Where have I been lately?

Quiet as a church mouse!

I have thought of many things to share on my blog, but I haven’t stopped long enough to write.

Are you still out there?

I guess I will start this post discussing my photo.  How do you like my little mouse I ordered from Etsy?  Isn’t he cute?  I thought the church would be the best place for him.

On the spiritual front — whew, I have been dealing with a lack of self-control.  Of course the Bible study I’m doing fell on the topic of SELF-CONTROL during the exact time God has been speaking to my heart about this issue.  Remember self-control — the last fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians?

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

SELF-CONTROL

I have heard Joyce Meyer state more than once that we can’t go out and conquer devils when we can’t even conquer picking up our forks.  Ha.  Though her statement made me laugh, I knew there was some truth in her stinging words.

Any woman or man is a mighty warrior if he or she has self-control.  Any person without self-control is either an accident looking for a place to happen or a slave in chains.  ~Beth Moore

I can think of several areas of my life that need more self-control.   Where my mouth is concerned, I often wish I had an UNDO button!  Sometimes words come out and immediately I want to retract them.  Sigh.

Food?  That is a totally different area.  We had to put our sweet first-born child (our yellow Labrador) to sleep a couple of weeks ago.  He was 14 years old and had really gone down hill.  The first morning he couldn’t stand on his own we knew we weren’t going to let him suffer.  As fate would have it, I had already planned to fast that morning!  As the day progressed I literally felt myself wanting to run to food to comfort my sadness.   I felt shame because I knew I needed to take the pain to God, but the food … the food … it was wooing me.

Whew … take a breather and view a photo from my yard.   This is getting too sad over here.  I miss our dog.

The Greek word for self-control is egkrateia.  One of its meanings is:  Restraining passions and appetites.

Ugh!  Does that step on anyone’s toes?

Personally, I don’t use enough restraint in my life.   Trust me, there are a lot of things that I want to say that doesn’t leave my mouth (or get typed on any social networks) — so I do use restraint, but not enough.  However, I will say – that my loving Father is dealing with my heart about it all.   He is so good to me!

Another photo from my yard.  Yes, a vine.   God is the vine and I am a little branch.

John 15:5
“I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”

We cannot overcome without Him, but the great news is that we HAVE VICTORY through Christ!  He made a way for us to break free from ALL chains!

1 Corinthians 6:12
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

Ah, what a statement:  I WILL NOT BE MASTERED BY ANYTHING.

Are you a slave in certain areas of your life?  Remember, Jesus has made a way for us to break out of all bondage.  The shackles need to GO!

Proverbs 25:28
A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out. (Message Version)

I don’t want to have doors and windows open for the enemy in my life!   Do you?  I want every door shut and sealed by the Holy Spirit.  We leave ourselves open to attack when we lack self-control.   A friend and I were just discussing this fruit of the Spirit where eating is concerned.    Beth Moore confirmed our thoughts when she said, “The addiction to overeating is deeply guilt-provoking and self-defeating.”  However, I know there is guilt when we submit to ANYTHING other than God.   When I choose to say something harsh even when I feel the gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit to hold my tongue … I feel guilt.   Our walls are cracked without self-control.   God has given us all of the tools we need to overcome EVERYTHING that comes against us.

God wants us FREE from what masters us!   Everything we do should be for the glory of God.  Right?

Yes, that is what I have been chewing on lately.   Other than that, our sweet daughter not only had her ears pierced recently, but she picked up her first pair of glasses yesterday.   She wore them to school today for the first time.

So, now you know what I have been up to lately.  I do hope to write again soon.   I will leave you with one last photo from our yard.   I would love to hear your thoughts about self-control!  If you pray for me, I will pray for you too!

Have a blessed day everyone!