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!  

Hopeful Heart

 

A Hopeful Heart.  Hope is one of those words that can be misleading, at least in the Biblical sense.  “I hope so” or “Here’s hoping it happens” are phrases I hear.  It is almost as if hope can be replaced with wish.  I am sure I have said those phrases myself!  Hope, in that context, seems to give off the air of uncertainty.  Maybe what I am hoping for will be attained.  Maybe it will come to fruition.  I am not sure it will occur, but I really wish it does.  Not sure if this is in my future, but I hope it is.

 When we really delve into the word hope, there is so much more there to unpack.    As Christians, hope brings about a much stronger sense of actualization, a stronger sense of certainty.  Our hope is rooted in the Lord.  My friends, there is no ‘wishful thinking’ when it comes to Jesus.  With our Lord, we can move from wishful thinking to confident expectation.  The key word is confident.  When we pray to Jesus, we bring our confident hope that He is listening.  We can stand firmly in the knowledge that He will see us, hear us, answer us, and love us.

 Jesus’ hope is far different than earthly hope.  Jesus’ hope is rooted in the trust we have for Him.  Trusting that God knows best for our lives, we can have confidence that our future will be His plan, as long as we follow where He wants to take us.  When we hope in the Lord, our future is set and our strength is renewed.  This is where the basis of simple faith begins.  I have heard people discuss faith as if it were a difficult thesis that needed to be dissected.  I look at faith in a much more simplistic way.  Hebrews 11:1 says it best, “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” 

 As Easter approaches, we are reminded of what Jesus did for us, how He fulfilled prophecy, for our souls, for our hearts.  His death on the cross gave us the hope for an eternal life with Him.  Our hope is grounded in the knowledge that we will see Jesus’ face one day.  With that hope, we are able to get through life on earth.  During the difficult and challenging times, when our strength is wavering, we can hope, with confidence and trust, that Jesus will see us through those times.  It may not be the result that we were expecting, but we can be assured that it is the plan that He has for us when we put our hope in Him.

 Hope is there for all of us.   When life has us wondering if we can move forward, fall softly into Jesus’ arms and know that your hope for the future is with Him.  Have simple faith and gain strength from the hope He provides.

 Video that complements this post:  Hopeful Heart

  Dearest Lord, we thank you for being assured that our hope lies in you!  Thank you for giving us confidence for tomorrow and the faith to know you have us in your loving arms.  Amen!

Grateful Heart

 

 

Thank You, Jesus!  It is easy to muster those words when our lives are full of blessings.  Reflect upon the times when you thanked Jesus for His goodness.  Could those words have been shared to Jesus when you received great results on a health condition?  Did you possibly give thanks to Jesus after completing and delivering that very difficult work presentation?  Upon the delivery of a healthy baby, did you reach out to praise Jesus?  Maybe it was the milestone wedding anniversary where thanks to Jesus parted from your lips.

Today’s verse, though, is stating that we should always give thanks for EVERYTHING.  Not just the good times, but the difficult times as well.  This mirrors up with 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which states to “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  My friends, it may be more challenging to muster a thank you to Jesus during those times, the times of waiting.

• Waiting on the results of a health condition is not only painful physically, but mentally.  Waiting puts a strain on our soul and can put a strain on our faith.  Jesus, why are you letting this happen to me? 
• Preparing for that work presentation may have meant sleepless nights, tons of revisions, and could have produced a sense of self-doubt in your ability.  Jesus, why are you letting this happen to me?
• Delivering a healthy baby could have been the result of years of waiting to get pregnant.  That waiting and trials can erode one’s faith.  Jesus, why are you letting this happen to me?
• Rejoicing in a milestone wedding anniversary resulted in a challenging relationship journey, filled with times of miscommunication and lack of respect that begged to wonder if the marriage should continue.  During those times doubt crept in.  Jesus, why are you letting this happen to me?

Choosing gratitude in difficult times, in times of waiting is hard.  It is normal to question Jesus during the challenging situations in our lives.  My friends, it is during those times that Jesus is there for us.  Just the fact that you can go to Jesus with your questions, with your pain, and with your doubts is reason for gratitude.  He is always there for us, listening to us, and providing us comfort in the chaos of life.  His grace is always present.  Giving Him praise that He has our lives under control and that there is a path forward that is best for us is the simple faith we need to hold on to each day.

