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An awesome woman of God! |
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Christian encouragement, inspiration to uplift women to be the kind of women God had intended. |
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Women Uplifting Women |
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Fruit of the Spirit Longsuffering
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self control; against such is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23
LONGSUFFERING - having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people.
Hurts. We all experience them. Unless we isolate ourselves from the world, they are unavoidable. People like to be amongst other people, even though they sometimes hurt us. However, the hurt is much easier to bear if we are patient. The intensity of a hurt is more in the mind of the sufferer than the act itself. We all react differently to the same hurt. While it may drive one person crazy, others might grin, bear it and move on.
Our world is flawed. Our friends hurt us, a member of our family makes mistakes, we are all human. Longsuffering is a must for our Christian faith. We need it to work through relationships. More importantly, we need it for our own peace of mind. Longsuffering protects us from self-destruction. Patience in enduring injury is not a cowardice act. It requires more courage to be patient than it does to attack.
“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
“Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” James 1:19
In times when we are afflicted and stressed—when we are being tested—let us never lose faith in God’s care for us and His ability to lift our burdens. Though the relief may not come as soon as we wish, it is to our advantage when we are patient.
Patience strengthens your spirit, sweetens your temper, stifles your anger, subdues prides and produces unity.
“In your patience posses your souls.” Luke 21:19
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Fruit of the Spirit Kindness
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self control; against such is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23
The world tells us that having a rough and tough demeanor is preferable in order to succeed in this world. But bad behavior never really gets you anywhere. Put out rudeness and you get rudeness in return. Be harsh to someone and someone will return the harshness right back to you.
If you want to be more effective, try to express kindness and patience. Gentleness and kindness are gracious qualities that are needed more than ever in our society. Our world is difficult enough with all that is going on. A little kindness can make a big difference and gives much joy to people around you.
It is truly pleasant to be around people with mild, calm and kind disposition. Their spirit seems to rub off on to others around them. People tend to respond more graciously to kind treatment. More importantly, it has a contagious way of being passed on!
People that live the unkind life is wasted living. The person misses out on the happiest and more profitable part of life.
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and with hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” James 3 17:18
Jesus wants us to grant kindness to others. When we do gracious acts of kindness to others, the acts are done unto Him.
“Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40
What a great opportunity to express to Jesus how much we truly love Him.
As we begin to reach out to others and express kindness, we should see in each person the face of our Lord.
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Fruit of the Spirit Goodness
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self control; against such is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23
Goodness— moral excellence; virtue, feeling kindly; excellence of quality, the best part of anything.
Goodness in its true form is an example of God’s completeness and perfection. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, our character and life gravitate to yielding good fruit. Goodness is what Jesus went about doing.
“Who went about doing good...for God was with him.” Acts 10:38
True goodness. Not doing acts for showmanship or for the glory of self but goodness that flows freely from the heart. Just as good fruit comes from the good tree, so the product of goodness comes from the good person. How do we achieve goodness?
“Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
There is power in goodness to overcome evil. A good person has a way of overcoming evil with good. I’ll never forget the time I witnessed this power first hand on a televised murder trial.
A man was on trial for countless murders of young girls. He murdered well over 20 women. As this man sat next to his lawyer in the courtroom, he sat stone-faced and expressionless. Family members of the victims were allowed to stand at a podium to address the killer. Some called him a monster. Others screamed at him and hoped final sentencing would be the death penalty. As each of these insults came flying at him, he sat unresponsive and blankly stared at each of the family members. This man was cold and heartless. None of the screams of hatred, tears or broken hearts of the victims’ family had any affect on this man.
An elderly white-haired gentlemen slow stepped up to speak. He gripped the sides of the podium and closed his eyes for a moment as if in prayer. As this soft-spoken gentleman began to describe the beautiful character and life of his only daughter, he did not make eye contact with the man who had taken her life. Then he said something that surprised everyone. He looked directly into the killer’s eyes with a look of sincerity and said, “I’m going to say what my beloved daughter would have wanted me to say to you. I forgive you.”
In that moment the assassin who only sat stone-faced throughout his trial suddenly began to weep. He buried his head in his hands and sobbed uncontrollably. That was an example of the power of goodness overcoming evil in it’s purest form.
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21
Goodness is the best of all human qualities. It is helping out the neighbor who needs help. It is house cleaning for the friend who has been down. It is medicine to the sick. It is forgiveness to the offender. In being good to others you are being good to yourself. It adds interest, enthusiasm, and self appreciation to life. Goodness has what it takes to make the world a better place.
Bible verses to meditate on:
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. |
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