BLESSED SELF-CONTROL.

A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

                                                                       Proverbs 25:28 (NLT)

People with self-control master their moods.

They do not let their moods master them.

Most of what gets done in the world is accomplished by people

who do the right thing even when they don't feel like it:

"A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls." (Proverbs 25:28, NLT)

People with self-control watch their words.

They put their minds in gear before opening their mouths:

"Be careful what you say and protect your life.

A careless talker destroys himself." (Proverbs 13:3, TEV)

People with self-control restrain their reactions.

How much can you take before you lose your cool?

"If you are sensible, you will control your temper.

When someone wrongs you, it is a great virtue to ignore it." (Proverbs 19:11, TEV)

People with self-control stick to their schedule.

If you don't determine how you will spend your time, then others will decide for you:

"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,

making the most of every opportunity,

because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV)

People with self-control manage their money.

They learn to live on less than what they make and they invest the difference.

The value of a budget is that it tells your money where you want it

to go rather than wondering where it went!

"In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil,

but a foolish man devours all he has." (Proverbs 21:20, NIV)

People with self-control maintain their health.

That way they can accomplish more and enjoy their achievements:

"Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body ...." (1 Thessalonians 4:4, MSG)

In what areas do you need to develop for self-control?

The disciplines you establish today will determine your success tomorrow.

But it takes more than just willpower for lasting self-control.

It takes a power greater than yourself:

"For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead,

his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7, TEV)

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                  I found this to be so touching and wanted
                                  to share this with you.  

F A M I L Y

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.

He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."

We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.

But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.

When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.

While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,

"While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.

Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.

He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
You never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."

By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.

I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.

"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.

I picked 'em because they're pretty like you..
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."

I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you anyway."

I said, "Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

FAMILY
Do you realise that if we died tomorrow, the company
that we are working for could easily replace us in
a matter of days.
But the family we left behind will feel the loss
for the rest of their lives.

And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more
into work than into our own family,
an unwise investment indeed,
don't you think?
So what is behind the story?

Do you know what the word FAMILY means?

FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU