September 30.....ineffective and unproductive

2 Peter 1:5-8 “Make every effort to add to your faith…goodness…knowledge….self-control….perseverance…godliness…brotherly kindness…love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

This list follows the statement: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” Jesus Christ gave us all we need. Because of him we don’t need to seek any further for the way to you and salvation and a changed life. This verse is a list of qualities we should desire and seek to have in “increasing measure”. They are growth indicators. 

We start withfaith….the acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, who will lead us home to you, the Father. Faith leads to goodness….a changed life. We gain in knowledge as the Spirit reminds us of all that Jesus said and did. We have the scriptures to lead us in truth. Faith, goodness, knowledge should increase our self-control. If we believe, if we have changed and been reborn in Christ’s righteousness, if we are studying and learning and seeking, than we will began to control our bad urges and develop stronger leanings toward what is right. We choose (self-control) to put aside sin and follow Jesus. This requires perseverance…always trying to move forward on the right path. We become devoted to you and your will for us. This can only lead to brotherly kindness toward others and love in all things. 

All of this will “keep us from being ineffective and unproductive.” Many Christians fall in that category. I fear I am often one of them. Increase my effectiveness and my productivity as a follower of Christ! Show me what I lack and produce what is necessary within me. I long for greater knowledge and self-control. I long for stronger faith and more of your goodness in my life. I long to show kindness and love to others at all times in Jesus’ name. Fill me Holy Spirit with your presence and change me according to the Father’s will. Thank you! amen.

September 29....self-control

Galatians 5:22-23 “The fruit of the Spirit is….self-control.” (NIV)

 “God’s Spirit makes us self-controlled.” (CEV)

Heavenly Father,

“Self-controlled” is sort of a strange term here. To be “self-controlled is to actually be “Spirit-controlled”. Your Holy Spirit forms the character that allows us to control ourselves in a godly way. We commit ourselves and our “free will” to you, and allow you to take control of our lives and lead us toward your purpose. Our ability to control “self”….to make godly decisions about our choices, our appetites, our actions toward others…..has to come from the Spirit as it develops our reborn life. We learn to say “no” to things that are wrong, things that will harm us or others and even begin to lose our desire for these worldly things. We control our passions, our feelings, our natural curiosities, our tendency to follow our impulses. 

Leading up to the list of spiritual fruit is a list of “acts of the sinful nature”. These are the things the Holy Spirit teaches us to have self-control against. We have a responsibility for our actions once we have become Christians. We are no longer “of the world” and should not make worldly choices. Knowing your word and allowing the Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us is a must for your children. Self-control is a very important fruit to produce! How we act is how others see what it means to be Christian. If there is no difference in our actions and the world’s actions, than the Holy Spirit is not in us. That is scary. Abide in me more fully and change my thoughts, my words, and my actions to reflect the Light of Jesus Christ. Produce the fruit of self-control in me…..Spirit-control….as evidence of my place as a daughter of the King. Thank you! amen.

September 28.....gentle and quiet spirit

1 Peter 3:4 “Your adornment is rather the hidden character of the heart, expressed in the unfading beauty of a calm and gentle disposition.” (NAB)

“Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (NIV)

“Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last and God considers it very special.” (CEV)

Heavenly Father,

Paul wrote this verse for the women of the church. He contrasts the outer beauty of braided hair and gold jewelry with the inner beauty of a “gentle and quiet spirit.” The type of character and demeanor we show the world is a better indication of our “beauty” than how we dress ourselves up with jewels and fancy stuff. Outer adornment detracts and distracts people from seeing what we are really like. It can give a false picture. Anyone who thinks a fancy elaborate hairdo is an indicator of beauty needs to spend time with a woman suffering from cancer who has temporarily lost all of her hair, but has a serene spirit as she battles the disease! Hair isn’t beauty. Jewelry isn’t beauty. 

If we want “unfading beauty” it has to come from within. It has to be in our hearts, in our spirit, in our relationship with You, our Father. This verse says that you value a gentle and quiet spirit or heart. What you value, we must seek to produce and show to the world. To develop a gentle and quiet spirit we must be submissive to your will and seek the purpose you have for us. We must seek an abiding relationship that allows your Holy Spirit to live within us and speak and act through us. When our heart is your home, we will produce gentleness through your Spirit. 

Our world tends to teach us to be independent and pushy and aggressive. We need to fight that teaching and instead learn to reproduce the character of Jesus Christ within our hearts. How he lived and spoke and acted is our model. He is our “head”, we are his “body”. The body follows the head and acts as directed. Gentle character develops in a well ordered unified body. Teach me gentleness and produce it within my spirit in accord with your leading and lordship of my entire life. Amen.

September 27.....with gentleness and respect

1 Peter 3:15-16 “But in your hearts set apart 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.” (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

The number one step here is to make Christ the Lord of our own heart. We can’t possibly lead anyone else to Christ until he is our Master, our Lord, our all-in-all. We are to “set him apart”….no one or nothing else can share his place of honor, his lordship over our lives. This place just for him is deep within our heart. We single-heartedly praise and worship and follow him, and we do it whole-heartedly with all of our devotion and obedience. If we have made this commitment to set Christ apart in lordship of our lives the Holy Spirit moves into our heart to complete the process….to teach, to remind, to empower, to guide us. He gives us gifts to use as Christ’s ambassadors and he produces fruit that shows Christ’s character within us. 

