365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 307

I have found a three part sermon series on the fruit of the spirit that is very well written. The first part of the first sermon is setting straight that it is not fruits of the Spirit but fruit of the spirit. The nine character traits that are in Galatians 5:22: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are a parts of what we can have with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. And like all fruit(s) these character traits ripen and grow over time with the guiding of the Holy Spirit and our daily walk with God. Here are two statements from this first sermon that state in a clear way what that “Fruit of the Spirit” is:

Fruit of the Spirit is a physical manifestation of a Christian’s transformed life.

Fruit of the Spirit is the visible growth in Jesus Christ.

Take some time to meditate on this today and let the Holy Spirit speak to you about your character traits and how the ripening process is going.

John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 271

I grew up as a Catholic and now attend a Presbyterian church. Without a doubt, I have been immersed in a conservative atmosphere. I have found myself at times in worship at church wanting to shout, raise my hands, dance and be abandoned in my worship of God but those thoughts of what others might think keep me from doing it or keep it toned down where I won’t be noticed. I follow along with the crowd. But truly letting go and letting yourself worship God in any way you want to express is amazing. I have tasted this here and there and got another great taste of this at the Taste of Colorado festival yesterday and being at the Colton Dixon concert. I have been looking forward to this concert for weeks. Initially, I felt the same way as in church, not able to raise my hands to God but as each song went by I became more and more ready to let go. By the time the song “You Are” was sung, I was totally open to loving God the way I wanted to with my hands raised, my voice singing along and my body moving in joyful abandon without any fear of what anyone else thought including my family. It was amazing! In those precious moments, I felt such joy and love for God just pouring out of me. Perhaps, it is time to start attending the more contemporary service at church… hmmmm?

1Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 242

The word ‘task’ has been mulling around in my head a lot lately because of my class on temperament theory. Some temperaments are task-oriented, others are relationship-oriented and some are most comfortable with one but will or can do the other in order to meet their needs. The word ‘task’ can seem boring or just something that needs to be done but when we are talking about the task that Jesus Christ would have us do in sharing about Him to everyone who doesn’t know Him or whose heart has been closed is much more than a ‘task’. I looked up the definition of ‘task’ and found a couple of synonyms that I think might speak better about what it is we are doing for Christ. You tell me? Do you like assignment, mission or duty? Or perhaps it is a mix of all of these? What it is and should be is something we are passionate about, committed to and we are able to do it without fear but with joy and love. In the end we are nothing if not for the mission that Jesus has given us that we might help Him save others as He has saved us.

Acts: 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 209

I was able to get a quilt for my bed yesterday at Khol’s on sale 50% off. It was an exciting moment to see my bed looking so nice. We have been a two-comforter bed for the length of our marriage which is plus 17 years but the heat lately was making me think it was time to do something with our bedding situation and my comforter is falling apart. Of course, I need a new sheet set and still need to get curtains for our bedroom to block out that morning light but I have learned to be content with what I have and enjoy all the blessings that God has already given me. I think this piece by piece putting together aspect of my bedroom is much like how people are put together. There are different areas that we have to develop. We have our soul which I will call the bedroom windows. We have our bed which I will call our physical body and we have the atmosphere within the room which we develop by the colors, light and décor used. The atmosphere is our spirit. All three aspects of our bedroom need to be developed. I may not get to the final perfect bedroom but I focus on the goal and I enjoy the process of shopping for décor, making the bed with a new quilt, envisioning the windows covered with drapes and so on. How content are you with your life? Don’t focus on what is missing. Focus on what you have and keep your eye on the Lord and what is to come and the fruit of joy will fill you.

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God as said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 149

Everyday at my job is a struggle to be patient and to not fall into the complaining mode that is so easy. It is so easy to fall into the trap of complaining right along with the crowd. Thankfully today is a new day and another chance to get it right. Complaining is really just anger at not being in control and complaining with the crowd is just trying to be on their good side. So no matter the rules at my job, the lack of communication or direction, I have to let go of it all and know that God is ultimately the one in control, not a boss with too much on her plate or an owner who doesn’t really understand. Humbly, I must do my job with joy and thankfulness.

