Fruit of the Spirit

Fruit of the Spirit April 18, 2024

Can Others Tell That You Have Been In The Presence Of God

Earlier this week I was reading in Exodus 34:29. This passage of scripture was regarding the time when Moses came down from Mount Sinai. After being in God’s presence, his face had a radiance that he was not aware of.

I know that we are not able to come face to face with God, however we definitely can be in his presence each day. My question for you today is; can others tell that you have been in God’s presence?

One of the best ways to assess this is by looking at the fruit that we are bearing. We can’t just show up on Sunday mornings for church, and think that we will bear the kind of fruit that will make our character resemble that of Jesus. It takes spending time in His word on a daily basis. It also requires praying and quietly listening for His gentle still voice, in order to bear fruit that resembles His character.

When we visit Galatians 5:22-23 we find the Fruit of the Spirit listed here. They are Love, Joy. Peace, Long Suffering / Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self Control. When we master these, others will know that we are truly living each day in God’s presence, because our character will reveal it and that my friends will give us our God Glow. We will be as radiant at that point as humanly possible on this side of eternity.

LOVE
1st Corinthians 13:1-13
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹²For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love

LOVE
John 3:16
¹⁶For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 4:7-8
⁷Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
John 14:15
¹⁵“If you love me, keep my commands.
JOY
Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Nehemiah 8:10
¹⁰Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Jeremiah 15:16
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name,
Lord God Almighty.
PEACE
Psalm 119:165
¹⁶⁵Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
Isaiah 26:12
Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us
LONG SUFFERING / PATIENCE
Romans 12:12
¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Ephesians 4:2
²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love
KINDNESS
Colossians 3:12
¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
GOODNESS
Psalm 145:9
The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Matthew 19:17
¹⁷“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
Roman 12:9
⁹Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
2nd Peter 1:3-8
³His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
⁵For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

FAITHFULNESS
Proverbs 3:3-4
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

1st Samuel 12:24
²⁴But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
³But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one
GENTLENESS
Philippians 4:5
⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Matthew 11:29
²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Colossians 3:12
¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Titus 3:1-23
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, ²to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
SELF CONTROL
1 Corinthians 10:13^1

3No temptation^[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted^[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,^[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
2nd Timothy 1:7
⁷For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Romans 12:1-2
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Fruit of the Spirit February 29, 2024

Tips For Success For The Christian Business Woman

Decide that God will be the CEO of your organization. Remember He is not your business partner, you are His business partner.
Don’t tell God your plans for your business. Ask Him what His plans are for your business, and get into alignment with Him. Remember success and promotion comes as a result of obedience.
Pray, pray and pray! Through prayer, God will give you a vision for your business. After you receive this vision and you are clear on what God is leading you to do, write it down. I would even suggest that you write out a Mission Statement also.
Assess what your right now passionate goal is, then create a plan on how you are going to achieve it. Break it down into small wins. Have a daily, weekly, biweekly and monthly goal. Be sure that you have a completion date on all of your goals.
Have goal posters or vision boards up everywhere as constant reminders of your goal. Also create tracking boards to track your progress.
Have an accountability partner. Who do you know that will keep it real with you and be totally honest? That’s who you need to partner up with.
Get great at managing your emotions.
Get great at managing your time. Make a schedule and create some structure in your life if you don’t already have some structure in place.
Get great at managing your finances. Be smart with your money.
If you are in Sales, by Friday of each week, have several appointments on your books for the upcoming week. Book at least three times the number of appointments that you actually want to hold.
Make it a habit to share info regarding your business with everyone that you come in contact with. Your job is to always be promoting your business.
Only share your goals and dreams with friends, and family members who are positive and who genuinely support you. Don’t share with people who are negative.
Remember success is not convenient. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Success is also not an accident, it’s a planned event.
Feed your brain with great books and listen to great messages. Leaders are readers.
Whatever it is that God has given you the vision to do, He will work through you for His kingdom purposes. Stay open to His leading. It will not just be a business or career opportunity, or a means to get rich. Even though wealth can certainly come from your success, what it truly is, is a kingdom assignment.

When your success comes it is important that you acknowledge God from whom all of our blessings flow.

