Discipline

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. ~~Hebrews 12:11 ESV

"I can't wait until I grow up so I can do whatever I want!" cried out my son after being disciplined.

Parents, do you ever hear those words come out of the mouths of your children? I remember saying those words as a child. I thought parents could do and get away with whatever they want to do.

Yes, as grownups we do have choices to make. We do have freedoms to choose, therefore, in one way the child is correct. We can do whatever we want.

"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. ~~1 Corinthians 10:13

We can do all things, but all things are not helpful or builds up. Some other Bible versions use the words profitable, beneficial and constructive.

Therefore, our choices have consequences. We will reap what we sow. If we continually make wrong choices, we not have a life that helps others, builds up, and is constructive.

We'll be destructive no matter what area of discipline we're dealing with--health, finances, relationships, etc. If we continually eat the wrong foods, we'll have consequences. If we spend too much money on frivolous things, we'll be broke. If we do not nurture relationships, they'll be gone.

Our lives require discipline at all ages. Discipline is not easy, but difficult, but we must train our children and train ourselves to live by it. It takes discipline to make the right choices when others are not.

How often do we want to speed on the highway because we're running late. I know I have a propensity to behind in my schedule. I need more discipline in my life to leave in plenty of time so I don’t have to rush.

What about when we're out shopping? We must fight those impulses to buy things we don’t need or looks good at the moment?

What about spending time with people we love, nurturing relationships?

Our lives require discipline. Often times I think it would be so much easier if I had someone telling me what to do like I tell my child. But I do! My heavenly Father disciplines me because He loves me. (Heb. 12:6)

I am loved as I'm feeling the discipline! How about you?

Wild and Amazing Life

Dear Friends & Family,

I thank God for His grace--Wild & Amazing Grace! Ya'll I'm having a great time in the Lord.

I like to have my blog posts publish on Monday, but that did not work out this week. Why? Because I was thrown a change-up and struck out. My youngest son, Chase, plays football with his middle school and he's now on a fall league baseball team. I knew he was on a baseball team, however, I didnt know when the season started. I learned last Friday all the baseball games are on Sunday afternoons, double headers I add. That's the time I used to write blog posts. The good news, I'm still on the line-up and I'll get another turn at bat. So I plan to return to regular schedule next week.

I'm more focused on working the numbers as mentioned in my last post for discipline. It's all a matter of discipline or I'd go wild. God has given me this one body and I must choose to be a good steward with what I have. This change requires intentional focus on my behalf. I do believe once I make it a way of life and it will become natural to me.

My partner, Shona Neff and I have StepUP Writing and Speaking going in full swing. We've had our first webinar training with more to come. We've brought in experts to our blog to share information. We're receiving such gracious and encouraging comments. These speakers are also giving away prizes. This week Kathi Lipp is giving away a speakers packet. Also, author and Proverbs 31 speaker, Shari Braendel is giving away a copy of her new book, Good Girls Don't Have to Dress Bad. Hop on over to StepUP Writing and Speaking to leave comments for a chance to win a prize.

Darlene Schacht, who launched Christian Women Online is now launching a new online magazine with actress/author Candace Cameron Bure. I submitted according to instructions and I've been accepted to write for this new magazine that will launch in October.

I've been working with Take Root and Write for over one and half years as a columnist and editor. Noelle Mena sold it this summer to Spring Fricks. Spring has wonderful plans to grow this digital magazine even more than imagined before. We're accepting submissions for the October magazine. The theme is "rest." If you are interested, email Shona the senior editor at senioreditor[at]takerootandwrite[dot]com for more information.

I'm assisting CLASSeminars as the Transportation Coordinator for the writers conference in November. I'll be there at Ghost Ranch and if you come to the writers conference, I'll see you there!

And if that's not enough on my plate, I figured that since my wonderful state of Texas has money for veterans to receive a higher level education, I've transferred to my local university's liberal arts program for a degree in English and American Literature. I started my classes this week.

