Hope in the Waiting

 

Our last post on the series Waiting in the Lord will be focused on hope.  Hope can be a lost commodity in the waiting period of our lives, especially if the wait is particularly lengthy.  Yet, hope is exactly what our Lord gives each of us during this time period.  This verse captures his hope perfectly.

I remember the day over 25 years ago when I thought I had lost hope.  I was coming off the battle of fighting cancer only to enter a battle in my marriage.  The days were difficult and although the prayers were long and filled with tears, the hope that things were going to get better seemed bleak.  I could not believe the dear Lord was asking me to manage this on top of all I dealt with on the cancer journey.  Yet, He asked me to have hope in Him.

That fateful day, the tears would not stop flowing and my heart would not stop breaking.  I only knew one place I could go where my hope could be restored.  I went to church.  It was Saturday and it was quiet.  I sat at the foot of that cross and looked up to see that the cross is where Jesus provided all the hope I could ever want.  It was on that cross that He gave me, and each of us, the hope of forgiven sins and eternal life. 

The waiting was long and the anticipation of answered prayers seemed to last forever.  But on that day, at that cross, my hope was restored.  My hope did not return to where it was before this journey – it expanded into greater hope than I could ever imagine.  Whatever Jesus had in store for my life, He would provide me exactly what I needed.  My hope rested in His goodness.

I realized that God was working in me during this waiting period.  He was strengthening me for what the future would bring.  He was ensuring my focus would be on Him when challenges came upon me.  He knew I needed to be built up and during this season of waiting that is what occurred.  The future of navigating divorce was one of the most difficult periods of my life.  Yet, what God gave me during the waiting, the growth, peace, trust, and HOPE got me through it.  Without His hope of a better tomorrow, I would have been lost.

If you are in a waiting period now, Jesus is with you.  He is holding you up in His glory and is giving you the hope you need to move forward each day.  Let Him be the rest that you need and fully believe that the path He has for you will give you hope for a better tomorrow.  As we close this series on waiting, I want to share a verse that I believe sums up the waiting we have in Jesus.  Psalm 25:3 says, “Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame.”  Have simple faith that the waiting will provide joy!

Video that complements this post:  Hope in the Waiting

Dearest Jesus, only You can provide the hope we need to rest in the waiting period of our lives.  Come to us often and remind us of that hope and give us strength to continue each day in your hope.  Amen!

Peace in the Waiting

 

I am a person who enjoys peace.  Peace can mean different things to me at different times.  Today, as I write this, it is a gloomy day outside, with rain pouring down.  I flicked on all the beautiful stained-glass lamps I have in my home that my father made and lit a candle.  As I write this, I am at peace.  During times of struggles, or waiting for prayers to be answered, my peace escapes me.  Peace is replaced with anxiousness and worry.

Our verse for today is so appropriate for times when our waiting is filled with anything but peace.  If there was a Biblical character who had reason for a time in his life where peace escaped him, it would be Job.  The story of Job can be hard to digest.  The world around Job, including his own health, is replaced by heartache in different ways.  Yet, Job continued to wait on the Lord.  He did not rush God but waited for the goodness of God to return to him.  Job submitted his life to God and was at peace. 

In this world of instant gratification, it can be challenging to wait for anything, especially an answer from God.  Our ability to get answers quickly has left us wanting to hear from God immediately.  Finding peace in the waiting can tug at our hearts, leaving us frustrated.  This is where our Lord steps in!  When we truly give our requests to God and wait on His response, we realize that nothing we can do or say will rush God’s process.  As I have shared often with those around me, God will answer when it is His time.  Isaiah 60:22 shares, “…I am the Lord; in its time I do this swiftly.” 

As author Lysa Terkeurst says often, “God is good all the time.”  That He is!  While we wait for prayers or requests to be answered, we can find peace.  It is the peace that only God can give.  We cannot find His peace from anything in this world during difficult times. No matter how many stained-glass lamps I put on, I will not be able to find peace for my troubled heart unless I fully surrender to God’s timing.  John 14:27 states it perfectly, “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.”

Friends, in this world where peace can be in short supply, go to God.  God is good, all the time, even in the waiting.  His ways are perfect, ours are not.  Give Him your prayers and wait on Him.  Have Simple Faith that He will always be there for you.