Jesus Christ is our hope and our salvation. When someone asks why we have this hope or how we can believe this we should have a “reason” ready to explain. I worry sometimes about how to put my “testimony” into words. I feel it….why can’t I express it? You have been my anchor, a stabilizing presence for me all of my life. You are the “reality” the rest of my life revolves around. Somehow answering “I just know it is true” doesn’t seem to satisfy most unbelievers! 

We are told here to give our answer with gentleness and respect. There should be no need to shout our answer in an “in your face” manner or an arrogant, pushy, superior manner. I’ve met this type of “Christians” and would run a mile to avoid them or not be identified with them! Jesus was gentle and respectful. Peter and Paul were gentle and respectful as they spread the good news everywhere. Jesus should change us into gentle respectful beings if he resides within us. We can only show the Savior that we personally know. This is important! How we speak and act is what others see in the name of Jesus Christ. Set him apart as Lord first and then answer those who ask, know the reason for our hope, and be gentle and respectful while doing it. One step follows another. Be Lord of my life today and always. Amen.

September 26.....gentleness

Galatians 5:22-23 “The Fruit of the Spirit is….mildness” (NAB)

 “….gentleness” (NIV)

 “God’s Spirit makes us gentle.” (CEV)

Heavenly Father,

I find this word…gentleness….difficult to define here. What is the fruit of gentleness? When I try to define it I end up using other “fruit” we’ve already mentioned….love, kindness, patience, goodness. It seems all of them are part of gentleness. When I think of gentleness, I think of a tender touch, a patient way of listening and acting, a considerate attitude, a soothing presence, the way we treat babies and animals and sick people. When a horse trainer works with a spooked animal, it is referred to as “gentling” it. Bringing calmness and a sense of security, a lack of fear, an increase of trust. 

I see this gentleness in Jesus in his role of Good Shepherd, caring for the sheep….tending them, naming them, seeking the lost, protecting them, providing a secure environment for them. I see it in his words concerning the children….welcoming, including, nurturing. I see it in his treatment of women in scripture…including them, giving them a sense of worth, listening, healing, providing answers. I see his gentleness with Peter….molding him. I see his gentleness with Zacheus…honoring his eagerness. I see his gentleness with Mary….respecting his mother. 

Gentleness often goes hand-in-hand with humility. If we ourselves are humble and obedient to your will, we can be gentle to others drawing them towards this same obedient acceptance of our Father who loves us. Gentleness grows in the soil of love. Just as a trainer “gentles” a horse with love, you have “gentled us with your love, creating an atmosphere of acceptance, forgiveness, family, peace, inclusion, loving direction and corrections. Teach me gentleness to others as you have been gentle to me. Thank you. amen.

September 25.....24 hour faithfulness

Psalm 92:1-2 “It is good to praise the Lord…..to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.” (NAB)

Heavenly Father,

I’m choosing my own verse this morning on faithfulness. David spoke often of your faithfulness in his Psalms. No wonder you loved him so much! He obviously had a deep relationship based on his love for you and his recognition of your faithfulness to him throughout his life. I like this verse: “To proclaim your love in the morning, and your faithfulness at night.” To awake each day knowing I am loved by you and will always be loved by you is reason to praise you with all that I am. And at night to go to sleep knowing that you have been faithful all day allows me to sleep in peace. Every moment of every day is bathed in your love and faithfulness. I can go nowhere or do anything without the presence of your love and faithfulness. 

The morning is a time of new beginning, of arising into a new day or a new life. Your love is there to give birth to all new beginnings. From our rebirth at the time of our salvation to the rebirth of each new day as your child, your love enfolds us and makes these “births” possible. 

At night, when darkness surrounds us or when we feel separated from your light in any way, your faithfulness is there to assure us that you are not gone away, to protect us at our vulnerable moments, to give us peace even in darkness. 

Father, may I recognize each day your love that arises with the sun and shines on my life! Father, I sleep at night in peace and safety knowing that you have been faithful to me in the past and your faithfulness will continue to be with me at all times. Thank you for your love and faithfulness and may your Holy Spirit produce this fruit in me also. Amen

September 24....God can be trusted

September 24....God can be trusted

1 Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, and it was he who called you to fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (NAB)

“God can be trusted, and he chose you to be partners with his son, our Lord Jesus Christ.” (CEV)

Heavenly Father,

“God is faithful”….”God can be trusted”. This is how all who believe in you feel. We sense your presence in all parts of our lives and we try to draw closer to that presence at all times. Knowing we have a firm Rock, a strong Tower, a Fortress, a Deliverer, a Shield and Defender, gives us confidence and strength. This is the message we want to impart to those who don’t believe….”God can be trusted!” We know how very important it is to tell others that message and yet we stumble in how to make them understand. 

