The Truth About Angels: Michael

     Our heavenly messenger, Gabriel, was sent to play an important part in God’s plan. He interpreted Daniel’s visions and gave him insight into the last days. He was the one to deliver the good news regarding the upcoming births of John and our Lord, Jesus.

     The mighty warrior angel, Michael, is mentioned in three books of the Bible; Daniel, Jude and Revelation. Like Gabriel, Michael is involved in bringing answers to prayer and in fulfilling the prophecies of the Scriptures. I want to share a larger portion of Scripture, Watch for another remarkable angel, who will mention Michael for the first time. Again, we are in the book of Daniel. Daniel has been in a time of deep and fervent prayer.

I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left; my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground. A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you and stand up for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. Then he continued. “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now, I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”  Daniel 10:5-14

     This first mention of Michael helps us understand his mission as a warrior angel, fighting with the demonic world. We will talk about the fall of the angel Lucifer (or Satan) later. When Lucifer fell from heaven he took 1/3 of the angels and the battles continue in the spiritual realm.

     Isn’t it interesting that this angel was sent to answer Daniel’s prayer and it took him 21 days? This awe-inspiring angel with fiery eyes and a face like lightning could not get to Daniel without a battle in the heavens, even enlisting the help of Michael. Amazing!

     Daniel’s companions did not even see the angel, yet they hid themselves in terror and Daniel had no strength, fell into a sleep and had to be helped to his feet, still trembling. The angel says, “Do not be afraid.” Sound familiar? (See yesterday’s blog)

But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Jude 9

     Michael was, earlier in history, fighting with the devil over the body of Moses. Notice the words, “the archangel Michael.” Michael may be the only archangel. The name Michael means, “like God.” The term archangel means “high-ranking angel.”

     In the book of Revelation we find Michael front and center in the final battle with the dragon (the devil) and his angels. Here again, we see angels are immortal. Michael is there at the time of Moses, at the time of Daniel, and will be a part of the final battle yet to come, at least 2500 years later.

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.  Revelation 12:2

     The archangel’s voice is heard at the final trumpet call of the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

     Michael, the Lord’s archangel, is fighting the demonic angels and the devil on behalf of God’s people. He is called “the great prince who protects your people” (Daniel 12:1) or Israel.  He fought the king of Persia. It sounds as if God’s angels and Satan’s angels have specific territories doesn’t it?

     Did these first glances at angels in the Bible whets your appetite for more? Tomorrow we will read the Scripture verses having to do with seraphim and cherubim. The descriptions we will read will leave you with mouth-dropping awe!

Dear Father in heaven,

We know the end of the story when there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Your purposes are being played out on earth and in heaven right now. Everything will be resolved in Your timing. We trust you. Thank you for Your Word and Your love. They never fail.

Amen   

    

The Truth About Angels: Gabriel

     Angels were created by God. (Colossians 1:16-17) There are different types of angels, all serving God’s purposes on earth and in heaven. Today and tomorrow we will be introduced to two of the angels mentioned by name in the Bible, Gabriel and Michael.

    The name, “Gabriel” means “God is mighty.” God sends Gabriel to Daniel to give him insight and understanding and to interpret his visions. We know he can fly as Daniel mentions in chapter 9, verse 21, ...”he came swift in flight”… Daniel describes him as one like a man, but when he sees him, he is terrified and falls prostrate with his face to the ground.

     Seeing an angel is no everyday, ordinary event, although they can take on human form, as we will discover later in our study. Just like Daniel, most angelic encounters in the Bible are met with fear and trembling. Zechariah and Mary are no exception.

     Gabriel appears 500 years later in the book of Luke, chapter 1.  We find Zechariah serving as a priest before God. His wife, Elizabeth, has not been able to conceive and they are very old.

    An angel of the Lord appears and, just as we saw in the book of Daniel, Zechariah is startled and gripped with fear. (verse 12) The angel explains that their prayer for a child has been heard and they will have a son. They are to call him John.

