The sun rose at 7:23 AM – and so did I. Opening the curtains to the west, I noticed that the weather station on the wall was predicting rain. The western sky agreed. How disappointing. But when I opened the eastward curtains I got a surprise. There was a blossoming sunrise of pink and gold….
Author: Pam R
It’s November!
November has always been a full month of thanksgiving for me. I wrote daily notes to people who I especially appreciated that year. I moved to ecards when that became a thing. I also kept a gratitude journal. There is so much to be grateful for everyday. But November over the last years has come…
Fruitfulness
But the fruit [harvest] produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions:joy that overflows,peace that subdues,patience that endures, [never quitting]kindness [sweetness] in action,a life full of virtue, [goodness]faith that prevails,gentleness of heart, andstrength of spirit. [self-control]Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless. Galatians 5:22-23 The Passion Translation “Joy is love…
Self-Control
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation ********** Biblical self-control [restraint. discipline] is the power to keep your sin in check or the power to restrain your sin in thought, in…
Gentleness
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation ********** Gentleness [meekness, humbleness] is sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. Gentleness is not…
Faithfulness
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation ********** Faithfulness means “lasting loyalty and trustworthiness in relationships; the fact or quality of being true to one’s word, beliefs or commitments;…
Goodness
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation ********** I have been unclear as to the difference between Kindness and Goodness. So I did a little research and discovered that…
Kindness
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation ********** Kindness is behavior marked by acts of friendliness, generosity, consideration, or concern for others, helping without expecting praise or reward. Its…
“The Wind and the Leaves”
by George Cooper “Come, little leaves,” said the wind one day.“Come o’er the meadows with me, and play’Put on your dress of red and gold,—Summer is gone, and the days grow cold.” Soon as the leaves heard the wind’s loud call,Down they came fluttering, one and all;Over the brown fields they danced and flew,Singing the…
Patience
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation ********** Did you notice that there is a Christian virtue left off the list? Hope is not mentioned! I wonder if that…