Proverbs 16:3
³Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Proverbs 31:8
⁸Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

Colossians 3:23
²³Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Proverbs 12:24
²⁴Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.

Proverbs 14:23
²³All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Philippians 4:13
¹³I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Proverbs 3:5
⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

Fruit of the Spirit February 16, 2024

Let My Soul Be Refreshed

Philippians 4:6-7
⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 11:28-30
²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

In the last month I have found myself sighing a lot more than usual. It finally dawned on me that I was anxious about something that I had no control over. Instead of totally turning it over to God, I was still holding on to the situation.

To make matters worse, my workload had increased with my business and I was starting to feel quite tired and a bit stressed.

One day I decided to shut my work day down early and just breathe. I needed a break, I had pushed too hard for too long and I had ignored my need for rest. I remember climbing into bed totally exhausted in the middle of the day. I took a long, much needed nap and when I woke up, I felt a bit refreshed but still tired. I decided to just veg out in front of the TV for a while. I needed a break mentally and physically.

I must say that the times that I have felt the most refreshed, was when I simply got still and let God nourish me with His love. I didn’t have to say anything or do anything. I just needed to be still in God’s presence and He did everything else. He is the one that truly refreshes my soul.

When I spend time reading His Word my soul is refreshed. I call this spiritual self-care. There is nothing like spending time with the Creator, the One who knows the number of hairs that he has so carefully and purposefully placed on your head, the One who knitted you together in your mother’s womb.

If you are running on empty today, and you need a break from the cares and stresses of this life, I encourage you to get still for a few minutes and spend time in God’s presence. He will refresh you, guide you and direct your steps. Remember Self-Care starts with Soul-Care.

Psalm 16:11 says: In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 63:1-3 says; O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for Your presence. In a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

Seek the Lord when your soul is thirsty and tired. Only He can truly refresh and satisfy your every need..

Mark 6:31-32
³¹Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”³²So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
Exodus 33:14
¹⁴The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Fruit of the Spirit May 5, 2023

Clarity And Direction

Are you sacrificing peace, clarity, and direction for comfort and ease? Last week I came to the realization that I had been doing exactly that.

For over forty-seven years now, I have been writing my prayers and journaling. At one time when I was really seeking to hear from God for direction and guidance, I was rising at 5:00 AM to pray, and to journal. I was amazed at how I would receive downloads from God for my day.

This 5:00 AM appointment time with God all started during a really challenging qualification period that I was going through in my career. God laid it on my heart during that time to rise at 5:00 AM to spend time with Him.

I continued this 5:00 AM meeting time for a while, and then I eased back into a time that was most convenient for me. You see I am not what you would consider a morning person at all. I usually wake up moving in slo-mo.

Although I continued reading my Bible and praying in the mornings, I just found that it more was more convenient for me, to write in the evenings right before bedtime.

I am currently in qualification for another big goal in my career, and God has laid it on my heart to start writing in the mornings again. Thank goodness He has not urged or prompted me to do 5:00 AM again. I am twenty years older than I was when He instructed me to do that the first time. And honestly, it would be quite the challenge at this stage in my life, considering other things that I am currently going through. However what I do know for sure, is that if He calls me to it, He will give me the strength for it.

So this past week I got up early one morning, read my Bible and prayed as usual and added my writing back into my morning routine. Boy did I see God show up! It is absolutely amazing what blessings come from being obedient. God started to give me downloads and ideas for my day. I recognized some things that I had never caught before. Talk about clarity it was definitely happening. Just because I did as God had asked me to do.

He revealed to me that I needed a new tracking board for my business and that I needed to create a whole new Goal poster. I created the tracking board and the Goal poster and I was absolutely amazed, that even my penmanship appeared clearer. This whole process was a really neat experience. God revealed Himself to me through something this simple. I have now been prompted to pray for strategy. Wow! God will even help us to know what to pray for.

Needless to say, it made me wonder, how many God wink moments like this that I have missed because I wanted to be obedient, but obedient my way. May I encourage you today to learn from my mistake? Don’t sacrifice peace, clarity, and direction for comfort and ease. It will make your journey a lot longer and not nearly as enjoyable. Do it God’s way to experience His perfect peace and blessings.