    Zechariah finds this difficult to believe and Gabriel introduces himself and gives us a little more information about where he resides.

“The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.” Luke 1:19

     Six months after his visit to John the Baptist’s father, Gabriel is sent to deliver more good news. The GOOD NEWS about the birth of Jesus to the virgin girl. Mary is greatly troubled.

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. Luke 1:30

     He continues to explain the birth through the Holy Spirit, about her furure Son's kingdom and that he will be called the Son of God. His last words to her are important for all of us.

“For no word from God will ever fail.”  Luke 1:37

     What do we know about Gabriel from these two books of the Bible?

·       He can fly.

·       He was sent as God’s messenger to bring good news, along with insight and understanding. The messages he delivers are prophetic, including visions of the last days and the fulfilling of prophecies in the births of John the Baptist and the Messiah, Jesus.

·       His appearance brings fear and trembling and yet he “looks like a man.”

·        He is immortal. His appearances to Zechariah and to Mary are 500 years after his appearance in the book of Daniel.

·       He stands in the presence of God.

     Tomorrow we will meet the archangel, Michael.

Dear Lord,

Teach us to see with our spiritual eyes as we imagine the heavens full of Your angels. One day we will see them face to face just as we will see You.  Thank You for Your Word. As the words from Gabriel remind us no Word from You will ever fail.

In Jesus name.

Amen

The Truth About Angels

When we become members of God’s family and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, not only do we receive His Holy Spirit within us, and a heavenly home forever, and a life of hope and purpose on earth (as if that were not enough!) we have added protection in the spiritual realm.

     In literature and in our culture, we see and hear much about angels. As we delve into the truth about angels in the days to come, I think you will be surprised at the difference between the angels we imagine and the angels in the Bible. You may be surprised at their appearance, what they do and how they can affect our lives. Do people turn into angels? Have people really seen angels? What do they do?

     We will discover together the answers to some of those questions and more.  How many angels are there?

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. Revelation 5:11

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.  Hebrews 12:22

     Tomorrow we will discover what some angels look like, even name a few. As you look around today, marvel at God’s creation. He created you! You are unique; one-of-a-kind. Some of my personal favorites in God’s creation are the palm tree, the koala bear, the flamingo, the spider mum, and the ocean. How about you? He made the stars in the sky and the moon and the stars.

     Imagine a sunset over the ocean, the view from a mountain-top, walking through a field of wildflowers. He is our almighty God and there are thousands upon thousands, ten thousand times ten thousand angels surrounding Him in worship. Not only do they worship, they minister, they deliver messages, they are warriors and protectors and comforters.

     See you tomorrow as we meet Gabriel, Michael, and the seraphim and cherubim. 

Dear Father,

Everything about Your creation astounds us. From the human body and all of its intricacies, to the birds of the air and the fish of the deepest ocean. We praise You this morning for it all. Be with us as we study Your Word and what it says about angels.

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Word for the Weekend

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

Let’s become rooted deep in the good soil of Jesus. He is the vine and we are the branches. Watch as we grow with the healthy fruit of the Spirit.

Be filled with the love of Christ, the joy of His salvation, the peace that passes understanding, waiting patiently for His timing, showing kindness to others, knowing God brings good in ALL things, growing in our faith to trust Him in EVERYTHING, feeling His gentle touch when we need it most, as we allow the Holy Spirit within us to control our lives!

Love to you all on this chilly Minnesota weekend.

                                         

The Fruit of the Spirit: Self-control

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

    What comes to mind when you hear the term self-control? Diet, discipline, duty? Sounds like some hard work here. How do we grow this fruit of the Spirit? Jesus told us to remain in Him. He is the vine and we are the branches. He makes this fruit grow naturally in us. Could we call this particular fruit, "Spirit-controlled self?"

