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Part I Who doesn’t like a bag of chips, a soda or drink of choice, and a movie? The kids are in bed, so we grab those chips, get in front of the TV and precede enjoying our evening only to find ourselves at the bottom of the bag after the 4th episode of the 1st season! It’s then that we realize we haven’t started the laundry, thought about dinner for tomorrow, nor prepared lunch boxes tomorrow!  Self-Control- what a struggle! Can I get an Amen? Your struggle may not be chips but possibly screen time, crafts, laziness, anger, chocolate, or so much more- you name yours. I Googled the definition of Self-Control and found it as “the ability to manage one's thoughts, actions, and emotions to achieve goals, resist temptation, and make better decisions.” The Bible tells us that self-control (temperance) is a virtue, a fruit of the Spirit. Proverbs 25:28 says that “a person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” These thoughts took me to the question of how to go about improving our self-control. What can we do to improve our willpower to achieve our goals? We all know that self-control is a complex skill that is not achieved in a day. We watch children with their short attention spans struggle so much in this area as they learn this virtue. No doubt, our self-control and willpower develop over time and are a very important skill to have in every area of our life, but what can we do to improve in this area? Before we dive into this issue, let me just say that some people with medical diagnoses or who need to be evaluated for a diagnosis such as ADD/ ADHD may have problems with self-control and staying focused and need treatment such as medication. For those who do not have a diagnosis or medical condition, it is more of an issue with discipline, willpower, determination or just a skill that needs to be strengthened. Even those with ADD/ADHD can work on and develop skills to improve self-control. Working on these skills is more beneficial than most of us realize. Research has shown that people who have better self-control tend to be healthier and happier. If self-control helps us to be happier, how do we go about improving it? I’m glad you want to know. 😊 I will address this issue both from a practical as well as Biblical standpoint. I’ll leave the medical treatment to the pros. Let’s see what God has to say first, as much of that will also apply to practical application. God so graciously gives us great examples of Samson, Esau, and others that struggled with self-control in the Bible. Sadly, the lack of self-control brought much pain and distress to these men as well as those around them. What we can see through these examples is that although there were consequences, God is still able to work through and in these men, as well as us, who struggle in this area. We can all find comfort in 1 Timothy 1:7 which states that God has given each of us a spirit of power, love, and self-control. So, we just need to release the Spirit in us to work. When we trust Christ and follow His commands, our Holy Spirit can direct our life more and more. This will result in more self-control. What an awesome privilege to be given the gift of our Holy Spirit from God to guide us in self-control. I hope you will return next week. I will be continuing along this thought with a blog addressing temptation, those things that really challenge our self-control. To finish up this week, below are some verses regarding self-control and the Holy Spirit. Verses to meditate on: Romans 8:26; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Timothy 1:7; 1 Corinthians 10:13. Think on this: What decision can I make this week that will demonstrate self-control instead of the works of the flesh? Is there something that I need to seek God's forgiveness for and make a commitment to do better with the help of Holy Spirit? Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for opening my eyes to realize I have your Holy Spirit in me to improve self-control in the area of ___________ (name your struggle). I know that You give me a spirit of power, love and self-control and I am asking You to strengthen me in this area. Thank you that I have confidence that you will give me the strength to grow my self-control as I seek Your will and guidance. In Your Holy Name I pray. Amen. `Go Sew Seeds and Live Sent

When I was sharing with friends that I was really burdened about starting a blog and shared my idea, a couple of them ask,  “Why call it Sewing Seeds”.  The more that the concept of this site came together, the more I loved the name. You see, no matter where we are, our age, what’s happening in our lives, where we are, or anything else- as a Christian woman, we are ALL called to sew seeds as well as to grow. The evening I made this site public, a dear friend pointed out that I should have used "sowing seeds" not "sewing seeds". I KNEW it was "sowing" and just made a mistake. As I chuckled with her I told her that I could not change the name the thought of "sewing" God's love took off. The word "sewing" means to stitch or join together. At times we must "sow" seeds but I also think that at times we must "sew" seeds in the lives of others. We must come along beside them, joining together- stitched hip to hip when one sister in Christ is going through trials or struggling. So.... every time we think of "sewing seeds" and not "sowing seeds" hopefully this visual will pop into our heads and we can uplift one another no matter if we are sowing- as in planting in the ground or sewing to be knit together. As a child, I loved participating in my family’s garden.  From the tiny seed that went in the ground, to daily watering, to constant weed pulling and keeping the area free from anything that could destroy the crop, I wanted to be part of every bit of it (ok, maybe not weed-pulling).  When the beautiful flower, food, tree or bush was formed to completion, I was left in amazement of the entire process. I questioned, I wondered, and oftentimes, I found myself trying to time-lapse  to catch each tiny detail.  I have seen this same concept play out over and over in the Bible and in my own life. It’s been a blessing to see this process occur as I interact with others. These interactions happen with my family, at church, at work, hanging out with friends and even places that I would never think about. As I see the results of seeds that God has allowed me to sow, I am surprised and amazed that God used me  for His purpose. After almost 60 years of living, I have finally realized that every single thing I do in my daily life can be used by God to make a difference. I memorized a verse many years ago when we took teens to youth camp and it has been my goal, " Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.: Every day I remind myself of my reason for living and that is to glorify Christ. I love pouring into people- precepting and teaching new employees at work, helping teens realize they are wonderfully created in the image of Christ, mentoring new mothers, caring for the elderly, and planning women’s events that help them draw closer to Jesus- it all brings joy! My sweet friend, each experience we have is an opportunity to sow seeds for the Lord. He created every single one of us uniquely so that we can make a difference in the lives of others. He’s gifted us with talents and abilities, placing us in the right place at just the right time, to be a part of kingdom work. The key is that we must be willing. Willing to plant, willing to water, willing to nourish, willing to weed, and yes- willing to harvest when the time is right. God can use ALL of these things when we do ALL for His glory.  We have moved 7 times living in the USA and Europe with government careers. We were not military but certainly should have been! We have lived in SC, AL, VA, GA, Germany and back to SC. Life hasn't always been easy but we have always been blessed. We lived in Germany from 2019 to 2024 as I worked as a nurse for the Army and worked directly with military. Our military friends became our family. The medics, physicians and staff at the clinic and some Germans were my mission field. Planting seeds of God's love into sweet souls that I came in contact has yielded fruit that I would have never imagined if I were writing my life story. I am so thankful that God has the pen and not me. God is still growing many seeds that were planted and watered as He led us through the states and countries that we have been to and that is what our lives are all about. As we walk through this journey together, may we all grow closer to our Heavenly Father, sow seeds of His love wherever we go, and as He opens doors for us to serve, may we be found faithful.  Sweet friend, join me in sowing seeds for our Savior.