365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 102

The fruits of the Holy Spirit won’t be within us without first having faith. Faith is the beginning point that we have to go back to over and over again. Faith can be on shaky ground or as is told in the bible seeds in rocky soil. We must be proclaiming our faith through our words and actions everyday and especially in our prayers. Abraham had so much faith in God that when God told him to move his family 800 miles to another country, he did it and when he told him to sacrifice his only son Isaac, he did it but thankfully God stopped him before Isaac was killed and gave him a lamb to sacrifice instead. Jesus displays faith and obedience on an unfathomable scale. He came from his home in heaven, from the very presence of God to become a man on earth.  Why did he seek his alone time with God? He missed him. He missed being in his very presence but he did what God asked of him. I have had a small glimpse of what it must have been like for Jesus to have left the presence of God to be in this world. When I was in the hospital back in 2003 for 4 ½ weeks hoping to keep Faith from being born to early. Those weeks were filled with Spring snow storm, one after another. The snow kept many of my friends from coming to visit me. I was mostly alone in my room day in and day out. Actually, I wasn’t alone. I was communing with God as I had never done before. Without being able to even get out of bed, I was in a situation where all I could do was pray to God, read the bible and think of Him. Many months after this experience, I realized I was suffering from grief from the loss of that extreme closeness I felt with God during my stay in the hospital. How Jesus must have grieved as well! It puts a different perspective on what Jesus did for us. He came from his home down here to be with us in our fallen world surrounded by sin. How willing would you be to leaving your home and everything you have there to follow God and do his will? Faith is a life-long pursuit. Keep at it so those fruits can ripen within.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 102

I have started a 30-day bible study based on the TV mini series that started this last Sunday on the History channel. The first day study is about the first Adam and the second Adam who is Jesus and a comparison of the two. It is complete opposite kind of comparison. Adam’s sin brought death for us all and Jesus’ obedience brought life to all who believe in him. The ‘experience the story’ part of the bible study says when you look in the mirror today, see the image of the “heavenly man” who came and saved us. This exercise is great to get you to see that the Holy Spirit is within you, and see you can reflect that image of Jesus who was sinless and obedient to his Father. I pray we can all look in our mirrors today and all the days to come and be reminded each time that the Holy Spirit is at work within us and can be reflected out to all those around us.

Romans 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man they many will be made righteous.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 101

In order for the Holy Spirit to work within us, we have to guard ourselves from the evil in the world. Seemingly innocent things that may turn us away from God or lead us down a detour to the Devil are around us everyday. The more aware and in tune we are to God and his Word the more we can discern these innocent looking things and see them for what they are. Keep guard and know that the Devil is at work everyday trying to steer you away from God. Surround yourself with the Truth everyday.

Proverbs 22:5 In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits-Challenge-Day 100

I woke up yesterday not feeling so great. A head cold had descended into the left side of my head. With now three of us, sniffling, sneezing and coughing, we chose to stay home and watch our church service on the internet. I had it planned to go to my friend’s house about 3pm to take my first test. I should have re-scheduled! I wasn’t thinking clearly. I had not reviewed a vital section of the course and after starting the test I knew I was in trouble. I missed about 11-12 out of 50. Ugh. I don’t know at this point if I will be required to re-take the test or not. My husband was the first to give me words of encouragement. It’s been 20+ years since I took a test so I have to give myself some grace and move on. I know the devil wants me to think I can’t do this but I know I can with God’s help and a little time to get back those study skills from my young college days. So, I will keep fighting the fight, be thoroughly prepared and will be victorious with the next test.

Philippians 1:6 …being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 99

As you may already know from previous writings, I have struggled with hormonal issues for many years. Thanks be to God, they have gone back to the more predictable monthly hormone issues that are not as severe. In studying about depression, I learned it is quite normal for both men and women to experience 5-7 days of blah’s.  These are going to be the days you will not be at your best, when the Evil one will really work on pulling you away from God. We have the Spirit who will give us all that we need but our focus has to be on Jesus. The fruits of the Spirit may not be ripening as well during these blah periods in life but we are to be persistent and keep at it. Keep in the word, keep praying, keep loving, keep doing good and never give up.

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 98

I am preparing to take my first exam for my class on Basic Christian counseling. I am finding it is always good to repeat viewing a dvd class as things said the first time may not have gone in because I was thinking about the previous thing said or writing something down. I love the “oh, I get it” feeling. One of the main points of Christian counseling is about salvation. Many people have a misguided perception of what it takes to have salvation. It is not something we earn. If I am a good person does not equal salvation. It is a gift from God that we willingly take into ourselves through the blood of Jesus Christ. Our choice to believe that Jesus is God’s one and only son and that this sinless son of God died on the cross and took the punishment for our sins and his blood covers our sins and makes us presentable to God is the only way we have salvation. The Holy Spirit is walking behind us all of our days and will cover the sins that we will do keeping us clean in the sight of God. Without this belief, you will find yourself drawn down a darkened path that only leads to destruction. God will never leave or forsake us. His goodness will follow us all the days of our lives and keep us cleansed of our sins.

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 97

Having the fruit of goodness in us starts by ensuring we are on the right path. This has to be given thought and prayer daily as the Evil one will do anything and everything to divert us off our path towards God. Almighty Father, my life is for you. Help me to take the steps on the path today towards You. With You all things are possible. Amen.

Jeremiah 6:16 Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.