     I like to think of love and self-control as the bookends to all of the fruit. We need both to begin to flow in joy, peace, patience and all of the other attributes of the fruit of the Spirit. God’s love is so powerful it can fill us to the brim until it overflows with fruit to be used in our contact with others.

     Without the Holy Spirit’s guidance, all we have is our own mind, body and emotions to rely on. Following the desires of our own flesh and emotions can take us into some dangerous territory, as we react to the people and situations surrounding us on a daily basis. This Spirit-controlled self can come in handy.

    A nudge from the Holy Spirit might find you calling a friend, even when you don’t have time, with a word of kindness. He might use your teeth to bite your tongue when that anger boils up within, and, instead, words of gentleness are spoken with love. The Holy Spirit can work on us with those pruning shears of Christ in all areas of life. Our Spirit-controlled self may be able to say, “No!” to that third piece of chocolate. My emotions are still winning on that one.

     Growing in the things of the Spirit takes time. Use some of that fruit of patience with yourself. God’s patience with us never wears thin. When we stumble, He picks us back up, dusts off the flesh, and moves us again into the Holy mountain where He lives. The Lord never gave up on the Israelites as they made their way to the promised land. They turned away from Him, time and time again. In fact, it took them 40 years to make what should have been an 11 hour journey.

     Remember we are on the way to our own promised land. Let’s make the trip count. Jesus loves you. Allow the Gardener with those pruning shears to do His work as He begins to control even those old habits of ours.

Dear Jesus,

Teach us how to control our minds, bodies and emotions under the control of Your Holy Spirit. We know Your work in us will produce good fruit. Guide us as we listen for Your voice above all of the other noise around us today and everyday.

Amen

The Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

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

                                                                                                   

         We know our God is mighty, powerful, omnipotent and just. He is also gentle. When the prophet, Elijah, became exhausted and fearful, he wanted to die and hid in a cave. The Lord wanted to speak to him. First a mighty wind tore apart the mountain and after the wind, an earthquake, but God was not in either. Read this:

After the earthquake, came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:12

     When we are living in fear or doubt or despair we would love the powerful voice of God to tell us what to do next or how to get out of our mess. His voice often comes in a whisper, rather than a shout. Is it just me, or does it seem like more people are shouting, that the world appears to be a little bit more harsh? A gentle touch or a kind word can stand out among the harshness and anger around us.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  Proverbs 15:1

     Are you under a heavy burden today and could use that gentle touch? Here is what Jesus says:

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  Matthew 11:28-29

     We can, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit in us, bear with one another too, just as Jesus promised He would do for us.  Our friendly neighbors Joyful Jenny and Kind Katie, have been doing just that with Crabby Cathy. And they will continue to walk with her as she grows in her new-found faith in Jesus.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient; bearing with one another in love.  Ephesians 4:2

Dear Lord,

You lighten our loads when we are burdened. It might be with a gentle touch or a whisper of Your love. Teach us how to bear with one another in gentleness and love. We can’t do it on our own. We pray we can be different in a harsh and angry world. With the help of Jesus we can.

Amen

The Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

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

     Are you still unsure about the Gospel? Can this Good News be true? We need to hear the Word before God speaks to our hearts about Jesus, and we discover faith.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word about Christ.  Romans 10:17

     Sixteen years after Joyful Jenny and her family moved in next door to Crabby Cathy, JJ and her daughter, Kind Katie are sitting with CC on her patio. It is God’s timing. It has taken years of sharing God’s fruit, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness. Today is the day for CC to hear the Word of God.

     Katie reads John 3:16, followed by 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, explaining the free gift of the sacrifice, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. CC listens quietly. She looks at Katie and replies with a simple, “Yes, I believe. Jesus, please forgive me for everything I have done.” Their eyes glisten with tears and the seeds of faith are planted. The Holy Spirit moves into CC’s heart on a glorious summer day. She would never be the same. And neither will we.  God is pleased with our faith:

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.  Hebrews 11:6

 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

     We are blessed for our faith and God is pleased. He rewards those who diligently seek Him.  I’ll say He does. Those simple words, “I believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior,” give us an eternal home in heaven and a new life on earth, and the faithfulness of a loving Father forevermore.

