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

Dear Friends,

This week we honor Joyce Ireland–a teacher, a choir member, a gentle soul who loved Jesus and brought joy to our lives. Joyce went to be with the Lord on Saturday August 1^st.

 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 continued our examination of our walk with Christ by looking at kindness. This week we will focus on GOODNESS. So, what is “goodness”? An excellent synonym is “beneficence”: the doing of active goodness, kindness, or charity – including all actions intended to benefit others.

As we continue this series, notice that God is not only a “do as I say” God – he is also a “do as I do” God. When he speaks to us through the scriptures, his message is, “Love because I love. Be patient because I am patient. Be kind because I am kind. Do good because I am good. Have mercy because I have mercy.”

The Apostle Paul makes it clear that we should use our lives for doing good not to earn God’s mercy – we have that in Jesus – rather, we use our lives for doing good as a form of thanksgiving for God’s mercy.

But then the kindness and love of God our Savior was shown. He saved us because of his mercy, not because of good deeds we did to be right with God. He saved us through the washing that made us new people. He saved us by making us new through the Holy Spirit

This teaching is true. And I want you to be sure that the people understand these things. Then those who believe in God will be careful to use their lives for doing good. These things are good and will help all people.” Titus 3 4-5, 8 (ICB)

“But I just want to be a PEW-TATER,” you may say. “Isn’t it enough that I attend and tithe?” Suiting up and showing up is a good start, but the Apostles told us that a relationship with Christ involves more.

James the half-brother of Jesus offered: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says.” James 1:22 (NLT).

“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” James 4:17 (NIV)

Paul put emphasis on good works, “Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.” 1 Timothy 6Z:18-19 (NIV)

Granted, not everyone is called to serve as a missionary in Zimbabwe or to spend their days feeding the poor, but we all have been given talents that can be used to serve the Lord.

Recently, we were involved in a discussion with friends in an assisted living facility about the kinds of things they could do for others. One dear lady in her nineties knits prayer shawls. Another lady mentioned that she helps those with limited sight play bingo, while another mentioned helping fill gift boxes for our troops. Others talked about the power of a gentle touch, a kind word, a friendly smile, or a quiet prayer. Sometimes the most valuable thing we can offer the Lord is our time.

John Wesley encouraged us: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

In Matthew 25, we learn that goodness involves reaching out to all of God’s children. “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:40 (NKJV)

Does it matter when we do good? Without a doubt! Everything we do that brings glory to God matters.

Verse for the week: Psalm 90:17 (NKJV): “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.”

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 patience. This week we turn our attention to kindness. A timely place to start a discussion of kindness is with the Internet and network news. One can only imagine what Jesus’ apostles would have to say about Twenty-first Century communications.

The Apostle Peter would see obvious problems with social media: “Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander.” 1 Peter 2:1 (NRSV)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

James wouldn’t pull any punches: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.” James 3:9

The Apostle John would wonder if there was any place left where one could find the Christian worldview: “Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.” 1 John 4:5 (NLT)

While the Internet can be an amazing source of information – we couldn’t put these messages together without it – anyone who has spent more than a few minutes on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media can testify that kindness is often a missing element.

Many who use the internet as an outlet for their rage would be well advised to heed the words of our friend Charles Prazenica: “Be careful your words are tasteful, you never know when you may need to eat them.”

The vitriol that we pick up from the media can spill over into our conversations with family and friends. In our daily conversations we might be well advised to employ the rule: “If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, “is it true, is it necessary, is it kind.” – Buddha

Winning an argument is never worth the cost of losing a friend; however, there are times when we have to challenge people. Can confrontation be kind? If you read the stories of Jesus’ interactions with the Pharisees, you will find that Jesus didn’t mince his words. When he confronted wrong-thinking, he spoke the truth in love.

The words purported to have been found on Mother Theresa’s wall can serve as a primer for kindness:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.           
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

As we examine our walk with Christ, we can look at the words of Mother Theresa and realize that we are sinners, who are a long way from perfection. Guided by God’s word and bolstered by prayer, we strive to become the “kind” of Christian who offers kindness to all we meet.

Verse for the week: James 3:17 “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. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.”

Blessings,
Your friends in Christ