Faithfulness

He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.

 John 1:14 NLT

I am always amazed when I contemplate God's unfailing love.  There is so much in this world that is uncertain.  No human can ever love perfectly.  We all fail in so many ways, but God is absolutely faithful.  

When we look at him and relate to him, we encounter a person of perfect love and compassion. He is one who always understands and sympathizes.  He never gives up on us no matter what we have done or how we have failed.  When thoughts of condemnation or self criticism come in, he brings encouragement and hope. Each time we turn back to him, he is there to receive us with tenderness and love.  God is faithful. 

I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord.

      Hosea 2:19-20 (NLT)

Harmony

How wonderful and pleasant it is

 when we live together in harmony!

 Psalms 133:1-3 (NLT)

There is something so beautiful, so wonderful when we create an atmosphere of harmony in our interactions with others.  This isn't an easy thing to do with all the stresses and offenses that can assault our relationships.  Learning to live together in harmony is a precious gift which brings blessing and refreshing to our lives. 

Think of an orchestra.  Harmony is created, not by every instrument being alike or playing the same note, but by the instruments being tuned together and playing the sounds they were created to make.  When they all blend together a beautiful symphony is formed.

Each person has a different gift and a different style.  As we accept and honor each other as we are and build each other up with words of kindness, gentleness and respect we help to create an atmosphere of harmony.

Lord, we desire to live together in harmony.  Help us to work through the difficulties and deal with the offenses that make for discord.  Grant us the gift and blessing of harmony in all our relationships.

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement,

 help you live in complete harmony with each other.

Romans 15:5 (NLT)

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Inflated or Deflated

So encourage each other and build each other up just as you are already doing.1 Thess 5:11 (NLT)

One of our important jobs is to build each other up.  Have you ever had the experience of being around a person for a while and you begin to feel deflated like someone is letting air out of your balloon.  Then you can be around others who make you feel loved and encouraged like someone is pumping you up.

I find that those who are the life givers exhibit the fruits of the Holy Spirit:  love, kindness, patience, faithfulness, gentleness.  When we are around this kind of person we can relax and receive the grace they exhibit

We are designed to be encouragers, but often, because we ourselves are so deflated we tend to suck the life out of others around us.  We need to take the time and effort to take care of ourselves, to connect with God and other encouragers, so that we, too, will be life-givers.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: 

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

 goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Gal 5:22-23 (NLT)

Wisdom from Above

 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. 

It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, 

and willing to yield to others.

It is full of mercy and good deeds. 

It shows no favoritism and is always sincere

 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace

 and reap a harvest of righteousness.

James 3:17-18 (NLT)

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you?

  Isn't it the whole army of evil desires at war within you? 

James 4:1 (NLT)

Our human nature always gets us into trouble.  There is an army of evil desires at war within us, ready to fight and argue, ready to start war. The response of that old nature is usually negative, critical and judgmental.  It is hard and unforgiving, causing heartache and pain.  Our old self is an expert at rationalizing and excusing all kinds of sin like pride and selfishness.  When we give it a voice, what enormous damage it can do.

The wisdom from above, on the other hand, gives rise to good deeds that spring from pure motives.  It creates peace and handles every situation with a gentle spirit that is willing to yield.  It doles out large quantities of mercy and forgiveness.  Instead of causing war and destruction, under the influence of this wisdom, we become peacemakers, planting good seeds wherever we go. What a contrast!

We all make many mistakes and we are sometimes blind to them.  When we ask for God's light to shine on us, we may discover areas where our motives are not pure, where we have been hard and unyielding, where we have justified ourselves, or used words that have hurt another.  When we come to that realization and confess it to God, he promises to forgive us, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and lead us along a better path.

Lord, thank you that our old nature was crucified on the cross when you died.  Help us not to give voice to it, but to yield to your wisdom from above.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

 and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalms 189:23-24 (NIV)

Repentance & Confession

Cactus Garden, Carefree, Arizona

Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 

  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—

truly righteous and holy.

 Eph 4:23-24 (NLT)

Our lives are never free from conflict with our old nature.  Whenever we become stressed, annoyed, tired, etc. we are faced with the temptation to become short or sarcastic and may say unloving things.  We become self-centered, more concerned with our own feelings than the other person.  In those times, it's hard to yield and allow the Holy Spirit to control our attitudes, thoughts, words and actions. 

Our goal is to be like Christ – even-tempered, understanding and gentle. But, because of our human weaknesses we fall short.  Whenever we are not acting in accord with the love of Christ, the spirit within us makes us feel uncomfortable.  When this happens, the only remedy is to turn our hearts toward him (repentance), acknowledge our failure (confession), and ask for his assistance.  He is the only one who can keep us from falling.  

Oh Lord, when I am out of sorts, come through with your sweet spirit to help me control my tongue.  Help me to allow your spirit to live in and through me. When I fall short, may I quickly acknowledge my failure and turn to you.  Help me to learn the art of self-care so that I do not become too hungry, too angry, too tired or too stressed out which leaves me vulnerable to temptation. 

If we claim we have no sin, 

we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 

But if we confess our sins to him, 

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 

and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

1 John 1:8-9 (NLT)

Gentleness

Thy gentleness hath made me great.

Psalms 18:35 (KJV)

 By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you.

2 Cor 10:1 (NIV)

Snow!  Here we were expecting a torrential downpour to test our new driveway and what do we get?  Snow! Snow coming down in soft fluffy flakes.   

Elijah may have expected to see God’s power in a dramatic way.  He thought God was in the wind, in the earthquake or in the fire, but God came unexpectedly in a still small voice, in a whisper like the softly falling snow. 

Hesed, the Hebrew word used for God’s love, is usually translated loving- kindness - a beautiful picture of the way in which God demonstrates his love toward us.  He comes to us not in harshness, but with a gentle spirit. In his great strength he exhibits meekness -  the quality of strength under control.

Jesus demonstrated such great affection and kindness that people were not afraid to bring their little children to him. He is gentle and humble and we, too, should not be afraid to bring all of ourselves to him.  There we will find rest in his gentleness and strength. 

And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by,

 and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain.

 It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose,

 but the Lord was not in the wind.

 After the wind there was an earthquake, 

but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 

And after the earthquake there was a fire,

 but the Lord was not in the fire.

 And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

1 Kings 19:11-12 (NLT)