Dear Father,

Thank you for Your faithfulness in finding ways for us to hear Your Word. You have placed us here for a purpose. Guide us in Your Spirit to use the fruit in ways that are pleasing to You. Help us in our unbelief. Open our eyes to see You and say, “Yes!”

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness

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

God is good.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 118:1

     The phrase, “He is good and His love endures forever,” is written over and over again in the Psalms. Do you believe that God is good? Do you believe He loves you? Life can be discouraging, depressing, confusing, overwhelming and doubt-filled can’t it? Why does God allow sorrow and suffering to be our companions as we journey through this short life on earth?

     Goodness is another seed that is planted and grows within us as we allow God to work in our Spirits through His Word, through prayer, through praise and thanksgiving and many times, through our trials and testing. God teaches us about His goodness, His compassion, His understanding and His abiding love through the most difficult of days. When life is sailing smoothly along on calm waters, we become complacent and comfortable and independent. We can take care of ourselves.

     When a storm pulls the comfortable roof from over our heads, it often brings us to our knees for cover. Is there really a God? He wants to get to the core of us. He wants us to learn to trust Him. He wants the Holy Spirit in us to grow so strong, that we can remain filled with His joy and peace NO MATTER WHAT! 

And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

     He works for the good in “all things.”  No matter what the circumstances, no matter where you have been, God can take everything from your past and present and use all of it for His future purposes. You have heard testimonies over the years. There is hope in our stories. God heals. He transforms. He changes everything to good.

     Why did God place a crabby and critical neighbor next door to Joyful Jenny and her family? It could be that God knew she needed some unconditional love. The innocence of a kind-hearted child began the change. Over a period of many years Kind Katie and her mom developed a strong bond with Cathy. And one day, there came the perfect opportunity to mention the love of the Father. Amazing grace. Amazing love. The amazing goodness of a loving God.

Dear Jesus,

You are good and Your love endures forever. Show us Your goodness. Use our suffering and sorrow to teach us. Give us patience as we wait for Your purpose in our lives. As we learn from Your compassionate heart, only then can we be compassionate to others. God is so good.   http://youtu.be/cfyM7PYpE6I

Amen

The Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness

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

     If you are stopping by for the first time or haven’t been here is awhile, please read through last week’s blogs The fruit of the Spirit listed in the verses above will grow in us as we view the world through the lens of Christ. From His vantage point, He can see into the hearts of man.

     Filling up with His love and the gift of eternal life, gives us a deep joy and a peace unlike anything else the world has to offer. God’s timing and patience in us allows us to trust Him over long periods of waiting. That Spiritual growth takes time. Let’s check in with Joyful Jenny this morning.

     JJ’s daughter, Kind Katie, is heading out the door with cookies for their next-door neighbor, Crabby Cathy and JJ marvels at the relationship between this unlikely duo. Katie has never had a problem with their crabby and critical neighbor. The relationship began when Katie was only five years old. The first time they met she went right up and held Cathy’s hand. Cathy, in return, has never said an unkind word to Kind Katie and the two have become fast friends.

     JJ realizes that her daughter has taught her just as much about following Jesus as the women of faith in her life. Katie still sings a song she learned in church as a kindergartner based on Ephesians 4:32.

Be kind, one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, in Christ, has forgiven you. Too, too, toodly, too, Ephesians 4:32.  Yeah!

     Katie comes home after an hour or so and tells her mom CC is healing just fine after her knee surgery. Today she confided in the twenty-one year Kate about her own critical father.

     And her kind-hearted daughter said, “See mom, I know it hasn’t been easy for you to be nice to Cathy, but she never had a loving father like we both did. I told her she has a loving Father in heaven and He will love her enough to make up for it.”