Your greatest act of faithfulness was in rescuing us from our sins. You loved us enough to want to redeem us, to make our relationship right with you again, and for always. When you created us, you set us free to live but you provided a “way back home” from our experiments in prodigal living. Each of us decides to “go it alone” at some point and leave our Father behind, trying to make our own way. We are doomed to failure when we do.  But in your faithfulness you gave us Jesus Christ, your Son. You “called us to fellowship”….”chose us to be partners” with the One pure Lamb, who can redeem us. Through his goodness and grace we can come back home forgiven, and as beloved sons and daughters. Your faithfulness always had a plan, always had an answer, always works to draw us toward you rather than sending us away. Jesus made it possible for us to abide in you, and you to abide in us. 

Holiness needs a clean and purified temple to dwell in. Jesus washes us clean that the Holy Spirit might live in us. Your faithfulness dwells within through your Holy Spirit. The “God who can be trusted” is within our hearts. Our heart responds with thanksgiving. We are home. You are faithful. Thank you! amen.

September 23....faithfulness

Galatians 5:22 “The fruit of the Spirit is…faith.” (NAB)

 (faithfulness…NIV) 

God’s Spirit makes us faithful.” (CEV)

Heavenly Father,

You teach us about faithfulness by showing us your faithfulness. Jesus prayed to You at Lazarus’ tomb, “I know that you always hear me.” This is the lesson of faithfulness we need to learn…”you always hear me”. You aren’t just there some times, you are there all the time. You never desert us even though we sometimes walk away from you. You don’t provide “food” one day and withhold it the next….you gave us spiritual food in Christ. That is always available for our needs and you provide our “daily bread” when we ask for it. Your story in scripture is one of constant faithfulness. We the people show constant fickleness, but you remain faithful and available whenever we turn back to you. 

We need the presence of your Holy Spirit within us to produce this fruit of faithfulness. I keep hearing the song: “Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father. There is no shadow of turning with thee. Thy changeth not, thy compassions they fail not. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto thee.” I may not have it word for word, but the message is, that your love and compassion are constant, unchanging and offered endlessly to us. We can have your love if we choose it. If we have faith, if we believe and trust in you, you will always respond. “Thank you, that you always hear me.” Jesus said that, too and we can echo him. Increase my faith and my faithfulness. Teach me to love and live as Jesus did. I know that you hear me and answer me. I know I can trust in your faithfulness forever. I want to be faithful at all times and in all things. I want more of your Holy Spirit, more of your love, wisdom, goodness, faithfulness and all the other fruit that your Spirit can produce in me. Thank you for your faithfulness! Amen.

September 22....ask and believe

James 1:5 “If anyone of you is without wisdom, let him ask it from God who gives generously and ungrudgingly to all, and it will be given to him.” (NAB)

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (NIV)

“But when he asks he must believe”.

Heavenly Father,

Wisdom..... Solomon knew enough to ask for it and you blessed him greatly. Our focus today should be on goodness, as a fruit of the Spirit. Wisdom without your goodness leads to trouble. Solomon was wise and ruled well, but in his personal life lacked goodness in some of his decisions. We all need more of your goodness along with our wisdom. You give to us “generously and ungrudgingly” when in faith we ask for wisdom. All asking must be accompanied by faith. Knowing that you hear and will answer, we then have expectation of receiving. We struggle with that. We try to believe, but sometimes cry, “help my unbelief!” You honor our seeking hearts. 

Your generosity and goodness spill over in your gifts to us. Wisdom is necessary to understand and discern your will. If we don’t do all things in agreement with your will, the wisdom is wasted. Holiness and wisdom must work hand in hand. Your holiness or goodness will be reproduced in us, so that we may make wise decisions and act wisely in your name. We need to recognize that we “lack” wisdom. Knowing that we don’t know the answers, leads us to the One who does. You are willing to give us what we lack when we ask. Asking shows our willingness to come to you and that we know you are the “all wise” one. 

Dear Lord, Each day I prove that I lack both wisdom and goodness. Forgive me. Help me do better tomorrow…and the next day…and every other day. Help me to make amends for my sins and heal any wounds I have caused. I know I can’t take things back, but I can learn and go forward with your Holy Spirit’s help. Teach me goodness, grant me wisdom, produce holy fruit in and through me. Amen.

September 21....immeasurably generous

Ephesians 1:7-8 “It is in Christ and through his blood that we have been redeemed and our sins forgiven, so immeasurably generous is God’s favor to me.” (NAB)

Heavenly Father,

The author uses a translation that calls this fruit generosity rather than goodness causing a lot of confusion. He has chosen verses speaking of your generosity as opposed to your goodness. But does that really matter? It is your goodness that also makes you generous! They may not mean the same thing, but stem from the same godly character. Goodness defines your innate holiness, your perfection, your righteousness. It sums up what you are….good to the nth degree! Generosity defines how you display your goodness….through grace, love, mercy, forgiveness, compassion. Here we are told that Christ was the chosen “instrument” of that grace and generosity. Only in him and through his blood, do we experience this redeeming grace and have our sins forgiven. 

Your generosity is described as immeasurable” without limits, impossible to assign boundaries to, eternal. What a wonderful gift! I never can understand why anyone wants to refuse your grace! Is it really worth the stress and strain of carrying the burden of sin and death, just to be able to say, “I’m in control of my own life and answer to no one”? The world is crazy and out of control and spiraling downward ready to crash….why would anyone want to be in control??? There is such freedom in saying, “I can’t do it. I can’t make anything in my life right all by myself. I need help. I need a Savior. I need someone able to lift my burdens and set me free.” Sin is a burden. Sin destroys us day by day. You did us an “immeasurably generous favor” in redeeming us in Christ Jesus! Thank you, forever from the bottom of my heart for your goodness and generosity! Amen.

September 20......goodness

Galatians 5:22 “The Fruit of the Spirit is….generosity” (NAB)

 “…goodness” (NIV and KJV)

 “…..a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.” (MSG) 

“…..God’s Spirit makes us good”. (CEV)

Heavenly Father,

The rightful translation for this Spiritual fruit seems to be “goodness”. Goodness is defined in terms of what is good to You, our Father, not man…..holiness. We don’t think of ourselves as having any chance of ever producing holiness. Holiness is what God is! How can we ever be holy in character? Obviously only by your Holy Spirit. You created us to be good, to live holy lives obedient to your will and to do “good works” that you prepared for us to do. But through our arrogance, pride and free will, we stray far from your holiness and goodness. If we know you at all, we know right from wrong. You spell it out plainly in scripture. We try to twist it to mean what we want it to mean, but that doesn’t actually change it. 

Your goodness, your holiness doesn’t change, but remains a constant standard to follow. Your love and mercy caused you to send Jesus to show us what goodness looks like in flesh and blood. We want to look and live like Jesus. But you also gave Jesus to die for us as a sacrifice to cleanse us and give us the spiritual goodness we can’t produce on our own. Christ is now in us. His character will be produced from within us until we are filled with his goodness and it becomes ours. The Holy Spirit tells us when we are not producing fruit of goodness. He is our conscience reminding us daily of how we should live and act. Goodness is possible, but only through your Holy Spirit within us in response to Christ’s gift of grace and love. We must become the Saints you died to make us! Goodness is our goal and must become our character, through Christ. Thank you, always. Amen

September 19......kindness and repentance

Romans 2:4 “Do you not know that God’s kindness is an invitation to you to repent?” (NAB)

 “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience , not realizing that God’s kindness leads you towards repentance?” (NIV)

 “Don’t you realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Phillips)

 “Don’t you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?” (CEV)

 Heavenly Father, 

It is clear that your kindness is meant to lead to our repentance. Your kindness, your grace reflect the love you have for us even in our sinful fallen state. You want us to be redeemed. You want to forgive us and draw us into an abiding relationship as renewed, changed beings. Your kindness is offered for the purpose of changing us from sinners to saints. You provided the necessary sacrifice…your Son, Jesus Christ….to die as a sin offering for us. You provide the life changing power of the Holy Spirit to abide within us and change us day by day into Christ-like character. You provide the written word of scripture to teach us, and the spoken Word of Jesus Christ as an example of what we are to be. 

All this hinges on accepting the kindness that you offer us. It is an invitation. It is an open Door to walk through. It is stepping through death into life by stepping through the Door….Jesus Christ. He is Light to guide us. He is the Way to follow. He is Bread to feed us on the journey. He is Resurrection into new Life. He is the Vine we grow on to produce fruit. Kindness is part of the fruit we produce through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is a Vine of kindness….the original gift of your grace and kindness personified….so his Vine can only produce kindness as its fruit. If we are attached to his Vine, we will produce the fruit of kindness through the Holy Spirit. This fruit of kindness changes our lives and the lives of others who eat the fruit of Jesus Christ through us. Fruit is full of seeds from its parent Vine. Plant kindness, God’s fruit everywhere. Repent and know God’s kindness given in Christ. Amen

September 18.....humble yourself

Proverbs 3:34 “When he is dealing with the arrogant, he is stern, but to the humble he shows kindness.” (NAB)

 “He mocks proud mockers, but gives grace to the humble.” (NIV)

 “The Lord sneers at those who sneer at him, but he is kind to everyone who is humble.” (CEV)

Heavenly Father,

Here “kindness” is also translated “grace”. Your kindness is so much more than speaking a thoughtful compassionate word or acting in love and empathy toward someone in need. When we find and begin to understand your kindness, your grace, than we find eternal “peace that passes all understanding:. Your kindness and grace are understood as the evidence of your love for us. The love of a Father for his children, that forgives, but also disciplines and encourages us to mature in your presence. 

We are told here that your kindness is directed to the humble. Everyone who is able to humble himself in your presence and admit his lostness, you gather into your arms of grace and lead home. The arrogant, the mockers, those who sneer at you, remain beyond the reach of your grace and kindness. As long as they feel they are in control and can “do it themselves” without a need to recognize the holy God who created and sustains them, they won’t experience your kindness. It’s all the more frightening to me, to know that arrogance and pride are all that stand between heaven and hell. How do we reach those who refuse to listen or just don’t care or see the relevance in the message? How do we show them the holy God who created them, and convince them to make a choice? How do we tell them that in “not choosing”, in taking no stand, they are just as lost as those who make an active choice against you? Jesus Christ came to show you to the world and to draw all men to himself to be lifted up in glory! But how do we get the world to listen? How do I get my own children to listen? Help me, O LORD

September 17.....kindness

Gal. 5:22 “The fruit of the Spirit is….kindness.” (NIV)

 “….gentleness” (KJV)

 “…a sense of compassion” (MSG)

“God’s Spirit makes us kind.” (CEV)

Heavenly Father,

Kindness is a term we use to describe a loving attitude toward others being acted out in good deeds and thoughtful gestures. Is this spiritual kindness? The scriptures often use the word “kindness” to describe your loving gesture to us in sending Jesus to die for us. What we call “grace”, scripture calls….mercy, compassion, sacrifice, and even kindness. In the Psalms there are many reference to “your kindness” or “your unfailing love” and they all seem to be synonymous depending on the translation. 

