In late August, my sweet co-worker bought me this lovely plant for my birthday.Β She said I needed something green and living in my office.Β I smiled at her and told her I had a black thumb, so I should probably take it home and place it in my husband’s watchful care. Pat is apparently…
The purpose of fruit is to nourish the body.Β Your fruit must be given away.Β You must allow others to consume it.Β You can’t hoard it like a miser or let it rot away out of apathy and disinterest. Fruiticious people invite others to the table. Β Β And if the table is not inviting,…
Sow self-control.Β At the root of this fruit is contentedness.Β Β Β A person who is temperate is not indulgent or reckless; rather, he acts with common sense and with sober-mindedness. A person who exibits the fruit of self control has learned to discipline their willfulness. Β Self control will stand alone, rather than join in with the…
To cultivate the fruit of gentleness, one must surrender personal rights. Β Β The meek wholeheartedly offer themselves to an awesome God in reverence.Β I love how Pastor Chuck Smith explains it: “The word meek can probably best be defined by putting a hyphen in the middle of it: me-ek. It is again looking at myself…
Sow gentleness. Meekness is strength under the control of the Holy Spirit.Β A gentle person exercises personal power without abuse.Β This fruit is infused with grace.Β One who is gentle has received grace and understands the importance of humbly extending it to others.Β Meekness requires a submissive spirit that trusts that God is good. When…
Do you ever feel like a piece of fruit on a juicer?Β Β Do you feel manhandled, squeezed, and pushed in opposing directions? Some days, I just want to say “enough.”Β No more.Β Stop. But, I am reminded that my Savior endured much — He endured much more than I ever will. Jesus was a finisher,…