Fruit.

I was directed towards a passage in the Bible a few weeks ago, and it has been heavy on my mind ever since.

So I typed it out and printed it off, a couple of copies actually.

I have one on my notice board which I look at everyday before I leave my room.

The other I have posing as a bookmark. This way, when I am reading, I am being reminded of the passage.

I am trying to memorise it.

I guess I better share it with you!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

Galations 5:22-25

This is one of my favourite passages.

A few weeks ago I was having a really rough time at work.

I wasn't always being patient with everyone.

I was getting very worked up over little things that would happen.

The Lord's love wasn't always shining through me.

I wasn't being very kind towards others and I was definitely not a joy to be around!

One night after a horrible day at work, where I felt like I was picking up after everyone and doing all the work, I came home and read this passage and was moved to tears.

As I was reading over it again and again I realised that I was not showing any of the fruits. 

I was so annoyed with myself.

I prayed, and prayed some more.

Like I said above, I have been memorising this passage.

When I am at work now and can feel myself getting annoyed I start replaying this passage in my head.

In every situation I think, I am showing the Lord's love right now?

Can they see that the joy of the Lord is my strength? (Nehemiah 8:10)

Can they tell that I am filled with joy and peace because of my trust in the Lord? (Romans 15:13)

I have been working hard at changing my attitude toward situations.

These are the fruits that, as Christians, we should be producing.

I was thinking about how blessed I am to have people in my life who live by this passage.

I am truely thankful to have people that I can look up to and learn from.

I am blessed.

I may get annoyed with people at work, and get frustrated when I feel like I am doing all the work.

But, at the end of the day, I can chose how I respond.
I am giving each day to the Lord, and letting His spirit lead me.

I hope you all have a fruitful day!

Rain.

It was my day off today so I got to sleep in. I was so thankful to be able to catch up on sleep. I can never sleep past 8am so today I was just lying in bed listening to the rain. It was so heavy.

I love the rain.

We have had some crazy weather this past week. We had beautiful sunshine and then this rain came out of nowhere! Yesterday was particularly bad. I was getting ready to go to work and the rain was crashing down outside. I was not impressed. I cycle to work. Don't worry, it's not too far. Only about 8 minutes away (not that I have timed how long it takes to get there...)

So, as you can imagine, I wasn't really looking forward to cycling there in the rain. There had also been some thunder throughout the day. That just freaks me out.

About half an hour before I left for work I could see the sun shining. YES.

But then there was something else shining.

Yup, Lightning!

I had visions of me cycling to work and being zapped by lightning!!

I do not want to leave the house.

Then the sun came out again and I zomed off, hoping to dodge the rain.

I managed to dodge the rain, but not the bird poop! I just couldn't help but smile. What else can you do?

Yesterday I was so sick of rain. I wanted sunshine.

Today, I loved it again.

I was inside my lovely, warm house.

I was listening to music.

I was drinking hot tea.

I watched a movie (Beauty and the Beast!!)

It was a prefect raining day.

Everything is so green outside. It is beautiful.

We never have to worry about lack of water in our country and so often we take this for granted.

There are many countries that long for rain. That count every drop of it that falls.

And here we are complaining because it has been raining for a few days.

Time for a change in attitude I think.

 I found this image here.

I think this is beautiful.

Those kids look so happy in the rain.

They are not thinking about getting wet or muddy.

They are just enjoying the day that Lord has made.

"This is the day the LORD has made;

Let us rejoice and be glad in it"

Psalm 118:24

I hope you are having a wonderful day!  

Encouragement.

"For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, God!

How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand—

when I awake, I am still with you."

Psalm 139:13-18 ♥

I came across this verse a couple of days ago and was really encouraged by it. Nothing that happens in my life, or yours, is surprise to God. We are wonderfully made. All our days have been ordained. I don't know about you, but this definitely puts a smile on my face. I take comfort in knowing that the Lord knows every detail of my life..even before I was born. When I am having a great day, the Lord already knows about it. When I am having a horrible day, He knew about that too.

Four years ago today, a friend of ours from Youth Group passed away. This verse comforts me greatly on days like these. Everything happens for a reason. We don't always know why some things happen, but the Lord does. Today I am remembering a guy who was a blessing to everyone who knew him.

Praying for the wonderful Murch Family today. ♥

My prayer today.

I'm not sure where or when I stumbled  across this verse but I wrote it down on a piece of paper, that I looked at today. I remember reading it and thinking...I want to live my life this way.

 "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." - Titus 2:11-14

When I read it I prayed that I would chose to live my life this way, that I would say NO to ungodliness and worldly passions. This is still my prayer today.

♥

Happy Valentine's Day!

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

  Love never fails."

♥ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ♥

I had a very quiet V-day! I had lunch with one of my best friends. I did get a few special messages from people that I love. I just read the above passage and when I was typing this post (and highlighting the different parts, which actually really makes you think about what is being said in the passage!) I had to smile. What a beautiful reminder of love. How wonderful to know that there is someone who loves us unconditionally, who loves us sooo much that He sent His one and only Son to save us. This just makes my heart so happy.

I sure hope that you felt loved today, and made someone feel loved.

p.s. I had to smile today I was getting some groceries at around 7pm and there were lots of men raking the flowers that were left...and on sale!

Little rays of sunshine.

Yesterday I was feeling a little bit low. I had such a great time last week with my wonderful friend and I am already missing her. This special time with her made me miss other people that are so dear to me. Today I woke up to a few different emails/messages from my best friends. YES. Thank you Lord! It surely added some sunshine to my rainy day in Scotland. What a blessing friends are. I am so thankful for them.

"I thank my God every time I remember you"

 Philippians1:3 ♥

- I really do!



p.s. I will be back tomorrow with something (hopefully) more interesting..!