What is your choice? (devotion)

This is a post from a youth pastor in Florida who is battling cancer. It was listed on his facebook page Josh's Journey.

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I had a lousy night last night and couldn't get to sleep until after 3am. But here is the good news. I was just talking with someone that also is going through her own battle with cancer. I told her that last night was a bad night for me. I was in pain and unable to even lay down until 3am. So today I am tired, my eyes are dry and I basically just feel bad. But I know that this is just one day and today is going to happen whether I am in a good mood or bad mood about cancer. I can choose to let it get me down and live in the negative or I can choose to be positive and use my situation to minister to someone today. It's my choice.


That is the truth guys. Whatever it is that you are going through you have a choice to be negative or to minister through it. What is your choice going to be today? On Tuesday, I was in a Bible study and we were taking about the book of Acts. I was reminded about when Paul and Silas were arrested for casting an evil spirit from a slave girl. After being severely flogged this is what the Bible says they did:

Acts 16:25

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

They could have been upset and in a bad mood but instead of living in their negativity, they were praising God. Guess what. As a result, people were saved. As a result of their willingness to minister during a tough time, there are people in heaven.

We have a powerful choice to make each day of our lives.

WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE?

Perfect Imperfections (devotions)

I sang with the choir at my church for the first time this past Sunday. I know that sounds pretty ordinary, but it was a huge deal for me. Ever since childhood, I’ve been horribly insecure about my voice. However, I love to sing and praise the Lord. It brings me joy and I’ve been told by others that watching me brings them joy also. So I decided to join the choir. I was terrified Sunday morning certain that I would get off key and everyone singing would be furious with me. Of course, the choir sounded great and no one was mad. I had a fabulous time praising God and ministering to the congregation. To think I’d missed out on that blessing for years because I was worried I wasn’t a perfect singer.


I think we believers miss out on opportunities to serve God and others because of our insecurities. We miss out on sharing our faith because we feel we don’t know enough about God. We turn down leading a Bible study because we feel our past sins disqualify us. We avoid comforting the sick because we feel we don’t know what to say.

This is not a modern problem. Moses was afraid of public speaking. “But Moses pleaded with the Lord, ‘O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.’” (Exodus 4:10) Gideon said, “But Lord, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” (Judges 6:15) The great apostle Paul said, “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15) Despite their shortcomings, God used all these men in mighty ways—just as he can use you.

My friend Jeanne Karst has a business remaking old furniture. She calls it “Perfect Imperfections.” I think it’s an excellent description of us as believers. We are imperfect people made perfect through Christ. 2 Corinthians says that God’s strength is evident in our weakness. We’re not supposed to be perfect. We’re just supposed to be available and God will do the rest.

Don’t let your insecurities keep you from serving God and ministering to his people. If you do that, you’ll miss out on all the wonderful blessings he has in store for you.

Why do you worship Jesus? (devotion)

Somewhere between three and four Tuesday morning, Bill woke up in pain. In eighteen years of marriage, I’ve never seen him in that kind of agony. It only took about twenty minutes before I said we needed to go to the ER. The fact that he agreed with me made the situation scarier. It normally takes an act of congress to convince my husband to go to the doctor. All the way there, he micromanaged my driving. “Go faster. Pass that car,” he said between moans. He knew relief was at the hospital. And it was. We had to wait through admissions and some tests, but they did come with medication. After about two and a half hours of pain, Bill started to feel relief. It turned out he was passing a kidney stone. They doctor sent us home with prescriptions and advice to drink lots of water.


While we were waiting at the ER, Bill said, “How did people do this hundreds of years ago?” His statement got me thinking. It’s no wonder people crowded around Jesus looking for healing. I hated seeing Bill pace, sit, and pace again unable to find any respite from his pain, but I knew the doctors could fix it. What if there were no doctors and no medicine? I would have been desperate to find a cure for my husband. I would have torn up the roof and lowered him at the feet of Jesus. I wouldn’t have done that because I believed He was the Living God—my Savior. I would have done that because I wanted Him to do something for me.

When Jesus was crucified, only a handful of people were with Him. After He ascended, one hundred and twenty followers waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Where were all the people blessed by Jesus’s miracles? Where were the five thousand He fed? Where were all the people Jesus healed? Once they felt He couldn’t do for them anymore, they went away. Many people have this attitude. They view God as a Daddy Warbucks in the sky, someone who gives them whatever they need. When He fails to do so, they no longer believe.

Even Mary and Martha were guilty of this when Lazarus died. They were angry Jesus had not come and healed their brother. (John 11) These two had been with Him, listened to His teachings, and still didn’t get it. He wanted the people gathered there to believe He was their savior. In verses 25 and 26 he says, “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” Jesus was talking about eternal life and the people were still thinking about what He could do for them on this earth. For example, in verse 37 it states, “But some said, ‘This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?’”

Why do you worship Jesus? As a Christ follower, your belief should be based on recognizing Him as a Holy God, Merciful Savior and not on what He can do for you.

