365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 186

Not surprisingly, my office environment got worse yesterday. We have to badge in and out of our office including going to get coffee, breaks and bathroom. The badge mechanism has been very inconsistent. You go out but it won’t let you back in kind of thing. Management started keeping track of all the time we aren’t in the office at our desk working and decided we aren’t working enough. If we are under 7.5 hours, than it is because of these three things… blah, blah, blah. The email we received ruffled the feathers in us all. My thought was we are now ball and chained to our desk and it won’t be long before we will have to ask if we can get up to go to the bathroom. Sadly, it isn’t the tasks of my job that are unbearable but the lack of any appreciation and the complete dominating micro-managed control that management is doing. It was insulting to me because I work, work, work but I also feel insulted for my co-workers because I know they are working very hard too. I thought I did not love my boss and company owner with my anger but after more thinking, realized it is okay to be angry. You can love someone as a human being but not like or even hate what they are doing. The really funny thing about all of this is at lunch time a virus was discovered to have invaded our computer systems so we couldn’t work the rest of the afternoon as they tried to get it corrected. A co-worker called it “karma” but I like to think of it as justice from above. I am not bitter. Okay, maybe a little. I am working on it.

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 185

They were talking on the radio about the top 10 things women don’t like about their bodies. The #1 was the stomach. I guessed that right! An image of myself when I was a senior in high school came to mind. I had seen a photo this weekend of me trying out for the captain of the drill team. Wow! I was tall and very skinny. I remembered being called a bean pole and I can see why. I think women are plagued by this man-made idea of beauty. But the reality is God doesn’t make mistakes. He loves us just as we are. In the end our body will age and go back to the ground from which it came but our heart, soul and spirit are moving on. This is where your true beauty lies. It is what’s inside us that shines outward. Shine on, shine on.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 184

I have been reading about a boy named Alex Malarkey who was in a car accident and went to Heaven. This boy has had angels visit him and heal parts of his body and he has been attacked by the devil. My daughter asked me what I was thinking about last night as we relaxed in the spa. So, I told her about the boy and how the devil was attacking him. The boy couldn’t say the name of Jesus and was terrified. But with lots of prayer coming from prayer warriors and his family he was able to fight off the devil and say “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus”. Of course, my daughter asked how the devil was attacking him. So, we talked about how the devil is the liar of all liars and will say anything to us that might change our focus from Jesus to him. We talked about how even though the perceptions of this boy were acute and he literally saw angels and the devil that the more we open our hearts to the Lord the more we will be able to discern when the devil is attacking us. We talked about the armor of God and specifically about the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God. I told her that we will be attacked by the devil throughout our lives especially in those circumstances when we find ourselves weaker but if we are in the Word of God everyday and his truth is sinking into our hearts, we will be able to fight off the devil and his attacks. This part of our faith is tough for people. It is hard to imagine a war is being fought all around us everyday. It goes against what we see but things are never as they seem. We, as Christians, are soldiers of Christ so like any soldier we must prepare for battle. Put on your armor and fight the good fight.

Here is a good article on the armor of God:

http://www.battlefocused.org/articles/armor-of-god/

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 183

We were playing one of our favorite games last evening, Uno Attack. My 10-year-old daughter gets easily excited about anything so when she won twice in a row she was just beyond proud of herself. I made a comment about being humble and of course, she asked what does that mean. This is one of those words that is not easy to define especially on the spot like that. It is more a word you know the meaning and you know it when you see it. I found an awesome definition on-line this morning that really gets to the heart of what humility is. It is from the brilliant man of God, C.S. Lewis. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.

1 Peter 5:5 All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 181 & 182

We had family in town yesterday so I wasn’t able to use my computer in the morning as usual. We went to church together and both my hubbie and I were delighted with the topic being “encouragement”. Some people just have a negative attitude and are critical about everything. They tend to say negative things that really don’t need to be said at all. The sermon was about encouragement and how we should go and encourage others. I especially loved the story our pastor told about another pastor who was working at starting up a church in a 3^rd world country. For two years, he prepared sermons for each Sunday and nobody came. But every Sunday, he would look up the hill and would see a cross at the top of the hill. This cross helped sustain him through these two years. He decided to climb the hill to the top. At the top, he found a hotel and the cross was on top of one of the buildings. He went inside to talk with the manager. Let’s just say the manager was not in a very good mood. “What do you want?” he asked gruffly of the pastor. The pastor told him about his trying to start a church and preaching every Sunday with no one showing up and that the cross on the top of the hotel helped him. The manager broke into tears and told the pastor he had in the time since he put up the cross always received negative comments about it and this was the first time he had received a positive one. The pastor ended up preaching at the hotel and his ministry flourished. He was in need of encouragement himself but gave encouragement to this manager and God blessed his ministry. Some people have the gift of encouragement but all of us are capable of sharing encouragement with others. So go encourage someone today with your smile, hug and kind words.

Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 180

Head is still not working…

Psalm 63:5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods, with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 179

The hormonal migraine has returned.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 178

I am so thankful for the help of the Holy Spirit yesterday at work. My team lead got some kind of email about her not working a full 8 hours and was angry and griping about it. I was naturally curious what it was all about and wanted to hear more details but I stopped myself several times and told myself to stay quiet. I didn’t jump on the complaining band wagon! It has been a challenge not to so this was a huge leap forward for me. I don’t want to sit in judgment of others. It is not my place. God is the only judge. I can imagine Him up in Heaven cheering for me and my accomplishment. I know it was just one day but there is hope knowing I can do it with the help of the Holy Spirit.

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 177

My heart was breaking last evening as I heard a story on the radio about a father who couldn’t make it to the school in time. The tornado brought the school down on the children inside and he found out many hours later that his nine-year-old daughter did not survive. Having a 10-year-old daughter who has always been freaked out about a possible tornado coming to our town, I felt so much sadness for what the parents must be going through. I prayed to God to that they would be strengthened and comforted by Him. No matter what the world brings us, God will help us through it. What words can one give to someone who has lost their home, child, all their possessions and community in one fell swoop? Only God can console, comfort and give them strength to get through the tragedy. Keep praying for the people of Moore, OK.

Lamentations 3:32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challege-Day 176

Self-control cannot be accomplished in the ways that God would want without the Holy Spirit.  There are a variety of things that can take over our actions. My two as you already know are eating and watching TV.  The Holy Spirit can help us find balance with those things that want to take control over us. I found myself sitting on the couch watching TV last evening as usual. Go to the YMCA and work out was a fleeting thought but the motivation wasn’t there. On to the next show to watch and I found myself saying why am I wasting my time watching this show when it does nothing for me. It doesn’t make me think or laugh or anything. So, the Holy Spirit said go and do some work down in the basement instead. Don’t get me wrong, it was a struggle at first to get going after a long day at work but I found the balance I needed. I had an hour of  rest and that really was all I needed. It was a kill two birds with one stone kind of thing with my work at my re-organization project in the basement and getting exercise. If you feel out of balance, it may be that you are over-indulging in something. Find the self-control you need to get balance with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 175

I have a weakness when it comes to food, especially desserts. It has been a constant battle over the last 15 years.  There is usually something that spurs me to stop and start eating better. I got the kick in the behind last week when I was getting ready for work. I started pulling out several cropped pants and one after another found them not to fit until I finally came to one that did. It was the straw that broke the camels back. I chose to be realistic and said just no dessert until Sunday which at that point would be 3 days.  I didn’t make it to Sunday. An apple pie was brought to our house and I was not prepared to handle that.  I cannot do this on my own. I found this scripture that really makes you think about what you do or don’t do to your body by what you eat and how you live. Desserts and entertaining TV shows have been taking me away from the Lord. So, I am calling on the power of the Holy Spirit within me to help me make wise choices regarding food and physical activity.  I will make it my goal to please God with my how I regard my body.

2Corinthians 5:6-10 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 174

My daughter spent most of the day yesterday sewing together a sock kitty. It was a project we bought two years ago that sat around collecting dust because I thought it needed the sewing machine for parts of it and my machine wasn’t working. She pulled the instructions out in the morning and said she understood what to do and got started on it. The only part she had trouble with was the pink nose that was to be done in an upside-down triangle like embroidery. Her nose didn’t turn out in that shape and left her in tears. She came to me to help her fix it. I had to cut out what she did and start over. There was a hole that formed so it was a challenge to incorporate that hole and embroider the nose but it came out pretty good. She was delighted with it. When she finished the whole thing she came up very excited saying how cute she was. She was beaming with her accomplishment but recognized my help with the nose. This  reminded me of how we are taught to become independent from our parents as we grow up but we also need to be taught  to depend on God. We are God’s from the beginning and as parents we have been given the task of teaching our children about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In our teaching our children to be independent from us but dependent on God we are transferring our children back into His arms. It was delightful to watch her beaming over her accomplishment as I am sure God is delighted to see us beaming over our accomplishments when we depend on Him to reach them.
Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 173