James 5:9 Don’t grumble against each other, brothers or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 95

The first thoughts about good or goodness in the bible are right there in Genesis chapter one when God is day by day creating all aspects of our world. At the end of each day, God reviews his creation and thinks it is good. Well, yah, some might say, you are God so it isn’t going to be bad. Let’s put this into other words: God planned his creation and  day by day as it came together he thought it was all working according to his plan and purpose. Something is good when it works out as we planned. I thought about my wedding plans. I had a Renaissance themed wedding with the outfits and all. Because it was such a unique wedding it was a bit daunting thinking about how it was all going to come together but the evening of my wedding, as I walked down that isle everything was good. It all came together beautifully and it was a wedding many will never forget. I felt not relief that it was all good but satisfaction and joy. I feel that way when I create a scrapbook page or card. When it comes together and it is good, I am delighted. We can look at each day we are given the same way. God created this day and what happens throughout our day will work according to his purpose and it will be good. No matter what our day brings us, there is good in it because God’s purpose is working through it. Keep that in mind, when your kids are driving you nuts or your boss is making you angry or the roads are a snowy yucky mess to drive in.

Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 57

I like this quote from Joel Osteen: You have a choice; you can either keep your joy, or you can give it away.  Choice is by far one of the biggest factors in becoming a believer of Jesus Christ and in our Christian walk. From the moment we make that first choice to believe that Jesus is the son of God and died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead so that we too might live we have the Holy Spirit within us. But everyday is a new day and so everyday we have choices to make. Not just the physical choices of what I am going to eat for breakfast or pick to wear today. Not just the mental choice to have a positive attitude or figure out the bills to pay but the spiritual choices of do we rely on God today, do we pray for the Holy Spirit and the fruits he can ripen within us or do we go it on our own. I for one have seen the power of the Holy Spirit working within me and it motivates me more. It is much like going on a weight-loss plan. The first week you are motivated by the idea of losing weight and feeling better about yourself, etc and by the third or fourth week the motivation comes from the very real reaction to your action. You get on the scale and see you have lost 3lbs and are thrilled. I have felt that same way every time I experience the Holy Spirit has given me what I needed. It makes me want the Holy Spirit working within me every moment of my life. For each day in the rest of my life, I am going to choose to pray in the morning for the Holy Spirit to ripen the fruits of the spirit within me, to help me love, to remind me that my joy comes from knowing I am saved and have the love of an awesome God.  And each night, I am going to pray and thank the Lord and confess my sins and what I could have done better and thank him for all the blessings, help, guidance, protection, inspiration, love and fruits of the Spirit that he gave to me for that day. I made a choice a couple years ago after a dentist visit with the typical talk about needing to floss. I made the choice to do it everyday and have only missed maybe two days in the last 2 years. If I can floss everyday, I can certainly pray everyday and so can you.  It is your choice.

2Thessalonians 2:13

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challege-Day 54

As I was reviewing my email last evening down in my studio, I heard upstairs my daughter laughing. It was a rip-roaring kind of laughing, the kind where you get physical. I could imagine her up there rolling around on the floor. She was watching one of her Disney shows on TV and was laughing with such abandon. I had to pause what I was doing just to sit and listen. I think there is an old saying that laughter is contagious. I don’t know about that but it definitely spreads an effect over those within the hearing range. I think the same can be said with a smile or kind words. They can make a sad or angry person feel, at least for the moment, happier. I am sure the joy the Holy Spirit fills us with can lead to outward effects. Though laughter and happiness are not what the Word is showing us about joy, it is an example of what joy can do. True joy comes from the Holy Spirit, not by him cracking jokes or giving us every heart’s desire but just the knowing that we are His. The joy comes in the relationship we have with our Father. He wants us to ask, vent, worship, be grateful and love him in prayer. We may not get what we ask for, we may vent and be lead to solutions, we may worship and love and already we know we are loved by Him beyond measure and we may be grateful in all things which brings about an attitude of contentment but the joy from the Holy Spirit is just because we are doing those things: asking, venting, worshipping, loving, thanking and praying this all to Him. Like a parent that tells a child, I just want you to come talk to me, such is how or heavenly Father feels about us. Talk to Him in whatever way is right for you and do it often and joy will find its way into your heart.