Lessons from Acts: Don't Assume (devotion)

I started out in college as a pre-med major. Somewhere in my sophomore year, it dawned on me I planned on being a stay-at-home mom and that goal didn’t exactly coincide with pre-med. Why spend all that time and money on a career I intended to quit? I prayed about what to major in—speech pathology, science education, drama? I strongly felt the Lord telling me to proceed with science education. I knew it was what He wanted me to do. Imagine my surprise when my first year of teaching was horrible. God had called me to teach. Why was it so bad? I decided the problem was public school and I would be happier in a private Christian school. I wasn’t. Different issues, same misery. I was both relieved and confused when I felt God telling me to quit after two years. I wondered if I misheard in college or if I was mishearing about quitting. I actually heard correctly both times.


In college, I made the same mistakes the apostles made in Acts 1:15-26. Jesus had just ascended. The apostles and other disciples were hanging out waiting on the Holy Spirit. Peter gives a speech stating that they needed to select another apostle to replace Judas. Peter said they needed to choose someone who had been with them from Jesus’ baptism through His ascension. “For one of these must become a witness with us of his {Jesus} resurrection.” (vs 22) They chose two men, Barsabas and Matthias, prayed, and cast lots as to who would be the next apostle.

“24 Then they prayed, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.’ 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” Casting lots was a tradition going far back into the Old Testament. It would be similar to flipping a coin today. According to scripture, God determined the outcome. Proverbs 16:33 “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” Based on scriptural evidence, we must conclude that God determined Matthias as apostle. However, Matthias never did anything we know of. He isn’t mentioned again in scripture. The one God intended to replace Judas came later, and he was someone the apostles never would have imagined—Saul.

What happened? God gave them an interim answer, a “this is good enough for now” answer. Why? Because that’s all they would hear. From the beginning, the apostles made assumptions. They set the parameters for the great apostle search. In verses 22 and 23, they state that the new guy should have been with them from the beginning. They didn’t ask God what His guidelines for the next apostle were. Saul, a hardened Pharisee, certainly didn’t enter into their criteria. When they did ask God his opinion, it was limited between two options. They didn’t inquire, “Who is the best man for this job?” Had they asked that question, God might have said, “I’ve got the guy, but it’ll be a while yet. Be patient.” However because they made assumptions and limited the options, the Lord gave them an interim answer instead of the best answer.

The same thing happened with me in college. I made assumptions of career paths based on what credits I had already earned and based on my interests. I also gave God limited options. I ultimately wasn’t satisfied with teaching because it wasn’t God’s lifelong plan for me. Motherhood was God’s best for me. Are you operating on interim answers? Seek God fully, without assumptions, and find out what His best is for you.

Lessons from Acts: Stop Looking at the Sky (devotion)

Several years ago we were part of an amazing homeschool playgroup. We would meet weekly at a local park. While the kids ran around like crazy, the moms had a chance to socialize sharing schooling frustrations, joys, and ideas. We also went on field trips together, attended birthday parties, and enjoyed other learning experiences. It was great because Sam was guaranteed a chance to see friends and play at least once a week. And I was guaranteed the same thing. Our family has moved twice since then and, each time we enter a new community, I’m trying to find another group just like it.


In the beginning of Acts, Jesus has been resurrected and He is giving His followers final instructions. Then He ascends into heaven. He had told them on more than one occasion that He needed to go so that the Holy Spirit could come. He reminds them of this twice before He ascends (Acts 1:5, 8). Yet in verse 10, it says Jesus’ followers were gazing into the sky where he’d gone.

It continues, “…two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!’” My paraphrase goes something like this, “Why are you looking at the sky? Get on with what He told you to do.”

I’d have been right there with them staring at the clouds. If those two white-robed men hadn’t come, how long would those people have stayed in that spot? Would they have built a shire or altar and had followers come from all over to the place from which Jesus ascended? I can imagine them wanting to hold onto Jesus and all He had done, afraid of a life without His physical presence. I think we are all guilty of this—holding onto the past and thus missing the future.

Sometimes we do this out of pain, shame, or guilt. How many times have you missed out on a good relationship because you were burdened with mistrust from a past one? Craig Groeschel talks about this in his book The Christian Atheist. In the chapter When You Believe in God but are Ashamed of Your Past, he says, “Once we accept the unchangeable past, we must embrace that God can change our future.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” We can’t be made new if we cling to our old sin and hurt.

Sometimes it isn’t pain or shame that makes us miss out on God’s future, its glory. Like the men of Galilee above, we hold onto the good things in our past. Those men looked into the sky remembering they had walked with Christ, seen miracles. Perhaps they wondered “How could it possibly get any better?” Even though Christ had told them it would be better, they were rooted in the past until those two mysterious men booted them into the future. I think this attitude of operating in past glory is a problem in the church. Congregations are dwindling because they insist on doing things as they always have. Conferences and seminars don’t have the same impact because they’ve been utilizing the same format over and over. To modify Groeschel’s quote, “Once we let go of our glorious pasts, we can embrace God’s future for us.”

Of course, God’s future is going to be different. I still haven’t found a group like my old one. I have to work harder to make sure Sam has time with his friends. However, I have found a homeschool athletic association. My son has trained and competed with homeschoolers from all over our area in cross country and track. He wouldn’t have had that opportunity in our old group. Once I let go of the past, I was able to find a future for my son I hadn’t imagined.