Video that complements this post:  Peace in the Waiting

Dearest Lord, waiting can be a challenging time for me.  Although I may grow during this time, and trust in your goodness, I can be anxious and peace can evade me.  Please soften my soul and fill it with the peace that only you can provide, the peace that passes all understanding.  In your name I pray, Amen!

Trust in the Waiting

 

As we continue our Waiting in the Lord series, we will delve into trusting in the waiting.  Waiting is not necessarily a great behavior trait of mine.  I tend to have a plan and will execute on that plan.  If something gets in the way that causes me to wait, well, let us just say it can get ugly.  When the plan starts drifting, and I need to wait, I start dreading.  I dread what may change, how the timeline will be affected, what the final result will look like and what if someone completes a plan similar to mine before me. 

I know the right thing to do is to give it to our Lord and wait on His mighty hand.  As I lie awake at 3AM worrying about the progress of whatever plan I have in my lap, I give it to God.  I know He can manage it.  I know His way is best.  I can trust Him.  Then an hour later I am still awake planning on what I can do to ‘rush God along.’ 

As Christians, trusting God over our lives should be fundamental.  We know the plans He has for us, “…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,” in Jeremiah 29:11.  Yet, how often do we find ourselves questioning God’s plan, especially when we have to wait for His plan to unveil itself.  Every time I have played tug-of-war with God, I have lost.  When I give Him my plan and then take it back because I do not want to wait for His plan, I have lost. 

Friends, when we truly give what is in our hearts to God, and wait for His response, we gain trust in His mighty works.  No matter what we do or how we do it, it will never be better than what God has in store for us.  Our job during the waiting is to trust in that goodness.  During the waiting, He is with us, “… He will never leave you nor forsake you,” Deuteronomy 31:6.  When we trust God, our simple faith in what He can do in our lives grows.  Our ability to gain trust in God moving forward grows.  We learn that waiting is good, not dreading the outcome. 

The world today does not provide us with much opportunity to trust.  It is hard to trust our leaders, hard to trust organizations, hard to trust people.  God is above ALL of that.  God is the One we can trust with true confidence that the best will be gained through Him.  Yes, we may have to wait for that goodness.  I would rather wait in God than move forward in me.  I will always trust the Lord’s ways over mine.  It can be hard, but it is always worth it.

The next time you want to move forward and not wait in the Lord’s way, step back.  Breathe, pray, and give it to God.  He will bring you the absolute best for the situation – even if it was not in our plan.  Do not dread the outcome – look forward to what God has for you by trusting Him in the waiting period.

Video that complements this post:  Trust in the Waiting

Dearest Lord, help me to trust You in all You have for my life.  When I need to wait, wait for answers to prayers or a path moving forward, give me the opportunity to trust you and the plans you have for my life.  They will always be greater than what I had planned – I just need to have the trust in You!  Amen.

Growth in the Waiting

 

Welcome to our new series – Waiting in the Lord!  Waiting can be some of the most frustrating moments in our lives.  Whether it be simple as waiting in a grocery line or waiting for health test results, the waiting can find us agitated, impatient, and ultimately, frustrated.  As Christians, when we pray, we expect answers from God.  He tells us to go to Him in prayer and He will deliver.  Mark 11:24 states, “Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

God does answer our prayers.  For me, the yes and even the no answers I seem to understand and accept.  It’s the ‘wait’ response that gets me every time.  During the waiting, I find myself working with my timeline and not God’s timeline.  Often, I will work on getting the answer to my prayer myself, in essence, taking back from God what I put into His hands.  That always ends up in a situation that I regret.

In the waiting, much can happen.  We can actually grow as Christians during this time.  When I was going through marital strife with my first marriage, I constantly prayed to God for answers.  He made me wait, a VERY long time, for those answers.  During that wait, though, my faith grew.  My reliance on God not just for answers to my marriage but other areas of my life began to grow.  I delved deeper into my Bible.  I was looking for answers there, God was having my Bible knowledge grow.

