Dear Friends:

 The 2015 Pixar movie Inside Out is set in the mind of a young girl, Riley Andersen, where five personified emotions: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust try to lead her through life, as she moves with her parents to a new city. The film reminds us that we aren’t the only ones who sometimes have nagging voices inside our head. Most of the time, the messages we get are positive and edifying, but there are times when the voices feed us negative thoughts, feelings of inadequacy, or words of condemnation.

News Flash: Negative Thoughts aren’t from God!

So how do we filter the negative thoughts that come our way?

Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.^”

Trusting God isn’t always easy. At times, we may feel like the father of the demon-possessed boy in Mark 9, who brought his son to Jesus for healing. “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” The father pleaded. “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

The father in that story wasn’t the only one who struggled with faith? Jesus disciples had tried and failed to heal the boy. When they asked Jesus why they had failed, he explained, “’You don’t have enough faith’ Jesus told them. ‘I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there, and it would move. Nothing would be impossible’” Mark 9:20 (NLT).

So how do we develop that mustard seed of faith? Hebrews 11:1 identifies faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Think about gravity. We can’t see gravity, yet we have confidence that if we drop something that is heavier than air it will fall to the ground. Where did that confidence come from? It came from experience; we dropped enough objects to trust the “Law of Gravity.”

Faith in God comes as we learn to trust Him more. So how do we develop this trust? By taking time to do the things that help us know God better.

Read the Bible to discover just who God is. The discovery phase should never end. Grandmother Alice, who loved and trusted the Lord, had a dog-eared copy of the King James Version on the armrest of her easy chair. That chair was her sanctuary. She read her Bible faithfully, and she passed that habit on to her children. Finding your own sanctuary and taking time each day to read your Bible can help you come into a more trusting relationship with God.

Expand your prayer life.
Moses, who was afraid to go before Pharoah because of his inability to express himself clearly, had no problems taking his case to God. In Exodus 33:12, Moses prayed “…You have said I know you by name and you have found favor with me. If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you …”

God knows you by name, too. When you pray, you open a channel of communication that never has a busy signal. It’s as easy as, “Lord, this is me again; let’s talk.”

Draw closer to God by joining with others in worship.

“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage
one another …” Hebrews 10:25(a).

So, what exactly is worship? The Spanish word for worship may be a bit more instructive than the English word. In Spanish the word is adoración, which is a derivative of the verb “adorer;” which means to adore, to reverence with religious worship, to idolize; to love excessively.
The main purpose of a community of faith is to bring its members into a more loving relationship with God.

Tune out those negative voices and tune in to God.
When you have a relationship with God, those negative voices we spoke of earlier become easier to silence. Reading the Bible exposes us to heroes of the faith, who teach us to turn to the Lord in times of trouble. Praying and listening for God’s response will help us to appreciate the many ways God is acting in our lives, and joining with others in worship will help nurture that mustard seed of faith – that given time – will allow us to move what may seem to be mountains in our lives.

Verses for the week: Psalm 100 (KJV) “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.  Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

Blessings,

Your friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT): ^“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

We conclude this series looking at JOY and PEACE.

Recently a Wikipedia entry mentioned that various research groups have been employing the scientific method to research questions about what “happiness” is, and how it might be attained. Perhaps the researchers are aiming too low. Why settle for “happiness” when “joy” is attainable?

Happiness is transitory. It is totally dependent on how we respond to the ups and downs of life. Joy is that irrepressible feeling of well-being we feel as we respond to God’s voice.

“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

The psalmist puts it this way, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5 (NLT)

For our joy to grow, it must be nurtured by God’s love. Jesus explained, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:9-11 (NIV)

A familiar hymn based on Hebrews 12:2 points the way to the joy we seek:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

God’s love is also the driving force behind the final blessing mentioned in the fruit of the Spirit: PEACE.

“ … The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 5(b)-7 (NIV)

This peace that passes understanding comes from the knowledge that we have a constant friend in Jesus.

  “Why should I be discouraged and why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home? When Jesus is my portion, a constant Friend is He, His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me”

As we continue to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we pray that patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – motivated by the love of God – will increase in us, fostering ever-higher levels of joy and peace.

We close this series with the Prayer Saint Paul offered to the Romans:

Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Blessings, Your friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

We have looked at how our level of patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness serve as a barometer of our walk with Christ. Now we turn to SELF-CONTROL. In the biblical sense, self-control is victory over sinful desires, i.e., making choices that bring us closer to God.

