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!

Crazy Love.

by Francis Chan.

I have been reading this wonderful book for a couple of months now. I started reading it this summer, while I was away, and just loved it. I should have finished it by now. It is so challenging and just what I need. I'm not going to go completely into it just now, I think I am going to wait until I have finished the post. But I am going to leave you with something that I read last night that really challenged me.

"There has to be more to our faith than friendliness, politeness and even kindness."

I always remember being taught in Sunday School that you have to love your enemies. At work just now there are a couple people that are very difficult to work with and they are really testing me. It has been really easy to complain about these two people with each other and after reading this last night I realised that I need to work at changing my attitude toward them. I have to show them more than the above qualities and genuinely love these girls. So this is what I am going to be working on just now.

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:32-36