Fruit of the Spirit- JOY

Galatians Continued.
JOY

It is a joy for the just to do justice, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. Proverbs 21:15

Breaking God's law never produced lasting joy. Neither does selfishly seeking ones own pleasures. They feel good for a time but deep down we have zero joy and a sense that something is missing. Always looking for the next best thing.
 James says we can have joy even in trials. Because we do not face them alone. God will see us through. Brothers and Sister are there to pray and help. The Church. .The BODY of Christ is there. Or at least they are supposed to be. (Be the Church) Back on topic.
 Joy is realizing that God loves us and wants to give good things to His Children (EHEM. Salvation, Peace, Grace, Etc. ) It is our delighted response to the fact that we have been given  precious truth and understanding. Which NOT everyone gets. Soak that in.
There are people that can't comprehend the JOY of the Lord. (We should show them)
We have joy that comes through the Holy Spirit and following His ways leads to contentment. Allows us to be optimistic when we look towards the future. When we demonstrate joy we are actively showing where our priorities are. Paul says REJOICE 16 times while in prison. The source of joyous contentment is rooted in Jesus Our Savior.

I am joyful. There are days that are not 'great' but I still have joy. I let go of what ever trouble comes and remember that the Joy of the Lord is my strength.  He has given me great gifts. They are not things. They are people. He uses people in my life to keep me focuses and remind me HOW GOOD HE IS. My Beloved shocks me every day. And I know that God gives him those words. And it gives me great JOY and even Peace. Be glad Children of the most high. We stand secure on the mountain heights and He makes our way perfect.

Be Blessed.

Fruit of the Spirit- LOVE

Galatians 5: 22-23

 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!



 Love is a many splendored thing. Love is like oxygen. Love usually refers to feelings. Love for God. Love for people close to you. Friends and Family. Love has levels. There are different types of Love. 

Eros- The kind you feel for a significant other. Or a lover. It is a romantic king of love. 

Philia- A friend kind. When there is not 'attraction' Love for Neighbors. It is where they got the name for Philadelphia-  


Storge- It is similar to Philia but it is like a kinship. It often flows between a parent/ child and child /parent.

Ludus-  The early stages of falling in love. The fluttering heart, euphoric feeling when you are with someone.

Mania- OBSESSIVE- This.. is not really the good kind. It is an imbalance of eros and ludus. It can be dangerous is not kept in check. Codependency, jealousy, people with poor self esteem can head in this direction. 

Pragma- Enduring Love.  This one. It is aged. Mature. Develops over time. It is beyond the physical, it transcends casual. It is unique harmony. Long time friends and long time spouses get this. Compromise, patience, tolerance. It is the kind of Love I know I dreamed of. As I am sure many have. 

Philautia- Self Love. This is narcissism. An unhealthy vanity.

Agape- Self-LESS Love. An unconditional love. Spiritual Love. Boundless Compassion. An infinite empathy.  Jesus' kind of love. 

Jesus said the most important thing was to Love God and Love Others.

Matthew 22: 36-40

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

In 1 John it says He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

As we put down old self and take on His-Self. I choose to start with Love. When the bible speaks of love it has more to do with what we do. It's an action. Works. We may not like the person but we can love them thru the eyes of Christ. Loving the unlovable is not easy but we must do so. 

I am going thru the fruits of the spirit. And this seems very basic at times. I have been a christian since I was 16. And well I am 44 now. But there are times I am not loving others. If someone looks sketchy or scares me. If someone is ugly to my family. If someone cuts me off in traffic. Says something rude at the store. WHAT is my reaction? DO I LOVE THEM? 

It is easy for me to GIVE to others. I am all for donating time, energy and things. I am extremely compassion to others. I am empathetic to people. But Do I LOVE THEM. Jesus said to. He even went as far as to say to LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. Oh that is a hard one. How do you love someone that is your enemy?

This is HARD. BUT I have to look at the FACT. That I was unlovable at one time. Because of sin I was unlovable. BUT GOD with His Offer of Grace and Mercy made me lovable. So How can I NOT do the same for others.

Bless you! May His Light and Love SHINE on you! 