While waiting, we don’t typically see how we are growing.  It is after waiting that we can see where we were and how far we have come.  In a world where immediate gratification is becoming widely accepted, it is easy to take back what we are giving God in prayer so we can be more comfortable with our situation.  We can view waiting as suffering.  This is when I turn to one of my favorite verses in the Bible.  Romans 5:3-5 shares, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” 

Our Lord is good, all the time!  Yes, He is good even in the waiting.  We need to slow down and realize that God’s timeline and outcomes will always be better than our own.  We need to move from immediacy to slowness.  We need to view our time of waiting as a time to grow – in faith and in knowledge.  How can you grow during the wait?  Get into the Bible and see what it has to say about your situation.  Seek out a Christian friend to have coffee with.  Select a church group to get involved in.  It’s your time to grow and see how far you have come when the wait if over!  Have Simple Faith!

Video that complements this post:  Growth in the Waiting

Dearest Lord, help me to grow when I am in a waiting period for my prayer.  May I leave with you what I give you until you answer my prayer and guide me to areas where I can grow.  Amen!

Filthy Language Vice

 

We have been exploring the vices listed in Colossians and are on the last one.  It is probably the one that is heard most often and most widely accepted in our society today, filthy language.  It is also the one that absolutely pierces my heart – because it is so widely accepted.  Utilizing profanity, abusive and degrading language adds no value to what comes out of one’s mouth.  In fact, I am led to believe that it does the opposite and devalues what is being said.  When one speaks filthy language, I find myself setting up barriers to listening.

So why is it so accepted in our modern society?  Reflection on the following may help to explain.

• It has become more accepted, as hearing it on television, movies and social media seems to be the norm.
• It can be used to grab attention – it certainly turns my head when I hear it.
• Respectful speech seems to wain as time goes on.
• People are not as filtered as they used to be.

When I have asked people why they speak that way, I am often told, “That’s just the way I talk – get used to it.”  When I hear little children speaking that type of language because they hear it so often, it makes me sad for our next generation.  What do we do?  How do you cleanse this vice?  It starts with each of us. 

• If this is a vice we want to remove from our behavior, it needs to start with clearing it from our lips.  Hold yourself accountable and, if you need assistance, ask those around you to hold you accountable by ensuring they tell you when you use that language.
• Be bold to ask the person you are speaking with not to use that language.  I have done this and have received mixed results.  Over time, people will understand that using this language in conversation with you makes you uncomfortable.
• If at work, share they would receive better understanding if they did not use that type of language.  It creates an uncomfortable work relationship.

I encourage all of us to review what is said by our lips each day.  If the words we are using do not build people up and honor God, then it is time to remove it from our speech – and the speech of those around us – if possible.  "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."  Colossians 4:6. May we look at these vices within us and work to remove them and replace them with the Fruits of the Spirit.

Video that complements this post:  Filthy Language Vice

Heavenly Father, please give me the strength to remove filthy language from my mouth.  May it be replaced with words that are filled with love, compassion, encouragement, and joy.  In your name, that I may revere, I pray, Amen!

Slander Vice

 

Slander – defined in my words, is to tear someone down through speech.  It takes our expression of anger, rage and malice towards another person and is conveyed through words.  Slander is typically done behind a person’s back, although I am certain there are instances where slander has been shared in front of the person one dislikes.  Slander is so terribly damaging in any form.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”   I am 100% certain that there is not a person reading this post that has never been hurt by words.  Words do hurt, whether you are a child or an adult.  I have shared unkind words and have felt horrible about it – apologizing and asking for forgiveness.  Slander is different.  There is strong intent to hurt the person with words.  It may be directly towards the person, or even worse, behind their back.  Gossiping, speaking falsely about another, and damaging their integrity are all examples of slander.

Slandering is hard not to take personally.  It is specifically meant to hurt.  My friends, if we are on the receiving end of slander, it hurts.  Not acknowledging the hurt only fuels the hurt further.  What can we do?

·         Take time to sit in reflection when slander is sent your way.  The words may not contain any truth, but it is worth examining all the same. 

o    “Search me, God, and know my heart…” Psalm 139:23-24

·         Go to God in prayer.  Ask for His strength and guidance in responding.

o    “For people have opened their wicked and deceitful mouths against me .  . but I am a man of prayer.“ Psalm 109:1-4

·         Remember, do not respond with evil words or deeds.

o    “Do not repay anyone evil for evil…Do not take revenge…’It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”  Romans 12:17-19

Now, the true reflective moment when WE are the ones to slander others.  As certain as I was that we were on the receiving end of slander, I am also certain that we have slandered others.  Friends, our job is to share good thoughts with everyone – yes, even those who we may be frustrated with.  Ours is not to judge.  Ours is not to speak ill.  Ours is to build up.  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."  Ephesians 4:29

As we focus on slander, may we take time to go to God in prayer when we are so angry that all we want to share are unkind words.  Ask God for words that will build up, not tear down, the person.  Ask for God’s help in holding back our judgment and letting God do that for us!  Have Simple Faith that He will provide.

