“Freedom is born of self-discipline. No individual, no nation, can achieve or maintain liberty without self-control. The undisciplined man is a slave to his own weaknesses.”—Alan Valentine
“Self-determination is fine but needs to be tempered with self-control.”—Unknown “Self-control is the power within you that holds the reins of anger, intolerance and impulsiveness.”—Remez Sasson “He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.”—Tao Te Ching “I think self-discipline is … like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets—Daniel Goldstein “Many men and women in the world demonstrate great willpower and self-discipline in overcoming bad habits and the weaknesses of the flesh.”—Ezra Taft Benson “Self-respect is the root of discipline: The sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.”—Abraham Joshua Heschel “Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It requires you to connect today’s actions to tomorrow’s results. There’s a season for sowing and a season for reaping. Self-discipline helps you know which is which.”—Gary Ryan Blair “Not to have control over the senses is like sailing in a rudderless ship, bound to break to pieces on coming in contact with the very first rock.”—Mahatma Gandhi “If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self.”—Napoleon Hill “Such power there is in clear-eyed self-restraint.”—James Russell Lowell “Why is discipline important? Discipline teaches us to operate by principle rather than desire. Saying no to our impulses (even the ones that are not inherently sinful) puts us in control of our appetites rather than vice versa. It deposes our lust and permits truth, virtue, and integrity to rule our minds instead.”—John MacArthur “By constant self-discipline and self-control you can develop greatness of character.”—Grenville Kleiser “Most of us don’t mind doing what we ought to do when it doesn’t interfere with what we want to do, but it takes discipline and maturity to do what we ought to do whether we want to or not.”—Joseph B. Wirthlin “Self-control is a key factor in achieving success. We can’t control everything in life, but we can definitely control ourselves.”—Jan Mckingley Hilado “We must have a spirit of power towards the enemy, a spirit of love towards men, and a spirit of self-control towards ourselves.”—Watchman Nee
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Quote of the day:
Gratitude is a decision of the will, and if a decision of the will, the choice resides squarely with us. Deciding to be thankful is no easy task. It takes work.—Chuck Swindoll Think about it: I am reading a great book called A Thousand Gifts. It’s the story of a girl, who, when she was very little, watched her sister get run over by a truck in the family driveway. The whole family was broken by the event and never completely healed from the tragedy. The writer spent her whole life believing in God but not trusting His goodness, never really feeling happy or at peace, always searching for something to fill the emptiness she felt. Then one day a friend dared her to find one thousand beautiful things in her life. She started keeping a journal of all the beautiful things she saw. It was usually little things like “a hummingbird dances outside my window” or “the smile of my little girl,” “the summer breeze,” “a stranger’s smile.” On and on the list went. She realized that, as she began looking, beauty surrounded her daily. As she counted her way up to 1,000 gifts, she actually learned how to be thankful. Within weeks she realized that a deep happiness and joy had settled into her life. If you feel like you need to strengthen your thankfulness habit, I would encourage you to start small. Start by seeking out the little things that make you smile: the sunset, a sweet apple, time with friends, the smell of clean laundry, the rush of a great video game, a perfect slice of apple pie, or a hug from your mom or dad. In time you will feel gratitude, or at least peace, regarding some of the bigger and more difficult things in your life. And you will have learned contentment. I am focusing on strengthening my thankfulness habit. I am reflecting more on the beauty and seeking it out. It certainly is all around me. I know it’s all around you too. Why not trying to make your own 1,000 gifts list.—Mara Hodler There is a story, versions of which can be found on several websites, about the world-famous violinist Itzhak Perlman. It illustrates a beautiful principle about God’s grace and power, how He can take whatever we have to offer Him in this life and make it into something beautiful. I’d like to recount it for you.
