Fruits of the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-25 KJV

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Love Is:

A sacrificial choice (1 John 3:16) of words accompanied by actions (1 John 3:18), regardless of attraction or response (Romans 5:8) generated by God not by one's self (John 21:15-18).

To avoid spoiling watch for apathy.

Joy Is:

A pre-determined attitude (Philippians 4:4) of praise for God's goodness (Psalms 5:11) by maintaining an eternal focus (Psalms 16:11) in the midst of difficulty (Hebrews 12:2).

To avoid spoiling watch for complaining.

Peace Is:

A settled confidence of mind (Philippians 4:7) from a right relationship with God (Philippians 4:9) unaffected by circumstantial change (Philippians 4:11).

To avoid spoiling watch for worry.

Longsuffering Is:

A learned attitude (Colossians 1:11) revealed through a joyful willingness (James 1:2) to remain under difficulty (James 1:3-4) in order to learn God's lessons (James 5:11). 

To avoid spoiling watch for an unwillingness to submit.

Gentleness Is:

An attitude of humility (James 1:21) stirred by a grateful spirit (Numbers 12:3) revealed in a tenderness towards other (Ephesians 4:2) sustained by a growing trust in God (Matthew 5:5).

To avoid spoiling watch for bitterness.

Goodness Is:

A focused resolve (2 Thessalonians 1:11) that drives us to become actively involved in the life of another (2 Chronicles 24:16) consistently expressed through generosity (Nehemiah 9:25).

To avoid spoiling watch for selfishness.

Faithfulness Is:

A promise (Romans 3:3, Lamentations 3:23) to keep one's word, and do one's best (1 Thessalonians 1:3) with a servant-attitude focused on the Master's approval (Matthew 25:21).

To avoid spoiling watch for weariness, laziness, procrastination, and discouragement.

Meekness Is:

A tender spirit purposefully expressed (Romans 2:4) and sacrificially given (Ephesians 2:7) especially to the undeserving (Titus 3:4).

To avoid spoiling watch for a judgmental spirit.

Temperance Is:

The growing realization that one's desire to please self was crucified with Christ, and replaced with a desire to glorify God (Galatians 2:20).

To avoid spoiling watch for pride.

Who Am I Lord? : You Are Mine

Song of Solomon 2:16 KJV

My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

Isaiah 43:1 KJV

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

John 17:23 KJV

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Who Are You, Lord?

While Praying One Day A Woman Asked, 

"Who Are You, Lord?"

He Answered, "I Am". 

But, Who Is I Am? She Said.

And He Replied...

"I Am Love, I Am Peace,

I Am Grace, I Am Joy,

I Am The Way, Truth, And The Light ...

I Am The Comforter,

I Am Strength, I Am Safety,

I Am Shelter, I Am Power, I Am The Creator,

I Am The Beginning And The End,

I Am The Most High".

The Girl With Tears In Her Eyes Looked

Toward Heaven And Said,

"Now I Understand. 

But Lord, Who Am I?"

Then God Tenderly Wiped The Tears

From Her Eyes And Whispered,

"You Are Mine".

Mine. I hear that word countless times a day. "NO" and "MINE" are a toddler's favorite words I do believe. At 2 and 3 years old my boys understand the fierce possession that "mine" means. They're ready to brawl at the drop of a hat it seems like some days if one thinks that hat is his and not his brother's. But as possessive as they are over toys, sippy cups, or last week's chicken nugget found wedged under the car seat, they're even more so possessive of the people they love. One of Kieran's first fully formed sentences was "My Poppa. Baby get." when he thought that Nanna ought to hold Devlin so that Poppa could hold him.

But I am not sure more thrilling words have ever been uttered than these, "you are mine," when you know it's the Master and Savior whispering them to you.  And that is exactly what we are, His. He has chosen us, He has called us by name, we are His beloved, and He is in us and God the Father loves us as He has loved His only begotten Son. 

I have looked forward to writing this blog since we began the Who Are You Lord? series, and now that I am, I am simply speechless. I'm not at all sure that I can do it justice. I am not at all worthy to be called His.  Nothing I have ever said or done, or could do or say, can make me enough, save one thing. Making Him mine. I am His beloved and He is mine. Choosing Him means that His blood covers my weakness and my failings, covers my sin and washes me white as snow, makes me worthy in the sight of my Father. Knowing that I am His is, more often than not, the only thing that keeps me going, keeps me putting one foot in front of the other, keeps me from burying my head in the blankets and refusing to get out of bed. Because He is in me I can face another day full of the stresses of life and all that that entails. But sometimes it gets to be too much. There are times when I am overwhelmed and I can feel the panic rise in my throat and the tears spring up in my eyes and I know that the dam is about to burst...and then it does. And while I am falling apart He is picking up the pieces. And then I feel Him, so powerfully that He may as well be here in the flesh lifting my head up and giving me the peace and comfort,the strength and shelter, and love that I need so much.