John 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 52

Everyone turned and looked up from their desk when I came in and said my cheery good morning. I imagined the mountains singing and the trees applauding and before opening that door to my office prayed to the Lord again to fill me with His joy and peace. It was so awesome to see the difference in the others when you come in with joy-filled and peace-filled eyes. But my rejoicing over being filled with joy was misplaced slightly. I was glad to have that joyful and peaceful attitude as I worked but the real joy is in the reason that I was filled with that joy and peace in the first place. Jesus is my king, savior and everything. Because of Him, I have been adopted into the kingdom of Heaven and am a child of God. My name is written in the book of life. There is much to be joyful for but the reason I have this joy is because of the one and only Jesus. I will rejoice in Him.

Luke 10:20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 50

We had such a great time watching the Bronco game yesterday. It was a bummer that it didn’t end well for them. I just hate it when a game comes down to a field goal and you know there were mistakes made along the way that could have made the outcome different. But that is what life is all about. Making mistakes and hopefully growing from them. I woke up early this morning and got up to go to the bathroom and get a drink and my mind ended up thinking about stuff at work. I was thinking on this stuff for just a minute when I realized I was worrying about it. So, I began to analyze why I was worrying about it and figured out that it was because of my need for approval and to show that I can do it all. I wanted to make sure that what the boss, owner and my co-workers thought of me was that I am the best and most capable person to do this job. I realized I was being selfish and immediately started praying to God asking for forgiveness and thanking him for helping me see this for what it is so I can grow. From what I have learned about temperament theory so far, there are weaknesses in every temperament. God designed us this way so that we would have the need to reach out to him. These weaknesses in our temperament can be overcome with the power of the Holy Spirit within us. One of the weaknesses within my temperament is worry and/or fear. I have come along way with my fears in this past year and now it looks like the Lord is showing me my worries need to go to Him too. After praying to him about this worry over work and asking for forgiveness, my mind was at peace and I was able to get back to sleep. I have not overly thought of work since. I am certain the Broncos will be re-playing the game they just lost over and over again to analyze what they could have done better, what choices could have been better, what mistakes need to be worked on. They will work on these and hopefully come back a stronger and better team next season. Mistakes, sins and their outcome aren’t on my list of pleasures but the end result of these can be growth in our relationship with the Lord and in becoming more and more as he wants us to be. That in itself is joy. Knowing that God is working on us, molding us, helping us become more like Jesus is the joy in the midst of the mistake or sins we do.

Psalm 43:4 Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and delight.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 48

I am finding that the fruits of the spirit are very much interconnected at least when it comes to joy. Joy is definitely connected to peace and love. And I am betting it probably associates with the other fruits as well.  The fruits of the Spirit can be like a fruit salad rather than individual fruits. The truth is when the Holy Spirit is within us, we do have all of the fruits and the more we call on the Spirit to ripen this fruit within us, the more we are growing and our fruits are getting peeled and cut and are turning into a delicious fruit salad. This is much like the analogy of the potter and the clay; God molding us into a beautiful pot. Everything is a process. We grow and change and get closer and closer to being what God intended for us, to be more like Jesus. This goal of becoming more like Jesus will give God so much joy. When we truly love God, we will have that motivation to do and be all that He wants us to be and we will be making Him joyful. Relationships are a give and take kind of thing. How well am I doing at truly loving God?

3John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 43

Yesterday I drove my son to Guitar Center and dropped him off and than took my daughter over to Toys R Us to shop with her Christmas money. When I picked up my son, he told me how he had never been in there before and he was a little scared and intimidated about going in but he did it and said he got over that pretty quickly. He found a used guitar he really wanted to get but was short about $80 so we set off heading home and stopped for lunch at Panda Express. After talking it through and confirmation from my husband we knew Tristan had enough money based on what he had in his savings account so we headed back to Guitar Center to buy the guitar. Unfortunately, when we arrived we did not find the guitar displayed and inquired about it. It turns out someone was buying it right than. We had missed it. My son took it so well and was willing to look over his second choice and any other guitars. I was so proud of him in how he handled it all. He ended up buying his second choice and was so thrilled to be getting a new guitar to replace his old cheap starter guitar we bought for him many years ago that wasn’t playing very good anymore. It is moments like these that bring joy to me as a parent. What a gift that is.