Video that complements this post:  Grateful Heart

Dearest Jesus, remind us to give thanks for ALL that is happening in our lives – to blessings and the challenges.  Your path for our lives is one that will always be revealed to us, in Your time.  Amen.

Repentant Heart

 

Moving along with our Lenten series, this week we focus on a repentant heart.  Have to share, sometimes I forget that God knows everything!  Yes, I am always aware that He sees all that I do, but I have to be jolted into remembering that He also knows all that I think!  During my daily prayers, I tend to ‘ask’ God for things – healing those that are hurting, providing direction during uncertainty, covering my family with blessings and peace.  My focus in prayer is not always on asking God for forgiveness, which I certainly should be doing daily!  When I do go to God with a repentant heart, I typically will ask for forgiveness in the things/actions that I did or did not do that go against His will for me.  Speaking harshly to someone out of frustration.  Not going the extra mile when I should have.  The list is long! 

Where I am deeply remiss is asking God for forgiveness in my ‘thinking’ sins, ways that my mind may have gone astray during the day, when my mind should have been on Godly thoughts.  When I have bad thoughts about someone or a situation.  When my pride takes over my mind instead of humility.  When I am distracted from Godly focus, such as when I am in devotion.  Again, the list is long of areas where I should be bringing those to God as well, items of the heart.

There are numerous verses in the Bible that focus on God’s forgiveness.  When I ask for God’s forgiveness, it is always with a heart filled with shame.  “I did not meet your expectations, God.  Please forgive me.”  I am ashamed of my thoughts and behavior.  What I absolutely love about this verse is the invitation to return to God, not out of shame, but out of love.  Here we are reminded that He is gracious and compassionate, ABOUNDING IN LOVE!  His love is so great for us that our broken heart of sin is quickly restored by God to a heart of love.

Friends, during this Lenten season, may we remember that our Lord is a gracious Savior, filled with love, grace, and compassion for us sinners.  Go to Him.  Share your sins.  Be restored with His love and grace.  Have simple faith that He is waiting to hear from us!

Complementary video to this post:  Repentant Heart

Dearest Lord, thank you for your love that covers all my sins.  May I come to you with a repentant heart, filled with humility and may you restore my heart to one of love – for You and others.  Amen!

Softening Heart

 

As we continue our Lenten Series of giving our hearts to Jesus, we come upon the topic of a Softened Heart.  Over the years, I have felt as if my heart has hardened.  My ability to release bitterness, forgive, or even have empathy seemed to deteriorate.  I could blame my hardened heart on a variety of external factors. 

There have been people close to me who have hurt me or have wronged me.  Seeping into my heart was a sense of betrayal.  Why would they treat me like this?  If they cared about me, if they loved me, how could they share such hurtful words?  In my attempt to stop this from happening, I found myself putting up barriers or ‘hardening my heart’ so that the hurt could not enter.  If I kept these folks at arm’s length, then I would not feel the hurt.

There have also been times when my pride took over.  What could have been mine, or should have been mine, did not materialize.  Those occasions have typically been associated with work.  I have worked hard; I deserved to be recognized.  I knocked it out of the ballpark; I deserved a raise.  Have you had thoughts such as those race through your mind?  In contrast, if I hardened my heart, I found my pride taking over and a level of humbleness would disappear.

As my heart grew like stone, my resentment increased.  Although external factors may have caused me to feel this way, I had control over my heart at the barriers I was putting up.  These barriers were not just put up to those around me, they were also increasing a chasm between God and me.  I felt distanced from God.  And I should have felt that way.  God does not want us to have a heart of stone.  He does not give us that heart, He gives us a new heart, with a new spirit.  My friends, that is the heart from God.

How can we change our heart of stone to one of flesh?  Prayer.  By going to God and asking for His help, we are able to release the resentment, the stone, the pain and fill it with forgiveness and love.  God is in our hearts, waiting for us to come to Him.  All we need to do is hold Him close to us and know that He is there.  When I finally let go of the resentment I had for a person or a situation, I found peace!  Only God can give us peace that will fill our hearts. 

It is time, friends, especially during this Lenten season.  Open your heart.  Let go of bitterness.  Let a new spirit enter and let God turn your heart of stone to one of flesh.  Peace will cover you like a blanket.  All you need is simple faith!

Video complementing this post:  Softening Heart

Heavenly Father, we know we can go to heart for a new heart and a new spirit.  Help us to put our hardened hearts aside and fill us with forgiveness, releasing bitterness for peace.  In your name we pray, Amen!