Human digestion should be fruitful :))

Isn’t it GREAT to know Christ and also have the benefits of the “fruit of the Spirit” ?
You’ve heard the Scripture before…you know…the Scripture from Galatians 5:22-23 about living by the Holy Spirit’s power…

GALATIANS 5:22, 23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

AHHHH, the natural fruit to digest is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS…
Did you notice the two fruits that were left out of my easy to digest list?
LONGSUFFERING…ewww not such an easy one is it?
My Bible defines it as patience…
TEMPERANCE…uummmm another toughy for us humans…
My Bible defines it as self-control…

The “fruit of the Spirit” is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits, which are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ control, and we can’t obtain them by trying to get them. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to His (see John 15:4, 5).
We must know Him, love Him, remember Him, imitate Him. The result will be that we will fulfill the intended purpose of the Law-loving God and man.
We know as humans with human minds, It can be tough to keep a right focus on God when our patience is being tried during a difficult situation. It takes every bit of our “self-control” to make good choices, especially if the suffering is a long period of time…

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Let’s remember as God’s children, He equips us with exactly what we need to stay close to Him and live a God-centered and fruit fulfilled life.

Let’s read His Word daily so that we may digest the fruit of the Spirit, which will allow us to grow a fruitful life in Him.

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!!!!    🙂

The seventh piece truly means completion and perfection:)

Did you know that Prayer is part of the FULL Armour of God? It is!!

While participating in doing my homework for the War Room Bible study, I’ve come to understand this important aspect. I count six pieces of the armor, but prayer makes seven. Most of us know that in  the Bible the number seven represents completion or perfection. I’d say that prayer truly is both! 🙂
In Ephesians 6:10-17, we are told that in the Christian life we battle against “principalities and powers.” (the powerful evil forces or fallen angels headed by satan who is a vicious fighter, see 1 Peter 5:8). To withstand the attacks, we must depend on God’s strength and use every piece of His armour. Paul is not only giving this counsel to the church, the body of Christ, but to all individuals within the church. The whole body needs to be armed.
As we do battle against “the rulers of the darkness of this world,” fight in the strength of the church, whose power comes from the Holy Spirit.

One does not commonly equate prayer with battle attire, but it is no accident that Paul commands believers to pray when engaging in spiritual warfare.
EPHESIANS 6:18
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
One way to pray constantly is to make quick, brief prayers our habitual response to every situation we meet throughout the day. Another way is to order our life around God’s desires and teachings so that our very life becomes a prayer
FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: We don’t have to isolate ourselves from other people and from daily work in order to pray regularly. We can make our prayer our life and our life a prayer while living in a world that needs God’s powerful influence.

Let’s remember that we have a POWERFUL WEAPON and that we can use it today and every day! 🙂

LUKEWARM…EWWW NO THANKS!!

We are starting a five week Bible study this evening on the WAR ROOM movie.

The primary focus is how PRAYER IS A POWERFUL WEAPON!

Jesus invites us into a closer and more intimate fellowship with Him. Prayer is our ultimate conversation with Him, and He wants us to be on fire for Him.

The first lesson addresses LUKEWARMNESS
Revelation 3:14-22
Laodicea was the wealthiest of the seven cities, known for its banking industry, manufacture of wool, and a medical school that produced eye salve. But the city always had a problem with its water supply. At one time an aqueduct was built to bring water to the city from hot springs. But by the time the water reached the city, it was neither hot nor refreshingly cool-only lukewarm. The church had become as bland as the tepid water that came into the city.
Lukewarm water makes a disgusting drink. The church in Laodicea had become lukewarm and thus distasteful and repugnant. The believers didn’t stand for anything; indifference had led them to idleness. By neglecting to do anything for Christ, the church had become hardened and self-satisfied, and it was destroying itself.
FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: God does not want us to be cold, but there is more hope for a rebel to repent than for a halfhearted, in-name-only Christian who is self-sufficient. Don’t settle for following God half way.

Let Christ fire up our faith and get us into the action today and every day!  :))

It’s NOT about today…It’s about eternity:)))

After a week of vacation,

and a POWERFUL Easter Sunday, I’d say that I’m a tad behind on blogging and reading others blogs…

I must admit that I feel very blessed that a good number of you have said that you look forward to reading my post for encouragement.
My purpose is exactly for that reason which also glorifies Christ:)))

2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Today, a good friend and I met to walk and catch up. We discussed our physical limitations, family situations, and had a wonderful time of encouraging each other in the Lord. Oh, how we will continue to face obstacles in this life on earth, but we must keep our commitment to serving Christ.
Rather than giving up when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on experiencing the inner strength from the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16).

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Don’t let fatigue, pain, or criticism force you off the job for Christ. Our ultimate hope in terrible illness, persecution, or pain is realizing that this life is not all there is-there is life after death!
Let’s remember that we will live forever with God in a place without sin and suffering! 🙂

Get a hold on your thinking:)

TRY IT because ALL we have to lose is our negative attitudes:))

*FRUIT BITE* Life Wisdom 3/26/16

Can I get an AMEN?

A Guarded HEART condition produces PEACE :))

Do you believe that positive thinking plays a BIG part in how we live our daily lives?
It does, but what’s more important is focusing on God’s Word and keeping IT in our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 4:7-9

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

God’s peace is different from the world’s peace (John 14:27). It is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings Real peace comes from knowing that because God is in control, our citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom is sure, our destiny is set and our victory over sin in certain.
What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions. Paul tells us to program our minds with thoughts that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Examine what we are putting into our mind through television, books, movies, and magazines. Replace harmful input with wholesome material.

Let’s read God’s Word and pray. Ask Him to help us focus our mind on what is good and pure TODAY AND EVERY DAY!

A procrastinator, A Rip, and a REALIZATION…

Do you know that procrastination should go hand in hand with a thankful heart? I never thought about such a question, until this morning as I began to iron a pair of slacks for my son’s event. I kept remembering every day this past week that ‘the pants are needed on Saturday,’ which is NOW TODAY...
As I completed the last pressing along the pocket area, I was thinking “Not too bad, I got this!” I took a deep sigh of relief, thinking how I could NOW get on with my day…

 

IT WAS THEN, IN THAT MOMENT THAT I realized all too precisely why I had been given a weeks notice about the slacks… ALONG the pocket area was an inch and a half RIP …. Oh dear!!! needless to say, I wasn’t expecting this! Seems that I recalled something about a pair of slacks with a rip, but who’d think that it was THIS PAIR, I had like five more pairs to choose from, but he needed this pair!!

As I got my sewing machine out, wound a black thread bobbin, and threaded up the machine, I began to sew frantically hoping that it would work correctly. Once I saw that it turned out perfectly, It was then that I realized just how thankful I was that God is always there to calm and help me. I’m not the best seamstress, and someone with my limited ability needs all of the help that they can get…May sound silly, but I know that God watched over me, not only to get it done but done correctly!

1 CHRONICLES 29:11-12
11 Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty:for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

David acknowledged God’s greatness. Our constantly changing world is controlled by a constant and unchanging God. During our lifetime, we see objects fade, materials decay, and friends change, but we can depend on God’s control. His love and purpose for us never change.
Only when we understand this can we have real peace and security.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: No matter if we see the GREATNESS of God through the parting of the Red Sea or repairing a torn pocket, God knows all things and is in control. I learned my lesson about procrastination as well as a reminder that God is always with us through the big and the small

Let’s do our best in acknowledging the GREATNESS of God today and every day!