Fruit of the Spirit: Self Control
I’ve openly shared about my struggle to lose weight and become healthy. However, one of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn in this struggle is that to make these changes and sacrifices requires self-control.…
Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness
When we hold a newborn baby, we gently cradle the infant, this perfect gift from heaven. When a loved one is preparing to pass on, we sit beside that person’s bedside and gently hold his/her…
Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness
I have had periods in my life when I was faithful and other periods when I was stubborn, hard headed and rebellious. When I was a rebel, my life ended up in shambles around my…
Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness
It’s easy to say “I’m good”, but what are we down deep when no one is looking. Those secret thoughts and actions that no one sees or knows about. Are they good? What would our…
Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
Recently, I had someone thank me for my kindness. To me, the act I performed was done without thinking and second naturally. However, to this person it meant everything. Dictionary.com defines kindness as: The…
Fruit of the Spirit: Patience
Working with Alzheimer’s patients requires a lot of patience, especially while waiting for an agitated individual seek the words to express the feelings s/he is struggling to convey. At times it is easy to long…
Fruit of the Spirit: Peace
I have several acquaintances that thrive off drama and I want to ask why. It is difficult to me why they want to constantly be in an uproar rather than enjoy peace and serenity.…
Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
I have an acquaintance who always has a smile on her face, no matter what she is going through. I must admit that this joy is very attractive and I wish I could exude this…
Fruit of the Spirit: Love
Love is a word that we seem to throw around the way we might throw a pillow. I love this food… I love this sweater… I love this house… I love this car… I love,…
What Fruit Do You Bear?
I have had several non-Christian friends ask the question, “Why should I go to church and make friends when the friends I have treat me better than the Christians?” That was a question that broke…
Showing Kindness and Thankfulness
As a performer, who has appeared at numerous nursing home facilities, I know how important it is to hear thank you. I make every effort to write a thank you note to those that help…
Love Your Enemies
We all long to be loved and get along with everyone we coming into contact with. Mother Theresa said, “The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.” Loving…
Joy in the Fruit of the Spirit
The opposite of depression is joy. We live in a world that says it should be all about “me, me, me.” However, true joy comes from caring for others and putting them first. Joy is…
The Fruit of the Spirit
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature…
Exuding Hospitality
Over the weekend I spent time with my cousin. At first sight we seem like an odd pair. After all she’s the same age as my grandmother. However, we’ve been good friends for over a…
Laughter is Good for the Soul
The other day I asked my grandmother how she slept. “On the bed,” she answered. I couldn’t help but laugh. That was not the answer I expected. She has a way of coming up with…