Be An Overcomer

     The darkness of this world has no power over us. The light of Christ and the light within us will continue to shine forever.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

     Be still. Be faithful. Be courageous. Be confident. Be an over-comer. With Jesus, all of eternity awaits.

“I have told you these things, so that in Me, you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:13

Jesus,

We welcome Your light and Your Holy Spirit today. Our faith remains in You, until one day we will live with You forever. You overcame death for us.

Amen

Be Confident

     Christianity comes through being humble before our God, recognizing just what He has done for us and how much we need Him. We long to serve Him, to praise Him, to become more like Him, as we recognize, again and again, all He has given us.

     The beauty of this humble service, is that it creates confidence in Christ, and all He can do with our very short lives. What a privilege it is to live for Him and through Him and with Him.

Be confident of His goodness.

I am confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13

Be confident of His continual work in you.

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Be confident in His promises and in His glory.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. So through Him, the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Father,

Let our confidence be in You, in Your promises, in Your glory, in Your good works in us, and in Your goodness and faithfulness to us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Be Courageous

     Knowing Jesus, trusting Jesus, following Jesus leads us to be courageous, to be unafraid of all the world throws at us. Are you facing a challenge, starting something new, letting something or someone go? Life brings about change and, with our God, we can move along fearlessly, with Him by our side.

     As we face the road ahead, we need to know Jesus and to keep His words available to us at all times. Joshua 1:9 has been a favorite of mine and, maybe yours, for a long time. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I am memorizing verses, along with two friends, from a book called, “100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know By Heart.”

     One of those verses is Joshua 1:8. I never realized the importance of this verse, or how beautifully it connects with Joshua 1:9. Here they are in tandem:

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:8-9

     Keeping God’s Word on our lips and in our hearts, meditating on it throughout our days, will keep us in God’s mighty hands. He will give us the courage and the strength to get through each moment of each day. His grace for each minute, each hour, each day, each year, is enough. Be courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. God is with you wherever you go.

Lord,

We give thanks today for your powerful Word. Keep us digging ever deeper into Your words.  They are truth and light, overflowing with hope, able to keep us strong and courageous.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Be Faithful

     In the stillness with God, as we pray, let’s begin with praise. Thank Him for being our God, for loving us enough to send His only Son to die and rise again, for the blessings and beauty of another day. Trusting God through all of our days, gives us peace. He promises this to you and me in this lovely verse.

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

     Even when our minds and emotions are clouded or frenzied or cluttered with too much, even if we stumble in our faith, God is faithful

For the word of the Lord is right and true. He is faithful in all He does. Psalm 33:4.

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13

     God’s faithfulness remains ours forever, when we belong to Jesus. Keep your faith alive and trust in Him.

Father,

Take away our troubled hearts and fears today, as we leave our trust in You. Thank You for Your never-ending faithfulness.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Be Still

Rushed?   Be still

Scrolling?   Be still

Exhausted?   Be still

Angry?   Be still

Worried?   Be still

Scared?   Be still

Joyful?   Be still

Excited?   Be still

Comfortable?   Be still

Grief-stricken?   Be still

Thankful?   Be still

     You get the point. God finds us in the stillness of an early morning, in the five-minute break as we take a deep breath and recognize His presence, in the glorious praise we give Him for all He has done for us, as we take time for His precious Word, in the intimate time of prayer, where we offer everything to Him.  Be still and know Him

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…Psalm 37:7a

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10a

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. Psalm 62:5

And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. Isaiah 32:17

Father,

How beautiful are Your words for us! Let our quietness bring peace and trust. Instruct us with a whisper, as we take time for You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

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 fruit our 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. 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.

    That Holy Spirit nudge might find you calling a friend, even when you don’t have time. He might use your teeth to bite your tongue when that anger boils up within, and, miraculously, 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.