For all that He has done for me, what can I do for Him? How do I repay Him? I must live for Him, to make Him proud of me, to worship and honor Him, to help others come to know Him so that they can be His too. Because we are bound to give thanks to Him always because He chose us from the beginning, He knew us before the foundations of the earth were formed. He knew who we'd be, what we'd do, and He chose to call us His anyway. 

My Beloved is mine and I am His.

Since I Am Thine, Lord

 H. W. Flickinger

Since I am Thine, Lord, and Thou art mine,

Purchased and kept by power divine;

Tho’ so unworthy, O let me be

Conscious that Thou art living in me.

Since I am Thine, Lord, and Thou art mine,

Tho’ but a branch whilst Thou art the vine;

Prune me and train me, that I may be

Fruitful in service, Master, for Thee.

Since I am Thine, Lord, and Thou art mine,

Oh, that through me Thy glory may shine;

Filled with Thy Spirit, grant me this plea:

That all shall see Thy likeness in me.

Since I am Thine, Lord, and only Thine,

Joy thrills my soul, for now Thou art mine;

Thou art in me and I am in Thee,

Thine all the praise and glory shall be.

Since I am Thine, Lord, saved by Thy grace,

Oh, how I long to see Thy dear face;

Help me to serve and patiently wait

Till I pass through the heavenly gate.

Who Are You Lord? : I Am The Beginning and The End

Matthew 28:20 KJV 

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

Philippians 2:9-11 KJV 

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 21:6 KJV 

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 

Revelation 22:13 KJV  

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

How deep the Father's love for us,

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the chosen One,

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

The Beginning and the End. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost. The Creator, The Savior, The Comforter.  Our starting point and our finish line. The First and the Last. Without Him we are nothing and with Him we have life eternal.  He is the Alpha and Omega, the be all, end all, and He gave His only begotten Son to shed His blood on the cross for you and I. 

I cannot help but sit here weeping as I write. I weep in sorrow for the pain He suffered at my hand because of my sin. I weep in awe because I cannot understand a love so vast that Jesus would willingly lay down His life for so vile a wretch as me and I weep because I don't have to understand it to accept it. I weep in utter joy because I do know with all my heart that His wounds have paid my ransom. I weep in expectation for the day I will sing His praises in His presence in heaven some sweet day. And I weep because I know that the very same God on that cross, the One that loved me enough to die for my sins, is the very same God who is with me each and every day, from beginning to end.

Matthew Henry said "He that drew near to God, to speak for us to Him, draws near to us, to speak from Him to us".  Christ drew near to the Father on Calvary to make intercession for you and I, though we had done nothing to deserve His love and mercy. And Christ draws near to us to speak from God to us in all that we do. I see God in my children's eyes and I hear Him in their laughter. I feel God in my husband's arms and I know that God gave Brandon back to me when I feared I was losing him forever. I experience His mercy and grace in my parents' unfaltering love for me despite my failings and mistakes.  But never do I feel Him as closely as I do when I whisper His name...

Jesus, the mere mention of His name can calm the storm, heal the broken, raise the dead. At the name of Jesus, I've seen sin-hardened men melted, derelicts transformed, the lights of hope put back into the eyes of a hopeless child... 

At the name of Jesus, hatred and bitterness turned to love and forgiveness, arguments cease. 

I've heard a mother softly breathe His name at the bedside of a child delirious with fever, and I've watched that little body grow quiet and the fevered brow cool. 

I've sat beside a dying saint, her body racked with pain, who in those final fleeting seconds summoned her last ounce of ebbing strength to whisper earth's sweetest name--Jesus, Jesus... 

Emperors have tried to destroy it; philosophers have tried to stamp it out. Tyrants have tried to wash it from the face of the earth with the very blood of those who claimed it. Yet still it stands. 

And there shall be that final day when every voice that has ever uttered a sound--every voice of Adam's race shall raise in one great mighty chorus to proclaim the name of Jesus--for in that day "every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!!!" 

Ah--so you see--it was not mere chance that caused the angel one night long ago to say to a virgin maiden, "His name shall be called Jesus." Jesus--Jesus--Jesus. You know, there is something about that name... 

Jesus. The Beginning and the End. The beginning of hope, the end of despair. The beginning of love, the end of misery. The beginning of mercy and grace, the end of shame.  He is the beginning of Life Eternal and the end of torment and sorrow in hell's neverending fire.  

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there is just something about that name.