Proverbs 10:1 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 39

I read somewhere that joy is peace dancing. It is part of our love relationship with Jesus and God. When we abide in Him, Obey God and live for Jesus, we will have that peace and that dancing peace called joy. Joy is not like happiness which is dependent upon circumstances. True joy is only achieved through our loving relationship with Jesus. Oh Holy Spirit, I am not worthy of this joy or peace that only you can give but I am willing to abide, obey and live my life for you. Help me to maintain and cultivate this willingness into my everyday life. With You All Things Are Possible. Amen.

John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy will be in you. I also want your joy to be complete.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 38

I got newsletter in the mail from a ministry called Voice of the Martyrs. It shared about their ministry of getting people to write letters to Christians that are in prisons around the world. It shared one story of a man who was imprisoned because he was selling bibles in China. He ended up getting bags of letters and cards from Christians around the world that gave him hope and strength. He was filled with joy at receiving such a gift when he was in prison. This gift gave him the hope and strength he needed and he brought several fellow prisoners there for murder to accept Jesus Christ. Finding joy in such circumstances is almost unfathomable to consider but we are never alone in these struggles and that is the joy of it. This man prayed to be freed from prison as he was being tortured hourly and heard the voice of Jesus tell him “my grace is enough”. He wasn’t freed at that point but lived on knowing he was not alone and that Jesus was with him. I think the ultimate joy that we are given is in knowing Jesus Christ.

1Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Happy 2013!

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits-Challenge Day 35

I woke a couple times last night with some pain in my shoulder and my mind turned on and went on a path of thinking about joy. The Lord guided my thoughts to the time when I experienced intense overwhelming joy so much so that I had to stop thinking about it and shove it back inside of me because is was unbelievable the amount of emotion that was produced. I was driving in my car at the time which is always a great place to think and pray but can get you to drive past where you needed to go. LOL.  I was pregnant with my daughter and started thinking about the amazing gift I had received from God in not only coming to know him in my heart, being released from the fears of exposing my past sins to others but the gift of my hearts desire to have a second child. My heart just bubbled over with intense joy and I started pouring out tears. My chest was filled to capacity and it was literally overwhelming the emotion that it brought. That emotion was pure joy. Perhaps it was because of my pregnant hormonally driven state that I experienced it in such an overwhelming way. In any case, it reminds me that joy can be found in knowing and trusting Jesus Christ. I remember when I first came to believe in Christ and understood that I was forgiven in my heart. I grew up believing in my head but was missing the heart piece. When I found that, I was “hot” for Jesus. I wanted to learn all I could. That was motivated by the joy of knowing the gift I had finally connected with in my heart of being forgiven. The initial joy re-visits me often in worship when we are confessing or just singing our praises. I think of the awesome gift of Jesus and am overwhelmed with joy that I with all my sins am a recipient of such an amazing gift.

Phillipians 3:8 Even more, I consider everything to be nothing compared to knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. To know him is the best thing of all. (New International Reader’s Version)

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 34

This scripture in Psalms reminds me of how I have managed to have some self-control over the cookies, candies and rich foods of the past month. I think I have finally managed to find my sweet spot. No pun intended. It’s that place where you can have your fats and sweets in the right amount of quantities that won’t make the scale go up and your attitude go down. I can sing with joy and be glad that the Lord has helped me overcome the eating enemy. God didn’t intend for us to not be able to partake of these food treasures but he doesn’t want us worshipping them either. I know my focus being more on the Lord thanks to doing this blog among other things has definitely been the help I needed to overcome the sweet tooth. Now I will have to pass on this blessing and joy to my daughter who has gigantic sweet tooth. Not sure how to go about helping her overcome her sweet tooth but I am sure the Lord will guide me and I know the first and foremost thing will be to take it to Him in prayer.