Video that complements this post:  Slander Vice

Dearest Lord, be with me during slanderous moments.  If I am on the receiving end, please stop me from responding with words that will hurt and take the situation to you.  If I am the one who wants to slander another, stop me!  Help me to find words that will build the person up, not tear them down.  Amen!

Malice Vice

 

Malice – a desire to harm, hurt or get even with someone.  Although I may not have ever desired to actually harm someone, getting even with someone?  Well, that is a different story.  We have discussed anger, the feeling that burns inside of you when you have been wronged.  Rage is the outburst that happens, our mouth takes over and says things out of anger.  Malice moves towards intent.  You want ill on the person.  You may want some sort of revenge or may even silently rejoice when the person suffers.  Have you ever felt that way?

I am not happy to admit it, but in my lifetime, I have experienced malice.  Thinking back upon those times, I am deeply ashamed of that feeling.  Often, we believe it is ‘justified’ to feel malice.  The person hurt us so much that our hearts and souls were broken.  They deserve what they get, and I hope it is something bad!  Although I may not have outwardly shared those words (maybe I have), I have certainly thought those words.  Have you?  Have malice thoughts crossed your mind?

Friends, isn’t it wonderful that we have a loving and forgiving Lord?  He has given us the perfect example of how we should respond when someone hurts us so deeply.  Think about all those close to Jesus who hurt Him and how He responded with humility and love.  One of the greatest examples of this would be Judas.  Judas betrayed Jesus and brought the soldiers to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus knew this long before the Last Supper and when He washed the disciples’ feet.  Yet, He did not single Judas out.  He did not show malice to Judas.  He showed humility by washing Judas’ feet and continued to love Judas to the end.   

The next time the urge to seek revenge on another comes to our hearts, may we remember our Jesus.  Replacing thoughts of malice with humility and love can be difficult.  It is hard to forgive someone to the point of kindness, yet that is what our Lord showed us.  If Jesus can show humility and love to the disciple who gave Him up for death, I can certainly try to show kindness to someone who hurts me.  When we do that, I am certain the Holy Spirit will fill our souls with peace.  The peace of wishing good versus harm can permeate your heart and become a blessing.  This is not easy, but it is possible – with the grace of God and simple faith!

Video that complements this post:  Malice Vice

Heavenly Lord, please replace malice with kindness in my soul.  May the situation that hurt me so much be turned around.  Help me to see goodness in the other person and be a model that walks in your light.  Bring me peace through the kindness shown.  Amen!

Rage Vice

 

This morning when I was watching the news, a story of road rage came on.  Two people stopped right in the middle of a highway, got out of their cars, and proceeded to barad each other and then damaged each other’s cars.  Rage takes anger to an entirely different level.  When I think of rage, either mine or others, I see red faces, flanging arms, burrowed brows, standing tall, and lips filled with angry words.  Rage is the outward expression of anger that encompasses yelling words and showing explosive behavior. 

As Paul asks us to rid ourselves of the vices listed above, rage is outwardly powerful.  I have experienced rage towards me; it was one of the most frightening experiences of my life!  I was scared – scared mentally and scared for my physical being.  This incident happened decades ago, but it has stayed with me all this time.  Rage has a way of hanging on.  Experiences of rage are not easily forgotten.  The same holds true when we show rage in a situation.  Although it may not be often, I am certain that I have had moments of impulsive outbursts that have embedded their ways into people’s memories as well.  This is behavior I am not proud of and have asked for forgiveness from those I offended and from God.  Rage is an emotion that can be contained and responded to differently.

Self-control, a fruit of the spirit, is a way for us to contain rage.  Our ability to NOT lash out but to control our responses to another in a combative situation is what Paul is asking of us.  This means that we have to change the response from demeaning words and explosive actions to thoughtful words and respectful actions.  How can we do this when we are so angry we want to “spit nails”?  In walks our Holy Spirit!