Bird Whisperer (devotion)

My sister is a bird whisperer. She loves and has owned all kinds of animals, but birds hold a special place in her heart. I call her Crazy Bird Lady and joke that she needs to charge admission to her zoo. However, I truly admire the uncanny relationship she has with these creatures. When we were at Silver Springs, a blue hyacinth (a bird with a 60 inch wingspan and a beak that can crack coconuts) allowed her to scratch his neck through the bars of his cage. He then pointed with his claw to a bothersome pinfeather he wanted her to pluck out, and she did it!


Her love of birds has naturally led her to be involved with bird rescue. Here she has seen the negligent side of pet ownership. Birds with deformed claws because their owners never had their nails cut. Others suffer permanent feather loss due to neglect or malnutrition. She’s heard stories of cage bottoms filled with several inches of feces because no one bothered to clean them out. Still more are anti-social and aggressive due to lack of stimulation. Some birds have the same intelligence as a two or three-year-old child. Can you imagine what would happen to a toddler that was kept in a confined space, rarely spoken to, and never given toys? Sadly, stories of neglect and abuse are not limited to avian pets.

In Genesis 1:26, it says God made us to rule over all the animals. When you do further study of the Bible, it is clear that God commands His rulers to take care of those under them. We, humans, are supposed to be taking care of God’s creatures, but we are not.

Matthew 10:29 says, “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.” The next verse states that God considers us more important than the sparrow, but I want you to see something else. These verses also show that God is intimately connected with His creation. He is aware of every dog that is left outside on a summer day without water.

How does this relate to us as Christians? Don’t worry I’m not going to get all PETA on you. We do, however, have a duty to respect and take care of God’s creation. I’m not saying for you to spend five thousand dollars you don’t have on cancer treatments for your animal, but you do need to make sure they are housed and fed. Before you buy or adopt a pet, research its special needs. If you want to adopt a greyhound, make sure you have the time to take him somewhere he can run. If you want to buy a gecko, make sure you have the proper heat lamp. If you want an eclectus parrot, make sure you feed her fresh fruits and vegetables every day. If you can’t meet the animal’s needs, don’t buy it. God gave us the special privilege of watching over his creation and we need to take that call more seriously.

Fruit of the Spirit: Fruit Basket (Lesson Plan grades 5-12)

Materials:


Bible
Copy of Prayer “Fruit Basket”

Prep:

(optional) Make a worksheet using the prayer “Fruit Basket” as a model. Type out the opening phrases and leave the second half blank for your child to fill in. For example:

Lord, please give me Love when ________________________________. Continue for each fruit of the Spirit and include the closing line.



Lesson:

1) Have your student read Galatians 5:22-23.

2) Discuss the areas in his life where he struggles with each fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, tenderness, and self-control.

3) Ask, “What does Fruit of the Spirit mean?” Answer: They are gifts given by the Holy Spirit.

4) Ask, “Why do we need these gifts?” Answer: Apart from God these things are difficult to accomplish in our lives.

5) Show him the prayer “Fruit Basket.”

6) Tell him to use it as a model to write his own prayer. Refer back to his answers in #2 and have him complete the prayer using those areas where he struggles. (If you made a worksheet, give to him to fill out.)


Fruit Basket


Lord, please give me Love when my brother breaks my CD.

Lord, please give me Joy when I’m picked on at school.

Lord, please give me Peace when my parents are fighting.

Lord, please give me Patience when my best friend forgets to call . . . again.

Lord, please give me Kindness when a new kid comes to class.

Lord, please give me Goodness when I’m in a bad mood.

Lord, please give me Faithfulness when others reject You.

Lord, please give me Tenderness when my Grandma is sick.

Lord, please give me Self-Control when my friends have none.

Lord, please give me these things because I don’t have them on my own.

Lesson Plan: Fruit of the Spirit Tree

Materials:


Paper

Brown Marker

Finger paint or other washable paint in green and red

Bible

Optional: various fruit such as apples and bananas



Prep:

1) Draw the trunk and branches of a tree on the paper with the marker.

2) Write the words “Fruit of the Spirit” beside the tree.



Lesson:

1) Show the fruit to your child and ask what it is. If you are not using actual fruit, name various fruits and ask your child what they are. It may be necessary to introduce the word “fruit” and define it.

2) Ask, “Where does fruit come from?” Answer: trees, plants

3) Ask, “What is fruit used for?” Answer: food, nourishment

4) Tell your child that the Holy Spirit produces fruit in us.

5) Explain that the Holy Spirit’s fruit feeds other people.

6) Read Gal. 5:22-23.

7) Discuss what each fruit means with your child. Explain how these things bless other people. Example: “Patience means waiting with a good attitude. Your brothers and sisters are blessed when you patiently wait for your turn when playing a game.”

8) Take the drawing of the tree. Ask, “What is missing from this tree?” Answer: leaves.

9) Tell your child she is going to put the leaves on the tree.

10) Have her put her thumb in the green paint and add leaves to the tree.

11) Say, “Now let’s add some fruit.”

