Fruit #7: Faithfulness Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man?  Proverbs 20:6 Dependability.  Is it just me or is it becoming more and more a scarce commodity?  Find a dependable employee, mechanic, doctor, lawyer, babysitter, plumber – you name it – you find a dependable one and you […]

        “Goodness” sounds like such a general term, and in English it pretty much is.  We can use it in so many ways and in seemingly unlimited contexts. The Greek word is “agathosune” and is defined as  benevolent, profitable, benefiting others; describes active goodness, virtue, excellence or beneficence. It is high moral […]

“Why are Christians so…?” Google those words some time and you may (or maybe not) be surprised by what that search brings up. Here’s what popped up for me at the time of this writing: #1- mean (in fact, I only got as far typing “Why are Christians…” before it popped up on its own) […]

    pa·tience                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ˈpāSHəns                     noun                                                                                                                                                                                                                           the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.   Oh, is that all? No wonder patience is so hard to come by! The fourth characteristic of the Fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5 is patience. If you read through different Bible […]

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:9 Peace. About as elusive a possession as there is in life. On the global scale, with war being defined as an active conflict claiming at least 1,000 lives, historians estimate […]

    These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11 As we continue our look at the Fruit of the Spirit listed for us in Galatians 5, we move on this month to the second quality of that fruit – […]

  First Fruit: Love The first quality listed as fruit of the Spirit is Love.  Is there a reason love is listed first, or did Paul just randomly decide to list this as the first quality?  While admittedly we cannot know for certain Paul’s intent, we have great reason to believe, and many agree that […]

THE PROOF IS IN THE FRUIT But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from […]

Two winters ago I found myself in stuck in my Nissan Quest, not between a rock and hard place, but between a tree and a chain link fence.  It was a snowy evening; I had pulled into a long narrow driveway that had been narrowed even further by snow and cars, so there I sat. […]

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Colossians 4:5   Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,   1 Peter 3:15   In our post 9/11 […]