Fruit of Kindness

 

Turn on the news, open up a newspaper, or scroll through a news service and I believe we can all agree that we consistently see examples where kindness has been replaced with judgement, hostility or even violence.  We can walk through our days experiencing people’s inability (including ourselves) to show kindness to others.  It seems that if you disagree with another individual, if you do not have the same beliefs or values, it provides a person with a clear path to be nasty to that person – either through thoughts, words, or actions.

In walks our Fruit of the Spirit for this week, kindness.  You may be thinking, “I’m a kind person,” and you very may well be a kind person.  The question becomes WHO are you being kind to?  Are you kind to your friends, showing up for them and performing kind acts for them?  Are you kind to your family members, ensuring that they have the best version of you in all their needs?  That is great and it is important for you to share kindness with those closest to you.

I believe the challenge the Holy Spirit asks of us to bring kindness to ALL our interactions, even with those that we may disagree with, have different value systems, or even those we would consider to be our enemies.  Now there is a challenge I face every day – how about you?  Why should we show kindness to those that do not show kindness to us?  We have the best example of that in Jesus.  Think of how kind He was to those around Him that may not have believed He was the Savior.  His kindness, His generosity – it is all there for us to use as examples.

He respected ALL people, not just His family and the disciples.  He believed each person was created by God for God’s journey.  Shouldn’t we share that same level of respect and consideration?  He showed compassion, even to the least of God’s creatures.  There are times when we cannot show compassion or empathy to our neighbor!  Jesus shows us that even the smallest lamb deserves our compassion.  Jesus did not just ‘think’ about kindness, He acted on it!  He healed, He listened, He performed miracles – for ALL people.  Jesus showed us that acting out kindness to ALL people is why the Holy Spirit is within us.

Let us move from performing Random Acts of Kindness to Intentional Acts of Kindness.  Seek out the person you may be struggling to have a relationship with.  Reflect upon the folks that you may have shared sharp words of disagreement or those who may have ‘done you wrong’ and you have decided to disassociate yourself with.  How can you life out Jesus’ love through kindness with those people?  Your mind may be telling you, ‘no way.’  Let your heart and soul share with you a ‘way.’  Have simple faith that the intentional act of kindness is the Holy Spirit working within you to bring Jesus’ kindness to all.  We can do this.  I have faith in us!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Kindness

Holy Spirit, guide me to perform Intentional Acts of Kindness, especially to those that I may not consider a friend or a family member.  Help me to see the value they bring to this world, as God sees their value.  May I be respectful and compassionate to all people I meet.  Amen.

Fruit of Patience

 

Patience!  A word each time I see it slaps me in the face.  I would welcome the feedback of “You are so patient.”  Yet, I cannot say that has been on anyone’s lips – both personally and professionally.  I have gaps, and patience is one of them.  I have attempted to bring a stronger sense of patience into my life, as a mother, as a wife, and as a working professional.  Looking back upon each of those roles, there have been moments where I failed, miserably.

This reared its ugly head in a couple of situations – typically when things are moving as fast as I am moving.  At home, this can show up when I am entertaining.  Everything has a place and time.  If it is not as I ‘planned,’ my lack of patience shines through – like a spotlight.   Those around me?  They prefer to hide under the nearest chair.  At work, it came in lack of my ‘planned goal’ not being achieved.  If things were not getting done, that meant we needed to do more and do it quicker.  By recognizing this negative response in myself, I provided my staff to share the words ‘Jersey Mode.’  When those words were shared with me, I knew I was working too quickly and needed to step back in patience.

Having patience means having to rely on God.  When the Holy Spirit touches us and provides us opportunities to show patience, we need to take these opportunities as gifts of learning and growth.  Patience means we are going to remain calm during adversity.  It means we are empathetic; it means we are not impulsive in our reactions.  The situations above did not exude a sense of calm; I was reacting purely impulsively.  Patience is a fruit God gives to us to deal with earthly circumstances.  It helps us and it helps those around us.

Where can we practice patience?  By turning to God.  My friends, the realization that He is in control, working for our benefit even though we may not recognize it, can bring us patience.  Patience means it will not happen in our time, but in God’s time!  Patience means we will continue to put our simple faith in the fact that God is working on our behalf, even when we cannot see anything happening.  Patience means we respond with a trust in God, not a trust in ourselves.