English seems to have “watered down” the meaning of the kindness you show to us. Words lose meaning from one language to another, but the fruit of kindness remains an expression of love acted out. You are God, so your action of kindness is much larger than our acts! Your kindness encompasses the entire world and provides salvation and hope and light in the darkness of sin and despair of this world! Our kindness….the fruit produced in us by the Spirit….should certainly come from this great loving action of yours. Because you loved us, we can love others. Because you act in kindness towards us, we in turn show kindness to others. The greater we feel the effects of your kindness in our own life, the greater the fruit of kindness will be produced in us and spill out in action in this world. You didn’t wait until we were “sons” to act in kindness toward us. You acted in kindness towards unlovable sinners. You used your kindness to draw us out of darkness into the light of your presence. Kindness reaches out and pulls others out of this world and into the next. Your Spirit will make us kind, as you are kind. Thank you. amen.

September 16......patience

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, compassionate, and mutually forgiving, just as God has forgiven you in Christ.” (NAB)

Heavenly Father,

This command to “be kind…compassionate…forgiving” follows a similar command to “get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, every form of malice.” These later things “grieve the Holy Spirit” and the Holy Spirit is the one who produces the fruit of “love….patience (long suffering) “. It is impossible to feel patience toward others if we are angry with them or bitter in our feelings toward them, or want to slander or fight them. Patience comes from an attitude of forgiveness, compassion, kindness that allows us to endure the bitterness and rage of others without having a desire to respond in kind. Patience doesn’t “strike back”. Patience reflects the love that you showed us in Jesus Christ. Just as you forgive us, we forgive others. As you love us, we love others. We see in others the same sinful fallen condition that we once had, but gave up in Christ. Our redemption changes unkind reactions into mercy, uncaring thoughts into compassion and empathy, grudges and vengeance into acceptance and forgiveness.

 Patience is a change in us brought about by your love. Patience is the foundation of grace. In order to forgive we must be willing to love. We have to look outward towards another’s circumstances, rather than looking inward at how it affects us. You showed great patience toward our sinfulness and chose to redeem us rather than condemn us. If your love is in us, through your Holy Spirit, than patience will develop out of that love and will show patience toward others as kindness, compassion and forgiveness. Make me more patient towards others, just as you were patient towards me. Amen.

September 15....endurance

James 1:3-4 “Realize that when your faith is tested this makes for endurance. Let endurance come to its perfection so that you may be fully mature and lacking nothing.” (NAB)

“The testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.” (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

Patience, as a fruit of the Spirit, seems to be translated a couple of ways, which seem different to me. One is the patience that is slow to anger and quick to love. The other is called “longsuffering” or endurance or perseverance and seems to deal with hanging in there through trials by trusting in your love and faithfulness. We are “patient” with daily irritations. We are “long suffering”, enduring through trials and tribulations. I guess in a way it is all the same but sort of hinges on the degree or length of the testing of our character. 

This verse concentrates on endurance and persevering when tested. Each problem that comes into our lives….small or large….is an opportunity to practice this type of patience. When we rest or abide in your presence we develop the character to endure in all things. We know from your past faithfulness that you are with us through the testing time. We can rely and depend on you being there, supporting us with your love and grace. This verse tells us that developing this fruit of endurance, patience, long suffering, perseverance, will “complete” us…”.make us mature” and “lacking nothing”. The ability to persevere in faith, in trust in you, will see us through anything. This is evidence of an abiding relationship like Jesus had with you. Jesus did all things in obedience to your will and complete awareness of his relationship with “his Father”. He never saw anything apart from that perfect oneness that he has with you. This is the patient endurance we must find to be “completely mature, lacking nothing”. The endurance of the cross. The perseverance of molding our will to yours. Running the race to the end no matter what with holy confidence. Thank you! amen.

September 14....patience

Galatians 5:22 “The Fruit of the spirit is….patient endurance.” (NAB)

 “….patience.” (NIV)

 “….long suffering.” (KJV)

 “…..a willingness to stick with things.” (MSG)

 “God’s spirit makes us patient.” (CEV)

Heavenly Father,

Patience is a fruit we all need to produce. The world stresses us to the breaking point day after day. Our lives have become so involved and complicated that we very often find ourselves short-tempered, intolerant, tired, angry, quick to speak out and act out against others. It doesn’t take much…a long line to wait in, a thoughtless driver on the road in front of us, a time of playing “phone tag”, a perceived slight, crying children demanding our attention, a mistake in our work, doorbells ringing when we are busy, things breaking, people uttering words that upset us….on and on. Our society has become a tightly coiled snake surrounding us and choking the life out of us. We want escape, we want people to go away and leave us alone, we want vacations or distractions that might bring temporary relief or put a stop to the stress. 