Who Are You Lord? : I Am The Way, I Am The Truth, I Am The Light

John 14:6 KJV

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 8:12 KJV

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

2Corinthians 3:17 KJV 

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

I Never Shall Forget The Day

Long years ago when out in sin

I had no hope no peace within

Down on my knees in agony

I prayed to Jesus and He gladly set me free

I never shall forget the day

And all the burdens of my soul were rolled away

It made me happy, be glad and free

I'll sing and shout it, God means everything to me

Now I can feel, him at my side

My fewer steps, he comes to guide

When trials come, he comforts me

To faith in him or sin I have a victory

I never shall forget the day

And all the burdens of my soul were rolled away

It made me happy, be glad and free

I'll sing and shout it, God means everything to me

Oh, sinner come to Jesus now

At His dear feet just humbly bow

Confess to Him your every sin

He'll save and cleanse you, give you peace and joy within

I never shall forget the day

And all the burdens of my soul were rolled away

It made me happy, be glad and free

I'll sing and shout it, God means everything to me

I remember the day. And I'll never forget it.  I was sitting in my Momma's Sunday School room learning about the ravens feeding Elijah and his faithfulness in the Lord.  I remember standing beside her, my heart racing so fast it felt like it was going to fly out of my chest just any minute, tears streaming down my face. I knew I wanted to trust in God like Elijah did and I knew that I didn't want to be bad anymore and I knew I needed Jesus to come live in my heart if I wanted to be good.  I had just turned 5 years old.  It was a simple understanding of Jesus's love but that was all it took because it is simple. Jesus tells us plainly the He is The Way, The Truth and The Life and no man comes unto the Father but by Him. One Way, One Truth and Everlasting Life.

It has been 22, nearly 23 years since I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. And I have not always been a good Christian woman. There were years in my life that if you had asked my coworkers and friends to describe me, Christian would not have been an adjective they'd have used.  I was walking afar off, I had lost my way and it took me a long time to remember The Way back home.

I struggled during those years with my convictions and my doctrine. I had married a man whose family also professed to be Christian, whose father led a weekly Bible study in his home, and who I constantly seemed to be at odds with over what the Bible said and what it meant.  It got to the point that I cringed every time Bible study with his parents was mentioned because I knew what was being taught was wrong and try as I might I couldn't convince Brandon to believe me. He'd been saved at 9 years old at Vacation Bible School that his Aunt and cousins had taken him to.  The opportunities for him to attend church after that were few and far between over the years. Instead of being raised in church he was raised with heavy metal music blaring, alcohol flowing Saturday night parties and hangover ridden Bible study Sunday mornings. I didn't know a lot about the Bible but I knew what I had been taught and what I felt in my heart to be true. But regardless of the argument there was one thing we both agreed on, Jesus.  He was the One Truth we both had in our hearts. His Truth is the one thing that saved our marriage and our family.

We found our way because of His Truth and He became our Light and our Life.  It is hard to look back and believe that it has been 2 years next month that Brandon answered his call from God to preach.  It seems like it has gone by so fast.  And there have been many times that without His Light, we'd have lost our way again. There is so much and so many that we had to leave behind when we rejoined the straight and narrow way again but because of Jesus, the Light of the world, we don't miss a single thing.  We lost half of our family when Brandon answered his call to preach but we gained a church family full of love, support, and encouragement. We've replaced the darkness that was rampant in our lives with the Everlasting Light.  Our lives have been transformed from arguing about Him to serving Him side by side. I can never thank Him enough.  The nightmares of divorce and drunken arguments have been replaced with the daydreams of seeing my boys accept Christ as their Savior, just like my Momma did with me.  

No, I never shall forget the day.

Who Are You Lord? : I Am Joy

                                   

Zephaniah 3:17 KJV

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 

Isaiah 51:3 KJV

For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. 

Habakkuk 3:18 KJV

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 

Psalms 119:68 KJV

Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. 

What amazing promises these verses hold. The Lord My God is in the midst and He is mighty, He will save and He will rejoice over Me with joy, with love and with singing. The Lord shall comfort Me, He will come to Me in all My waste places, My lowest, dirtiest, most sinful places, and He will make My wilderness like Eden, My desert like His garden where joy and gladness and thanksgiving will be found therein.  I will rejoice in My Lord, I will joy in the God of My salvation. My Lord is good and does good and He will teach Me His statues if I open My heart and mind to Him.

There have been so many times in my life when I have felt like my joy was gone and I was left with sadness or anger or grief or jealousy or anxiety or confusion. I battle with some, maybe all, of these emotions on what seems like a daily basis at times.  I let the flesh take hold of me and I don't turn to the one place guaranteed to give me back my joy, His Word.  He gave it to us for a reason. It is a love letter written by the groom to His bride and it is meant to be cherished and kept sacred in our hearts.  

Life and it's ins and outs present us with opportunities each day. Opportunities to turn to Him and see His goodness and let His joy fill our hearts or opportunities to let our flesh and our wayward emotions take hold and rob us of our joy in Him. So often in the past I have done the latter and have found myself in misery, so anxiety ridden that I am physically ill...the cure? Jesus.  It is that simple to find your joy again and that simple to keep it. Turn to Jesus, walk with Jesus, talk with Jesus, live in His light and you'll have His joy. Charles Spurgeon said this, "His Church can never sink to so low an ebb that He cannot soon build her up again, nor in our own hearts can the work of grace ever decline' so grievously that the same mighty power which once quickened cannot revive and restore us."  We can never be so low or so sorrowful that His joy cannot revive us and restore us again. And wherever we find ourselves we have the promise that He is there to save us and comfort us, to bring us joy once again. 

In The Garden

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses,

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

I’d stay in the garden with Him,

Though the night around me be falling,

But He bids me go; through the voice of woe

His voice to me is calling.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.