When we need patience, go to God first.  Ask for His hand as you walk a difficult journey or a journey of waiting.  Ask the Holy Spirit to touch your heart and soul so that you can respond to others in God’s light.  Ask for a calm voice and a steady process of hope.  It is there for all of us; all we need to do is ask for God’s help for patience!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Patience

Holy Spirit, help me to recognize when my patience is wearing thin.  Provide me the nudge to seek God and ask for endurance, trust, and hope.  In your name I pray.  Amen!

Fruit of Peace

 

Our journey continues through the fruits of the spirit as we explore peace.  Peace is defined differently among people.  Whether utter silence or complete chaos, people can experience peace.  Personally, this word has been defined by me numerous ways throughout my life.  As a young adult, I wanted peace to calm my anxious thoughts about a new job.  As a new mom, it was definitely the peace of silence.  As a working woman, the peace I sought was the ability to successfully balance all that was delivered to my plate.  Although what peace looked like in each phase of my life may have changed, what anchored all of those definitions was peace for my soul.  When my soul was at peace, I was able to attain the peace I sought.

We may believe that peace can be attained through the outside entities around us – a calming environment, a stress-free vacation, a checklist that is complete.  Those external factors are quickly replaced with direct opposites in our lives.  The calming environment becomes chaos, the stress-free vacation has a hiccup, the checklist gets ‘one more thing added.’  Peace is replaced by a number of conflicting emotions.  When my soul was at peace versus the world around me, I realized that I had met the goal, the peace I was looking for.

So how do we gain a peaceful soul?  There is truly only one way that is achieved – by having peace with God.  Peace from God is freely given to us through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit touches our souls and gives to us the peace that God wants in our lives – the peace that passes all understanding.  As humans, we may resist gaining peace from God.  We may find getting peace from God too simple or too easy.  God provides us the ‘easy’ peace because He wants our souls to be rooted in Him.  This means that in order for us to have a peaceful soul, we need to trust God.  Now there is the trick question, do you trust God?  Stop before answering! 

Do you go to God with all your decisions in your life?  Do you accept His answers?  Do you trust Him with the chaos in your life?  Do you have complete confidence that in the messy parts of your life, God is present and is walking you through the mess to cleanse you?  When we can get to that part of living, regardless of the circumstances, we can trust God is with us, forgiving us, directing us, and loving us.   Then we can experience His incredible peace.  His peace washes over us in happiness and sadness.  His peace finds root in our soul and every part of our body can feel it.  When peace seems to evade you, look to where you are putting your trust.  Have Simple Faith!  Trust in God!  Enjoy a Peaceful Soul!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Peace

Holy Spirit, remind me of God’s peace for my soul.  Help me to trust all that He is doing in my life and let peace wash over me.  Amen!

Fruit of Joy

 

The fruit of JOY!  There is nothing better for our souls than joy.  It is better than good; better than great.  It is that deeper and richer feeling we have when joy permeates our being.  We are blessed to have that feeling because the Holy Spirit resides inside us.  There are numerous times and situations that can bring us happiness.  I firmly believe to have true joy means that Jesus is with us.  The reason behind that is that there can be joy in difficult times.  Remember James 1:2-3?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

When I think back upon my life, was I able to consider joy during trials?  To be honest, I am not certain.  Yet, I do remember two distinct moments when joy replaced sadness in my life.  Both of these scenarios were when I lost my parents.  It has been 25 years since my dad passed.  We did not anticipate his leaving us so soon, and as sad as I was to see him leave earth, the joy I felt in my heart is that he was in heaven with Jesus – singing with the angels.  The same feeling of joy came over me as I watched my mom pass into her heavenly home, almost ten months ago.  As difficult as it was to watch her pass to Jesus, my heart was joyful because she so yearned to see Jesus’ face.  I knew the joy she wanted.

