggers’ posts.  Thanks to many of you or adding so much to my journal.

(Updated December 15)

Oswald Chambers Quote

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The right thing to do with habits is to lose them in the life of the Lord, until every habit is so practiced that there is no conscious habit at all.

From Romans 12:2:  “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher.  Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons.  Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST.  I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.

Christmas Dreams

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Nestling with Christmas warmth

Dreaming of winter’s snow

Gliding down peaceful slopes

Beside lofty chateau

 

Sleeping with cherished peace

Hearing each silver bell

Waiting expectations

Mystery’s carousel

 

Ringing red kettle’s bell

Giving from grateful heart

Letting go of some cash

Someone’s life will restart

 

Quickening steps now stop

Finding one final gift

Sharing love with others

Purchase completes this shift

 

Gazing into night’s sky

Drifting, tiny snowflake

Inviting even more

Ground swells from snowy quake

 

Blessing midnight’s entrance

Painting whitest landscape

Witnessing lighted tree

Christmas dreams taking shape

 

Courtesy of Pinterest.

The Christmas season can mean different things to many people, but residing in its heart just might be these words as written by American Congressman William Carey Jones (1855-1927):  “The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each other’s burdens, easing others’ loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas.”

From My Journal (12/14)

agriculture countryside daylight farm

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From Big Sky Buckeye

May each of us wrap the gifts of Christmas around those we greet.  Hope, peace, joy, and love breathe alongside us every day.

Do you write a daily journal?  This inspiring thought comes from my journal, and much of what is written in my journal comes from reading and commenting on other bloggers’ posts.  Thanks to many of you or adding so much to my journal.

(Updated December 14)

Christmas Quotes

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Maya Angelou (American author and poet)

Christmas enters, streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope and singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.

Winston Churchill (British Prime Minister)

Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.

Bing Crosby (American singer and actor)

Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it white.

Laura Ingalls Wilder (American writer)

We are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.

G. K. Chesterton (English writer and philosopher)

Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.

Ruth Carter Stapleton (American Christian evangelist)

Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most.

Seasoned with Salt

From Colossians 4:5-6:  “Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.”

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Words, each matter

Jesus leading

Seasoned with salt

Prayer feeding

 

Words filled with peace

Jesus imparts

Seasoned with grace

Mercy fills heart

 

Words magnify

Jesus’ teachings

Seasoned with love

Change far-reaching

 

Words quieting

Jesus transforms

Seasoned with faith

Now empty storms

 

Words share wisdom

Jesus’ sixth sense

Seasoned with truth

Gospel’s defense

 

Words new pathway

Jesus affirms

Seasoned with salt

Goodness confirms

 

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From Luke 6:45:  “The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil, for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.”

From My Journal (12/13)

agriculture countryside daylight farm

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From Big Sky Buckeye

With another sunrise, God’s goodness helps us to keep our negativity caged.

Do you write a daily journal?  This inspiring thought comes from my journal, and much of what is written in my journal comes from reading and commenting on other bloggers’ posts.  Thanks to many of you or adding so much to my journal.

(Updated December 13)

C. S. Lewis Quote

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Christ . . . can only say to every group of Christian friends, “Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another.”

From Proverbs 27:17:  “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another.”

Subtle Glances (Haiku Series #257)

Fine Tuning

London’s pause in time

Laboring around the clock—

Resetting Big Ben

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Lifelong Restoration

Wandering nowhere

Years of thoughtful rebuilding—

Now going somewhere

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Show Must Go On

Performance delayed

Searching for absent cello—

Airline’s missing case

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