     Taking the time to grow in the things of the Spirit takes time. 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 on 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 promised land. Let’s make the trip count. Jesus loves you. Allow the gardener with those pruning shears and loving touch 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 bring all of the good fruit You provide. Guide us as we listen for Your voice above all of the other noise around us today and every day.

Amen

    

    

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

     Thanks for walking and reading along with me over the last two weeks. 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!

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. Hiding in a cave, he was ready for death, 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 to hear the powerful voice of God telling 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 filled with harsh words and anger? A gentle touch and 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, just as Jesus promised He would do for us.  Our friendly neighbors Joyful Jenny and Kind Kate 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 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

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 have 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.” 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

     God 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. (Romans 10:9-10)

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

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 our days. When life is sailing smoothly along on calm waters, we become complacent and comfortable and independent. We can take care of ourselves. Or so we believe.

     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, even at our lowest point. 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.”  God takes everything from our past and present and uses all of it for His future purposes. You and I 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 to be revealed. As we learn from Your compassionate heart, only then can we be compassionate to others. God is so good. He’s so good to me.

Amen

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 in 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. Jesus may trim something from our lives or even take the ax once in awhile to grow healthier fruit. Let’s continue with the fruit of kindness, and check in, once again, with Joyful Jenny.

     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, toodily, 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-old 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 tenderhearted to those around us.

Amen

Fruit of the Spirit/Patience

But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness self-control. Against the 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 words to you. 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 ago.

    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 out of obedience to God, trying, 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 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

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

     Tornados 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 after 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 filling her mind, not with peace, but with anxiety..

     “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”

     TT continues, “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. Thwords of the Bible held such great power. She listened to the conversation flowing around her. These wise women offered suggestions like 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. As she took notes, she felt her anxiety lift.

     As she drove home, with this unexpected peace, she lifted up a prayer asking 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

Fruit of the Spirit/Joy

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

     That soul-deep, Spirit-filled fruit of joy is established when we accept Jesus as Savior. At that moment, we are seated in heaven, with the promise of 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. Somehow, though, life gets in the way, doesn’t it?

     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 the 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 continued to trust Jesus even in the midst of impossible circumstances. Their stories gave her new hope. Walking into Bible study early, she was relieved to see 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, remember? 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 that missing joy. Encouraging 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 Philippians. Paul is writing from a prison cell, trusting God, changing even the jailers’ lives and this is part of what he says 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) Teach us to be joyful in hope.

We rejoice in Jesus.

Amen

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. (Genesis 1:27) Jesus sees through to each 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 recently moved into a new home. 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 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,” were the first words out of CC’s mouth.

     “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 back, 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?

     First of all, 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

Fruit of the Spirit

     Jesus calls Himself, “the vine,” and He calls us, “the branches.” Apart from Him we can do nothing. The Father is our 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: How is it growing in you?

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, this heavenly gardener of ours pulls out some of the seed-eating weeds as we grow in this precious Spiritual fruit.

    The fruit is grown 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 some temptation 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 days ahead. 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

The Spirit and The Savior

     We are sealed forever with the Spirit when we first believe and the adventure begins. As we relax into our faith with trust, the Spirit takes us to places and situations beyond our imaginations. As Scripture reminds us, the Spirit is like the wind.

     He may speak with a gentle whisper or with a powerful gust. We are prompted, pushed through our fear, knocked off of our feel, forcing us to be still and know God. We are turned in a new direction or we are asked to stay put for a time with patient endurance, as the Spiritual winds die down.  We are His; wherever the wind may blow.

     The Spirit teaches and guides us to understand the Scriptures, opening our eyes and our hearts to hear the truth in new ways. The Spirit, always, always points to the Savior. The Holy Spirit continually brings us into the presence of Christ.

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?

Psalm 139:7

     As our lives become melded with His, and molded by Him, the image of Christ grows from within. This process is due to no work of our own. We are helpless without the Spirit’s guidance. Falling in love with Jesus is a work of God. Let the wind take you on a ride today, soaring higher and higher into Christ’s presence.