The Apostle Paul put self-control at the end of the list of the fruit of the Spirit for good reason. We all struggle with our own set of character flaws. Attitudes, appetites, and addictions become roadblocks to the love, peace, and joy we would otherwise feel. If we do not have the Spirit of God bolstering our self-control, feelings of anger, jealousy, and resentment can control our thinking leaving us vulnerable to temptation.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Now comes the paradox: We may feel like the black sheep of the family, but in God’s eyes we are righteous. “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7

Soul-searching is a good thing. Bill W., the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, put it this way, “For the wise have always known that no one can make much of his life until self-searching has become a regular habit, until he is able to admit and accept what he finds, and until he patiently and persistently tries to correct what is wrong.”

Philippians 4:8 offers a guide to self-control: “…Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ”

Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you as you conduct your own Self-Control Inventory.

Do I have…

ATTITUDES TO ADJUST?                ACTIVITIES TO AVOID OR STOP?
PROMISES TO CLAIM?                   TRUTHS TO BELIEVE?
PRIORITIES TO CHANGE?           IDOLS TO TEAR DOWN?
LESSONS TO LEARN?                    NEW DIRECTIONS TO TAKE?
ISSUES TO RESOLVE?                   SINS TO CONFESS? PEOPLE TO FORGIVE
COMMANDMENTS TO OBEY?       

Verse for the week: 2 Peter 1:2 (NLT) “May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.”

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

Last week we looked at faithfulness. This week we will zero in on GENTLENESS: Christ-like consideration of others.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV)

Jesus spoke of his gentleness, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 (NIV)

When Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you,” he committed to be beside us, gently teaching us, and helping us carry the burdens of life. The Apostle Peter emphasized the need for us to be gentle when we share the good news about Jesus: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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

So what does it mean to be gentle? Synonyms include: affable, agreeable, compassionate, considerate, docile, humane, kindly, peaceful, pleasant, quiet, softhearted, sympathetic, tame, tender, and warm-hearted. Perhaps the best synonym is meek – power under control. Being gentle doesn’t mean being a pushover, obsequious, or complacent; being gentle requires us to speak the truth in love. Whether we are teaching a child, confronting an adversary, or sharing God’s word with a stranger, we should remember that “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” Proverbs 15:1 (NLT).

“Remember to say what you mean, but don’t say it meanly.” ― Elizabeth George

Deuteronomy 32:2 offers us a poetic metaphor for how we should speak to one another: “Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew. Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants.”

We see more on the qualities of gentleness in James 3:17 (NLT): ”But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.”

So what does it mean to be gentle? It means to be respectful, compassionate, truthful, controlled, and soft as rain on a gentle flower. It means to be like Jesus.

Verse for the week: Colossians 3:12 (NIV): “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

Using Galatians, we have been looking at ways to examine how well we are doing in our walk with Christ. Last week we concentrated on goodness. This week we are looking at the question, “What do we do when our FAITHFULNESS is challenged?”

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness;  his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;  therefore, I will hope in him! Lamentations 3:22-24

With each sunrise, we are reminded that God is faithful, but the day that follows that sunrise can hold events that severely test our faith. Being faithful is easy when life is easy, but life can get messy. When life seems to be crashing down around you, “All things work together for good” may seem Pollyannaish. The loss of a job, the end of a relationship, or that call from the doctor can leave us asking, “Where are you now, God?”

Faith may be that ember of hope that fails to be extinguished when the storms of life overwhelm us. “An example of faith was found on the wall of a concentration camp. On it a prisoner had carved the words: I believe in the sun, even though it doesn’t shine. I believe in love, even when it isn’t shown. I believe in God, even when he doesn’t speak.”¹

So, what can you do to reignite the flame of hope when faithfulness falters? Confess any lack of faith. In Mark 9:18-28 we read the story of a young boy who suffered from seizures. When Jesus questioned the faith of the boy’s father, “The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’” Did Jesus condemn the father for his lack of faith – NO! He healed the boy. 24-7 faith is amazing, but very rare.

“Our failures don’t forfeit God’s faithfulness.” ― Alisa Hope Wagner, Eve of Awakening

Don’t hold it in. God is a wonderful listener. Unlike people, he is never tempted to micro manage your life. “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:8 (NIV)
Remember God’s track record.  “I think about all the things you did. I think about what you have done.”
Psalm 77:12 (ICB)
Worry less by praying more. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 (NIV)  “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:4 (NIV)
Pray expectantly. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7;  Philippians 4:19:  “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
Wait. “But those 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.” Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV)
Focus on eternity.Today is but a small wrinkle in the fabric of time. Take the long view! “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
Never under-estimate God’s power.  Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ

  ¹Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado