Discipline ~ A Necessary Part of Life

What a fun day Monday was...as it was the Annual Teddy Bear Auction

hosted by Barbara Fairchild Ministries.

We began our day about 9:30 meeting up at the Golden Corral.

Busyness everywhere, decorating the showroom,

making lists and organizing Teddy Bears.

 The Teddy Bears are donated by Theaters and 

Local Businesses in the Branson area.

Branson View Campground's contribution

 is the second one from the right,

bottom row...isn't she a cutie.  

The little green hat was on a bear behind her.

There were a total of 43 Bears auctioned off,

some of them two or three times.

And let the bidding begin.

Special guests included Teddy Bear Child 

(thanks Riley for being a great bear)

Santa Claus (played by Guess Who?)

Barbara Fairchild & her hubby, Roy Morris 

(doesn't he look smashing in his yellow shirt?)

A group of people from Oklahoma representing Kids Against Hunger

And we raised over $3,880!

All for feeding local children

and helping families in the Branson area with Autistic Children.

If you would like your own Teddy Bearchild Package

(Teddy Bear signed by Barbara Fairchild, 

CD of her singing Teddy Bear, 

and the childrens book authored by Barbara)

please let me know.  

They are $54 including shipping and go for a great cause.

And after our busy, crazy day of Monday

we decided to take Tuesday off

and go for a ride.

What a beautiful day to be out in

God's creation seeing His magical artistry.

The day began a bit gray and overcast but eventually cleared.

We saw some amazing colors of yellow, orange, & red dotted with green.

It was a great way to spend the day as our cell phones didn't work

for most of the day so we were able to talk,

laugh and enjoy each other's company

without interruption.

It was a full day

and we are thankful we were able to 

enjoy it together.

And now it is a new day!

Back to the bike this morning.

Rode for 45.20 minutes,

9.81 miles

burned 502 calories.

And boy do my legs know it.

While riding the bike I spent some time in prayer

and the thought that kept going through my mind was

"Discipline..it just takes Discipline."

And God being God

began my devotion for today in

Now how direct is that???

God loves me enough to discipline me,

just like parents discipline their children because they love them.

And this verse came to mind

A verse that has helped me through 

some very difficult times.

Reminding me that difficult times lead to 

good times.

And how quick we are as humans to rationalize 

our behavior, our choices.

And sometimes getting to the Yes the hard way.

For me, 

my heart attack was a major wake-up call.

I have been diligent about exercising

and eating healthy until this past week.

Making excuses, rationalizing making poor eating choices

with "well, we haven't seen these friends in a long time so go ahead and have that piece of pie."

"One handful of gummi bears aren't going to hurt me."

"I haven't had a bowl of ice cream in so long."

You know, the lists goes on and on.

And then this morning I am reminded by God

There is a lot that depends on me,

that I can do for me,

giving me peace in life.

Exercising

(and boy do my legs hurt after 3 days not riding the bike)

Making healthy choices

(drinking a bottle of water first thing in the morning 

instead of starting with 2 or 3 cups of coffee with creamer)

Planning healthy dinners

(cooking at home instead of going out to eat)

And the evidence of knowing God,

knowing what is healthy for me;

is displayed in how I 

Love others,

Love myself,

(which is not being selfish but taking care of what God has blessed me with)

Forgive others,

Forgive myself,

(for making bad/wrong choices ~ that was yesterday,

today is a new day)

And bearing each others burdens,

helping where we can

and encouraging others.

By blessing others I am blessed too!

Thank you Lord for starting my own thoughts this morning

about discipline

and using my devotional 

to affirm what I know is true.

That I am not alone in this 

journey of life

that You are always with me.

**************************************

I close with asking for prayer over the next few days.

October has always been a hard month for me.

Emotionally as my Mom, Dad and Grandpa all died in October.

As I struggled with major depression issues many years 

in the month of October.

Halloween is not a fun holiday for me,

thus it was not always easy for our family.

I ask for prayer for peace in my heart,

and for love and joy to be exploding 

in the hearts of my children and grandchildren.

And again

I am thankful for the Lord's 

consistent love and provision 

in my life over the past years,

today and what it will bring.

And His reminder,

Restless Exhaustion

Now isn't that an oxymoron?

Restless ~ can't sit still, feeling anxious, constantly moving

Exhaustion ~ tired, not moving, 

That is how I was yesterday.  

Feeling restless, like there is so much to do.

And there is: checkbooks to be balanced, kitchen to be cleaned, 

a cabin needing cleaning, bathrooms needing some attention,

dinner to be fixed, and the list goes on and on....

And not knowing where to even begin.

Adding in an appointment smack dab in the middle of the day,

guests checking in, telephone ringing,

mail to be answered, evening plans and the list goes on and on...

And feeling exhausted, to keep from 

getting the cold and achyness that hubby brought home from Portland.

So tired, just wanted to go to bed,

afraid to sit down for fear going to fall asleep 

wherever I sit.

And so I crawled into bed just after 7 p.m.

And was asleep before 8 p.m.

(I know because I missed the end of Dateline)

And finally woke up at 7:22 a.m.

Yep, I think I was tired.

Got up, dressed, started my morning routine

and thought crap! it's already 9 a.m.

time to open the office.

Nope, only 8:01 a.m.

So asked myself

Do I spend time in the Word or just open the office?

Time in the Word...

...important for me, helps me to get off on a good foot.

And once again

God is Faithful!!!

Question of the day:  Do people encounter Christ when they meet me?

I would say yes, most of the time,

but on mornings when I feel rushed and discombombulated - ummm NO!

God affirming to me it was right to spend this hour with Him.

Variety of Scriptures this morning

Psalm 103:19-22

A reminder that there is comfort in knowing

God has power over everything,

especially with all the changes and instability 

happening in our world today.

And remembering

Romans 8:31

And Joshua 3:7-8

God said to Joshua, “This very day I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all Israel. They’ll see for themselves that I’m with you in the same way that I was with Moses. You will command the priests who are carrying the Chest of the Covenant: ‘When you come to the edge of the Jordan’s waters, stand there on the river bank.’”

As God was with Moses, He will always be with me!

Ephesians 2:14-18

And finally

Hebrews 12:14

I think a lot about Peace...

peace in relationships,

peace in my heart and soul

living in peace

and I cling to

for something I crave and have absolutely no control over

a healed relationship

with my younger sister.

And I have to remind myself

It is all in God's timing.

God knows the desires of my heart

and I have peace 

in my heart that 

God hears my prayers.

*************************************

Today I am thankful for a new day,

to live in Christ

and knowing without a shadow of doubt

that one day, some how, some way

I will be reconciled with my sister.