To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy; to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen

Jude 1:24-25

The Spirit and The Church

     We are in this together. It’s not about ritual or religion or tradition or denomination. Jesus doesn’t look at our divisions and our man-made rules. The law was covered by grace when Jesus suffered on the cross as a free gift for us.

     We are the body of believers throughout the world, connected by the one and only Spirit of Christ. This Spirit blasts through evil, overpowers darkness with light and the name of Jesus Christ when spoken through a Spirit-filled believer, can move mountains.

     Believe it, Live it. Shine it. We are the church, each one of us, in our families, our neighborhoods, our places of work, in the grocery store, in traffic. The Spirit clothes us with goodness, mercy and love. We are the church. Not the sit-in-church on Sundays and live the way we want Monday through Saturday. We are the Spirit-filled believers of Jesus Christ. You have the power of the resurrected Lord!

 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

The Spirit and The Seal

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13

     The gospel has to be heard.  Our eyes and ears are opened to the truth and we believe! Jesus is ours, now and forever. The promised Savior of the world has saved you and me for all eternity. Nothing can separate us, ever. We are signed, sealed and delivered, heaven-bound.

     At the very moment we accept and believe in Jesus as our Lord, the very Spirit of God, the promised Holy Spirit seals us. Seals were an important part of ancient days. Each prominent person had his own seal and any document would not be accepted as authentic without it.

     Picture yourself with the seal of Christ, permanently stamped in heavenly writing, “WE ARE HIS!”  These words, written by Peter, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, will remind you of all that we are in Christ.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.

     Such powerful words to consider; His chosen ones, His special possession. And as His holy people we are called to declare His praises, reminding ourselves that we are now children of the light.

Dear Jesus,

We are sealed with the promise of heaven, Your special possessions, now and forever. We will thank and praise You for that until we see You face to face.

Amen

The Spirit and The Sword

     God’s Word penetrates and convicts. His Word heals and comforts. The weapons of our warfare listed in Ephesians 6 are all defensive, all but one. Read these verses with me:

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:17

For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

     The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Feeling powerless? Read Scripture aloud. It is alive and true and it can break down strongholds in your life. It will bring your devastated heart comfort and give you strength for another day. It cleanses, creates and clarifies life. Invest in it as you would in silver and gold. It is more precious than both.

The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalm 119:72

Lord,

We thank You for the treasures discovered in the Word of God. Change our lives to be in line with it. It cuts to our hearts and renews our souls. Give us understanding and wisdom to walk in Your ways.

Amen

The Spirit and The Wind

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.  John 3:8

     Following the Spirit’s lead can be exhilarating, puzzling, surprising, perplexing and even frightening. Keeping in step with the Spirit of God will bring challenges, and even fear of the unknown when we need to take a leap of faith. Think about the wind. John’s Gospel compares our lives as born again Spirit-filled believers to the wind.

     How does the wind affect us? The answers can be as varied as a life lived in the presence of God. The wind can direct us, change us, move us and touch us. The wind can knock us from our feet, force us to turn around, refresh us, invigorate us, whisper with softness, or shout with its strength. A strong gust out of nowhere can surprise us and a gentle breeze can soothe us.

     The wind can steer us off of a prepared course as we face the unknown. Are you ready to allow the Spirit of God to move you in unexpected ways? Even when we aren’t listening or following, God will get us back on track with His glorious Holy Spirit.

The wind blows to the south and turns to the north, round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. Ecclesiastes 1:6

     Wherever the Spirit leads, it always returns to its course, our loving Father.

Dear Father in heaven,

Make us aware of Your Holy Spirit today, whether in the softness of a whisper or the shout of a gust of sheer power. Keep us from fear when You ask us to change direction. Bring us back to our feet if we have been knocked down and keep us steady when the wind is rising before us. Keep us on Your course wherever and however the wind blows in the Spirit.

In Jesus name,

Amen