I caught a glimpse of a news story yesterday about Michael Jackson and the unbelievable amount of stuff he collected. It is sadly pathetic to think of all those things he bought just collecting dust. Not one thing went wherever he went to upon his death. I know there are people with a hoarding issue. It is almost like an obsessive hobby but where do you put all the stuff. I got up this morning with this all still on my mind and decided to really get moving on my spring cleaning project. I am clearing out stuff from my basement studio and am feeling good today about letting it all go. I am moving on to the next season of my life with my career as a Christian counselor and don’t need all the stuff I have had for the past 7 years for my scrapbooking and card making businesses. It feels good to be able to let it go. Mind you, I am not letting it all go. I won’t give up making cards or scrapbooks but it will no longer be a business venture but just a fun hobby. So, I am downsizing my space I take up in our basement so we can actually get a pool table or something fun for the whole family.

1Timothy 6:17-19 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 172

I am a fan of American Idol. Although not musically inclined myself, music does speak to my me in ways that nothing else can. It is down to the last two contestants. My favorite to win is Candice Glover. I have thoroughly enjoyed her singing, growth on American Idol and her spirit. In one of her final songs of the competition she sang what I believe is a newly written song called ‘I am Beautiful’. The song is about how God see us no matter anything else. I immediately said I am buying that song. So, I am off to I-tunes to get this song that says what God tries to tell us in so many ways: I am beautiful. And so are you…

Psalm 45:11 The King is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-am-beautiful/id648566040?i=648566535

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challege-Day 171

In these beautiful days of spring, it is so easy to see the glory of God all around us. It is really hard to imagine a person not believing in God just based on the wonderful world he created. These people are truly blind and don’t even realize the darkness they are living in. The order and beauty of our world is a living testament to God. The birds singing and the grass growing green in the spring didn’t just happen. The world is an intricately designed work of art that was created by a loving God. Do you know someone who is living in darkness? Pray for them today that they may truly see the proof of God all around us.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 170

I had an in-depth discussion with my daughter about sex last night in the spa. This was spurred on by the fact that she has been clicking on links on the internet due to curiosity. We have a program that shows us what she has been to so I asked her about it and while at first was faking not remembering, she did honestly say she saw it but got bored with it. Thankfully nothing she went to was explicit! I am not sure where she got her understanding of sex but she seemed to have a good concept of it. To her it is basically a way to have children. She didn’t understand the concept of pleasure so we discussed this and I came up with a hands-on demonstration of how sex can bring about a stronger bond between a husband and wife. I put my hands together and intertwined them and asked her to try pulling them apart and she couldn’t. Than I put them together with only the first inch of my finger tips meshing with my other hand. She pulled those apart and said a big “Ah-ha”. So she understands the concept of pleasure and its role within marriage as a bonding agent based on love. And, of course, we went on to discuss that God created sex to be within marriage and nowhere else. I am sure this will be just the beginning of many more discussions about sex, marriage, love, etc.

Song of Songs 8:6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 169

We saw a movie called The Impossible on DVD. The movie is based on a true story of a family who experienced the tsunami in Thailand in 2006 that killed over 30,000 people. Now I don’t want to spoil the movie for you but the title kind of gives you that hopeful feeling that the family will survive. They do survive but what they endured and went through to survive and find each other was intensely heartbreaking. You will definitely need a Kleenex. The love, determination and persistence they demonstrated was a beautiful earthly example of how the Father feels about us. When everything is stripped down to the bare bones of what we want most, what we see is people wanting to be with their loved one/s. That is how God feels about us. He so wants us to want Him so much that we will search Him out and find Him. God is not passive about this. He lays the breadcrumbs that when are eyes are opening will start to follow. Ultimately, He gives us the choice but he created in us a need to find Him. And like the reunion of the family in the movie, it is a glorious and joyous celebration when we find God and choose Him. Though we don’t see Him, he is crying with joy and smiling with celebration that you and He are finally together.  

Luke 15: 31-32 ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 168

There is nothing quite as wonderful to witness as someone you love reflecting the love of Christ. My hubbie was asked to serve as an usher in December because one of the ushers was having surgery on this foot and would be out for a while. I am sure they recruited him because he always wears a suit to church and because of where we normally sit. My hubbie told me this was not in his comfort zone and you could tell he felt a little out of place. But he went to a meeting at the church on Saturday for training on various things and seemed more confident in what he was suppose to be doing. But the thing that really made my heart soar for him was when he gave up his seat for a last minute mother and daughter. He has such a servant heart. Acts of service is his love language. I have seen these acts at home with myself and the kids but to see it in action out with a random mother and daughter was a real treat. At the end of the service, he was to hand out the roses to all the mothers as a gift from the church. I just stood there watching him with a big smile on my heart and face. What a wonderful gift for my Mother’s day!

