**Something New on Godsfruitful** PLEASE take a moment to read…:)

Hello everyone and long time no write …

I hope that you all are off to a great start this new year:))

This morning while letting Jack, my golden doodle out for his morning routine…He decided to bolt past the green grass and get a lap in for good measure before his breakfast…UH…and through some MUD…

As I was cleaning his paws and telling him how the mud just jumped right on him, and it was a struggle to clean it off…I couldn’t help but think about our Christian walk and how sometimes the ‘mud’, the un-needed dirt of life can get on us without us even making the effort for it to find us…

How do we encounter this ‘mud’ of life you may ask? Sometimes it just comes by the way of a job and co-workers, or sometimes PEOPLE…YES, that’s right…people who sometimes forget their manners…Have you encountered any people that sling a little mud on you while your trying to live a clean and right life for Christ?

Today, I thought that it would be a great new way for some of us bloggers to communicate more and not just read and like others blogs:)) Not that there is anything wrong with that!! We all try and support each other as Christian bloggers, but why not take it a step furthur and communicate a little by having some Q and A blogs…I’ve come to realize that not everyone has someone to encourage them daily and that the quick blogs help but they don’t take the place of communicating…God wants His people to have unity and what better way than participating in questions and answers to help others. We are allowed to go through certain things in life for a reason and you never know who stands in need of your experience and advice… We all need help at some point:)

*My question for today is:

How do you handle a situation in which you feel wronged or rejected by someone? What is your first line of defense?…ok thats two questions :)) lol

Please take a moment to participate…IF you’d rather answer by email that is fine too.

I hope to share questions and answers if they are emailed, but will respect your privacy and will not share names or emails. If you have a question that you’d like to be encouraged with, please ask as well…Let’s work together to help each other:)

I look forward to hearing from you!! Let’s make this year more about friendships!!!Godsfruitful@aol.com       Kim mefford

Look what happens when we DON’T abide in the VINE…

AN undeserved, but FAVORED pathway…

We need to realize that we aren’t walking on the Christian pathway  alone, nor are we walking daily due to our own  self-sufficiency.
We are studying the War Room Bible study at my church, and the lesson focuses on LIVING THE GOSPEL.
The Gospel doesn’t just save us from hell. Christ Kingdom is one where the inhabitants’ lives are transformed daily to look more like Him.
So it’s not only by God’s GRACE that we are saved. It is by God’s GRACE that we are changed.

GRACE: Undeserved favor from God

EPHESIANS 2:4-9
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We become Christians through God’s unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. However, out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, charity, and goodness, and not merely please ourselves.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: While no action or “work” we do can help us obtain salvation, God’s intention is that our salvation will result in works of service. We are not saved merely for our own benefit but to serve Him and build up the church (4:12).

Let’s remember as we walk on this pathway with God, we need to focus our attention on the real meaning of GRACE and allow God’s LOVE to overflow in our lives TODAY AND EVERYDAY!! 🙂

It’s really a matter of ACCOUNTABILITY:))

Do you know that we are accountable to our brothers and sisters in Christ? We are:))
We are in SESSION 2 of our WAR ROOM Bible study, and the lesson is on Accountability.

PROVERBS 27:6
The Wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

Accountability: The quality or state of being accountable; especially: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions.
A friend has the best interest at heart; they may give us unpleasant advice, but know it’s for our good. The enemy, on the other hand, says sweet words and happily sends you on your way to ruin.
Sometimes our friends or family many need to be encouraged with Godly wisdom. A person can be so caught up in their struggle that they may lose perspective of the entire situation. As Christians, we should come alongside them and gently critique them. Such as a family member who has stopped going to church and soon several weeks of missing becomes several months, and before they know it, they’ve lost their excitement about going to learn about or to Worship our ALL MIGHTY God.
Nobody likes criticism,

but everybody can benefit from it when it is given wisely and taken humbly.

David suggested how to accept criticism; 1. don’t refuse it, 2. consider it a kindness

3. keep quiet and don’t fight back.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: We must always pray for God’s guidance and the wisdom that we stand in need of to help those that we are accountable to and to those that need encouragement to get back on the right path with the Lord.

Let’s do our best to critique gently where needed today and every day!!!!    🙂