Patience is something I’m not sure we even understand. We see it as “biting our tongue” when we want to spout off at someone. We see it as waiting quietly while inwardly complaining or angry. We see patience as merely not showing our anger, our resentment, our stress. I suppose that is a start but is it really patience? If patience comes from the Holy Spirit and if Jesus evidenced patience in how he lived, than it is much more. It isn’t just a temporary measure of calm, but a truly new attitude. Patience has to actually put a stop to the stress, anger, impatience before it is felt. It has to be a different way of reacting to the situations around us. We must see these annoying people with love and as people who are struggling the same as we are. We must see the causes behind the problems. And care about those who create the problems through their own web of impatient circumstances. Patience is closely tied to loving others. Enduring is not a quick fix, but a life and attitude change that only the Holy Spirit can give us. Amen.

September 13....rejoice

Philippians 4:4-5 “Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again, Rejoice!” Everyone should see how unselfish you are.” (NAB)

“Celebrate God all day every day. I mean revel in him! Make it clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them not against them.” (MSG)

“Delight yourselves in the Lord, yes find your joy in him at all times. Have a reputation for being reasonable, and never forget the nearness of the Lord.”

Heavenly Father,

“Rejoice in the Lord always”. Our joy has a source….our love and trust in you, our Father. We love you and we also find love in you. We trust you, we worship you, we acknowledge that our life now and always depends on you. You are our beginning, our present, and our future. Joy stems from knowing your character and trusting in it and in your faithfulness. You are all we need or want….sufficient in all things. You are unchanging….the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. You are loving as evidenced in both creation and in sending your Son, Jesus Christ to die for us. You are holy and worthy of our praise. You are our provider (Father), our protector (Son), and our comforting presence (Holy Spirit) at all times. Having this knowledge in our head and our hearts allows us to feel joy at all times. 

I like all of the terms used here in the various translations: “rejoice in the Lord”….”celebrate God”…..”revel in Him”….”delight yourselves in the Lord”….”find joy in Him”. This is a command but also a promise. If we know you, if we see and hear you, if we find an abiding relationship with you, if we seek you in all parts of our life, this joy, this delight, this desire to rejoice and celebrate will flow from us freely. It will become our character, our normal way of feeling and acting. We won’t be able to help ourselves. Your love produces love in us. Love results in joy. This is our “treasure in heaven”…the joy of your presence at all times. Bubbles always seem like a symbol of joy….billowing out from their source, rising heavenward, light and beautiful! Even when they burst it is with exuberance, spewing their contents over all. I want to bubble with joy in your presence forever! Thank you, Father for your joy! Amen.

September 12.....rejoice in suffering for Christ

1 Peter 4:13 “Rejoice instead, in the measure that you share Christ’s sufferings. When his glory is revealed, you will rejoice exultantly.” (NAB)

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

Christ suffered to save the world. Christians who suffer while doing his work, share Christ’s suffering. Their joy is in knowing they abide in Christ and Christ abides in them and they are doing the work he gave the Church to do. He commanded that they go into the world and make disciples of all nations and to be his witnesses to the world. We too are part of the Church and claim to be his disciples. How seriously do we take his commands? How gladly do we suffer for him? We have become so many ages removed from his time on earth that we have allowed the world to fill us with apathy rather than joy about doing his work. 

Most of us are content to work on our own salvation and faith but have no enthusiasm to step out and search for the lost to be a witness to them. If we have no joy in his suffering now, how can we expect to be overjoyed when he returns in glory? If we have done nothing to further his cause and save souls regardless of the “inconvenience” it might cause us, what will we have to be overjoyed about? We will feel shame at our hesitancy, embarrassment at our riches and ease, afraid to see the disappointment and anger you might feel for us. Afraid you might turn us away and say, “I never knew you.” I want to be among those who rejoice! I want to be among those who serve you! I want to suffer for you! Fill me with the courage I lack. Fill me with a burning desire to do your will. Fill me with conviction for your purposes. Fill me with your Holy Spirit! I want to be overjoyed when your glory is revealed because I suffered for you here and now! Take away my spirit of timidity and fill me with your Spirit of power and purpose. Amen.

September 11....complete joy

John 15:11 “All this I tell you that my joy may be yours and your joy may be complete.”

Heavenly Father,

This statement follows Jesus’ teaching on: “I am the Vine….”. His teaching is about an abiding relationship with you, our Father, and Jesus, our Savior, and our ability to bear fruit when in this abiding relationship. Jesus tells his disciples to “remain in my love” Jesus found joy in his relationship with his Father and in obeying his commands. He expressed his joy to us by showing us his Father’s love and dying to remove our sins and all that separate us from our Father. Jesus wants us to be like him, in an abiding relationship with our Father, and did all he could to establish this relationship for us. 