Joy can creep up on us and provide us moments of peace during moments of trial.   The joy that comes with challenges is reflected in our true understanding that Jesus is with us, the Holy Spirit is in us.  When we fully experience the fruit of joy, we know that walking with us is the One who can give us certainty amongst the uncertain; the One who can give us purpose amongst the confusion.  Falling into the Holy Spirit’s arms of joy, and knowing we carry that joy within us, assists us in sharing our joy with others.

During my battle with cancer, there were times I felt joyful.  When I finally realized that Jesus was with me, fighting my battle with me, ensuring we were in this together, joy filled my heart.  My head may have been bald, but my heart was full of joy!  Friends, our joy, the joy found in the Holy Spirit, can fill us up when we least expect it.  Our hope and joy and anchored in Jesus.  What do we need to do to have this joy?  Have simple faith that He has freely given joy to each and every one of us.  By His death and resurrection, we can live in the joy of a heavenly home!  May joy fill your soul!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Joy

Holy Spirit, thank you for filling my soul with joy.  May I share this joy that you so freely provide me with to all that I meet.  May they know that my joy, in all circumstances, comes from you.  Amen!

Fruit of Love

I would like to take a couple of sentences to say, “Thank You”!  April 7^th noted the 13^th year I have been writing my Simple Faith for Today weekly blog.  Started as a personal release for my own thoughts on the impact of Jesus on our lives, through your continued support, you have inspired me to write on topics that have uplifted all of us!  I appreciate your wonderful comments and look forward to the years ahead, with God’s grace.

As a suggestion from my friend Mary, the next few weeks will focus on the Fruits of the Spirit.  We will highlight each of the wonderful fruits that the Holy Spirit has placed in our lives.  What better way than to start with LOVE!  The fruit of love can span numerous aspects of our lives.  The word love tends to bring reflection of those close to us, our spouses, significant others, immediate family members, etc.  We are supposed to love them, they are family!  Yet, what does that love look like?  How are we supposed to share this love with family?  It looks different for each person, each family.  Exploring what this looks like for you is the goal.  How do you express your love to your family members?  Are there areas where you can improve what love looks like for those closest to you? 

There is also love expressed to ourselves.  I hear so often, “You need to love yourself before you can love others.”  I have always had a hard time with that statement – it seems very self-centered.  But I can understand that if we are not able to accept ourselves for who we are, the good and the ugly parts of ourselves, it will be hard to accept that in others, to love that in others.  We are all imperfect.  Celebrating those imperfections is part of the love experience.  Looking inward to who we are and understanding our imperfections and our sinful nature gives us the capacity to be less judgmental and more empathetic with those around us. 

Speaking of those around us, loving our neighbors is a charge that comes directly from Jesus.  “Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.  Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22: 37-39) Ah, the words of Jesus piercing our hearts and souls.  This should be easy enough, right?  Yet, I challenge you to think of times when you may be frustrated and angry with those you meet.  Is the fruit of love emanating from you?  Are you reflecting God’s love for you to others?  I can very definitively state that there have been times when I have not behaved and showered those around me with love.  Reflecting upon the fruit of love provides us an opportunity to determine where we struggle most with love.  Is it loving all aspects of yourself?  Is it loving your family members, those you may take for granted?  Is it loving your neighbor, the strangers you may meet?

This is an opportunity for all of us to answer the following question:  Where can I improve sharing my love to others as Jesus shared His love for me?  Take the moment to reflect and make a commitment to move forward in love – the love that Jesus wants us to share through the Holy Spirit that He so richly gave to us.  You can do it!  Just have simple faith!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Love

Holy Spirit, continue to ignite love within my heart and provide me with the knowledge of how I can improve sharing that love with others.  Show me the path to showing others the fruit of love.  Amen! 

Renewed Heart

 

Halleluiah!  Happy Easter.  The day we have been waiting for is here.  Christ is Risen!  I adore the hymns of Easter.  The hope and energy that surrounds those words singing from the rafters leaves me walking on air as I exit the sanctuary.  I am almost certain that is the way the women must have felt when they met Jesus on the path that first Easter morning!  The energy seems as if life starts all over again.  And it does!

