His Goodness, not Mine

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.  And I will live in the house of the Lord forever.  Amen.

While this is a mishmash of several different versions of Psalm 23:6, it's how it flowed out of my heart tonight.  I hope you're okay with that.

This is the verse that entered my mind when I was pondering the fruit of the spirit of goodness.

Since I am not good, I thought of God's goodness.  We are not born good, nor do we become good.  But in God's goodness, He has volunteered to share some of it with us.  He shines through us.  We are not good in anyway without Him.  So any "good" people see in me is His light shining through.  I can't take a bit of credit.

I'm just grateful that He's so good to me, even though I don't deserve it.

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• apopiptolepis
• out loud in my head
• by feet or heart
• the ever-changing th...
• the rabbit hold chronicles
• there is beauty in letti...

I'm Not Kind

I once told a friend of mine that I'm not kind.  He looked at me with the most peculiar face.  He was utterly baffled.  He responded in the most incredulous way.  "You are too!" he said. I have to chuckle at the memory.

While I don't remember what we were talking about, I do remember meaning what I said.  If someone asked me to describe myself, that's not a word that would make my top ten.

Why? I always associate kindness with sweetness.  In truth, I'm feisty and a bit rough around the edges.  I think I'm compassionate, but not really kind.  Is that possible?

I'm not sure, but the fruits of the spirit require kindness, so I have to work on it.  I have to embody kindness.  I should exude kindness and ooze it all over everyone.

So here is my question:  do acts of kindness make you a kind person?  If not, why not?

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• apopiptolepis
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Anxiously Waiting Patiently

PATIENCE.  I wrote it in caps on purpose.  This word screams at me a lot.  Does it scream at you, or are you one of those disgustingly patient people who has no problem waiting for anything?  I bet you don't have road rage.  You never yell at your children.  You don't even get mad when you pray for an answer and are met with deadening silence.

That's not me.

I don't typically characterize myself as impatient, unless it's really important.  Will I get this job?  When will You tell me what direction you want me to go?  When will this work day end?  You know, that kind of stuff.  The big stuff.

So what's the deal with patience?  Why is it so hard?  The tough thing for me is to accept God's timing.  I wanted to know last week, but He's got me scheduled to find out sometime in 2014.  What am I supposed to do until then?

WAIT.

That's what we're expected to do.  Wait on Him.  Psalm 27:14 says:

Wait patiently for the LORD.

Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.*

Patience is a process.  If I am waiting patiently, I am not stressed out with worry and fear.  If I am waiting patiently, I am learning to persevere.  If I am waiting patiently, my faith is taking wings and building muscle.

  It takes courage, but we can rest in knowing God knows the paths we are to follow, and his GPS never causes us to end up in a backyard when we're trying to get to the mall in the next town over.  He is infallible. He is unchanging.  He is worth waiting patiently for.  I love how God reminds me to be patient when I need it the most?

What are you waiting for God to show you today?  Are you waiting patiently or biting off your nails?

*Scripture from YouVersion.com NLT

• a joyful journal
• apopiptolepis
• out loud in my head
• by feet or heart
• the ever-changing th...
• the rabbit hold chronicles
• there is beauty in letti...

Peace Failure

In exploring peace this week, I realized that I was lacking it more times than a few, and that it's nobody's fault but mine.  See, God always holds up His end of the bargain.  If something isn't working out the way I want it to, I know where the glitch happened.  But...just because I know, doesn't mean I fully embrace the idea all the time.

God promises to give me a peace that exceeds understanding (Phil. 4:7).  My part of the bargain is to keep my mind fixed on Him instead of my circumstances.  I am to be thankful for those things in my life that are good.  I am to trust Him instead of myself or my logic.  In return, He gives me peace that defies common sense!  That's a nice deal!

The problem is, I just can't do it.  That's right.  I'm a failure at this.  When problems are super-sized, the way they have been this week, I lose my focus sometimes.  But there's good news:  God never fails.  Even when I give up on Him, He doesn't give up on me.  When I am weak, He is strong.  He is right there waiting for me to shift my focus back to Him and stop wallowing.

When my focus is on my salvation instead of my circumstances, I experience peace that no mind can explain.  That peace is the kind that allows me to sleep when I should be tossing and turning.  It allows me to sing when I should be crying.  It allows me to trust when everyone else is doubting me.  The peace He gives cannot be found in stores or in the arms of another.  His peace is worth more than anything.

I thank Him for this timely reminder tonight when I need it so much.  His peace is worth holding onto.  Have you grabbed hold of His peace?  How do you stay focused on the peace-giver when life weighs you down?