12) Dipping her pinky in the red paint, have her put nine fruits on the tree. Count with her if she’s unsure of her numbers.

13) While she does this, ask, “What kind of fruit grows inside you?” Answer: Holy Spirit fruit.

14) Explain, “We have nine fruits on our tree because there are nine fruits of the Spirit.”

15) When she is finished, reread the passage from Galatians. Have her point to the red fruits on her tree as you state each one.



Extension:

If you have an older child who is skilled at handwriting, you might have her write the names of the fruit on the picture—Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control (devotion)

The onscreen battle was vicious and Sam was getting killed every time he spawned. He responded to this indignity with great humility—screaming at the television and stomping his feet. I talked to him about self-control. He said he had the “right” to feel what he was feeling. I agreed that he could be angry, but stomping and screaming were not appropriate. After another bout, I took him off the Xbox.


I don’t normally use the Bible as a punishment, but I thought it would do him some good to see what God’s Word had to say on the subject. I sent him to www.biblegateway.com to find three scriptures on anger or self-control. Then he was to write three sentences on why it’s good to have self-control.

After his search, he came to me with a very different attitude. His first sentence was about self-control being something God expects. Even now several weeks later, he holds his temper much better when playing those games. As a side note, one of the scriptures he found was Proverbs 16:32. “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” Only the Holy Spirit could have directed a thirteen-year-old boy to a scripture so perfectly designed for his mind frame and situation.

Just like I think “love” is the fruit intentionally listed first. I think “self-control” is intentionally listed last. Self-control is difficult for several reasons. We might feel what we are doing is justified as Sam did. We may not even realize we have a problem. Or we’ve been locked in the sin for so long, we don’t think we can stop it.

Before we can truly have self-control, first we need to have group control. We need to rely on our fellow believers to point out to us what we may not see. Galatians 6:1 commands, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.”

Our first reaction may be to tell someone to mind their own business, but the Bible is pretty clear that we shouldn’t. Proverbs 15:32 tells us, “If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.” If we listen to others, we have a better idea of what we need to work on in our lives.

The other part of group control is accountability. It’s a lot easier to rationalize and justify sin to ourselves than it is to others. If we have faithful brothers and sisters who know our struggles, we have a better chance of victory. “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16

Once we have had victory with group control, we are far better equipped to have self-control.

I am addicted to Coca-Cola. I’m also overweight and have kidney disease, but that doesn’t stop me from drinking it. I’m trying to keep it to one a day. I’d love some group control to help me with this. Feel free to hold me accountable.

Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness (devotion)

I share this story with great shame. In fact I’m probably posting it on a Sunday because very few, if any, people will read it. It is not common knowledge that Bill and I were part of a very controlling ministry for many years. Our pastor had a very severe view of raising children, and his views on raising boys were especially harsh.


When Sam was around three or four, I was advised not to coddle him in any way. Sam needed to learn how to be a man. During that time, Sam and I were at some friends', Dennis and Rhonda, house until late at night. Sam had been asleep and I woke him up when it was time to go. Groggy and confused, he walked face first into the van waiting in the driveway. I could hear the smack as he collided with the headlight. He cried out immediately. It was a pain cry, not just a scared cry.

Did I rush to him? No. I made him come to me. Did I hug him and gently tell him everything was going to be okay? No. I told him to stop crying. It was dark outside and I couldn’t properly examine him, so I made him follow me inside my friends’ house. Did I carry him or at least hold his hand? No. I told him to hush the neighbors might hear. He had hit the van so hard his front teeth were slightly loose and the gums were bleeding. Rhonda brought him cold water to rinse out his mouth. I didn’t pat his back or whisper gently that I loved him. Other than the required care, I did nothing for my little boy. In the end, it was Dennis that hugged him.

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit wouldn’t allow me to subscribe to this philosophy for long. Regardless of the faulty teaching I was receiving, the Fruit of the Spirit was alive inside. Through Him, gentleness reigned in my mothering. I truly believe that when we are searching for God with a whole heart, His truth will win out. In this case, His fruit of gentleness won out over misguided doctrine.

The fruit of gentleness is a large component of mothering. I understand that it’s needed in all relationships, but that of mother and child is of upmost importance. Regardless of what else you do in your life, being a mother is the greatest blessing God can bestow on you. In Isaiah, God is talking about his relationship with Jerusalem. He says, “I will comfort you there as a child is comforted by his mother.” (66:13) That rocks my world. He is using a mother’s comfort as a description of His own. We model His love with every kiss, hug, and gentle word.

That verse only compounds my grief when I think of that incident with Sam. What picture was I giving him of God? I was showing him that God is harsh and unconcerned with his suffering. Thankfully, I am forgiven for those actions. As mothers, we are going to make mistakes—maybe even huge ones—but we are washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. His victory on the cross negates our actions.

Here’s the mothering good news: Jesus forgives our bad parenting and the Holy Spirit works to make us better parents every day.

Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness (Devotion)

It’s 9:00 AM. I’m not dressed; instead I’m still walking around in my pajamas. I haven’t eaten breakfast or made my bed. My current Bible study book lays unopened on the table. I haven’t written a single word. I guess to some this wouldn’t be that bad. Plenty of people don’t get up and moving until 9 or even later. The problem is I’ve been making a concerted to effort to stay up after Garner’s 6:00 AM feeding and do all the things I just listed. I guess I failed at faithfulness today.