Psalms 63:5-7 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 33

In the next couple weeks I am going to be looking at the fruit of the spirit, joy. This time of year seems to be the most joyful time of year. Hmmmm, I wonder why? No, seriously we have so much to be joyous about when it comes to celebrating Christmas but this joy needs to be within us throughout the year, not just in December. I guess reality sets back in. You have to go back to work, clean-up the mess in your house, deal with incoming bills, getting sick and all kinds of trouble that will come our way. The bible tells us just because we believe doesn’t mean we won’t face trials in our life. We aren’t immune to the effects of life on Earth as human beings. I have struggled with being joyful in the midst of pain that comes from the after effects of my shoulder surgery. The healing process can be painfully slow but thankfully I feel progress so when I have a particularly bad day I have that hope. Jesus’ half brother James wrote about thinking of our trials as pure joy. Our trials are the catalyst of change. They will help strengthen us and mature us and they will lead to our completion. Think of yourself as a lump of clay and God is working you into a beautiful sculpture. Having joy when you feel depressed, down or angry about life is a challenge that we cannot overcome on our own. We have to call on the Holy Spirit to help us have this fruit especially when those trials hit us in the face. In the trials that lie ahead of us in the coming year, try to remember to call on the Holy Spirit to give you all that you need, especially joy. I will make a prayer card to have at work when I face a lot of my trials so that I will be prepared.

Holy Spirit, The stuff I am facing now is too hard for me to bare on my own. I need your help. Help me to be filled with joy despite what may be happening in my life. Let me have a smile in my heart that God is masterfully working his creation into a beautiful sculpture. With You All Things Are Possible!  Amen.

James 1:2-4 My brothers and sisters, you will face all kinds of trouble. When you do, think of is as pure joy. Your faith will be put to the test. You know that when that happens it will produce in you the strength to continue. The strength to keep going must be allowed to finish its work. Then you will be all you should be. You will have everything you need.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 16

Do you know someone that you have never or very rarely seen angry? It is possible but it seems we live with anger all around us. Anger at the government for not doing their job and taking more of our hard-earned money from us. Anger at schools for not educating our children in the best way possible. Anger at our employers for wanting more from us but not giving us anything in return. Anger at America for voting off the wrong singer on The Voice. Yes, it is everywhere and for everything. So how do we overcome all the anger around us and keep us from being angry too? Only the Holy Spirit can do the job but we have to ask for help everyday to be able to live a life of joy, peace and forgiveness; a life of praise, worship and prayer. The antidote for anger is thanksgiving. I think it is said best in one of my favorite scriptures:  Phillipians 4: 4-7 Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful. Let everyone know how gentle you are. The Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him. Then God’s peace will wash over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 365

It has been exactly one whole year I have been writing up my praises. This has been a tremendous blessing to me and I hope to you who have read them. I am thankful to God for the use of this blog to be able to praise Him for all he is, does and gives us. It just wouldn’t be the same writing it in a private journal. It has been an honor to share these praises with you this last year. So, what is up for the year to come? There are a few different options I have been thinking about but I keep coming back to this one so here it comes:  365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge.  The Holy Spirit is within us but we need to call on His power to work in us everyday. My favorite scripture is Galations 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  So, this coming year will be devoted to praying about these fruits, seeing these fruits in my life and striving to be Spirit-Filled everyday. I hope you will continue on this journey with me and will be Spirit-filled with all these fruits each day in the year to come.

Galations 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 335

There are days where your kids drive you crazy, exhaust you and frustrate the heck out-of-you but than there are the moments that are so precious, so cherished and I am so thankful to God for. One of those wonderful moments happened last evening. The weather had turned and when we left church it was raining but as we got closer to home, the rain turned to snow. Of course, it isn’t going to stick to the ground but the falling snowflakes got my daughter all in a tizzy. She was giggly with excitement about a hopeful snow day and when we got home and out of the car, she rushed out onto the driveway and put her face up to catch snowflakes on her tongue. So much joy surrounded that moment. It was awesome! In this world, life can take its toll on us and make us grumpy, moody, and negative but we have the hope of constant joy, love, peace and all the good things that the Lord will bring us in heaven. So, when I am feeling grumpy or frustrated with circumstances in life, I pray that I will be able to pause and remember this moment with my daughter and the hope that Jesus gives.

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.