Sunday Devotions - ..that you do not do what you want...

Galatians 5:19-23 New International Version (NIV)

So I say,live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.


Last Sunday my minister gave a wonderful sermon about the Fruits of the Spirit. Most of you are probably familiar with them : love,joy,peace,forbearance, kindness,goodness,faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. These are things of the Spirit. When we are filled with the Spirit we are able to show the Fruits of the Spirit to the world.

I don't know about you but that's what I want to show to the world. Doesn't a life full of love, joy and peace sound wonderful!! All to often however I find myself feeling very unjoyful, unpeaceful and unloving. Why? I want to lead I life full of the Spirit? What's keeping me from it? My sinful nature is preventing me from shining with the Fruits of the Spirit. 

Imagine a flashlight (you and me) with the ability to shine brightly through the darkness. All it needs is to be filled with batteries (the Spirit of God). Yet when you try to put in the batteries there is something stopping you, in this case little pieces of paper with sinful items written on them; hatred, idolatry, envy, etc. These "little" sinful things things prevent us from being filled. In reality these sinful things are not little but we tend to overlook the power they have in our lives. In order to live a Spirit filled life these things must be first emptied out of us. Envy and Peace can not coexist. When we make room in our lives for the Spirit then do we receive the ability to shine. 

What is in our lives today that is preventing us from receiving the Holy Spirit? Anger? Envy? Selfishness? What steps can we take today to rid our life of these sinful desires? How can we live the life we WANT to live? 

(Thanks Pastor Jerry for a wonderful analogy!) 

Dear Heavenly Father, Help me rid my life of sinful desires. Help me find strength. Empty me Lord that I may be filled with Your Spirit! Help me SHINE! Amen. 

Sunday Devotions - Love for the Hatemongers

Love for Enemies

 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

Who doesn't love Facebook? I bet if you are reading this post that you are at least a little bit engulfed by the whole social media thing. It's great isn't it? I mean just this week dozens of my friends wished me happy birthday, I saw a newborn's first photo and I got to see some awesome photos of 4H fairs hundreds of miles away. Facebook can be a great way to celebrate events in my friends lives! 

Sadly though Facebook can also be a forum for negativity. Recently something very negative was directed towards me and some friends of mine by another mutual "friend". My first reaction was anger, revenge, a sense of betrayal. She's supposed to be my friend and she said that!! GGGrrrr....I really wanted to call her up and give her a piece of my mind. 

But I didn't, because it wouldn't have changed anything. Me spreading animosity and anger will never be the solution to hurtful words. Besides I was reminded that although my "friend" was spreading negativity that God still loves her. God loves the just and the unjust. God still loves my friend. God still cares about her well being. And I should too. God loves us all. The good, the bad. The positive, the negative. The just, the unjust. 

I do still love my friend, it's hard, but I do care about her. I've deleted my friend from Facebook because even though I still love my friend I won't put myself into a situation where I'm degraded. There may be a very good chance I'll never talk to this friend again. I've prayed for this friend daily for months and I'll continue to do so because.... she needs it. Once I gave up the idea of "giving her a piece of my mind" and just letting go of the whole situation, I felt a lot calmer in my spirit. 

 Dear Heavenly Father, Life is hard and sometimes people are hard to deal with. Thank You for the words of Your Son to remind me that even though someone has dealt with me unjustly that they are still one of Your children and they are loved. If You can love the unjust Lord then so can I. Please just give me the strength to do so. Amen. 

It's a Love/Hate thing....

DR has been in Kansas for two weeks now living out of a hotel and eating cheeseburgers. Sounds like a great life doesn't it?

I've found life is definitely different without him here day in and day out. There are parts of it I love and parts of it I hate. So today I'm giving you my Top Ten things I love/hate about DR being in Kansas while the kids and I are still in Illinois.

1. I love that I don't have to cook as much but, I hate all the leftovers.
2. I love that I can stay up as late as I want without feeling like I'm ignoring my husband but, I hate that I can't go to sleep without him. 
3. I love that I can watch Gone with The Wind night after night but, I hate that sarcastic DR isn't here to complain about it.
4. I love that there are fewer dishes to do but, I hate that DR isn't here to do them. (Isn't he great! He does my dishes.)
5. I love the quiet time I have in the evenings but, I hate that I don't have anyone to talk to.
6. I love daily phone calls with DR but, I hate not talking to him face to face.
7. I love that there is less laundry to do but, I miss wearing his old t-shirts.
8. I love that we can eat breakfast for dinner but, I hate DR isn't here to cook bacon for in the mornings.
9. I love that he is discovering all kinds of wonderful things about our new home but, I hate that we can't find out those things together.
10. I love DR and I hate that he's so far away.