28 “for in Him we live and move and have our being..
“Acts 17:28
Dedicated to Leading Women to Live Victoriously by Empowering them to Step into Greatness.
Psalm 63^[a]You, God, are my God,  earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Psalm 143:8-10
^7-10Hurry with your answer, God!  I’m nearly at the end of my rope.
Don’t turn away; don’t ignore me!  That would be certain death.
If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice,
I’ll go to sleep each night trusting in you.
Point out the road I must travel; I’m all ears, all eyes before you.
Save me from my enemies, God—   you’re my only hope!
Teach me how to live to please you,  because you’re my God.
Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland.
Psalm 37:23-24
²³The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
²⁴though he may stumble, he will not fall,  for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Fruit of the Spirit April 25, 2023

Are You Headed For The Ditch?

When I was a little girl approximately 4 years old, my mom and I were about to leave home, when she realized that she needed to run back into the house for something. When she jumped out of the car to go back into the house, I quickly jumped into the driver’s seat of our new salmon-colored Ford car. I put the car in drive and headed straight for the ditch, barely missing our mailbox while gripping the steering wheel as though I knew what I was doing.

I probably had seen my mom and dad do this at least a hundred times or more, so I decided that I could do it too. Needless to say when my mom came out of the house, she was in total shock, and thankful all at the same time that I was alive. I think the only reason I didn’t get a spanking for my little escapade that day, was that my mom was so relieved that I was still all in one piece.

You see even as adults if left to our own devices we would drive our lives straight into the ditch. So many times we want to do just as I did as a child. We want God to get out of the driver’s seat so that we can take over. Trust me, when I tell you, that the safest thing that we can do, is ask Jesus to take the wheel. Not only should we ask Him to take the wheel, but also to keep the wheel, because He can see a lot further down the road than we can. He knows where the potholes are, the curves as well as the detours and He knows our destination and we don’t.

What I am saying to you today, is to trust God with your life. He knows what He is doing, and He knows your purpose for coming to this planet. Allow Him the space and time to reveal those things to you, as He sees that you are ready to handle them. Then and only then will you get to experience all that He has in store for you. He’s the ultimate chauffeur. Stress less and enjoy the ride, you are headed for a safe arrival.–

28 “for in Him we live and move and have our being..“Acts 17:28
Dedicated to Leading Women to Live Victoriously by Empowering them to Step into Greatness.

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart  and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶in all your ways submit to him,  and he will make your paths straight.^[aPsalm 62:8
⁸Trust in him at all times, you people;  pour out your hearts to him,  for God is our refuge.
Jeremiah 17:7
⁷“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,  whose confidence is in him.
Psalm 37:23-24
²³The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
²⁴though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
Isaiah 30:21
²¹Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 58:11
¹¹The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden,  like a spring whose waters never fail.
Psalm 32:8
⁸I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Fruit of the Spirit April 17, 2023

Knowing When And How To Be Content

Knowing When And How To Be Content
Philippians 4:11-13
¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

Today’s lesson is about contentment. I would like to first ask you a few questions that will help you to determine your level of contentment.

1. Do you struggle to have peace in your life?

2. Are you always reaching for bigger and better, or are you satisfied with what God has provided for you?

3. Do you often think when this happens or when I get this I will be happy?

4. Do you find yourself complaining a lot?

5. Are you jealous of what others have?

If you are answering yes to any or all of these questions, you are not living in a place of contentment.

In the society that we live in today, there is always the pressure to have more and to be more. Please hear my heart on this. It is a good thing for us to strive to be the best that we can be. There is nothing wrong with having goals that will take you to the next level in your life. However, when this quest for more causes us to sin, by worrying or being jealous of others, or grumbling and complaining, it means that we are starting to be ungrateful for what God has already blessed us with. Ingratitude causes discontentment.

May I be transparent for a minute? Years ago I had a career as an Interior Designer. I was blessed to go in some of the most beautiful homes imaginable. I remember starting to crave the lifestyles that I was constantly seeing. I became discontent with what I had already been blessed with. I wanted the big house and the luxury cars and the designer bags and the clothes too, that went with it all. As I have matured in my walk with God, I now realize that I wanted success for all of the wrong reasons. It wasn’t about anyone but me. I even remember being a bit jealous of those who were living the life that I dreamed of. How sad it must have made God, to see me so ungrateful when He had already blessed me with so much.