Itzhak Perlman was playing to a packed house one evening when, in the middle of a piece, that sound, dreaded by every violinist on stage, pierced the air—the sound of a violin string breaking! The suspense in the air was palpable as the orchestra stopped, waiting to see what Itzhak would do. But rather than calling for a different violin, he paused for a moment and signaled for the conductor to continue with the piece; as he took on what most would say was an impossible task: to play a complex piece of music on a violin with only three strings. He played with passion and power and seemed to somehow be reworking the notes in his head as he played. When he finished, there was a stunned silence followed by a roar of applause and cheering from both the audience and the other musicians. Itzhak Perlman had been no stranger to challenges in his life, having been struck down as a child with polio that had left him permanently in leg braces and on crutches. Amid the cheers he struggled to his feet and motioned for the audience to quiet down. Then he humbly said, “You know, sometimes it is the artist’s task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left.” As I pondered this story, it reminded me of the gifts we have in this life and how they come in all forms and shapes and sizes. Some seem obvious: the beautiful voice, the highly skilled gymnast, the brilliant musician, the computer genius, and so many others. But how often do we stop to think about those other gifts that also fill the lives of so many—the blindness that develops other senses to such a degree that the person is able to accomplish even greater feats, or the weakness of body that with God’s love creates a supernatural tenderness, a compassion and wisdom in someone that is able to turn the lives of countless others around and bring them new hope, direction, and joy? Life is filled with blessings (things we see as good) and setbacks (things we see as bad), but whatever we face, when we do it with God’s help, it becomes an opportunity to use what we have in order to create something wonderful. Itzhak’s comprehension of how to turn defeats into greater accomplishments didn’t just happen by chance. He chose to turn his own lifelong suffering into a tool for good that then became a passion to see every obstacle as an opportunity to go even further. His own physical struggles produced a humility that helped to shield him from the corruption of pride, even in the areas where he was highly accomplished. All those things were gifts that could be shared with others through his example. Too often people turn to victimization in today’s world, blaming everyone and everything else, even God. The better choice is to use the things we possess in order to develop qualities that can enable us to shine brightly with His love where we are. “Self-discipline begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don’t control what you think, you can’t control what you do. Simply, self-discipline enables you to think first and act afterward.”—Napoleon Hill
“Self-control is one mark of a mature person; it applies to control of language, physical treatment of others, and the appetites of the body.”—Joseph B. Wirthlin “There never has been, and cannot be, a good life without self-control.”—Leo Tolstoy “One’s greatest challenge is to control oneself.”—Kazi Shams “If you learn self-control, you can master anything.”—Unknown “Prudent, cautious self-control is wisdom’s root.”—Robert Burns “Silence is not always a sign of weakness; it’s also a sign of strong self-control.”—Unknown “Our minds are mental greenhouses where unlawful thoughts, once planted, are nurtured and watered before being transplanted into the real world of unlawful actions ... These actions are savored in the mind long before they are enjoyed in reality. The thought life, then, is our first line of defense in the battle of self-control.”—Jerry Bridges “What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do.”—Aristotle “It is not necessary to react to everything you notice.”—Unknown “Anger doesn’t demand action. When you act in anger, you lose self-control.”—Joe Hyams “I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself.”—Pietro Aretino “By constant self-discipline and self-control you can develop greatness of character.”—Grenville Kleiser “I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself.”—Robert E. Lee “Self-control is the ability to control the expression of our passions and emotions.”—Unknown Quote of the day:
The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated. —William James Think about it: That reminds me of a story I heard one time about the power of seeing and acknowledging the potential in those we interact with. Many classrooms have a couple of troublemakers who make life challenging for their teachers, but one class in particular seemed to be made up almost entirely of troublemakers. Faculty regarded this class as delinquents, and virtually no one, including the students themselves, saw them as having any hope of turning out as anything but trouble in the future. That is, until one day they met their match in a way they never would have imagined. From the first day that she stepped in as their teacher, the class was betting among themselves as to how many days it would be until she ran out of the room in tears. But in spite of their incessant attempts to give her a hard time, to their amazement, she was still hanging in there when the first month was over. She reacted calmly, coolly, and with a sense of sincere care for each individual. She seemed to see past their outward stunts and treated each student