#JesusSaidLOVE

#KingdomRoof
#KingdomXmas
#AskWHYKingdom
#KingdomBusiness

Kingdom Christmas Lights

Why Kingdom Ministries

Kingdom Roof and Fence

If you live in the Houston area. I am part of a ministry that promotes Christian Businesses.  Roofing, Fencing AND Installing Christmas Lights. All companies give back to ministry. And it is something my heart is fully for. It is tied in with a mentoring program and gives men jobs. We have done our men a huge disservice with the emasculating them at home, and in the workplace. I am BIG on a MAN taking his place in the home and work place. Being WHO and WHAT God intended on him to be!  SO with that said. 1. If you need services contact the links. 2. If you know of someone who needs a job, contact the links. 3. If you know someone that needs a mentor, : ) Contact the links. And 4.. most importantly #1. Please pray for our team as we step out in faith for HIS Glory. 

#KingdomRoof  #KingdomXmas #AskWHYKingdom #KingdomBusiness

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Missing you as much today as yesterday.

When I think back 1 year today. The last conversation. The last smile . It hurts. More than I thought it would . I wonder what would have been. There is so much you missed in this last year. I want to hear your jokes and sit down and hear what you have to say about this and that. But for some reason. God needed you there. And we have had to adjust to you being gone. Which isn't easy.

Thank you Daddy. Thank you for giving me a sense of humor. Thank you for saying the hard things. And thank you for padding the even harder ones.

Thank you for being there for me when I had no where else to turn. And knowing when I just needed to break down. Thank you for showing me that God was not in a box. HE was not a slot machine to get things from. Thank you for encouraging me to grow in spirit and truth. 

Thank you for making the kids remember lollipops and balloon animals. And thank you for making such an impact that they ask for you and talk about you.

Thank you for always saying "I deserve" to be treated like a queen. Thank you for making me see the value that God sees in me. Thank you for encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone and sing; to go for this or that job; for buckling down and DOING instead of watching on the outside.

Thank you for being an awesome father and grandfather. Thank you for being my friend and even more so my dad. You did not have to be. You chose to be. You may know now what and how much you made a difference in our lives. When I think of the word DAD I think of you. 

Thank you for having fun with us. Teaching me how to kick a football. How to cook crazy things. How to pick a great beer. Fish. And make the best out of little. 

Thank you for the practical jokes. And stories of Crazy old days. Thank you for SHOWING us how to live.

I pray that you can look down on me now and say. That is my daughter. And I am so very proud.

I miss you Daddy. 

I love you. 

And I am so blessed because of you. I know where you are now and it gives me peace.

Detox

“Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind”  Psalm 26:2


There comes a time when reflection and taking into account your soul is completely needed. The Jewish people do this once a year for Yom Kipur. The Muslims do this during Ramadan. But the Christian. We are to do it much more often. If you go to a church that serves communion it is supposed to be done prior to receiving. Some churches do it once a quarter. OH how we have boxed God. (this may be for another time). If you are really up on your spiritual heart you may do this daily.  In preparation for a fast (which I will not tell you when NOR how long) I am thinking about how to prepare myself for this. I will confess I have not fasted in many years. It does not mean I don't have a great relationship with Jesus. I just have not felt it needed. But as I prepare. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. And Spiritually. I have been thinking about how to prepare myself. 

Detoxing my soul. 


The Heart.

God's word say the heart is the most deceitful. So I started reflecting on my heart. Asking Him to show me where I am may be harboring unforgiveness. Thinking on resentments that I may or may not have. Have I let go of things and allowed God to 'have it'? Vengeance IS HIS. Is there anyone in my life that I think about and it brings anger in? And it has caused me to think about how to LOVE my enemy. How do you love an enemy that would want nothing more than to see you dead? HOW did David do it? Sitting there in a cave with Saul right there. And yet he did not kill him. He remembered who God was. And what he commanded us to do. LOVE.  I don't wish ill on people that have harmed me. That is easy. I don't care for them to be apart of my life .. that to is easy. I can forgive the harm they caused. BUT can I say I love them? Can I say I pray for them? No. I have to confess. I do not. Today. I had to tell God. I do NOT know how to love that particular enemy. I am unable to pray for GOOD for that enemy.  I am unable, in my flesh, to pray FOR that enemy.  I am hoping, along with the reason I am fasting, for God to reveal this to me.  Cleanse my heart Oh Lord. And renew in me the RIGHT SPIRIT.

The Eyes.

“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways” (Psalm 119:37).

We are all guilty of this. Looking at things. Looking at things that do not matter. Not being productive. Binging on TV, Movies,  Games, Internet. Being Bored because there is nothing on.  
How can I focus on God or hear Him if I am too busy checking Facebook or watching a movie I have seen 100 times? AM I being productive in my family, in my relationships and in my relationship with my Lord Jesus?

MY Words.