Ephesians 6:7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 167

My daughter had an assignment to look up the meaning of symbiosis. It is a close ecological relationship between two species. There are several categories of these relationships but the one that shouts to me about God is called mutualism. In our relationship with God, both of us benefit. We have the Holy Spirit within us progressively molding us to be more and more like Jesus and God has his child back in relationship with him, loving him. It is a give and take relationship that when we both are giving and taking our share our relationship will deepen and we will grow.

Psalm 63:8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Happy Mother's Day!

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 166

As I relaxed in the spa last evening with my daughter and her friend, I listened to my daughter play out a conversation that her animal friends were having that she was playing with. The mother animal said “time for bed” and the child animal said “why do we have to go to bed?”  The mother animal says a simple “Because I said so”.  I cracked a smile at that and than began to think of how God tells us the same thing. We want to have the control over our lives but the reality is that we need God. He made us that way so that we would search, find and hopefully choose him. Without God we are children trying to do things our way and we know what happens when kids get to do whatever they want. Mess after mess, disaster and chaos. The sooner we realize we need to depend on God the better off we will be. The answer to all those why questions to God is a simple “Because I said so.” God is God. He knows best.

Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 165

Life throws all kinds of stuff at you and it always seems to come in bundles together creating one massive load of laundry you got to handle. My dear husband has been hammered with the intense family situation involving his mother and work related frustration after frustration and each thing went into the pot of anger and frustration. That pot of stew was bubbling over yesterday. My husband has a great capacity for self-control that I have always admired but he had reached his limit. But rather than explode it came out towards me in subtle ways when I didn’t respond to a text I didn’t get and when I stopped at the grocery store on the way home but didn’t let him know. I call it the icing on the cake of anger and frustration. I knew that he was angry but my own fear of rejection kept me from probing him with questions to verify it wasn’t something I did but other issues. I tried my natural passive way of approaching him but that didn’t do it. So, this morning, with the anger processed, we had a good conversation and I found it wasn’t about anything I did. My little mistakes were the icing on the cake not the cake itself. He wanted me to probe! I told him about how I was made in such a way that I have a high fear of rejection and it is going to be a process to hold the hand of the Holy Spirit and overcome this fear so that I can do that probing without fear of him barking back at me. Thank you Lord for a good lesson in understanding myself and how the Holy Spirit can help me with those weaknesses within me.

Proverbs 1:5 Let the wise listen and add to their learning.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 164

I am a fan of Survivor and last night saw a beautiful example of selfless love. Despite the game, Brenda who had just won the reward challenge and was going to get to spend time with her Dad at a floating BBQ was asked to choose one person to join her with their family member. She and Dawn have been close allies and seem to have really connected on a deep level so it was an easy choice to pick Dawn. But Survivor threw a wrench into the plot and told her she now had another option; she could send all the remaining survivors not with just one family member but two to the BBQ and stay behind with Dawn. She called it a “no brainer” and gave the reward to her fellow survivors, minus Dawn. Dawn was devastated but everyone else was so thankful to Brenda. But in the end, one of the survivors felt that her likeability just went through the roof and she needed to be voted out. You don’t want to be with someone more likable than yourself in the finale. Dawn ended up stabbing her in the back and voted her off. It was heartbreaking. I was inspired to see if I could send a message to Brenda and found the Survivor Connect website http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/connect?ttag=mktg_sem_srv_con_gg_0411

 and sent her a Tweet to let her know what an amazing act of selfless love that was and to not be swayed by the actions of others to change who she is and love like that. May the Lord bring her blessing upon blessing.

1Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 163

I have been suffering from an off and on perpetual headache for more than 10 days now. My head is just not feeling it right now. I try to read from the Word and get only through one phrase. I just cannot focus. Please send some prayers to our Lord for me that these headaches will cease and my mind will be clearer once again.

