fruits of the Spirit--- PEACE

Romans 12:18 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

WE ALL WANT PEACE IN OUR LIFE, PEACE WITH OTHERS, PEACE WITH OUR SPOUSE, FRIENDS, KIN FOLK.. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT IS PEACE WITH GOD, INNER PEACE. PEACE THAT PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING!  PEACE , WHEN YOU LAY YOUR HEAD DOWN AT NIGHT, THAT EVERYTHING IS OK, CAUSE YOU TRUST THE LORD.
**IF YOU HAVE THE INNER PEACE WITH GOD, YOU WILL BE SURE TO PRODUCE THE OUTER PEACE WITH OTHERS. REACHING OTHERS COMES FROM A MATURE AND PEACEFUL DISPOSITION. IT IS FOUND IN THE GOOD , MATURED PERSON THAT PURSUES THE IDEAS AND PRINCIPLES THAT PRODUCE IT.

**GOING THE EXTRA MILE WILL ALWAYS GIVE YOU PEACE.

Matthew 5:41 King James Version (KJV)

⁴¹ And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

SELFISHNESS WILL NOT PRODUCE PEACE. IT WILL PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING. THIS INCLUDES SELF PRIDE, LUST, AND VANITY. THINKING OF OTHERS WILL ALWAYS HELP TO PRODUCE PEACE. TALKING TO ALOVED ONE ABOUT THEIR FUTURE, BAKING THEM COOKIES, HELPING SOMEONE WITH THEIR EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES, ALL THESE THINGS BRING YOU SELF PEACE, KNOWING YOU DID EVERYTHING YOU COULD OR CAN TO MAKE THIS PERSON HAPPIER. GO THAT SECOND MILE, IT'S WORTH IT... EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO GO ALONE! 
**THE DISTANCE TO WHERE YOU ARE TO PEACE IS MORE THAN A STEP. WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THERE, IT IS WORTH THE JOURNEY!
 

Mark 11:25 King James Version (KJV)

²⁵ And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

**MAKING PEACE WITH OTHERS CAN BRING YOU REAL PEACE. THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE EXPERIENCED PERSONALLY. IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE HAS OUGHT WITH YOU, YOU ARE TO GO THAT PERSON, ASK THEM WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, MAKE THINGS RIGHT WITH THEM, IF THEY DO NOT FORGIVE YOU, THAT IS BETWEEN THEM AND THE LORD.. THIS IS OUT OF YOUR HANDS, YOU ARE CLEAN IN THE EYES OF THE LORD.YOU MUST DO THIS WITH THE RIGHT HEART AND ATTITUDE. ASK THE LORD TO FORGIVE YOU OF ANY WRONG DOING. THIS WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH AS A YOUNG MARRIED ADULT, BUT IT ALSO OPENED MY EYES TO SOME THINGS I HAD DONE WRONG TOO... IT WAS AN EYE OPENER FOR SURE. YOU CAN NOT BE AT FULL PEACE WITH GOD OR YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE OUGHT IN YOUR HEART. IT WILL MAKE YOU A VERY BITTER PERSON. REMEMBER, YOU GOT TO BE THE BETTER PERSON, NOT THE BITTER ONE!

1 Thessalonians 4:11 King James Version (KJV)

1 Timothy 2:2 King James Version (KJV)

² For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

¹¹ And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
BE QUIET FOR A MOMENT....HEAR THAT?? HOW PEACEFUL!! PEACE AND QUIET GO HAND IN HAND.  IT IS GREAT TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL, THE TV, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND JUST MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD AND HIS UNFAILING PROMISES. THIS IS WHERE I HAVE BEEN HELPED SO MUCH RECENTLY. THE WORLD IS GETTING WORSE BY THE SECOND.. TEMPORARY THINGS CAN GIVE YOU A SHORT KIND OF PEACE, BUT GOD'S PEACE IS AN EVERLASTING PEACE. REST IN HIS PEACE. 
PEACE TAKES WORK, BUT IT IS SO WORTH IT. WORK GIVES PEACE. IF YOU ARE BUSY, YOU HAVE NO TIME FOR ANYTHING ELSE BUT PEACE. IF YOU ARE LAZY, THIS IS WHERE THINGS CREEP IN YOUR LIFE, YOU HAVE MORE TIME FOR STRIFE, FUSSES WITH YOUR SPOUSE, DISAGREEMENTS WITH FAMILY, AND DOUBT.. 