Someone who never failed at faithfulness was Daniel. In Dan 6:10 it says, “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” He was so faithful, it’s mentioned twice in one verse—“as usual” and “as he had always done.” He was so regular with his prayer even Daniel’s enemies knew when and where he would be praying.

Many Christians are faithful in the big things. They never miss church on Sunday. They may faithfully attend mid-week service, and work Vacation Bible School every year. However, we often fail to be faithful in the small things.

Studying faithfully—Acts 2:42 says, “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…” Can you honestly say you devote yourself to study? There are times in my life when my study is sporadic at best and then I only do it because I feel guilty.

Praying faithfully—I Thess. 5:17 says, “Never stop praying.” I’m pretty sure some people never start praying. I find it’s easier if I pause what I’m doing and pray the moment something comes to my mind. If someone asks for prayer, I take it to the Lord that instant. Otherwise, I’ll forget to do it. I can’t say I never stop praying, but I do try to keep my mind toward the Lord throughout my day.

Giving faithfully—This one is a tough. Most people don’t want to talk about giving to the church. Others outright complain about what they have to give. “They just want my money,” they say. Truth is we expect weekly preaching; we expect the pastor to be available when we want him; we expect the bathroom to be clean on Sunday morning. We daily benefit from the pastoral staff and even the church building itself, but we want all of that to be free. Pastors require salaries and buildings require upkeep. Can you imagine what it would be like to have to beg your boss for your paycheck? Pastors have to beg from the pulpit for theirs. I Cor. 9:14 says, “In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.” You might be thinking that your little offering may not matter, but remember that God isn’t interested in the amount. He’s interested in the faithful heart.

Daniel was faithful in the little things and his life was blessed because of it. Likewise your spiritual growth is dependant on your faithfulness to the little things. As my pastor points out, you’ll die of malnutrition if you only eat once or twice a week. You’ll be spiritually malnourished if you only study, pray, and give when the mood strikes you. Examine your weekly schedule. Where can you make room to be more like Daniel?

Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness (Devotion)

Recently, Sam was given too much change at a convenience store. He immediately handed back the extra money. He did this without thought because it was the right thing to do. A friend who was there taunted him and told him he was stupid for giving away free cash.


Our society is like Sam’s friend. People are often ridiculed for doing the right thing—for being good. Phrases like “Goody Two Shoes” are thrown out as insults. A rat is regarded as a loathsome filthy creature, and yet society uses that animal to describe a person who does right by reporting crime. Even Christians mock other Christians. “He’s just a radical,” we say and discount whatever he’s doing. Have you ever noticed that we disdainfully use the word “radical” to describe anyone who is more committed in their walk than we are?

Truth is none of us are good. Romans 3:12b says, “No one does good, not a single one.” Without the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we would not be capable of good. We want to do what we want to do when we want to do it, and we don’t want anyone making us feel bad about it. So when someone’s actions remind us of our sinfulness, we mock, we demean, we do anything to belittle their actions and make ourselves feel better.

Examine yourself. Number one, think about those Christians you make fun of. Are they truly ‘out there’? Or is something about their walk convicting you? Number two, think over you life. Have you offended anyone with your goodness? If not, you’re doing something wrong. As believers, we’re supposed to be living a life that challenges others. Today make it your goal to be called “Goody Two Shoes.”

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” I Pet 2:9

Fruit of The Spirit: Kindness (devotion)

My niece Tiffany’s day was like so many others. She woke up her toddler twins, fed them, and got them ready for speech therapy. Then she got them lunch and put them down for a nap. When they woke up it was time for physical therapy where Seth screamed for the entire hour-long session. Back at home she spent a couple of hours on the phone being transferred from person to person at her insurance company. Carter’s special piece of equipment had been denied because one had already been approved for the family. Apparently, it was too difficult for the insurance company to comprehend she needed two standers because she had two boys. When she finally talked with a reasonably intelligent person, Tiffany was told the paperwork would have to be filed again. Then she got to spend five minutes with her husband, my nephew Randy, before running out the door to her job as a waitress. She spent the evening on her feet, carrying trays and taking orders. At the end of her long, stressful day, a customer looked at her and said, “You’re going to Hell because you have a tattoo.”


Was his goal evangelism? The purpose of evangelism is to spread the gospel of Christ. Some may say Christ acted this way to others, but that’s not the case. The only people to whom Christ was rude were the religious hypocrites. All others He treated with kindness—His followers (Mark 6:30), sinners (John 8:11), the sick (Luke 8:48), foreigners (Matt 8:10), and many, many more. This customer was not demonstrating the kindness that marked Jesus’s ministry.

