There is a difference between a skilled person using their skills well, being known for that skill but with a character that lacks and a person who may not have outstanding skills but commits their life to having an outstanding character. The end of the life of Asa is tragic. Tragic because of the character […]
Read More The Rise and Fall of Asa: 5 – A Wholehearted Life for the GiverThere are few things more worthwhile than reading and growing in understanding the Bible. Of late I’ve recognised it can be easy to get caught up with other material on related topics without returning to the source. Yet there is a joy in returning to what the Bible depicts. There’s one book in particular that […]
Read More Something About JoshuaIn a previous entry I wrote about self-control. As is often the case, when I write about something, not only is it something that connects with past experience, it also says something about what I am about to experience. Over the course of the day with the various challenges presented to test the capacity of […]
Read More My Dad and MeeknessSelf-control is one of the most fascinating aspects of the fruit of the Spirit. Paul is insistent in telling the church in Galatia that there are two forces at war with each other: the flesh and the Spirit. He outlines what the works of the flesh are – so we know what marks out people […]
Read More Fruit of the Spirit: Self Control (The Fruit Series 28)The fruit of gentleness is a worthy way of knowing that God lives in you. It is difficult to be gentle when aggravating factors are around. It is difficult to be gentle when disappointment, dismay and disaster strikes. It is difficult to be gentle when there’s a great sense of jubilation at a wrong made right. […]
Read More Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness (The Fruit Series 27)Never underestimate something useful. One understanding of the word goodness is usefulness. There is a word that is not given the kudos it deserves at times. It’s taken for granted because a number of useful things are considered to be standard fare for the life we live. Clothing, food, utensils, devices, systems, methods and techniques […]
Read More Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness (The Fruit Series 25)Qualities that emerge because of the indwelling Holy Spirit have a beautiful flow to them. Such is the flow that it makes sense that they are not seen as fruits of the Spirit, but fruit. Love, joy, peace and patience are complimentary and for that to then be followed by kindness (or gentleness) further supports […]
Read More Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness (The Fruit Series 24)The fruit of the Spirit express the character of Christ. God in us through His Spirit reveals God to others in how we are. This is seen particularly in the characteristic of patience. Considering patience is fascinating in a world that promotes speed as a great quality. In that kind of world something that takes […]
Read More Fruit of the Spirit: Patience (The Fruit Series 23)A friend of the family shared their produce from their field. The variety of the vegetables was impressive. What was even more fascinating was the way they described the way they had to time planting of the seeds to maximise the produce at the right time. They could depend on different vegetables cropping up at […]
Read More Fruit of the Word – Right on Time (The Fruit Series 19)Judah never had a king like Hezekiah. His reign represented a high point in the age of the monarchy in the southern kingdom. They had not had it so good before and they would not have it that good again. When he was struck ill with a sickness that should have lead to his death, […]
Read More The Kings II 20 – Hezekiah: Healed and Overexposed
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