365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 301

I heard this line on a TV show recently regarding a girl who thought her brother was dead for 5 years and turns out is alive and back home. She had become a partier and doing drugs and she said to her brother “I did my best with what I had to work with”. In mulling this statement over, my opinion is she is not taking the responsibility for her own behavior but is making excuses that she was grieving. This is an apparent problem from the beginning of time with Adam and Eve. We seem to be disposed as humans to put the blame on someone or something else rather than honestly admit it was “me”.  She did the best with what she had which did not include God. This is a good example of how without God  in our daily lives and growing and learning through His word, we will not have the tools necessary to fight the devil who will do anything and everything to keep you separated from God and/or separate your already existing relationship with God. The first big hurdle to overcome in working to resolve our problems is to accept the responsibility for them rather than making excuses and passing the blame. Keep this in mind in the days ahead and start a list of instances where you see yourself or others not taking the responsibility. You will see just how much the devil has worked this into our world and realize you are going to have to put on the armor of God and get in the Word to battle the enemy.

The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from the nature will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:8

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 130

The Holy Spirit has guided me to the topic of judging. In a negative office environment, with issues out of our control, it becomes very easy to judge individuals in the scheme of what’s happening. But the Lord is telling me to stop the judging and set the example of righteousness. I need to put on the rose-colored glasses of Christ each day that will help me view those that I work with in the way Christ viewed us. We are humans who make mistakes and we should forgive them. We are all uniquely designed by God and we must celebrate this uniqueness rather than put it down. And lastly, we all have a special place that God has designed for us that fits into his big plan for all of us. What is happening at my work or yours, in our homes and everywhere is being used by God for his big plan so we shouldn’t be judging but asking God to guide us in his special plan. So along with the armor of God, I will put on the rose-colored glasses of Jesus and view others without judgment but only with love.

James 4:11-12 Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 40

Unfortunately, we all have bad days. I am only human like everyone else. My mood was sour, very sour. The only time I had a smile on my face yesterday was when I read one of my prayer cards at work and the thought of God working on me like a sculpture put a smile briefly to my face but than my current circumstances took over. I think we should make it a law that when women are in the midst of PMS they should be allowed to just be at home and pray. This is by far one of the greatest struggles for all females; those days before the blood flows when your hormones take control of you. I have found the peace I needed in those kinds of days in the past in the Word but alas I cannot read the bible all day at work so I am sucked into it. You throw in the almost constant aches and pains from my shoulder and an office where a person who is cold just turns up the thermostat up towards 80 degrees without any regard for anyone else in the office. Let’s just say my mood started sour and turned hostile. I had to get up and out of my office several times just to get out of the room and into the cooler hallway. I am still feeling the anger over it. Can you tell? Today I am going to write one word “Joy” on a paper and post it right where I can see it all day long. In this I will be reminded that Jesus is my joy and strength. With Him I can conquer all things. Yes, even a hot office with PMS and shoulder pain. There is much to be thankful for and I will focus on the one who gives me such great blessings and find in Him the joy, peace and strength to endure.

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”