Our joy will be “complete” when we find that same joy-filled abiding relationship. If Jesus’ joy comes from obedience to his Father, so will ours. If Jesus is the Vine and we are branches, than we are connected and his joy will flow through us. Joy is a “fruit of the Spirit” and the Holy Spirit courses through the Vine and the branches like sap. The Holy Spirit makes us aware of all that Jesus is and all that his relationship with his Father is, and than the Holy Spirit teaches and enables us to have that same relationship. Complete joy is found in Jesus Christ and our abiding relationship with Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Complete joy is the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in us. The first fruit of the Spirit listed was love and joy is connected to this great love of Father, Son, Holy Spirit that surrounds and lifts us into your presence, O LORD, Father God. Complete joy is only found in your love, through your Son, through your guiding Spirit. It’s all there and when we abide in this love and joy we produce love and joy to give to others. Thank you. amen.

September 10....joy

Galatians 5:22 “The fruit of the Spirit is…joy.” (NAB)

“…..exuberance about life.” (MSG)

Heavenly Father,

Joy is something I feel daily in your presence! I know how blessed I am in every way. My heart sings in the music of others and in my own poetry. I pray that music will never leave my heart or my head because music expresses my joy in your love. Joy is music! Joy is grace! Joy is your presence! Joy is salvation! Joy is prayer! Joy is a host of angels singing around the throne of heaven! Joy is my church lifting hands and voices in praise! Joy, Joy, Joy! “Joy to the world the Lord has come! Let earth receive her king!” 

I like the Message translation of today's verse….”exuberance about life”! Joy fills every part of our life with happiness and contentment because our joy is from your Holy Spirit. Our joy can lift us up even in the face of trials and tribulations. Our joy is complete in our trust in You. Joy is a gift, a wonder, a grace-filled experience. I see joy every Tres Dias closing as the participants rejoice in the moments of closeness after they have spent 3 days sharing with You and with the others who are there. Joy isn’t just happiness. Joy is deeper contentment, based on the knowledge of your love and grace. Joy is something Satan can never understand. Joy is an expression of who we belong to…our Father in heaven! You are joy, and You come to us in joy just as You come in love and peace. Joy from your Holy Spirit filling us and producing joy within us for others. May your joy fill the world and all who dwell upon it! Praise to the LORD! Almighty God! Prince of Peace! Spirit of Joy! Amen.

September 9....peace and quiet

Proverbs 17:1 “Better a dry crust with peace and quiet, than a house full of feasting with strife.” (NIV)

“A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels.” (MSG)

Heavenly Father,

A dry crust or a feast, peace and quiet or strife? It seems that everyone would choose the feast over the dry crust, but what happens when we “feast”? First we have too much. A feast is over indulgence. A feast is usually a celebration of some worldly event and can also lead to bad behaviors….drunkenness, eating too much, showing off, arguing with others who are present, strife. A feast represents the world’s material banquet. The Beth Moore study on Daniel would call it “Babylon”. We live in a culture of excess and over-indulgence, and self-gratification. This feast leads to the desire for more and more, even though we already have too much. None of it truly satisfies us. We never are truly “full”. 

The dry crust doesn't sound very appetizing, but being bread it will fill us and provide what we need, rather than what we want. Dry bread is better than wine soaked fatty fare. If all we have is what we need….the dry crust…. we will also have peace and quiet. Peace comes from contentment with what we have daily that satisfies us, rather than what we might have even though we don’t need it. The dry crust will not attract a crowd trying to share it or steal it or improve it or make fun of it, so we will have quiet and peace. We will be thankful for the dry crust that fills us, rather than miserable over the feast of pleasures that only stir up dissatisfaction and strife and probably heartburn. 

Jesus is “the Bread of Life”….far from a “dry crust”, and much more satisfying! He is what we need and will bring peace and quiet to our troubled lives. Satan rules at the feast and no one will be satisfied or filled at his banquet, so strife will rule. Choose life! Choose Bread! Choose Peace! Choose a single-minded, simple focus on what fills rather then what thrills. Jesus is the manna of heaven, given for all of us. Prince of Peace! Amen.

September 8.....peace

John 20:19, 21 “Peace be with you.”

Heavenly Father,

Twice on the day of resurrection Jesus greets his disciples with these words as he appears among them. This is a standard greeting of that day, but I believe it took on new deeper meaning after the resurrection. When Jesus said, “peace be with you”…..it truly was. The Prince of Peace was standing before them, risen and glorified.! He says it as he first appears and then immediately shows them his hands and side to show them it really is he and that he still has the evidence of the cross on his risen body. Then he repeats his greeting of peace to them. This seems to put special emphasis on the words….”Peace be with you.” The peace of the risen Lord is…will be….with them. He then announces he is sending them in the same way his Father sent him and breathes the Holy Spirit on them. 

His peace ….present at all times through his resurrection….is with them in a new way through the Holy Spirit. He had promised this Counselor would come as soon as he fulfilled his Father’s will and returned to the Father. Now that time was the present. The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of peace within us. Because he “teaches and reminds” us of all Jesus said and did and allows us to understand it, he brings holy peace from heaven into our lives. The Prince of Peace is always there. Through grace we are loved, forgiven, redeemed, accepted, adopted as sons and daughters. That is a peace like none the world can offer! That is eternal peace from our Father. Just as Jesus says, “I AM!”…..so will the Prince of Peace “be” with us forever! God’s gift lies within us now….abiding. Thank you, Heavenly Father, Prince of Peace, Holy Spirit! Amen.

