My husband and I were asked to lead a quick devotional at church this week. Our theme for this month is fruit of the Spirit. As I started my research I quickly made some really deep connections. Not sure if I'll be able to share them at church or not because it is slightly political. Still wanted to get the thoughts our there some how. So these were my thoughts from my devotional this morning. We live in an amazing country. I have only ever lived here so I don't know many other countries, but even though it's flawed it has so many opportunities. One of our greatest opportunities being freedom. When we go to Galations 5 to look at the fruit of the Spirit, we start in verse 15 with learning that we "were called to be free, but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh." It seemed to echo 1 Peter 2:16 which says "Live as free people but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves." This was a verse I highlighted 9 weeks ago because it seemed so true of where our nation stood at the time. This was before Charlottesville, before, more attacks. We are a country that is using our freedom as a cover up for evil. Their freedom to give in to their desires of the flesh. Their freedom to be drunk on hatred and jealousy. But we are called to something higher. The fruit of the Spirit is not a command. It starts off the section telling us we are free and we were called to be. I cannot look at the ground and command it to bring forth fruit. Instead if I work hard to till the earth, plant seeds, water, and weed, the fruit of my labor will produce fruits. Likewise, the fruit here is not what I always though growing up. It's not sweet bananas and mangoes, but the result of letting the Spirit work on our lives. That is what they are, not a command but a result. In this time of hatred in America, how attractive would love be? How attractive would peace be? Self-Control? Gentleness? Kindness? Joy? These are the things the world needs and we, now as much as ever, need to be pruning our lives so these "fruits" can grow. I think of the need for these in our country and remember a lot of our country is Christian and we still have these problems. It makes me think of something I heard a preacher say this week on Moody Radio: If all the Christians were like me, Would they be getting the love they need? What about joy or peace? Another author, Ellen White, once said: "The greatest want of the world is the want of young men. Men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost soul are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by it's rightful name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right, though the heavens fall." As our church concludes it's study on the fruits of the Spirit, I challenge us to see this as a call, an opportunity to step forward and be a beacon of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May there be an answer to the question where is the love? and the answer be in us.
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I don't have a picture or really any connecting thoughts for this piece. Just as I stood at my kitchen sink and looked out the window I had one of those moments where I could feel my heart expand from joy. I was just wondering if anyone else knows what I'm talking about. It's that moment where you just feel like you made it. It's a time where you truly appreciate all that you have.
I was sitting in our (clean) living room working on setting up files for all of my kiddos at school, seeing as we started today. My husband had put on some chill but upbeat music in the kitchen and that noise was my only company. I worked hard on my project and when I had finished I decided to see where my husband was. I couldn't see him in my near vision so I looked out the kitchen window to see the garage light on and knew he was out working at his bench in the garage. At that moment, the music playing the background, standing in MY kitchen, twilight setting in the spaces between the branches of the willow tree, a cool summer breeze greeting my face through the window, everything was just right, and I was thankful that a man that I loved and cared for so deeply had a place to spread out and work. I was just as thankful that he was choosing to work on things to make our home better. I hope that this is something that everyone gets to feel. I wish I had a name for it, I wish that I could even begin to describe it. It's one of those moments where my heart overflows and it tries to share it; I had to write even without a clue of where it was going. These are the moments that life is all about. The glimpses of everything being perfect. Where "everyone is happy" as Ox from While You Were Sleeping would say. These times where you get to fully enjoy what your hard work has brought you, write it down, save a memory, and take a second to fully breathe it in. For this is a wonderful life! |
AuthorI am someone who loves to write. I like to think and be creative. I was encouraged by my husband to write more and so this is me writing. Hope you find something of value in these words. Archives
December 2019
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