Friends, when anger fills us up and rage is upon us, we need to step back.  Often, this can take the form of actually stepping away from the situation.  Gaining perspective, breathing while counting to ten (or maybe fifty) can lead to a vastly different response than shooting words towards the one you are angry with - words you cannot take back.    While stepping away, it is time to have a conversation.  Not a conversation with the person you are angry with, but a conversation with God.  This is your opportunity to ask the Holy Spirit to step in and relinquish your anger for self-control.  This is the time to let the Holy Spirit know you need help and to remove the rage you are feeling.  Asking for help in this manner is why God is within us – helping us and guiding us to better decisions. 

When anger is getting the better of us and rage is gaining control, remember to call upon our Lord.  He knows our flaws.  He knows our sinful nature.  He is ready and waiting for us to call upon Him for help in all situations – even those of anger.  Have Simple Faith that He is available to us at all hours to help us and rid us of the vice of rage!

Video that complements this post: Rage Vice

Dearest Lord, please remove rage from my heart.  Take away the moments where I want to explode in anger and replace them with self-control and respectful words.  Fill my heart, Lord, with your grace and mercy.  Amen!

Anger Vice

 

Coming off our series of the Fruits of the Spirit and how we can expand the positive behaviors in our lives, I thought it would be appropriate for us to also explore the vices we should remove from our lives.  For this we will be exploring Colossian 3:8. The first vice to explore will be anger.

Have you experienced anger, deep-rooted anger?  The kind that quickly builds to a level of resentment to a person or a situation.  Unfortunately, I have.  It has reared its ugly head on numerous occasions.  It could be when people have hurt me or disappointed me and my heart cannot believe this person responded (or did not respond) in the manner I anticipated.  Anger is mostly seen as an ‘internal’ attitude that hangs on. 

I have felt this in my life, and it changed the way I was responding to all people around me and my ability to find happiness and joy.  I would not let it go, and the anger built up inside in such a manner I had difficulty sleeping.  I often said to myself, “Let it go!”  My mind knew that it was the right thing to do, but my heart felt different.  The resentment was building, and I could feel it! 

My friends, the only way I moved on from this anger was to go to Jesus.  As Paul shared with the Colossians, we need to rid ourselves of these vices – starting with anger.  I was not able to do this on my own.  In walks prayer!  I prayed – and prayed and prayed.  Over time, I felt the burden of the anger I was carrying lifting.  I felt Jesus walking into my heart and healing it.  The Holy Spirit replaced my anger with peace.  Yes, when I think of the situation, I can feel my blood begin to boil a bit – yet I also can replace the anger with the sense of peace knowing that it is out of my control and in Jesus’ hands.

Our goal should be not getting that angry in the first place.  Easier said than done!  Coming to these occasions with a praying heart of calmness and control versus anger and resentment brings us closer to the person Jesus wants us to be.  How do we do that?  I find that when a situation arises where I begin to feel anger, I either step away or slow down and say a prayer.  Something like, “Jesus, I need you right now.  Help me to replace the anger I am feeling with a sense of calm.  Show me a way to respond as you would Jesus, with patience and control.” 

The Book of Proverbs offers many opportunities for us to put words on our hearts for anger situations.  One of my favorites is: 

"Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly."  Proverbs 14:29

Friends, let us pursue a sense of patience in troubling scenarios.  May our responses mirror those of Jesus.  Have Simple Faith He will always be there for us!

Video that complements this post:  Anger Vice

Jesus, we need you.  Stand with us as we enter situations where anger may take over.  May we respond with a sense of patience and calm.  In your name we pray, Amen!

Fruit of Self-Control

 

Our Fruits of the Spirit journey is coming to an end with self-control.  This ‘fruit’ has always been close to my heart.  Perhaps it is due to the fact that I can’t get away from this being about me, with self in the actual word!  Self-control comes into many facets and phases in one’s life.  I typically associate myself with a healthy eating program and self-control.  Often, I set my sights on ensuring I eat properly, especially as I age.  I find that my desire to have ice cream every day and sticking to my healthy eating program is definitely about self-control.  There are days when I am more successful than others.

Yet, self-control falls into many other aspects of my life, and I’m assuming yours as well. 

·         Words – do I have control over the words that come out of my mouth?  Are they words that are uplifting for those around me and not judgmental?  “The tongue has the power of life and death.”  Proverbs 18:21

·         Actions – are my actions aligned with what Jesus has planned for me?  Am I acting and reacting in away that is pleasing to Jesus?  “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  Colossians 3:17

·         Thoughts – what are you thinking?  Is what you are thinking about true to God?  “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right…think about such things.”  Philippians 4:8

·         Temptation – what are you tempted by?  There is much in this world that tempts us every day.  Are we quick to anger?  Does the gossip pool include you?  Are there other ways that you are tempted that do not align with God’s plan for your life?  “…God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure.”  1 Corinthians 10:13

Friends, the beauty of the Fruits of the Spirit is that the Holy Spirit is with us for each and every one listed.  He is there to help sustain us and our efforts to live our best lives in Jesus.  Our job is to remember this and to rely on Him and the power that He has inside of us to live with self-control. 

We have discussed much on all the Fruits of the Spirit.  In doing so, one may think, “Great, how do I live a life filled with all these good things?”  It comes from a place of humility.  It comes from fully understanding that we are sinners and we cannot do this on our own.  Praying for the Holy Spirit to show up in our lives, to guide us on the paths that Jesus has for us, and doing so with all of the Fruits of the Spirit by our side will greatly assist our goal of living the life for Jesus.  What we need to have is Simple Faith!!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Self-Control

I’d like to thank Mary for suggesting this series.  I hope all have found it beneficial.  It certainly opened my eyes!

Holy Spirit, please give me the fruit of self-control throughout my day.  May I be reminded you are in me, guiding me, and helping to hold me accountable.  Amen!

Fruit of Gentleness

 

Ahhh, to be gentle and receive gentleness.   I know there are many times over the years I wished I were treated with more gentleness and, quite frankly, even more times that I wished I had shown gentleness.  As a Fruit of the Spirit, gentleness can be explored in a variety of aspects, all of them intertwined to offer a sense of compassion, humility, and calmness.  To provide gentleness in a situation is a behavior that one needs to be cognizant of and to practice.

The greatest factor impacting gentleness is an ability to respond to a situation without pride.  This does not mean that we should not share our opinion or belief, but it does mean doing so in a manner that does not demean or belittle the person with whom we are communicating.  We need to leave the harsh words at the door and replace them with words of grace and love.  We need to suppress the facial expressions of anger and replace them with expressions of worth and value.  There are a variety of scenarios where gentleness can be seen.

Response to mistakes: How do you respond when someone makes mistakes?  Do you ‘come at them’ with wild eyes and harsh words?  When we approach people that way, we often find ourselves regretting our behavior.  This response can ruin relationships quickly.  When we respond with gentleness, and the understanding that people make mistakes and are not perfect, we come to the situation with a sense of humility.  We have made our fair share of mistakes as well. Leave your pride and move forward with gentleness – in words and behavior.

Sharing of beliefs:  Here is a news flash – not everyone is going to have the same opinions and beliefs as you do!  We see that play out every day in the media.  Disagreements over beliefs that not only end in harsh words but violence.  God wants us to show people the path to heaven, but to do so with a sense of gentleness.  Peter says the following when Christians are called to speak the truth of Jesus, “… Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect…”         1 Peter 3:15. Preaching God’s word is effective when we live by the gentleness Fruit of the Spirit.

There are many more opportunities for us to live out gentleness in our lives.  Our body language alone can portray a sense of gentleness – responding to people with a smile, kind eyes, and wearing your love for humanity on your sleeve.  Our words can be the greatest expressions of gentleness – leaving unkind and bitter words behind and replacing them with words of uplifting and grace.  Gentleness does not mean we have to be meek, but it does mean that we can show calmness and compassion, regardless of the situation.  If this is a ‘fruit’ that you need to work on, take a few moments before responding to people.  This is about these verses, and know that the Holy Spirit is in you, working on gentleness.  Have Simple Faith!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Gentleness

Holy Spirit, thank you for your help with my gentleness.  May I respond to those around me with a gentle approach, letting them know unconditionally that you are working in me and through me for all goodness.  Amen!

Fruit of Faithfulness

 

Our Fruit of the Spirit journey takes us to faithfulness.  As I reflected on this ‘fruit’, a hard reality came to mind.  The world we are in today doesn’t promote faithfulness.  You have a favorite restaurant that you have been faithful to for years that receives some ‘less than stellar’ reviews and you may choose another establishment.  You have been faithful to a car brand for years, but ‘the one over there’ is shinier and has more features.  You have been faithful attending the same church for years, but you are growing tired of the preaching on the Bible and want them to be more open to society today.  Lastly, in a more disheartening way, the spouse you have been faithful to for years has become ‘boring’. 