So you may be asking, what did I do to go from discontentment to contentment and live a life of total peace? To answer your question, for many years now I have been keeping a gratitude journal. At the end of each day, I write down the things that I am most grateful, for that day. This habit has literally changed my life.

My focus has shifted from the frustration of what I don’t have to be grateful for what I do have. It has helped me to even be more appreciative of the very small things. I now look to see the blessing as well as the lesson in everything, and that even includes the things that most would consider difficult or unfair. It has been amazing to see that when I stopped worrying about many of these things, God blessed me with them anyway. Through spending time with God, reading His word, and journaling, I can honestly say I am no longer the same person that I was years ago, and I praise God for that! So today if you are not in a place of contentment, stop looking at the person in the mirror, and start looking up. When you start to focus on God, peace will flood in like a river, and all of a sudden your perspective will start to shift and your dreams will start to align with God’s will for your life. Don’t forget, look up!

⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Luke 12:15
¹⁵Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
2 Corinthians 12:10
¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Proverbs 30:8-9
⁸Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
⁹Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
Psalm 23:1
¹The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Fruit of the Spirit January 30, 2023

My Words For The Year

As we are now deep into the month of January, I am sure that many of you have already made your New Year’s resolutions by now. Although I have made a few resolutions, I plan to do something that has really become popular in the last few years, and that is selecting a word for the year.

However, instead of one word, I have selected two words for this year. I have selected Obedience for my spiritual word, and the word Growth for my business. As I am writing this, I just had the thought that maybe my words should be, Grow In Obedience.

If I can be totally transparent with you, I don’t always obey God’s voice instantly, which to me is the same as disobedience. Sometimes I wrestle with God. And although I never win, it seems that my sinful nature always wants to have its own selfish way before I am willing to surrender to God’s will.

I am writing about this today, because there may be others of you, who struggle with immediate obedience. It’s not that I am willfully disobedient, it’s that I don’t say yes Lord immediately, and I don’t always respond to His promptings immediately. My goal this year, is to say yes Lord more, and not to question Him, but to simply obey. I know in my heart of hearts, that He always knows what is best for me, and I will trust that.

My goal this year is to joyfully serve God in whatever capacity that he asks of me.

I am starting to notice that the more time that I spend in God’s word and in prayer and journaling, the easier obedience seems to be for me. So,” Yes, Lord” is my new goal for the New Year. If this is something that you struggle with also, I encourage you to join me in this goal.

You may want to write yourself a note and keep it in your Bible regarding your new commitment to obedience. As a reminder, I have written the word Obedience with a bold black marker on a bright orange notecard to keep in my Bible. It will be a constant reminder throughout the year that my goal is not to question God, but to simply trust and obey Him. Every time I open my Bible it will be right there to help me stay focused on the goal of obedience.

Prayerfully at the end of 2023, we will be much better in the area of obedience than ever before, and in the process, we will grow closer to God. If we do this, I am convinced that we will see some incredible things unfold in our lives just because we were willing to say, Yes Lord! Have a very Happy and very Obedient New Year!

⁶⁰I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands.

⁹As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

²³This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’

⁴⁶“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

Fruit of the Spirit November 17, 2022

A Thanksgiving Inquiry

Psalm 69:30I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
1st Chronicles 29:13
Now, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name.
Psalm 9:1I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 107:1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 95:2-3
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
³For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
1st Thessalonians 5:18
¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 136:1-3
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
²Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
³Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
Psalm 107:8-9
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
⁹for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
1st Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 106:1
Praise the Lord.[a] Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good: his love endures forever.

November is traditionally a month that most people celebrate Thanksgiving. Families all over the country will gather around dining room tables, to eat, laugh, and enjoy spending time with each other. For some this will be the first time gathering since the pandemic, and boy what a joyous reunion that will be!

Today I would like to do something a little different. I have formulated some questions for you to answer, regarding the things you are grateful for this year. Please allow yourself some alone time to think and really ponder the questions as well as your answers. Take this time to be in God’s presence, and praise him through thanksgiving and gratitude.