Was his goal to turn Tiffany from her sin? I want to be clear here that I don’t agree that tattoos are a sin. This man, however, believed it enough to publicly rebuke a stranger. He didn’t know Tiffany, didn’t know anything about her, yet he felt perfectly justified speaking those unkind words because she was a sinner in his eyes. However when Paul writes about correcting a brother, he says it should be done “gently and humbly.” (Gal 6:1)

Whatever this guy's goal, all he achieved was making an amazing mother, who sacrifices for her family, feel terrible. What a difference a little kindness would have made in her difficult day. Even if her life was great—filled with rainbows and butterflies—a simple “Thanks. Dinner was great,” and a nice tip would have been a blessing. Proverbs 16:24 says, “Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” We Christians should be giving out honey, not vinegar.

Whether we are witnessing, correcting, or simply going about our day, our actions and words should be clothed in kindness. In this way, we are truly ambassadors for Christ.

Fruit of the Spirit: Patience (inspirational short story)

It was obvious Callie didn't belong there. She sat with her ankles crossed and her handbag, which matched her navy flats, resting underneath her slender hands. Her fingers, nails neat and short with a French manicure, lazily looped and unlooped the strap as she waited. If she was nervous among this motley crew—obscene tattoos, studs protruding from unusual places—she didn't appear it.

They had all waited through a bond hearing that was delayed an hour-and-a-half. Now that the proceedings were over, they waited again for processing. Some had left, opting to return in a couple of hours at the guard's recommendation. Seeing no reason to drive home, just to turn around and come back, Callie parked herself in a green plastic chair that had been left in the sun too long.

The first call had come last night. "Irene's been arrested again, I don't know what to do."

Irene, a name which ironically meant peace, had been in and out of trouble since she was a teen. Callie's husband was youth pastor then, and the two of them had been embroiled in that family's drama ever since. When the call came, they slowly got to their knees and prayed again for the young woman and her family.

The second call came this morning. "The hearing is this afternoon and I can't get off work."

Callie's husband had a funeral to perform, so she volunteered to go alone. Now she found herself in the lobby of the county jail with the more seasoned side of humanity, waiting for what, she wasn't sure. Irene was sentenced to time served, so there was nothing financial to be done. But Callie didn't know what other aspects there were to 'processing' and the guards weren't very forthcoming. So she sat. And prayed. Time passed.

A woman in her mid-forties plopped down next to her. The matching patterns in her skirt and blouse were slightly off kilter, like she'd dressed in a hurry.

"Another two hours, do you believe it?"

"Another two hours," Callie said. "They said two hours almost two hours ago."

"Yeah, they never explain it right. It's an hour or two to get the paperwork from the courthouse and then another two or so for processing."

Callie's heart fell. "I've been here practically all day," she said. "Oh well, a little longer won't kill me."

"Yeah, you say that the first time. But once you hit round four, you hate every minute. I'm telling that boy it's the last time. No more, I'm done with him."

"Your son?"

"Yeah. You too?"

"Oh, no. One of the members of my husband's church, it's her daughter."

"You came down here and it's not your kid. What church does that?"

"Grace Fellowship on Bonneville."

The woman turned her attention to a magazine on the floor that belied its age with a picture of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston cuddling. "It's worse than a doctor's office," she muttered, picking it up and leafing through it.

So Callie sat. And prayed. The lobby slowly filled with people she recognized from the hearing. Detainees trickled out, paperwork in hand, sour expressions on their faces. Irene drifted past. Callie got her attention as she hedged for the door.

"Did Mom send you?"

"She asked me to come. My car's outside."

"Whatever, my boyfriend's on the way."

"Can we talk a minute? I don't mind waiting with you."

"I have nothing to say to you," she said, planting a cigarette in her mouth and pushing through the door.

Callie sank back into her chair. "Why was I waiting? I could have been home hours ago."

Sunday morning, she waited with her husband praying for those who came forward. A woman in her mid-forties walked down the aisle with a boy in his early twenties, the two were crying and holding hands. When they came to Callie's husband for prayer, the boy fruitlessly patted at his mohawk in an attempt to make it more presentable. The woman sparked Callie’s interest. She'd seen her somewhere. Callie tugged at her memory until she it came to her. This was the woman from the jail now standing at the altar with the four time loser she'd threatened to cut off.

"The fruit of the spirit ... patience. I was waiting for them," Callie murmured to herself. Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw Irene's mother sidle up to the altar and get on her knees. Peace filled Callie as she knelt down beside her to pray, once more, for Irene.

Fruit of the Spirit: Patience (devotion)

You want to hear a group of Christians groan? Mention patience. It’s the one fruit that everyone needs, but no one actually wants. It’s even a joke. “Don’t ask God for patience because He’ll make you miserable.”

Why is this fruit such a burden? Why is this one an ongoing struggle for most people? I’ve been praying about it, and I think it’s because patience is the one fruit that requires the most sacrifice. Patience is all about the other person.

More than any other fruit, patience demands that we set aside our time, plans, and wants for the benefit of someone else. When you lose your patience and snap at the slow clerk in the grocery line, it’s because she’s wasting your time. When your kindergartener is telling you a story, you get impatient because you’re trying to read the paper. You want the doctor to answer all your questions and give you a quality assessment, but not anyone else because that might eat into your appointment. So you fume in the waiting room and give the receptionist a hard time if it’s taking too long.