Need more peace?  Check out:

There is Beauty in Letting Go: http://beautyintheletgo.blogspot.com/

The Rabbit Hole Chronicles: http://therabbitholechronicles.wordpress.com/

The Ever-changing Thought: http://tecthought.com/

A Joyful Journal: http://ajoyfuljournal.blogspot.com/

Out Lout in My Head:  http://outloudinmyhead.blogspot.com/

Apopiptolepsis:  http://apopiptolepis.wordpress.com/

Inexpressible Joy

A couple of weeks ago I was wandering aimlessly at work in search of Chick-Fil-A.  I knew there was one on the campus, but I didn't know exactly how to get there.  As a new employee on a huge campus, I have spent a lot of time lost and at the mercy of others.  If you know me at all, you will know that's not a place I like to be.  But, back to my search for chicken and waffle fries...

As I walked, a person asked me for directions to the main hospital.  Great.  I'm lost, and someone needs directions.  Oh boy.  I told her I wasn't sure, but that I thought it was down the hill.  I offered to walk with her until we found it.  It was actually down the hill.  Yay, me! In the process of walking and talking, I learned that she had recently lost her job and had subsequently become homeless.  I was immediately humbled.

We shared lunch together and talked some more.  In the process, I learned that I am so blessed.  Though we have been hit very hard economically, we are still hanging onto our home by a thread and meals come regularly.  Since I had to rush off to a meeting, I didn't have time to stay for long with her.  I had intended to come back and meet her at the end of my day, but circumstances precluded it.

I prayed that I would see her again.  Yesterday, as I was leaving work walking in a new direction, I saw her again.  JOY filled my heart.  God had heard my prayers and answered in a way that only He could.  And I had NO doubt that it was His work alone.  We hugged.  We talked.  I know I'll see her again, and I know He's taking care of her in ways that I can't.  That gave me "inexpressible" joy.  

God is the only source of true joy (I Pet. 1:8), and He pours His joy out in unexpected ways.  And, though I had to settle that day for a well-made panini over my waffle fries,  I got something much better in the end.  What filled your heart with unspeakable (inexpressible) joy today?

For more on the Joy Fruit of the Spirit, please visit:

There is Beauty in Letting Go: http://beautyintheletgo.blogspot.com/

The Rabbit Hole Chronicles: http://therabbitholechronicles.wordpress.com/

The Ever-changing Thought: http://tecthought.com/

A Joyful Journal: http://ajoyfuljournal.blogspot.com/
Out Lout in My Head:  http://outloudinmyhead.blogspot.com/

Love

When I think of love I am reminded of a vintage Heavy D song that asks, "Now that we've found love, what are we gonna do with it?"  Even if you're not familiar with the song, I'm sure you've asked yourself that question a time or two.  I certainly know I have.  Love is often confusing.  It makes you laugh and cry; sometimes at the same time.

My husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary.  I told him last week that we always seem to argue more around our anniversary, and I have no reason why.  I'm no closer to the answer today than I was then.  But I do know this:  I'm thankful.  Even when I'm mad at him, I'm thankful to be with him.  God's love has been the model that we've tried to follow.  His love has been the glue that has kept us together even when we weren't oozing love or when challenges have threatened to snuff our love out.

When I at look at the definitions for love found in I Corinthians 13, I realize that I often fall short.  Am I patient?  Am I kind?  Am I thinking of his needs first?  Sometimes.  Not enough, though.   When I am tempted to judge and hold grudges, I am reminded of the grace that God has shown me when I fail.  He shows His love in so many ways.  Can I not love my husband or my children the way God loves me?

The Bible is good at presenting us with challenges.  It gives us something to strive for.  Marriage is hard work, but it's fun, too.  When I love my way, it doesn't work.  But when I love the way Corinthians calls me to, it's like a sweet berry.  It is delicious and satisfying for both of us.  What better expression of God's love than to see His love shine through us to one another?  How can you show love to your spouse or loved one today?

     This post is the first in a new series reflecting on the Fruits of the Spirit.  It is a collaborative effort inspired by my dear friend Karen.  Together, several of us will be exploring the fruits over the next couple of months and sharing what God says to each of us.  Please take some time to visit these lovely ladies for more on the fruit of love:

There is Beauty in Letting Go: http://beautyintheletgo.blogspot.com/

The Rabbit Hole Chronicles: http://therabbitholechronicles.wordpress.com/

The Ever-changing Thought: http://tecthought.com/

A Joyful Journal: http://ajoyfuljournal.blogspot.com/

"I'm Not That Spiritual Right Now"

So I'm watching Mary, Mary, contemporary gospel superstars right now.  The younger of the duo just found out she is expecting a fifth child and is feeling very overwhelmed as a result.  She is talking to her husband about her feelings.  He starts telling her that God will help them to handle the children and continue to give them all they need for them.  She turns to him and says, "I'm not that spiritual right now."  She says that she is just her plain old self right now.

Oh how that resonated with me.  While I'm not expecting another child, I can totally relate to being overwhelmed.  I can relate to wanting to just be me without thinking of what God's plan is at the moment.  Sometimes I'm reeling too much to focus on where He is in the middle.  I think it's normal.  We just can't afford to stay there too long.

What do you think?  When have you said or thought, "I'm just not that spiritual right now?"  How long did it take for you to refocus your attention on the Man in charge of it all, the One who gives us peace?