Psalm 38:21-22 O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 162

I come from a family of women who are have a tendency to not listen well. We speak before thinking, react before processing and let anger take control. My mom, sister and I were on our annual spa trip together this last weekend. It is a good time but inevitably becomes a therapy session. Being the quieter one within this trio, I tend to just let them do the talking and will pipe in when there is a purpose behind it. I am not one to talk much about nothing. This time around I was having a very difficult time maintaining my patience and gentleness with them because of the negative stuff that seemed to be coming out more than anything else. My mom, being older and wiser, realized she may have to temper her mouth a little more so as not to set off my sister. I came to the point that I was thinking about not doing this anymore. I need a vacation from my vacation. It feels like walking on egg shells at times because anything you say can be held against you and may set off a volcano. I can’t be the therapist to my mother and sister and our relationships because I am too close to it all so I just have prayed and let them know I love them and hope that the Lord will guide them both in drawing nearer to the Lord so that they may bear the fruit the Holy Spirit can give.

James 1:19-21 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 161

My daughter was having pain in a baby tooth that was found to have a cavity. The dentist had said since it’s in a baby tooth to wait it out and see if it what will come first it falling out on its own or pain. The pain came and the tooth wasn’t wiggling even one bit. The pain was enough that my daughter was gung-ho about getting it pulled. She was very brave as they pulled out the tooth root and all along with another one right beside it. She was more freaked out about seeing her tooth with the root still on it. “Creepy”, she said. Overcoming fear will be a life-long pursuit but I am confident that God will be leading her and helping her. He gave her courage to battle the fear.

Deuteronomy 31: 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 160

They call alcoholism a disease. It is a disease in the heart. There are people who will have a temperament that makes them more susceptible to abusing alcohol and other substances. They are choosing to fulfill a need in an ungodly way. It will take an act of God to help a person who is so deeply into alcohol and what it does for them to turn away from it and look to God to meet their needs. Praying for all those who find themselves down this dark path of alcoholism.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 159

In my Hebrews study by Warren W Wiersbe, the topic of progress and growth was discussed. Wiersbe said he once heard a preacher say “Most Christians are betweeners.” Well, he continued and asked him what he meant by that. This is how he responded:  “They are between Egypt and Canaan—out of the place of danger, but not yet into the place of rest and rich inheritance.” “They are between Good Friday and Easter Sunday—saved by the blood but not yet enjoying the newness of resurrection life.” I remember John Stevens our retired pastor preaching about this topic and saying are you Hot for Jesus or just luke warm. Our walk with the Lord is meant to be a continual growth process. Don’t let the things of this world get you stuck in between.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 158

Because of my recent class, I am in-tuned to anything about needs. What are needs are and how we meet them determines our behavior and direction in our life. In my Hebrews bible study by Warren W Wiersbe a statement was written that really stood out. “God puts us through difficulties that we might better understand the needs of others, and become able to encourage them.” I think most people get that we can end up with much growth after getting through a challenging time. This statement put this idea into something more detailed. The more we are aware of others needs, the better we will be able to respond to them with love. In the midst of challenges, it can be tough to consider the positives that will come out of them but this is one to keep in mind.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 157

The other day at work I had to listen to a phone conversation that got very heated. The Assistant Manager was trying to get information on the new program that I have to use to import. I ended up with an error message and got the word on what to do to avoid that and than came to a screen that I was at a loss on what to do. The training I had with our manager never went this far in the process because of a program issue. The conversation was mostly done in a foreign language but there were a few English words in there and the tone, frustration and anger made it obvious that she wasn’t getting the info she needed but an apparently rude and disrespectful brick wall. This person apparently has a reputation for acting this way. There have always been some thing I will not tolerate and one of those is disrespect. My immediate thought was I had better avoid having to ever talk with this person because I may loose it. But later after letting it sit in my mind for a while, I started to think of how would have Jesus responded to such a person. Gentleness and compassion were the words that came forward. He would treat any person regardless of the rudeness or disrespect as a valuable person who is loved by God. It will definitely take the power of the Holy Spirit within me to do what Jesus would do in this kind of situation.

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 156

My daughter and I are reading another book by Jenny Cote about Max and Liz and the other animals who are called by the Maker to help Joseph. They are told to go and they will find a caravan and they must join this caravan. They Maker tells them they will know which caravan to go with. Liz the beautiful sleek black cat who is French and very intelligent sees the call from the caravan they need to go with in the form of an oddball camel who has a problem and shouts every word he says. She meets up with this camel and accepts him for who he is and explains he has a condition called kozemania or something like that? It makes him want to shout everything and she tells him it was the shouting that drew her to know that this was the caravan that the Maker wanted them to join. God used this camel’s unique problem for his good purpose. I can’t wait to hear how the camel will grow in his faith knowing his shouting problem is what God created him to be. The way Liz accepted him and gently talked to this shouting camel was such a beautiful example of how we too, with the help of the Holy Spirit, can be gentle and accepting and loving to everyone no matter who they are or what they do.

Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.