“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Click Here and join me as I talk about the fruit, Goodness.

If you need a recap or missed reading a day, click the links below 👇

Spiritual Sunday – Peace

Manage Monday – Kindness

Transformation Tips Tuesday – Patience

Water Walking Wednesday – Love

Thankful Thursday – Joy

Faithful Friday – Faithfulness

“for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This week we have been meditating on the fruits of the spirit. Today we will focus on faithfulness. I look at this beautiful bird knowing that as it wades in the water it is subject to harm from bigger predators. I also look at this bird and know that God is faithful in taking care of the birds just like He is faithful to us. Why wouldn’t we want to be faithful to God in return?

In the verse from Proverbs we learn that God guards His faithful ones and protects the way. On this Faithful Friday, how can we honor God with our faithfulness? In Matthew 6:33-34 NIV; “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

If we seek God first, He is at the center of our world. If we live for today, we can be faithful in surrendering our tomorrows.

“The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.” Psalms‬ ‭118‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This week we have been meditating on the fruits of the spirit. Today we will focus on Joy. One of my favorite verses is from Psalm 118:24, our key verse for today. If I meditate on it when I wake up, during trials, or celebrations, it always brings me joy. It has been very helpful for me to share my HPV journey. It has brought me joy to know that God will use my story for someone else. It proves, that this verse from Proverbs 17:22 NIV is so true; “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Last week I had my postoperative appointment from my hysterectomy. I was a little anxious as I waited once again for the results. I received the wonderful news that my biopsies showed NO CANCER. The picture above is before and after my appointment. This sign was at check out. You all didn’t know that by me sharing, I was leaning on my family, friends, and readers to help carry me through. I can say that with God’s help and your support, my faith was bigger than my fear.

We have lots to be thankful for! Whatever your joy is today, join me in shouting it out; “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬. I encourage you to worship with, This Is The Day by Cityalight.

“Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This week we are meditating on the fruits of the spirit. Today we are focusing on love. Our number one job as water walkers and disciples is to love. The above verse from Matthew is a command to no only love God and our neighbors but to also love ourselves.

We should always remember to love ourselves just as God does. What greater way to understand the love of God than from John 3:16 NIV; “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

I encourage you to worship with Katy Nichole as she sings, God Is Love.

“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This week we are meditating on the fruits of the spirit. Today we will focus on patience. I have learned a lot about patience in the last three weeks as I have been patiently recovering from surgery. It is not a quick process. Anyone recovering does not need to be a warrior and try to push the limits. Rather having self-control, knowing the limitations, and allowing the process to run it’s course.

It is easy in our instant mentality to force the next step versus waiting patiently for the next step to happen in its own time. We are often quick to heal, to speak, or to make a decision. As a result, we may lose our patience or even our tempers; “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today I encourage us all to seek God with every step we take, every word we speak, and every decision we make. Allow God to transform us from the instant mentality to thinking, speaking, and acting in God’s time. His ways are always pure and patient. And when we’re sitting in a valley, we have God to patiently make the climb with us.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This week we are meditating on the fruits of the spirit. Today we will focus on kindness. Shopping, especially around the holidays can bring out the worst in people. Just like there are many shopping carts here, there are so many different personality types. God loves all of them. Maybe you have a sandpaper person at work, at church, or in the community. This is someone who rubs us the wrong way. Or maybe they are polishing us to be better.

I am calling today Manage Monday. Not only can we manage our agendas and to-do lists, but we can also ask God to help us manage our emotions, thoughts, and words. We can polish ourselves and others with kindness. While practicing kindness, let’s do it for the right reasons; “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬.

I encourage us all to remind ourselves to always stay Humble and Kind as we worship with Tim Mcgraw. An older song but always a good one to remember.

“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.” Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23 NIV

This week I want us to meditate on the fruits of the spirit. As we await the birth of our Lord and savior, let’s check the posture our hearts and minds. Today we will focus on our peace. Do you have peace in your hearts and minds?

You may be anxious and anticipating the busyness of the coming weeks. Or Maybe grief is crippling you in joining others for celebrations. Or maybe there is a family situation that needs mending. Or maybe you have peace and you’re meant to be a shining light to those in need. Whatever our posture we can go to God with anything; “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

One week before my surgery I had the pleasure of enjoying a peaceful run along some beautiful cotton fields like this one pictured below. Cotton is a fiber that grows around the seed of a cotton plant. Beautiful white cotton fields look so peaceful prior to harvest. Let’s plant God’s word in our hearts today so that His peace can be like an interwoven fiber in our minds.