    Be kind one to another. It’s worth a try. And if we are patient and joy-filled with peace in our hearts who knows what might happen with the Crabby Cathy’s in our lives?

Dear Father in heaven,

Thank you for loving us so much that Your Son, Jesus, suffered on the cross and took all of our sins on His own shoulders. That kind of love is available to us through Your Holy Spirit. Continue to grow that precious fruit within us as we head out the door today.  Show us how to be kind and tender hearted to those around us.

Amen

A Word for the Weekend

     I want to thank you for reading this blog. I pray for you each day. The Words of Scripture move into our hearts and take up residence. The Word of God changes us and gives us strength to get through each day. All week we have been looking into the fruit of the Spirit. Here is another verse about God’s Holy Spirit.

For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  2 Timothy 1:7

     I could use a little God power right now. How about you? Not to mention His unconditional love; and a sound mind? My husband would agree I am in need of some of that!

     Enjoy the weekend!  See you on Monday as we look at the fruit of kindness.

The Fruit of the Spirit: Patience

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

     The patience of God is endless. His answers in our lives are not based on our time tables. If you are a Christian, you may be praying for someone or for yourself, for healing, for comfort, to find a spouse, to have a baby, to find peace. Someone may be praying for you and here you are reading about Jesus and His Word! Beautiful. God works in a myriad of mysterious ways. To Him, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. (Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8)

     Moses lived in the desert for 40 years and was 80 years old before God used him to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Sarah and Abraham had their son, Isaac, long after child-bearing years. In fact, the name Isaac means “laughter.”  That is just what Sarah did when she found out she was pregnant. She laughed! Daniel was brought into captivity in Babylon when he was a teenager. He remained a faithful servant of God in the midst of corruption and greed, consistently praying for his fellow Israelites to be allowed to go home. His prayers would be answered but he would remain in Babylon until he was a very old man.

     It is difficult to be patient and trust God over a long period of time isn’t it? Do not lose heart. God is not slow in coming.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness; instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.   2 Peter 3:9

     It is our friend, JJ’s, 45^th birthday. She marvels at the passage of time. As she prays in the early morning hours, she thanks God for His patience with her. Her faith has matured and she recognizes how God has worked in her and in her family. It has been fifteen years since her son’s allergies were diagnosed and controlled. Her mom and dad enjoyed their apartment for ten years before her dad went home to Jesus five years earlier.

    She is now just two years older than CC had been when they first moved in. All of those years ago Jenny’s love for her neighbor was a forced love out of obedience to God. She tried, many times unsuccessfully, to follow His ways. But God had worked a miracle and her eyes glistened with tears as she discovered the truth. She really did love Crabby Cathy.

     She picked up her Bible and in her daily reading she found this:

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rain.  James 5:7

     The fruit of the Spirit she had studied all of those years ago was growing slowly and steadily. She recognized the work of the Holy Spirit within her, and the faithfulness and patience of God over time. He was so good. CC was getting ready to have surgery, and she bowed her head again.

Lord Jesus,

Teach us how to be patient. We want immediate gratification when we see a need. You hear every single prayer and You give us what we need, when we need it, in Your time. Be patient with us we pray. You place us in situations and with people for a reason. Give us the same patience that You have with us.

Amen

The Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

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

     Tornadoes twirl, heat waves soar, social media blares, anxiety increases, drugs abound; where is peace? Can it be found? What is robbing you of a sense of peace? What is your mind focusing on today?

     Joyful Jenny had recaptured a sense of hope in her conversation with Encouraging Evelyn. As their study begins, she attempts to focus on the facilitator, but her mind is, once again, in turmoil. The doctor’s appointment for her son, a meeting with an assisted living apartment for her mom and dad and the call she needs to make to the driveway company are swirling around in her head.

     “Lord, please focus my mind on You this morning,” she whispers.

     Teaching Tess asks for the women to raise their hands if they are worried about anything this morning.  Most of the women raise their hands. TT reads from Philippians Chapter 4;

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

    Tess continues the discussion. “Did you notice the words at the end of verse 7? That peace of Christ will guard both our hearts and our minds. Listen to these two verses. Our inner peace is somehow connected to what is on our minds.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.  Isaiah 26:3

     What do you think women of faith? Trusting and focusing our minds on Christ rather than on our worries and circumstances will keep us in peace? Let’s talk about that, but allow me to read one more:

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

     Jenny felt a surge of peace and contentment flood her tired mind and body. She listened to the conversation flowing around her. These wise women offered suggestions; taping Scripture verses around the house; memorizing Scripture focused on a particular worry; thanking God in advance for working on a struggle; praising Him for all He is even in the midst of a crisis; going to Him first with our worries.  She took notes and felt her anxiety lift.

     As she drove home, with this unexpected peace, and with a prayer, that it would last for more than five minutes, she decided to stop at Crabby Cathy’s house to figure out what to do about the driveway.

Dear Jesus,

These are Your Words of peace to us:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Give us the inner peace that surpasses knowledge. Train our minds to focus on You and the things of the Spirit. Keep our hearts and minds free from fear and worry.

Amen

The Fruit of the Spirit: Joy

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

     That soul-deep, Spirit-filled, fruit of joy is established when we accept Jesus as Savior. At that moment we are seated in heaven to live in everlasting joy. Some days, hopefully most days as we mature in our faith, that joy can sustain us through the ups and downs of life. Christ is with us today, tomorrow, forever. 

     Sometimes life gets in the way.

     Let’s pick up with Joyful Jenny a few years later. Her youngest child has been sick off and on for a few months with no real answers and there are health concerns with her parents. Prayer and Bible study still hold a vital and prominent place in her life, but the Words and the prayers feel empty. They are not moving from her head to her heart. The joy is missing. 

     That missing joy moves another few miles into the distance as she spots Crabby Cathy.

     “You know I don’t like the sound of that company you chose to do our driveways. I may call someone else to get an estimate.”

     There was no love in her heart as she said, “You do whatever you need to do.” And she walked inside. The company she chose? No, they chose it together! How could she continue to speak to her next-door neighbor with love when she never received anything in return except criticism? “Lord, how do you keep loving people when they don’t listen or respond?”

    Joyful Jenny relied on other women of faith in her life, especially the older women. They spoke with such wisdom and love. Most of them had been through so much and they had grown to trust Jesus even when the circumstances seemed impossible or even hopeless. Their stories gave her new hope. Walking into Bible study early, she was relieved to see Encouraging Evelyn.

    “First of all,” Evelyn said after listening quietly for a few minutes, “tell Jesus absolutely everything on your heart. He understands exactly where you are and He will get you through. Praise Him and thank Him for working in all of these situations. All of us go through times of despair. And remember we are a work in progress. We just read that in Philippians 1. Believe me, He is never done working on us.

    I also want to give you encouragement with your neighbor. You may not see results, but you have been planting seeds in her life for years. You may be the only Jesus she ever meets. Jesus will do the heart changing. Trust Him to know the timing. And one more thing. Don’t allow others to steal your joy. You know Jesus!”

     JJ felt a surge of hope. Evelyn gave her a verse to memorize.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

    Today it just so happened they were studying the 4^th chapter of Phlippians. Paul is writing from a prison cell, trusting God, changing even the jailers’ lives and this is part of what he said to JJ and to us:

Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again; Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Dear Father in heaven,

You tell us to come to You when we are weary and burdened. (Matthew 11) Keep us joyful in hope. 

We rejoice in Jesus.

Amen

    

   

The Fruit of the Spirit: Love

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

     Love encompasses all of the other fruit. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit within us, will continue to teach us how to love. Each one of us is made in the image of God. Jesus sees through to the heart. Let’s follow the story of Joyful Jenny and Crabby Cathy this week and use them as one illustration for growing in the fruit of the Spirit.