September 7....my peace

John 14:27 “Peace is my farewell to you, my peace is my gift to you. I do not give it to you as the world gives peace.” (NAB)

 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” (NIV)

 “I leave behind with you…peace. I give you my own peace and my gift is nothing like the peace of this world.” (Phillips)

 Heavenly Father, 

The gifts you give us are unequaled in this world. You gave us Jesus to show us who you are and your great love for us. He spoke and acted everything you wanted us to now. His death on the cross was the greatest gift…salvation for mankind…grace and pardon for our sins. At the beginning of this passage, Jesus is promising a new gift…the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, who will “teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” You didn’t want to leave us alone. If we accept the first gift…salvation in Christ…we will need the second gift…the Holy Spirit…to continue the lessons we began with Jesus. Teaching and reminding…you want us to understand and remember. Those 2 things will carry us forward in our abiding relationship made possible by Christ’s sacrifice. 

All of this results in “peace”. This peace is special and different. First of all it is “left behind”. It’s here for us to keep. Secondly, Jesus says it is “my peace”. This is the same peace he has in his relationship with you. The Father-Son connection he has is now extended to us as your adopted children. Thirdly this peace is “nothing like the peace of this world.” This is godly peace, not world peace. It isn’t a promise of no war, no problems, no dissention here and now. This is inner peace, relationship peace with You , a new center for our life to revolve around. This is allowing your Holy Spirit to take up residence within us and change our lives forever. This peace is the heart of what “abiding” means. This is what I’m searching to understand and find. You promise that your Holy Spirit will teach me and remind me. “Send forth your Light (Jesus) and your Truth (Holy Spirit). Let them guide me, let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.” (Ps. 43:3) Dwell in me, O LORD…your Holy Spirit is welcome. Amen.

September 6....peace

Galatians 5:22 “The fruit of the Spirit is….peace.” (NAB)

 “….serenity” (MSG)

“God’s Spirit makes us peaceful” (CEV)

Heavenly Father,

Most people want peace. Even those fighting wars have an ultimate goal of peace. We don’t like dissention, unrest, anger, fighting, insecurity, chaos, disruption, arguing, terrorism and other unpeaceful atmospheres. We hide out in our homes away from other people, partly to seek “peace and quiet”. We tend to link those 2 words….if all is quiet than there must be peace. Quiet is sometimes just a lull in the storm that hides the unrest and chaos that is forming underneath. True peace, godly peace, comes from the Holy Spirit within us. Having our hearts inhabited by your Spirit can only bring peace, if we have made a welcome home for him. 

The CEV translation says, “God’s Spirit makes us peaceful.” I like that word….”peace-full”. Filled with your peace. This peace should allow us to find rest and an anchor even when the stormy world rages around us. It isn’t necessarily a lack of trouble or dissention in our lives, but a center of security found in your love and presence that allows us to feel that “all is well” even amid the storms. It’s Jesus saying, “It’s all right! It is I! Don’t be afraid!”….as he walks towards us in the middle of the storm. 

like the word serenity and remember memorizing the “Serenity Prayer” that hung on the wall of my grandmother’s bedroom. It begins: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.” (R. Niebuhr). The author knew that God….the Holy Spirit….is the source of serenity or peace. Knowing that You are in charge and awaiting your guidance brings us peace. “Father knows best” is true of our Father in Heaven, from whom our peace comes. 

Thank you! amen.

Sept. 5.....sincere love

Romans 12:9-10 “Your love must be sincere. Detest what is evil, cling to what is good. Love one another with the affection of brothers, anticipate each other in showing respect.” (NAB)

“….be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourself.” (NIV)

“Let us have no imitation love….a willingness to let the other man have the credit.” (Phillips)

“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it…..be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.” (MSG)

Heavenly Father,

Yesterday we were told to “put on love over all”. Today’s verse stresses that this love must be genuine, sincere, not imitation or fake. We can pretend to love….be kind, do good deeds, help others….but if there is no real love behind it we will tire of the effort and it will never generate love in return. The Message says: “Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it.” Where is our center….who is our center? Scripture says that “God is love” and that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him will not perish.” Your example of perfect Godly love, is a willingness to give your only Son, to give yourself, to “come down”, in order to save us. Jesus Christ poured from the “center of who You are”. There is nothing “fake” about giving your Son for the salvation of the world! This is how we must learn to love. 

These verses give some guidelines to do this….detest evil, love good, show brotherly love to others, show respect and deference to others. These are hallmarks of love. Love can’t co-exist with evil. We have to make loving choices. This develops loving character in us. It gets rid of the “fake” and develops into real love. Brotherly love is for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ and every potential “member of the family”….everyone! You have applied to adopt all of us through Christ, and we are to accept and love all our siblings with real brotherly affection and devotion. If we feel this real love for others we will put them first, we will respect them, we will be willing to play second fiddle. Our own honor won’t matter, only theirs. Humility in our relationship with others comes from real love. We must always come back to the example of love you have given us and reflect Jesus Christ in our lives. It must be our center, who we are. Thank you, O LORD, for loving me! Teach me to love others. Amen.