10/30/2024
I witnessed a sad thing this week on Facebook; two of my friends, on opposite sides of the political arena got in a facebook snit and one defriended the other. The two ladies have attended church together in Maryland for at least 30 years. I do not think they were big pals but heck.
I guess last year, our church decided to run a nine part series leading up to the election on the fruit of the Spirit, which is spelled out in Galatians 5:22-23. Independently I came up with the same idea hand have been sending them out to my email distribution list.
One of my favorite Christion authors and speakers is Max Lucado. In the beginning of one of his devotional books he wrote about the fruit of the spirit. Here are his words which might be helpful to some.
"It is quiet. It is early. My coffee is hot. the sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.
In a few minutes the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.
For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose.
And so I choose.
I Choose Love. No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.
I Choose Joy. I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I Choose Peace. I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
I Choose Patience. I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I Choose Kindness. I will be kind to to poor, for they are alone. I will be kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.
I Choose Goodness. I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.
I Choose Faithfulness. Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.
I Choose Gentleness. Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.
I Choose Self-Control. I am a spiritual being...After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest."
I hope you enjoy.
john