with an attitude of respect that was surprising, considering how little they deserved it. One day she called each one to come up and get an envelope with their name on it. Undercurrents of apprehension rippled through the room as they returned to their seats, expecting some form of retribution. However, as each one opened their envelope, to their wonderment, they were faced with something that they had never encountered before. It was a report, but not a report on their bad behavior. Not a word of that. Instead, the teacher had studied them through the month and had seen the strengths and the potential for good in each one. She had managed to discover positive qualities in each individual student. Maybe it was being punctual. Maybe it was being kind to their fellow students. Maybe it was showing leadership qualities or ingenuity or creativity, even if it might have been misguided at the moment. Whatever it was, big or small, she had seen it. The class was stunned into silence. How could she have found so many good qualities in the midst of their efforts to show how bad they were? It made them uncomfortable, but at the same time, little glimmers of smiles crept across their faces. The amazing thing about it was that it was not a one-time thing! When the end of the next month came along, there it was again, and with more good qualities added to the “report.” Month after month, the teacher wrote encouraging and appreciative notes. Maybe the student had tried harder in some area or had misbehaved less often, but there was always something that pushed them gently toward the idea that they weren’t irreversibly destined to the inevitability of being a person everyone looked down on. As she kept looking for more to appreciate them for, they kept trying to provide her with more. It took time, but little by little she was inspiring them to see potential in themselves that they hadn’t expected to see. The students began to make the effort to push themselves because they began to realize that maybe they could break out of the downward spiral that had become their expected lives. They started wanting to learn, even if just to disprove those who had displayed an immense doubt in their abilities. Their minds were finally focused on the good and the positive and trying to figure out what they could do better tomorrow than they had done today. Other faculty members were so shocked at the transformation that she was asked to stick with this group of students for the rest of their high school years. Some of them went on to college and others pursued their dreams in other ways, but all loved this teacher who had changed their lives, changed their minds, changed their perceptions of themselves, and saved them from the self-destructive spirals that their lives were descending into. All it took was a little extra time, effort, and care to see the good and potential, and acknowledge it. This is just one example of innumerable cases of what kindness, consideration, respect, and encouragement have done to change lives and situations. By Curtis Peter
Not so long ago, the various members of our family had different schedules, and as a result, we were seldom able to eat together. I couldn’t help feeling that our family was drifting apart—especially since visiting an Italian friend who taught me what a joy “breaking bread” together can be. A meal in an Italian home is an event. It’s not about grabbing a quick bite on the run; rather, it’s a time to swap stories, to chat, to debate, to share hopes and wishes. Then, just when you think the meal is finished, another delicious dish is set in front of you. Before you know it, two hours have gone by, and maybe many more. No need for any other evening entertainment; the meal is an event in itself. We may not often have the opportunity to indulge in an Italian-style feast, but even in our busy lives, surely we can find a way to share a meal. There is a lot of research that supports the benefits of families eating together. The opportunity to talk over a meal strengthens bonds, creating warmth, security, and a sense of belonging. A home-cooked meal is likely to be more nutritious and cheaper than fast food. Younger members of the household learn manners—asking to pass food, not putting elbows on the table, and eating slowly all contribute to the pleasant experience. Language skills are reinforced as we listen and tell stories around the table. Eating together also increases the whole household’s awareness of food preparation—another great way of giving the children a good start in life. No matter the composition of your household—even if you’re alone—taking time to stop and enjoy your food is going to be good for your digestion and emotional well-being. Meals are also a great time to pray for our specific needs and show appreciation to God for what He’s done. My visit to Italy has inspired me to commit to calling our family together at mealtimes as often as possible. What we get is a lot more than just the food. We receive bonds of love, joy, and togetherness that will last. Quote of the day:
There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost. – Martha Graham Think about it: That quote reminds me of a story of an incident that occurred in North Carolina in 1995. Ten-year-old Lawrence Shields was picking through a bucket of debris in a gemstone mine when a rock piqued his interest. “I just liked the shape of it,” he said. When he knocked off the dirt and grit that were clinging to it, and as he rubbed it on his shirt to polish it up, he saw that this was much more than just a rock. It turned out to be a sapphire. And not just any sapphire—a 1,061-carat sapphire! And that how it is with each of us. Each of us is special, unique, one of a kind, and precious. Most of us are still covered with dirt and are unpolished but that doesn’t demise our worth. What would have happened if Lawrence hadn’t found the sapphire and polished it up? It might still be lost to this day. So when we look at other people we shouldn’t focus on the outside. We should look at the real value that’s on the inside—where each one of us is a gem of incalculable worth. Let’s start looking at others according to their real worth and not let any of their uniqueness go to waste. We need each and every one. By Chris Mizrany
Some years ago, a friend and I were on an overnight bus trip to another part of South Africa. We stowed our bags, connected our headphones, and braced ourselves for the long uncomfortable hours ahead. Before the journey began, I remember thinking I wish teleporters existed, and we didn’t have to waste all these hours just to get somewhere. Little did I suspect what was coming. About halfway through the trip—just after 2 am, the bus broke down, and the driver announced our journey was placed on indefinite “pause.” Mechanics would be arriving, but exactly when was a little hazy, as we were in the middle of nowhere. Some of us decided to file out and stand outside, stretching our legs and breathing the crisp air. I was extremely frustrated, and even a bit upset, with God for allowing the bus to break down. I paced up and down in the darkness, feeling sorry for myself. Then I heard the singing, a low melodic rumble welling up from somewhere in the group of passengers. It rose up in a beautiful rhythm, clear and utterly joyous. Then another voice joined in, then another, then a few more. Before long, many of us were singing along, our woeful thoughts unexpectedly carried away by the tunes of camaraderie and a thankful song. My friend grabbed my arm, “Look up!” she said, pointing to the sky. What a glorious view—stars without number covering the expanse and shining serenely and brightly without competition from city lights, as if to say, It will all work out. As we stood and stared and sang, I regretted my earlier griping and remembered a quote I’d once read: “One man sees the mud, the other sees the stars.” And I realized I didn’t really wish for teleporters after all. I decided to thrive in the moments—both the good and the less good—thankful for what I have and taking time to experience the little joys of life. With the song of salvation in my heart and the twinkles of blessings around me, I can face every day with anticipation. And yes, the bus was repaired and we continued on in our journey, but more than that, I was changed. On that starry night in the middle of nowhere, I was reminded that my Lord is everywhere. My face carries all my memories. Why would I erase them? —Diane Von Furstenberg
Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. —Samuel Ullman The heart that loves is always young. —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe The key to successful aging is to pay as little attention to it as possible. —Judith Regan The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes. —Frank Lloyd Wright The sun shines different ways in summer and winter. We shine different ways in the seasons of our lives. —Terri Guillemets The years teach much which the days never knew. —Ralph Waldo Emerson There is always a lot to be thankful for, if you take the time to look. For example, I’m sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don’t hurt. —Author Unknown We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing. —George Bernard Shaw What matters is not to add years to your life but to add life to your years. —Alexis Carrel Worry, doubt, self-distrust, fear, and despair—these are the long, long years that bow the head and turn the growing spirit back to dust. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair. —Samuel Ullman Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. —Mark Twain You can’t turn back the clock, but you can wind it up again. —Bonnie Prudden Quote of the day:
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing. —Abraham Lincoln Think about at: I recently read an anecdote about a teacher who took her primary school students to the assembly hall to attend a presentation. As they waited at the foot of the steps leading up to the stage, she asked, “Is anybody good at jumping?” Quite a few young hands shot up. “Could any of you jump from the floor here up onto the stage?” No hands went up this time. “I can,” said the teacher, “and I’ll show you how.” Beginning at the foot of the steps leading up to the stage, she hopped onto the first step. From there she hopped onto the second, and so on until she reached the top. As this story demonstrates, there are many things that can only be accomplished little by little, step by step. When a task looks daunting or the way ahead too steep, just take it one step at a time. This applies to looking into the future as well. Too often we try to foresee all scenarios, or we find ourselves worrying about what’s going to happen weeks or even months ahead. Just take it one step at a time and trust God to help you. |
AuthorThe goal of the blog is to provide interesting, motivational, soul feeding material. All to help remind us that God loves us all and wants a personal relationship with each of us and will take care of us in times of trouble. I aspire to be a force for good by providing you with positive input. I encourage you to share the blog with others. Archives
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