1. What are you most grateful for this year?

2. How has God shown Himself faithful to you this year?

3. What is the largest thing that you prayed for this year, that God blessed you with?

4. What is the smallest thing that you prayed for this year, that God blessed you with?

5. What prayers were not answered the way you wanted this year, and now looking back, you are grateful that God said no?

6. How will you express your gratitude back to God?

Be blessed and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Fruit of the Spirit August 30, 2022

The Joy of Peace

THE JOY OF PEACE

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

Do you tend to worry or feel stressed out a lot of the time, or live in a state of constant anxiety? Well, I can definitely tell you, that when I was younger I had many stressful days and sleepless nights. You see even though I was a Christian, and I prayed and read my Bible almost daily, I still worried when I felt like things were out of my control.

Over the years as I continued to spend time studying my Bible, and growing in the knowledge of God and His character, I truly came to realize that He can always be trusted no matter my circumstance. As I look back over my past, I can clearly see that time after time, He came through for me, and usually in ways that far exceeded my expectation.

It is our human nature to want to be in control of our circumstances, but I am here to tell you, that we are not in control of anything at all. God runs the show, and He is the boss of you and me, and the sooner we realize that the more we can relax and live the peaceful life that He intended for us to live.

To live a life free of worry, stress, and anxiety, is to live a peaceful life, and the only way to have that life is to spend time with the Prince of Peace, God Himself. He will give you peace in the midst of your storms, He will give you peace when the rest of this chaotic world is going crazy.

When you are wearing this peace that passes all understanding, others will know that God truly has imparted it to you. They will notice that you go through life happy and joyful. They will notice that you are smiling when most would be crying. They will also notice that you don’t sweat the small stuff and rarely will anyone be able to rattle your cage because you are trusting God to work out your difficult situations.

The true joy of peace is being ok with whatever God’s will is for your life and knowing beyond a shatter of doubt that that His love for you, will only allow Him to do what is best for you at all times. So continue spending time with the Prince of Peace and before you know it, you will be at peace.

Are you currently lacking peace in some area of your life right now? Below I have listed some scriptures on the peace that are sure to bring you comfort.

John 16:33
³³“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.”
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,   because they trust in you.
John 14:27
²⁷Peace 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.
1st Peter 5:7
⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Matthew 11:28-30
²⁸“Come to Me, all ^[a]who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For My yoke is ^[b]easy and My burden is light.”
Romans 15:13
¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 4: 8
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
Psalm 29:11
The Lord gives his people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace.
2nd Thessalonians 3:16
¹⁶Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken  nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 9: 6
For a child is born to us,   a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.  And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,^[a] Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions,  he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Fruit of the Spirit November 3, 2021

Oh, To Be Content

Have you ever gone through a season when life seemed absolutely unbearable? Have you ever become impatient with God, because He was moving way too slow. Could it be that you are just simply disenchanted with the way your life is going right now? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, today I would like to visit with you briefly about what it means to be content.

When you go to your dictionary and look up the word content, you may see the following as a definition; in a state of peaceful happiness, satisfied with a certain level of achievement, and not wishing for more, a state of satisfaction.

In Philippians 4:11 Paul says I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances, a little bit later in 4:13 He says that; I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. After thinking about this, I have personally come to the conclusion, that Paul’s contentment was based not only on his trust in God but in his trust in God’s character. He had experienced God’s faithfulness through numerous circumstances, and he had seen the heart of God throughout His journey.

Being content is not always easy. But if we just think back, and reflect on all of the times that God has been faithful to us in the past through the hard times, it helps us to remain hopeful for our future. Contentment, in my opinion, can be simple, trusting while you are waiting. Trusting that when the time is right, God will change your set of circumstances, and if He chooses not to, you are still trusting that He will only do what is best for you. Either way, trusting God is the real source of contentment and inner peace. As you spend more and more time with God, you will grow to trust Him more and more.

Today, I want to encourage you to seek His face daily. Choose peace and contentment over stress and worry. Remember, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you, and that means even going through the hard stuff.

¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong

Hebrews 13:5
⁵Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”[a]
1 Timothy 6:6-10
⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Romans 15:13
¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 62:5-8
⁵Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
⁶Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
⁷My salvation and my honor depend on God[a]; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
⁸Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

FAITHFULNESS Proverbs 3:3-4 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.