     Joyful Jenny and her young family moved into a new house. JJ had given her heart to Jesus a few years earlier and was in the midst of a Bible study on the fruit of the Spirit. It turns out she would be put to the test on growing in the Spirit with her next door neighbor, Crabby Cathy.  JJ had recently read this Scripture:

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.” Luke 6:32

     JJ had made a conscious decision to love the difficult people placed in her life. She began to pray for Cathy and for her own words to be spoken in love. She took a deep breath as she walked outside one summer morning, seeing CC out in the backyard.

     “You really need to get to work on these weeds back here. They are starting to move into my yard and I have more than enough to do, thank you,” CC said the moment Joyful walked outside with her kids.

     “Good morning. You are so right. But isn’t it a beautiful morning? It’s a morning to play don’t you think? But I will get on those weeds soon. Your yard looks beautiful by the way. I might need help on deciding which one of these are weeds. Aren’t some of them pretty?”

     With a “hmmph” CC walked away. Jen sighed, recognizing how difficult it was to love some people. “How do you do it Lord?” she whispered before heading to the swing set with her kids.

     Think about those difficult people in your life. Maybe the Holy Spirit can give you some help in loving them, as impossible as that sounds. It is easier to love the people that are like us, that love us, that understand us. The Holy Spirit will allow us to see a little deeper into the hurt, the defensive walls, the grief and hopelessness. Is He asking you to love?

Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

     Make sure you fill up with the love of Christ, until it overflows. His love is unconditional, filled with mercy and new beginnings. His love changes us first. Only then can He work within us and through us to share it with the CC’s in our lives.

Dear Lord,

Fill us to the brim until it overflows with Your love. Teach us to love the difficult people in our lives and the people who need it the most. Take away our doubt and fear as we move out into the world today.

In Jesus we pray,

Amen 

The Fruit of the Spirit

     On Friday, Jesus reminded us that He is the vine and we are the branches and apart from Him we can do nothing. The Father is the gardener and, as any good gardener would, He cuts off unhealthy branches and prunes others in order to produce more healthy fruit. What is the fruit of the Spirit?  The Bible is clear on just exactly what the fruit is:

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

     Did you notice these verses begin with the fruit of the Spirit, not fruits? The seeds of this fruit are planted in us. As we continue to grow in the things of the Spirit that Gardener of ours pulls out some of the seed-eating weeds and we grow in this precious fruit.

    The fruit is made within us to be shared. Tomorrow we will begin with love. That is where everything begins with Jesus. In the meantime, don’t be afraid of the pruning shears or even the ax. Trim a bit of temper here, a bit of bitterness there, and chop off that huge cheating limb. It’s all for our own good, even when it hurts. Jesus produces only the best fruit.

Dear Jesus,

Teach us more about Your fruit in the weeks to come. Help us to grow in the fruit of the Spirit. Most of all, help us to trust You to know what is best as we continue to walk in step with the Spirit.

Amen

A Word for the Weekend

     This is one of my favorite prayers in the Bible. I pray it over each one of you. Allow it to wash over you and keep you filled with the love of Christ for this weekend and always.

For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long, and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen  Ephesians 3: 14-21                                                                          

The Fruit of Faith

     I love the fruits of summer; the colors, sweet taste and mouth-watering goodness of fresh strawberries, cantaloupe and watermelon. To produce those luscious, ripe fruits on the vine it takes good healthy soil, a strong root system, water, sunlight and a patient gardener.

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.  John 15:8

    What does it mean for us, as Christians, to “bear much fruit?” Others will recognize us as His disciples by our fruit. For us to bear much fruit we need a deep root system, a system leading to a strong and healthy vine.

“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.”  John 15:5

    We need the living water of the Word of God and the light of the Son.