 

Psalm 34:14 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

 ** PURSUE PEACE, IT REALLY IS THERE. PEACE SHOULD REALLY NOT DEPEND ON THE RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE OTHERS. THIS SHOULD DEPEND ON THE RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE WITH THE LORD. IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER, ALL OTHER RELATIONSHIPS WILL FOLLOW. THE LORD WILL PUT THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE THAT GIVES YOU PEACE!
** PEACE IS AN INWARD PART AND SERENITY OF THE SOUL. PERFECT PEACE WITH GOD IS ALL THAT MATTERS.
** TRUE PEACE= KNOWING THAT GOD IS WITH US AND IN FULL CONTROL
** TRUST GOD AND YOU CAN ENJOY TRUE PEACE IN YOUR LIFE!
JOBS, FRIENDS, YOUR HOBBIES, HEALTH ISSUES, EVEN WORK IN THE CHURCH CAN LEAD TO PRESSURE THAT EVENTUALLY SUCK THE PEACE OF THE LORD OUT OF YOU, IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL. PEACE IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALL HAVE AND WE ALL NEED ! PRAYING YOU HAVE THAT PERFECT PEACE IN YOUR PEACE IN YOUR HEART TODAY! SHUT THE DOOR OF YOUR LIFE THAT DOES NOT OPEN UP TO PEACE, AND TURN THE KNOB OF A NEW DOOR TO PERFECT PEACE IN THE LORD!

'' WHAT A TREASURE I HAVE IN THIS WONDERFUL PEACE, BURIED DEEP IN THIS HEART OF MY SOUL,SO SECURE THAT NO POWER CAN MINE IT AWAY, WHILE THE YEARS OF ETERNITY ROLL. PEACE, PEACE, WONDERFUL PEACE, COMING DOWN FROM THE FATHER ABOVE, SWEEP OVER MY SPIRIT FOREVER I PRAY, IN FATHOMLESS BILLOWS OF LOVE!''

Fruits of the Spirit- JOY

WELCOME BACK TO FRUITS FRIDAY! TODAY, WE WILL FOCUS ON A REAL IMPORTANT FRUIT. JOY!!! OH WHAT JOY  YOU CAN HAVE AS A CHILD OF GOD!

THE REASON FOR JOY IS THE SPIRIT! HIS DIRECTION, BLESSINGS, AND PROMISES ALL BRING FORTH JOY! SOME FROWN AND HAVE A SAD FACE ALL THE TIME, THIS REALLY MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT KIND OF JOY THEY HAVE. A PERSON THAT HAS REAL JOY IS VISIBLE. YOU CAN SEE IT ALL OVER THEM!
* JOY IS POSITIVE, SADNESS IS NEGATIVE! HOW CAN ONE BE JOYFUL AND BE NEGATIVE ALL THE TIME. IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT FULL OF TRUE JOY! ONE CAN STILL BE JOYFUL EVEN THOUGH TRIALS COME IN THEIR LIFE. EXAMPLES WOULD BE LOSS OF LOVED ONES, SICKNESS, BETRAYAL OF FRIENDS, ALL OF THESE ARE TRUE EXAMPLES OF ONE, PEOPLE I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEEING JOY IN THEIR LIVES. WHEN MY SISTER HAD OVARIAN CANCER, SHE WAS THE MOST JOYFUL I HAD EVER SEEN.. WHY?? BECAUSE SHE HAD THE JOY OF THE LORD, HE WAS HER STRENGTH!

 

Psalm 28:7 King James Version (KJV)

⁷ The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
 THIS IS THROUGH ADJUSTMENT.WE CAN CHOOSE  TO ADJUST TO CHANGES LIKE THIS AND BE JOYFUL.. BE BETTER , NOT BITTER!
WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES ARE TRYING TO KILL YOUR JOY, WE CAN STILL FIND JOY. THERE IS JOY IN KNOWING THAT GOD IS WORKING FOR HIS GLORY THROUGH YOUR PROBLEM!
* LIFE IS STILL WHAT YOU MAKE IT.. FULL OF JOY OR FULL OF SADNESS.SELF WILL DOES NOT EQUAL JOY, IT CAN BRING TRUE DISSAPOINTMENT, THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO FULLY RELY ON GOD. LOOSING YOURSELF EQUALS JOY! REMEMBER JOY= JESUS, OTHERS, AND YOU!
*YOU DO NOT CHASE AFTER HAPPINESS. JUST DO THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND THE RIGHT KIND OF JOY WILL FOLLOW.. * TRUE BLUE RIGHT HERE 
EXAMPLES OF THIS WOULD BE, ROBBING A BANK, LYING ABOUT SOMEONE, RUINING SOMEONE'S CHARACTER, JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE JEALOUS OF THEM OR JUST DON'T WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY, STEALING ANOTHER  MAN'S WIFE OR AND/ OR ANOTHER WOMAN'S HUSBAND.. BTW, * THIS ONE WILL NEVER BRING FULL JOY!
WHY? CAUSE IT IS NOT OF GOD!

Psalm 30:5 King James Version (KJV)

⁵ For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

*JOY ENHANCES HEALTH AND ADDS DAYS TO YOUR LIFE! I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I WANNA LIVE AS LONG AS I CAN!! CHOOSE JOY!
*JOY IS IMPORTANT TO JESUS. JOY WHICH IS ROOTED IN CHRIST IS AN EXAMPLE OF GODLINESS!
OUR JOY IS LASTING BECAUSE WE AS A BELIEVER, IS JOYFUL ALWAYS, BECAUSE WE ARE LIKE CHRIST.
* IN CLOSING, OUR FUTURE EQUALS JOY! THINK ABOUT HOW HEAVEN IS RIGHT NOW.. RIGHT NOW, WE CAN BE JOYFUL BECAUSE HEAVEN IS SO VERY NEAR. OUR LOVED ONES THAT HAVE GONE ON, IS A REASON TO BE JOYFUL. IN CHRIST, THEY ARE REJOICING WITH JESUS!
* I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS THOUGHT.. WHAT IS KEEPING YOU FROM TRUE JOY?? WHAT IS ROBBING YOU FROM JOY YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE TIME? IS IT FAMILY OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD? IS IT SICKNESS THAT YOU CAN NOT GET HEALED FROM? IS IT A WAYWARD CHILD? IS IT A FINANCIAL REASON? JESUS CAN GIVE YOU VICTORY OVER ALL OF THESE THINGS AND EVEN EXAMPLES THAT I DID NOT TALK ABOUT. TRUSTING THE LORD IN ALL YOU DO AND YIELDING YOUR LIFE TO HIM IS THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE TRUE JOY!
REMEMBER JESUS LOVES YOU.. THIS CAN BRING JOY TO YOU LIKE NO OTHER.

EVOLVING AROUND JOY INVOLVES  ELIMINATING THINGS THAT DO NOT BRING YOU JOY! 

HOPE YOU HAVE A WEEK FULL OF JOY! CHOOSE JOY, JESUS, OTHERS, AND YOU!

Fruits of the Spirit- LOVE

I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE POSTING ON THE BLOG, BUT I AM GOING TO DO BETTER ..

SINCE NOVEMBER, I  HAVE BEEN DOING A STUDY ON THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT. THIS HAS BEEN A REAL BLESSING TO ME. IT HAS HELPED ME IN MANY WAYS, I WANTED TO SHARE, SO IT MAY HELP YOU ALSO. I HAVE BEEN READING A BOOK BY MY FAVORITE CHRISTIAN AUTHOR, ELIZABETH GEORGE, ON THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT.  I HAVE COMPILED SOME THOUGHTS AND NOTES DURING MY STUDY, I PLAN ON SHARING THEM ON FRIDAYS. I AM GOING TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS  AND NOTES.
WELCOME TO FRUITS FRIDAY!

Galatians 5:22-26 King James Version (KJV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
²⁴ And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
²⁶ Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

King James Version (KJV)

Ephesians 5 King James Version (KJV)

5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

² And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
*LOVE- WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT LOVE? THINK ABOUT IT, YOU WERE BORN TO LOVE, BORN OUT OF LOVE, BORN INTO LOVE... WE GIVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER. AND THEN THERE IS CHRIST ' LOVE FOR US. THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL.. I WILL GO ON RECORD HERE AND SAY YOU CAN NOT FULLY LOVE SOMEONE IF YOU HAVE BITTERNESS AND WRATH IN YOUR HEART TOWARD THEM. NO MATTER WHAT THEY HAVE DONE OR YOU HAVE DONE.  WE ARE TO LOVE WITH A CHRIST LIKE LOVE,.EVEN WHAT YOU DO '' IN CHRISTIAN LOVE''.HE WANTS HIS LOVE REFLECTED. THIS INCLUDES LOVING ONE ANOTHER, WHETHER IT BE A CHILD, PARENT, HUSBAND, WIFE, AUNT , UNCLE. YOU GET IT. RIGHT? HE WANTS HIS LOVE REFLECTED IN THE HEARTS OF FAMILIES ONE TO ANOTHER. ''LOVING ONE ANOTHER LIKE CHRIST LOVES US, EVEN WHEN WE ARE'' BAD'' STILL JESUS LOVES US..HIS LOVE IS UNFAILING AND THANK GOD. UNENDING LOVE, AND A REDEEMING LOVE!!
 Ephesians 5 King James Version (KJV)