That's an update with what's going on in my wild and amazing life! Please share a bit about what's going on in your life.

Numbers

The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: "Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army. ~~Numbers 1:1-3 NIV

Do you like working with numbers? I just do not think in numbers. I like to play BUNCO, but when it's time to add up the points, I pull out a calculator.

Yet numbers seem to be an important part of life, so I have had to adapt to using them and thank God for the tools we have as crutches for those math challenged people like me.

I've been learning a lot more about how to use numbers for discipline this past month. Remember my post about "Why Do I Do That?" I discussed my food nemesis, sugar. Well in order to help me get past the cravings and put restraint in my life, I've learned that numbers are involved.

For food, those numbers are called calories. The foods we eat contain calories and if we eat too many calories, it adds numbers to the scales when we step on them. I have avoided the numbers on the scales for way too long. I must face the truth to be free to change my reality. Avoidance does not work (another post for another time).

So to take control, I've enlisted the support of tools because tracking numbers on papers seems too difficult to me. I use a smart phone app called "Lose It." I enter the foods I eat and the calorie count for the serving size. It reveals on the screen the number calories I've eaten and even gives me a red bar if I've had too much.

But it's also just not about the number of calories consumed, but the number of calories burned through exercise. I used to exercise without seeing results, but I think I've figured out that I wasn’t burning enough calories. Thirty minutes of moderate walking only burns approximately 100 calories. Thirty minutes of very brisk walking, only 150.

Therefore, I've had to develop a plan to burn much more calories during my day. I started exercising two hours a day, combining strength and cardio to increase the calorie burn. I strive to burn 700 calories, five days a week. My reason--3500 calories equals one pound. I hope to lose at a minimum of one pound per week. I use an app call Runkeeper to help me track the number of calories burned for various types of exercises.

Did you know how these numbers work? As I stated, I'm just figuring these things out.

Using numbers requires a concerted discipline for me. It's an effort, but worth it. God incorporated the use of numbers in His divine plan. There is a book of the Bible called Numbers. This books starts off with God calling for a census. According to Matthew Henry's Commentary, the purpose for keeping count was to prove God was keeping His promise to multiply the seed of Abraham. God is obviously into numbers and counting for the sake of keeping records, therefore, I better learn to keep records.

The area of keeping track of calories is the first step I'm taking to learn how to manage numbers. The next area I'm working on is finances as I'm currently taking the Financial Peace University course by Dave Ramsey. And yes, it is the week where the husband and wife sit down to work on the budget.

Yes, this free spirited, Sanguine gal is learning to adapt to the tedious task of using numbers for discipline, change and results.

Need a Defrag

Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. ~~Habakkuk 2:2 NIV

Sometimes life starts coming at us from all angles. The kids, the spouse, the work, the errands, the chores and more can seemingly interfere with our plans.

I’ve had plans to work on various projects for months now. But when I think I’m going to work on one of those, something more urgent pops up. I’m feeling fragmented.

Like our personal computers (PC’s), we sometimes need to be defragmented. When using our PC’s, over time with regular use, the files on the hard drive get spread out rather than being neatly organized. That causes the computer to work longer and harder to access the requested information.

Occasionally the PC needs to be defragmented, or defragging for short. This tool on the PC puts all the scattered pieces of the files back together in an organized fashion. This allows the computer to run more efficiently and reduces the amount of time it takes to work. It becomes more proficient. Not only that, it helps the hard drive to last longer.

I realized that I need a defrag. I’m scattered all over the place and because of that it takes me longer to get things done. I’m taking the first few days of this week to work on sorting out files in my life and getting my focus.

I need to write that focus down, make it plain and find a place to keep it in front of me. I need to be reminded of what I’m working toward in my family plans, my personal goals and business goals.

Sometimes, we all need to take a few days to defrag like the computer needs a defrag. When we do, like the PC, we’ll become more proficient and last longer.