Holy Week brings us such insights into Jesus’ walk.  From the temple in Jerusalem to the cross at Golgotha, walking in Jesus’ steps can bring sadness and despair.  When that rock is rolled in front of the tomb, closing Jesus’ body inside, the world became dark.  Our world can seem like that as well.  When sadness and despair rains upon us, it can seem as if we are in the darkest place of the world.  Sadness and despair can be driven by external circumstances, such as physical pain, relationship suffering, or death of loved ones.  Sadness and despair can also be driven by our internal circumstances such as leading a sinful life that we cannot break hold of.

My friends, the good news is found today, at Easter.  As our verse for today shares, our sadness and despair, whatever may cause it, is buried with Jesus in the tomb.  When Jesus was raised from death to a new life, we too live our new life.  The weight of our sin is lifted, from our shoulders to Jesus’ shoulders.  Our sadness and despair can break free from our hearts and given to Jesus.  With His love, mercy, and grace, we know that we are saved.  The light that comes with Jesus’ resurrection is the light that we live – new every day.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!”  2 Corinthians 5:17.

May Jesus fill your heart and your soul.  May you feel the new life that He has given you; may it fill you with hope and joy.  May His blood that was shed on the cross, fill your veins with love.  May you know that your sadness and despair can be replaced with happiness and shouts of Halleluiah!  Our hearts are renewed as we continue to bring Jesus into our lives.  Each day that we worship Him, He fills us with His blessings.  “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23.  Sing His praises.  Live in His light.  Surround yourself with the newness that only Jesus can bring.

On this Easter, walk in your renewed heart of wonder.  Have simple faith that Jesus is always with you.  Happy Easter!

Complementary video to this post:  Renewed Heart

Dearest Jesus, thank you for fulfilling God’s prophecy.  Because of Your death and resurrection, we are new in life with You.  May we be reminded of this goodness each and every day.  Praise be to You!  Amen.

Joyful Heart

 

Palm Sunday!  There were many hearts that I wanted to write about this Palm Sunday.  I chose a Joyful Heart to God!  When I read any of the Gospel’s account of Palm Sunday, I can’t help but smile as I read how the people of Jesus’ time welcomed him into Jerusalem.  Although His entrance was on a meager donkey, the King of Kings received the praises that He so justly deserved.  How wonderful it must have been to be among the crowds who were spreading their cloaks and waving palm branches high in the sky!  How happy they all must have been. 

Being happy tends to be associated with a certain situation.  We can be happy about many things, a situation that leaned in our favor, a compliment, recognition, etc.  All of these and many more can bring happiness to our lives.  Joy is an emotion so much richer than happiness.  Joy is deeper and more internalized.  Times in our lives can bring happiness to the forefront, but when have you felt true joy?

Our joy is anchored on the shoulders of Jesus.  Knowing that unconditional love, unconditional acceptance and forgiveness of sins come from the One who entered Jerusalem on a donkey can bring true joy.  That knowledge brings a joyful heart to God.  That level of joy is rooted in fertile soil, bringing rich growth to our lives.  If you have experienced joy, you know that it sets your heart on fire.  Joy grows from within you; happiness happens to you.

When I reflect on when joy seeped from my soul, it was when I married my husband with God a strong part of our relationship.  It was when I saw my children confirmed, knowing that God was planted firmly in their hearts.  There was joy when my grandchildren were baptized/dedicated.  A smile crossed my lips on those occasions, but I also remember crying tears of joy.  The emotion was something deeper, something richer.

Our joy comes from the trust and simple faith we have in Jesus.  It is seen not just in times of goodness, but it also evident in challenges.  James 1:2 states, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”  Joy during trials?  YES!  Even in those times, even more so, we feel Jesus’ unconditional love, acceptance and forgiveness of sins.  Joy sets our heart on fire.  Although we will face difficulties, we have joy in knowing that God is there with us, walking right beside us.

On this Palm Sunday, may we share our joy for Jesus as we sing “Hosanna in the Highest.”  May the joy that fills our hearts be shared with Jesus not just on Palm Sunday, but every day.  His mercy, grace and blessings are worthy of our joyful praises.

Video that complements this post:  Joyful Heart

Dearest Jesus, Hosanna in the Highest!  We thank you for giving us the joy that only You can give.  May our joyful hearts reach you each day.  Amen!