5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

² And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
*WALK IN LOVE
EVERY FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT REQUIRES DECISION, AND LOVE IS NO DIFFERENT. YOU CHOOSE WHO YOU WANT TO LOVE, BUT GOD COMMANDS US TO LOVE.ARE YOU GLAD GOD CHOOSE TO  LOVE YOU ENOUGH TO DIE FOR YOU? WHAT A THOUGHT! LOVE IS WORK, LOVE IS TIME, LOVE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING, IT REQUIRES ACTION, NOT JUST WORDS! ON IN VERSE 2 OF THIS SAME CHAPTER, IT DOES SPEAK OF UNCLEANLINESS, FORNICATORS, COVETOUS,HAVE ANY INHERIITANCE TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.. WITHOUT FORGIVENESS. BE NOT PARTAKERS WITH THEM. 

*LOVE REACHES OUT TO THE UNLOVABLE 
THIS IS A BIG ONE. WE ALL DO THINGS THAT MAKES US SEEM UNLOVABLE AT TIMES. IN ALL TRUTH, WE DON'T DESERVE LOVE. THINK OF WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, AND YOU GOT IN TROUBLE, YOUR PARENTS WOULD ALWAYS SAY BEFORE YOUR WHOOPING, '' I AM DOING THIS BECAUSE I LOVE YOU'' THEY WANTED YOU TO KNOW THEY LOVED YOU, BUT THEY WANTED YOU TO KNOW YOU DID WRONG ALSO. .THINK OF THE UNLOVABLES IN YOUR LIFE... THE BITTER ONES, THE UNGRATEFUL, THE SELFISH, THE EVIL ACTS OF OTHER PEOPLE, SPITEFUL PEOPLE. THEY ALL STILL ARE LOVED..YOU CAN BE TREATED LIKE YOU ARE NOT LOVED.. ^{john 3:16} For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life     .BUT REMEMBER GOD'S LOVE IS ALWAYS THERE. HE PROVED IT WHEN HE GAVE HIS SON JESUS FOR US ON THE CROSS TO DIE FOR US.
REMEMBER HE WHO LOVES MOST , LIVES MOST!! THINK ON THAT A WHILE. 
LOVE IS THE SWEETEST THING THAT EVER GREW IN A HUMAN'S HEART. THINK ABOUT A NEW MAMA HOLDING HER FIRSTBORN RIGHT AFTER GIVING BIRTH, A NEW BEGINNING, A NEW LIFE, A FOREVER BOND BETWEEN A MOTHER AND CHILD..
IN 1ST CORINTHIANS 13:13, PAUL PUT LOVE ABOVE ALL, EVEN FAITH, AND HOPE.THEY ALL 3 GO TOGETHER.
*LOVE IS A COMMAND- IN MATTHEW 5:44, HE COMMANDS US TO LOVE THE ONES ANYWAY THAT ARE ENEMIES, BLESS THEM THAT CURSE YOU,DO GOOD TO THEM THAT HATE YOU, LOVE THEM ANYWAY.. THIS CAN BE A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW, ESPECIALLY THE ONE THAT WRONGS YOU, BUT YOU ARE TO REMEMBER TO LOVE LIKE CHRIST. FORGIVE LIKE CHRIST, BEHAVE LIKE CHRIST,CAUSE WHAT IF CHRIST DID NOT LOVE YOU?? WHERE WOULD YOU BE?? EVEN WHEN WE ARE NOT LOVABLE, HE STILL LOVES US LIKE WE WERE HIS ONLY CHILD.  WE ARE NEVER FAVORED , LIKE THE SONG SAYS, BUT WE CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL WE ARE BLESSED..JESUS AND HIS LOVE TO US IS THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE SHOULD WANT TO LOVE OTHERS THE WAY HE DOES.
*WAYS AND ACTS OF LOVE
LOVE IS SOMETHING IN EACH PERSON'S LIFE THAT NEEDS TO BE DEMONSTRATED, IN EACH STAGE OF A PERSON'S LIFE.. LIKE WHEN YOUR PARENT LOVED YOU AND CARED FOR YOU, NOW, THEY ARE OLDER, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO SHOW YOUR LOVE BY TAKING CARE OF THEM BECAUSE  THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO...A KIND WORD TO A FRIEND, AN ENCOURAGEMENT CARD, A SIMPLE ''PRAYING FOR YOU''. A FREE MEAL TO A FRIEND, REMEMBER THE LOVE OF CHRIST AND SHOWING THE FRUIT OF LOVE IN ALL YOU DO..  NEXT TIME, WE WILL LOOK AT JOY.. JESUS, OTHERS, YOU. EQUALS JOY !!
HAVE A CHERRY ON TOP KIND OF FRIDAY!!!!