Our world today seems to have us searching for the ‘new and shiny’ instead of holding on to a sense of faithfulness.  This can be apparent in many different scenarios.  I have had to self-reflect on this myself.  Are there areas in my life where I am shedding faithfulness for the next shiny thing?  Friends, we need to ensure we always keep our faithfulness to the One and Only, our Lord.  We need to ensure we are faithful to him and the path He has laid in front of us.  We can wrestle with this level of faithfulness when we don’t believe God is walking with us during challenging times or He is not responding the way we think God should.  He has, and will continue to be, faithful to us.  Let us evaluate our behaviors and actions to the words of the Bible that show us how faithful our God is.

·         “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love.”  Deuteronomy 7:9

·         “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

·         “If we are faithless, He remains faithful.”  2 Timothy 2:13

·         “He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.” 1 John 1:9

God never leaves us or forsakes us, regardless of our waywardness or grave sins.  He is faithful to us, and we need to ensure the fruit of faithfulness that the Holy Spirit gives to us is front and center in our faithfulness to Him.  God is good, ALL THE TIME!  It may not seem like that when the life we are living here on earth is filled with despair.  Yet, I promise you, God’s goodness for you will never waiver.  He is faithful to us each and every day in whatever we may be facing.  He loves each and every one of us and when we reflect on that love, that unconditional love, we will see His faithfulness shine.  Let our faithfulness for Him shine in all we do!  Have simple faith that our faithfulness in God will always yield great blessings – and eternal life!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Faithfulness

Holy Spirit, light the fire of faithfulness within me.  May my faith in God and all He brings to my life never wander.  May all that I meet know of my faithfulness to Jesus, and the abundance that He brings to me each day.  Amen!

Fruit of Goodness

 

Here we are again, my friends, on our Fruits of the Spirit journey.  This week has our reflection pointed to goodness.  Often, kindness and goodness can be seen as similar.  Yet, the difference is between you and me.  How so?  Kindness is what we show and how we treat others – YOU.  Goodness is how I behave, actioning what is right and with a level of integrity – ME. 

Goodness offers us the opportunity to not only be nice to others but to also do what is right.  I can hear y’all saying, “Of course, I do what is right, Susan!”  I believe, if we truly self-examine, we may find that our actions are not always what is right or good.  To act with a level of integrity, a level of goodness, can be easier said than done.  Our actions, as much what we do as what we do not do, dictate how we live our lives.  What does goodness look like in the eyes of Jesus?

·         Honesty: Living our lives with honesty at the forefront.  Honesty needs to begin with us.  This means looking at ourselves, our gaps, and having a sense of humility that we have areas where we sin, and where we need to be better – for God and ourselves.

·         Integrity: Doing what we say we are going to do.  If we sit in a pew on Sunday morning and profess that we are Christians and do what is right, then our actions as we leave the church doors should reflect that.  Taking a strong look at this may reveal this is easier said than done.

·         Stand Firm: Standing up for what is right.  It takes a lot to be the ‘one person’ to stand up for what is right.  It is much easier to go along with the crowd.  Nobody modeled this better for us than Jesus.  He always stood up for the righteous thing, the Godly thing, those who were not able to stand up for themselves.  This is incredibly difficult to achieve.

The above examples of goodness are not easy.  Challenging ourselves to truly reflect on our actions as they are described above may lead us to realize we have work to do.  We SHOULD have work to do!  We are sinners, my friends.  The only way we will be able to move forward in goodness is by the grace of God.  Jesus walks with us every day to help us attain the goodness for which we are striving.  Living in goodness will feel good.  When we are honest about our gaps and work towards being better; when we live with integrity every day; when we stand up for a situation so it will mirror what Jesus wants – all those examples will provide you with goodness in your soul.  Let us step up, in simple faith, that we can do this – with the grace of the One who can help us – Jesus!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Goodness

Holy Spirit, be with me as I work to integrate goodness into my life.  Let my actions reflect the love that I have for Jesus and that He has for me.  May goodness radiate from me and ensure that I am living the life I want to live for Jesus.  Amen!

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!