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”  John 7:38

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

     We have an extremely patient gardener. He tends to us, removes those branches that are not healthy and prunes us to bear more fruit.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”  John 1:1-2

     These verses provide a beautiful Word picture for us of a loving gardener, working with us over time to produce that fruit that is irresistible. On Monday we will begin to look at the fruit of the Spirit. What is it exactly? What does it look like and how does it develop into ripe and mature fruit?

     In the meantime abide in Him, remain in the true vine. Remember yesterday we talked about freedom in faith? Take another deep sigh of relief. The Gardener does all of the work. If we remain in Him, he produces the fruit. He is the healthy vine. Let’s grow our roots deep.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for tending to our hearts. You plant the seeds of this healthy fruit the minute we call you “Lord.” Help us to grow into fruitful disciples for You.

We love You.

Amen

The Freedom of Faith

Being a follower of Jesus brings great freedom. Do you believe that? There are those that look at Christianity as a form of bondage, a belief that takes all of the fun out of life. In fact, just the opposite is true. Often the things we hold on to the tightest hold us in the tightest chains.

                                                                                            

     We talked a week or two ago about letting go of hurt from the past. Jesus, over time, will heal our grief, take away hidden bitterness and rage, lift us up from despair, remove addictions and lust, and lead us into something deeper, something more satisfying. As the Spirit in us grows stronger and more active, He will work to fill us with peace and joy and purpose. It is a life filled with the deep goodness of life; a life filled with a love that abides until our death and beyond.

     You may live with guilt over some things in your past. Think of that time in your life as being controlled by the enemy of God. God promises us a double portion for our trouble. When we ask forgiveness and take on Jesus as Savior, that guilt from past sin is removed forever. Not only is it removed, it is replaced. Look at this:

Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.  Isaiah 61:7

     Replacing past hurt and shame with a double portion of joy? I’ll take it! How about you? This freedom from bondage is powerful and motivating. Jesus begins to give us an eternal perspective.  His promises are true and His joy is everlasting.

Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.  John 8:32

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  John 8:36

Dear Lord,

You remove our shame and guilt as far as the East is from the West. Once removed, you give back to us a double portion filled with everlasting joy. What more could we ask?  Show us how to say yes to a new freedom in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Fortress of Faith

     Have your feet been stepping on some holy ground? Have you begun to  build your faith on the tested stone, the cornerstone, the precious rock of Jesus? As we learn to listen to God’s voice through His Word and His Spirit living within us, we learn to trust.

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 59:16

     David wrote this Psalm, knowing that King Saul had men watching his house in order to kill him.  David was the smallest of all of his brothers; yet he was the one to take on the giant, Goliath, relying totally on the strength of his mighty God. I want that kind of faith. I want to feel safe and secure when the whole world seems to be falling apart around me.

     The words fortress and foundation and rock sound hard and unmoving. Yes, our God is mighty. As you consider God as your mighty fortress today, remember, too, His tenderness, His loving kindness, His great love for you. His shelter is strong and formidable, but His arms will hold you tenderly as you wait and watch Him destroy the enemies surrounding you.

     Psalm 91 is a beautiful Psalm of protection. Here is just a small part of it. I encourage you to read it, to meditate on it, to pray over it when you or someone you know is in need of God’s sovereign protection.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalm 91:1

     Picture this strong and mighty God standing right in front of you, tall and majestic, formidable and unmoving, as you sit back and rest in the shade of His shadow.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 

Psalm 91:4

     We have a safe place and a soft place to land, a place of refuge. He is faithful. He is with you. He is strong. He offers a solid foundation, a shadow of rest, soft feathers of protection. Let’s nestle in and praise Him.

Father,

Thank you for your Words of encouragement, for Your strength, for your protective wings that surround us, for the shield of faith in front of us. You are Almighty, the Rock of salvation, the cornerstone of our faith. You are our song.

A mighty fortress is our God.

In Jesus we stand.

Amen