The fruit

Bøvra river in Lom, Norway. by Pudelek (Marcin Szala),

Good morning,  beloved,

Hmmm, my brain never stops.  In my frequent attempts to understand my male contingent in the household, I have stacked books next to my bed, listened to many broadcasts, and one thing that made me wake Joshua up in shock: there are times when you don’t think anything at all? (He was so happy with me, let me tell you that.) Ahem. You can just sit there, staring out and it be a true statement (when I ask him what are you thinking?) nothing? YES! Refer to Men Are Like Waffles, Women are Like Spaghetti..

May I just tell you I have never had a moment that my brain doesn’t run? This is why I study Scripture and pray. God has had His job cut out for Him..well, He made me so He has had a job carving and molding me to trust Him, hold His hand and turn my eyes to Him constantly. Always. Well, except when I sleep..but then I dream…

Our last day on Gentle! Can you believe it? I hope you have gleaned many truths to hold  in the days ahead. God is so rich in His mercy and great in His love.

Let’s look at one last passage and as Joshua loves to say about me if a little is good then more is SO MUCH better.

Galatians 5:

¹⁶ But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.

¹⁸ But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.

¹⁹ Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,

²⁰ Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),

²¹ Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,

²³ Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].

²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh(the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

²⁶ Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging andprovoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.

Crucial here to point this out in verse 22: the fruit of  the Holy Spirit, work which His presence within accomplishes..friends, these fruits, you cannot bring these up in yourself alone. Paul makes it quite clear this is His presence working out these beautiful gifts. No charge can be brought against such beauty.

Please also note the war in verse 17: [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other] these are the desires of the flesh! So we must, must walk with whom? Elementary, my dear Watson when studying on paper but when in the stuff of life, when a child is throwing a tantrum in Target and people have sat down with popcorn to watch and take notes…ahem, I digress.. hits whose voice is going to be loudest in our minds? His Spirit my friends has the answer for this problem (for a friend, of course )…

Part of this for me, is remembering His Word. The children were in a VBS last week and received Bible verses on note cards. One of my munchkins took all the cards and taped them all over the house! Yes! That is what I am talking about and it fills me. Yet, also, I need to start a habit of memorizing and walking with His Spirit..our conduct being controlled by the SPirit. Not self-conceited, not competitive…gag..v26 makes me sad…

Let’s spur one another on to take hold of the Spirit in our lives. Pray on, beloved. Pray on!

 

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