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" Colossians 4:6

The tongue is a double edged sword used to build up or tear down. Are my words edifying? Or are my words destroying?  Do I let unwholesome talk take over? It takes 7 positive things to get rid of 1 negative thing. We can destroy a child or person so quickly. And they may never recover. Words are powerful. We SPEAK the name of Jesus and demons flee. We speak healing and prayer and the heavens move. Our WORDS.  Our words have so much power. We must keep them in check. 

Actions.

“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).

Doing. Am I doing good? Am I seeking peace? Can someone look and see my life and says HER actions are Jesus' actions? 

ACTIONS speak Louder than words. 

I want my words and my actions to line up totally and with the things of Christ. I never want anyone to question my motives, my words NOR my actions. I strive for this. My character longs for this.  Be doers of the word.

Love. Serve. And Forgive. As I prepare myself I know where I lack. And through CHRIST!!! I LACK NOTHING. My flesh may fail, my spirit may grow weak BUT GOD remains the strength of my heart. HE is my portion forever. My soul longs for HIS ways. 

Go in Peace Child of God. He will be your Light under your feet. HE will whisper to you. Sing over you. Dance at the thought of you. You are loved. Rest in HIS love, mercy and grace.

Peace.

Jesus. The Light of the World. For All.

Isaiah 49: 6-7

The Lord has honored me,
    and my God has given me strength.
 He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.
    I will make you a light to the Gentiles,
    and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

 The Lord, the Redeemer
    and Holy One of Israel,
says to the one who is despised and rejected by the nations,
    to the one who is the servant of rulers:
“Kings will stand at attention when you pass by.
    Princes will also bow low
because of the Lord, the faithful one,
    the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

And just like that Isaiah received the prophecies about Jesus The Christ. WHAT an amazing reminder that Jesus was not ---IS NOT -- and was never meant to be JUST for the Jewish people. That all along God had His Plan set forth for us. 

Thank you! 

Thy Word

Troubled waters come but HE is everlasting.

Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus Walks on Water

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home.  After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.  About three o’clock in the morning[a] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.  When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.  Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

Matthew 23:23-27

Jesus Calms the Storm

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

Troubled waters come. Storms of life toss us back and forth. Fear of drowning wells up in us. Jesus. Not using metaphors. Not TELLING a story physically calmed the storms. Physically had Peter walking on water. No matter the trouble we face and we feel like it will over take us Jesus gives peace. He calms the storm. He pulls us from the deep waters and shows us the way ON TOP OF THE WATER. Like a new perspective. A different way of seeing the issue. His way. 

My past has some pretty deep water in it. A time when I did not see how I would get out of the depths of despair. HE pulled me up. He showed me that through Him I could walk on water. Through Him that storm was calmed. I just had to have faith. People say to me I don't understand. They are going through this or that and it is just terrible. But they don't really know where Jesus rescued me. And how my storm was possibly more than most would see in a lifetime. There is this old saying that my Grandmother used to say. "God never gives us more than we can handle" I used to say it. I don't anymore. God WILL give you more than you can handle APART FROM HIM. I can do all things thru Christ. HE will get me thru it. HE will give me more than I can handle so that I fully and completely rely on Him.  We all have storms in our lives. We can let us take us under or we can trust in Jesus. Have faith that HE will calm the storm, pull us onto the water and walk with us taking us to new heights.

It is well.

With my soul

A walk thru a Psalm

Psalm 23
Jesus' word (for you to look up)
What it means to me.

The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.

John 10:11- 18

He takes care of my every need. I lack NOTHING!

2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.

John 14:27

He knows when and where I need rest.

3     He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.

2 Corinthians 12:9


HE gives me strength when I am weak. HE refreshes me when I am tired. He leads me down the RIGHT path for HIS Glory and good pleasure.

4 Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.

John 17:12


No matter what happens I shall not fear because HE will protect me. He knows my days. He knows my future. HE is in control.

Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.

Acts 17:11

He corrects me when needed and protects me from my foes.

5 You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.

Matthew 26: 17-30

No matter what comes my way. God Provides and He shows the world who HE is in and thru me. 

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

Matthew 19:14

I am blessed. I am loved. I am redeemed! 

    My cup overflows with blessings.

Matthew 5: 3-12

HE has blessed me in every single area of my life. And I am thankful. And He gets all the glory. 



6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.

John 14:2

If God is for me WHO can be against me. I am His beloved. And He comes after me. I am redeemed and received HIS salvation. And I will live with Him for all eternity.


Worship TIME! I AM NOT ALONE!!!