Think about the last time you really lost your patience. Examine your motives in that incident. What were you unwilling to sacrifice? Was it your time? Your attention? Your favorite television show? When you feel yourself losing it, try to remember that God wants us to love others more than ourselves and deny your wants for the good of another.

“…Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” (Phil 2:3,4)

Fruit of the Spirit:Peace (devotion)

In college, a lab tech accused me of being a vampire. I have terrible veins. It’s tough to find one for a blood draw. When a tech does locate a vein it usually stops bleeding on them. I once had a nurse who had tried both arms when administering an IV look at me with embarrassment and say, “I’ve been nursing for twenty-five years and I’ve never had this happen.” She ended up getting the anesthesiologist to do it. I only have one vein that works at all. With my kidney issues, it gets hit a lot.

Needless to say, getting blood work stresses me out. At least, it used to stress me out. Part of the reason is I’ve learned to say, “This vein please, and use a butterfly needle.” The other part, the main part, is that I’ve prayed about it for years. Whenever I walk into a lab, I’m praying for things to go smoothly. Thankfully, God has answered and I’ve had much better experiences than I did when I was younger. I don’t fear the lab anymore.

When I was pregnant, they needed to do regular pregnancy blood work and some kidney blood work. The tech was amazed at how much blood he needed to draw. “They’re not leaving you much, are they?” he asked.

I smiled and told him it was no big deal; I was used to it. When he was finished, he asked if I was lightheaded and wanted me to be careful when I stood up. I assured him I was fine.
Unfortunately, I failed my one-hour blood glucose test and had to go back for the three hour. For those of you that don’t know, that test requires four blood draws over the course of the test. It was a couple of days later, but the tech remembered me.

Once again, he was concerned about my comfort and health. Once again, I assured him I was fine. And I was fine. I wasn’t putting up a front; I was truly at peace. I read my magazines and chatted with him while he stuck my arm. It was clear to me that people weren’t usually this laid back for him. At one point during the test he said, “Nothing gets to you.”

I was in the middle of reading Forgotten God by Francis Chan. I knew the source of my peace—the Holy Spirit. I wasn’t about to take credit for something He was doing. So I built up my courage and said, “That wouldn’t be me. That would be the Holy Spirit.”

I don’t know what I expected. I don’t remember his exact words, but he chuckled and gave full agreement. It turned out he was a Christian as well. He had twin girls and joked about how he couldn’t handle all that chaos without the peace the Holy Spirit provides. We talked quite a bit about general things. Finally, he shared with me that he was thinking about switching companies. He felt the environment at his current job was affecting his spiritual walk. I told him I would pray for him, and I did.

Once again, the fruit of the Spirit functioned for ministry. In my last blog on “Joy,” it facilitated salvation for the jail keeper and his family. Here the fruit lead to ministry for a fellow believer. When I used to pray to increase in the various fruits, I was thinking about how that would impact my life. The more I delve into these verses and meditate on them, I realize that I should be praying because of the impact it will have on others.

Ask yourself this today: why do I pray for patience? for kindness? for joy? Do I seek the benefits of the Spirit for myself or for others? If you answered ‘for yourself,’ pray for God to change your mind frame and pursue ministry.

Naptime (devotion)

Garner needed a nap. Tiredness was making him distraught. I’d tried all the usual stuff—singing, rocking, walking around, gas medicine—and nothing was working. I knew the best thing was to put him to bed and let him cry until he fell asleep. I laid him down and sat in the chair nearby. I watched to make sure he was okay and listened in case his crying escalated. In three or four minutes, he was out. I stayed a little longer watching and listening as he took the slow, even breaths of sleep. He didn’t know I was there. As far as he knew, he was alone.

It wasn’t a far leap for me to think of our Father in heaven. When we go through trials, we often feel like we’re alone. We wonder why this (insert crisis here) is happening to us. God, it seems, is nowhere to be found. But like in the situation with my baby, God knows what is best for us. He knows what we need even if it seems painful, and he is always watching and listening—standing by our side to make sure we are okay.

“Though they {the Godly}stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Ps 37:24

Fruit of the Spirit-- Joy (devotion)

Joy is mentioned all through the Bible. We are told to sing with joy, shout with joy, to be joyful. When we’re saved, we’re given the impression that all our problems will be solved. Psalm 30 is often quoted, “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.”

Well, I’ll tell you, there are plenty of times I don’t feel like dancing. There are plenty of times that I’m still mourning. I look at all the suffering in the world, among my friends, in my own family, and wonder, “How am I supposed to have joy right now?”

When I examine the scriptures about joy I find a common thread—the Lord. Whether they are referring to Him, His Word, or His acts, joy is linked to God over and over again. Here are a few verses:

“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!” Is 61:10.

“When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.” Jer 15:16

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” Phil 4:4

“Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” Rom 4:8

The secret of having joy is to keep our eyes heavenward. When we look around at our circumstances, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and depressed. However, we need to remember that our current situation is temporary. We have a greater promise and hope in the future through Jesus Christ.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Rom 5:3-5

How do we keep our eyes heavenward? We do that through prayer, studying the Word, singing praise/worship songs, and fellowshipping with other believers. The best example of this is highlighted in Acts chapter 16.

