Self-control, Anyone?

Not long ago, I made a commitment to my small group: to watch my tongue and my heart intentionally. Proverbs 4:23 and all. That was then. And since? One challenge after another. How could I have left one crucial component out of my commitment?

Anyone could wish for more self-control, but only with the active involvement of the Holy Spirit is that going to become a reality. Without Him, submission to, support of, a goal like that remains unmeetable. Yes, a certain amount of self-control can be gained, but eventually pride comes into its own. Am I not wonderful for having so much self-control? And once I think so highly of myself, the fall is inevitable. As 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, If anyone thinks he stands, let him take heed lest he fall.

Need I write more? Trying harder without the Holy Spirit becomes only more frustration and eventually the sludge comes out, from heart to mouth.

What is the remedy? Repentance, re commitment, saturation with Scripture, obedience. 2 Peter 1:3-4 says, His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

But Peter goes on to admonish us: For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfaithful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so shortsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (2 Peter 1: 5-10)

"Book"
Almost ready to release to my public.

So Much to Contemplate Today
This is my younger sister's birthday; we call each other our double sister as we have both known the saving grace of God. When I was a great deal younger, I thought every family was like ours. It was only really when I left home for college that it began to sink in that our family was the exception rather than the rule. More on that later.
Then, too, I was giving some thought to this passage from Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Time was that my focus was more on the second part of this--he will give you the desires of your heart. More recently, finally, my meditation has been on the first part--delight yourself in the Lord. Do I do that? Would I do that even if there was no promise attached? Isn't He enough in Himself to delight in for His own character? Think about His known attributes for a while and you will delight in Him, having repented of not having done so.

Recent Development
In addition to everything else, I'm working on a manuscript. I hope to have it in print by the end of the month--self printed of course. I'm calling it Slices of Bread: Daily Grace for Women.

How We Celebrated our Anniversary
We did end up holding hands in the local URGENT CARE facility. Eventually an overworked doctor was available to check me out. He prescribed an antibiotic and the use of hot compresses. Though the antibiotic was phoned in to our pharmacy, I was too tired to get it. All I wanted to do was to sleep. So I did. The next day, Thursday, I didn't volunteer but stayed home and slept. Garry picked up the antibiotic after work and I started taking it. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. I was supposed to take it for seven days, four doses a day, but by early Tuesday morning my digestive system was in full revolt and so I quit taking it. That was a week ago today. My system has been recovering, but I am still more tired than I would like to be. Whatever I have been able to accomplish has been totally and solely by the grace of God, which is as it ought always be, which is how I ought always to recognize it as being.