“A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.” Acts 16:22-24

Those are some pretty overwhelming circumstances. Paul and Silas are in pain, in prison, and locked in stocks. If anyone had the right to be depressed, it was the two of them. But what does the very next verse say they were doing? Complaining, crying, licking their wounds? No. Their eyes were heavenward.

“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God….” (v 25)

Everyone knows what happened next. An earthquake came. The doors of the prison opened and all the prisoners’ chains fell off. (v 26) The earth literally moved because of their joy. God can do the same for you when you keep your eyes heavenward. There might not be earthquakes, but there could be a resolution to your problems, or the peace that helps you navigate them.

I’ve said before that the Fruit of the Spirit is for reproduction. The Holy Spirit uses our joy regardless of circumstances to reach others. Notice in the story all the doors opened and all the chains fell off—not just Paul’s and Silas’s. The other prisoners were blessed as well. It didn’t stop there. The jailer and his family were saved.

“And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.” (v 32-34)

It’s easy to let our circumstances rob us of our joy. I encourage you to remember that joy is not in the things of this world, but in the hope of our salvation and our relationship with the living God. “I say it again—rejoice!” Phil 4:4

Fruit of the Spirit--Love (devotion)

When I originally looked at the list of the Fruit of the Spirit, I assumed it was random. I assumed there was no particular significance to the order of the attributes listed in in Galatians 6. However, as I've been seeking and praying, I don't think that's the case for the first one. I don't believe it is an accident that "love" is listed at the beginning.

I Cor 13:2 (NIV) says, "...but do not have love, I am nothing." In this section Paul is declaring that he can have the greatest gifts, but without love they are useless. This is certainly true for the Fruit of the Spirit. Without love, how is it possible to have any positive characteristics?

When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, "Love God and love your neighbor." That's my paraphrase anyway. Apply that to the Fruit of the Spirit. If you don't love God, how can you have joy? I Pet 1:8 (NIV) states, "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy..." If you did not love God and desire to please him, how could you have self-control. If you did not love your neighbor, how could you have patience? tenderness? goodness?

Examine your heart. Is love there? If not, there is only one place to find it. The rest of Galatians 5 mentions being led by the spirit, walking by the Spirit, living by the Spirit, and keeping in step with the Spirit. It's pretty clear that we need the Spirit! How do you "walk with the Spirit?" When our minds are on the Lord, we are walking with the Spirit. Whether it's prayer, meditating on the Word, talking to a Christian friend, or listening to a good song, find a way to walk with the Spirit and you will find yourself overflowing with love.

Fruit of the Spirit (devotion)

When Sam was little, I would run a kids praise CD while he played in his room. The songs were scriptures set to music, and sung by children. One of my personal favorites was, "Without complaining, without arguing, do, do, everything." I worked that one to my benefit whenever it was time to clean up.

There was one song, however, that drilled its way into my head and never left. So much so that even now, almost a decade later, its dulcet tones will wind up in my mind and play in a seemingly endless loop. The scripture featured in that song is Gal 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit. As it pranced through my head once again the other day, I spent some time really thinking about each fruit as opposed to just letting the song roll as background music in my brain. As a result, I felt led to spend some time on that scripture in my blog. I'm not sure how long the series will take, but that's what I'm concentrating on now.

I'm sure we're all familiar with the passage, but I'll reiterate it here. (Imagine upbeat music and children's voices raised in song) The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I’ll start at the beginning. What do I know about fruit?

1) Fruit production takes time. I was a biology major and I can assure you that apples don't suddenly appear on the tree. There's a whole process that includes cool words like pollination and megaspore. Physical fruit has to grow and mature. So does spiritual fruit. You don't wake up one day as the most patient person on the planet. The fruit grows as you mature, and its growth continues over your entire spiritual life. So if you fail in one of those areas listed in Galatians, give yourself a break. You've embarked on a process that takes time, but will produce change in your life.

2) Fruit is seasonal. It grows during certain times of the year and not at others. While there is always a measure of each fruit in our lives, there are periods when we are afforded a greater quantity. How many times have you watched someone in the middle of tragedy exude peace and said, "I could never handle (insert crisis here) like they are." The reason for their seemingly unnatural response to trauma is that they've received seasonal fruit. They have what they need, when they need it. Don't worry about what ifs because when the time is right, you'll have the resources you require.

3) Fruit is for reproduction. It is a distribution vehicle created for the purpose of spreading seed. Likewise, the fruit of the Spirit manifested in our lives acts a witness to the lost, and edifies our sisters and brothers in Christ. Ask yourself, who does patience really help--me or the person to whom I'm extending it? Who is gentleness helping--me or someone else? While it may make our lives easier, the function of the fruit of the Spirit is ministry. If it's presence in your life doesn't affect others, there is a problem. Jesus said the entire law could be boiled down two things: loving God and loving our neighbors. Every tool in our walk needs to point to one or the other; the fruit of the Spirit is no different.

Take some time today to read Galatians 5:22-23. Try to look at it through fresh eyes, not just as a scripture you were taught in kindergarten. Think about what each word means as you do so. Sing it with me now! The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness. The fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.