Fruits of the Spirit | Faithful Through It All

Like a tender Bridegroom He longs for us, 
His church,
To beckon his call.
He desires to caress us with his love,
And envelope us with His warm embrace.
He is true to His promises,
He fulfills them all.
When we make our case,
He lends a loving ear.
He leans in to hear our cry.
He is faithful through it all.
Like a beloved Father He cares for us.
He desires to fulfill our every need.
He wipes away every tear that falls. 
He plants and sows the seed.
Deep down in our hearts,
We heed the call.
His beautiful Bride
Will never again fall.
As He redeems his blessed Body.  
We abide in his faithful love.

I wrote this psalm while pondering the promise and symbol of the rainbow. This picture expresses my trust and hope in The LORD, my Rock and firm foundation. In The Message Bible, by Eugene Perterson, he expounds in Hebrews 11:1-2 that “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, it set them above the crowd. By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.”

He will remove every man-made obstacle and help us overcome every hurdle. He has placed His faith in those that trust in Him, in those that are called according to his purposes. We can have confidence in the LORD. In turn, He enables us to dwell in this land and securely rest in His faithfulness no matter what trials or tribulations come our way. Like Job, when we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will grant us the desires of our heart as we commit our ways to Him and patiently wait and lean on His fatherly goodness (Psalm 37).

He is the Loyal Gardener and the hearty vine. As we are pruned and sanctified to mirror His likeness and characteristics, He delights to remain in us. We are able to bear the spiritual fruit of faithfulness because of His character and truth. As his disciples we are his branches. Apart from Him we can do nothing. If we abide in Him, and He in us, then whatever we (and the Holy Spirit) desire, will be done for us, and the Father will be glorified through His good gifts, that He bestows on His children. We complete His joy when we are faithful and keep our promises, His commandments, and teachings. He delights in us as His good children. We are called to unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as He does for His Body. He calls us His friends and reveals to us His great mysteries. He has chosen us, appointed us, and purposely planted us to go and bear good fruit; and keep on bearing it daily, in the small and mundane and grand ways. We are His bond servants as we choose to remain in his service. As his beloved bride, we are to do all that He has commanded us in His word and prompted us to do through his Spirit (John 15:1-17).

Proverbs 3:3-6 explains how you should bind His loyalty around your neck. Let his mercy, kindness, truth and love define you. Write His promises on the tablet of your heart. Rely confidently on the Lord and do not lean on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge Him. Grow to recognize His promptings, and He will make your paths straight and smooth.

The LORD, the Great I am, My Great Physician, and Good Counselor abounds in constant fatherly dedication, and lavishes on me His agape love. The Holy Spirit, almighty, omnipotent, and omnipresent creator, has fashioned me in the depths of my soul. He daily sustains me with every inhalation, exhalation, and guides my thoughts and feelings. He protects my heart and satisfies my desires, grumbling hunger pains, and quenches my parched mouth. In my dry deserts and low valleys He is my compass, protector, and guide. Because of His sustaining presence in my life and His spirit dwelling inside me, my soul can stir up strong and empowering qualities that enable me to overflow with faithful goodness, peace, patience, joy, gentleness, meekness, love, mercy, grace, generosity, and self-control. As a Registered Nurse, my job requires me to draw from this well of attributes daily. Each morning I try to resonate my soul with The Spirit, so that I might be able to show; compassion, sympathy, empathy, and lend a healing hand, and or a listening ear. Throughout the day I can sense His power and He grants me the wise words and enables me to counsel the ill and hurting individual or families at any given moment. I am in constant conversation through prayer with God throughout the day and the Holy Spirit groans on my behalf.

We were fashioned in His handiwork and made alive in His Spirit. We all fail at times and live in our passions of the flesh, and are governed by our own selfish desires: But, He has made us new. Because of Christ's fulfillment of the prophecies, and new covenant; We are made alive, through His grace, undeserved favor, and mercy. He raises us up and seats His disciples/followers in the heavenly places; So that, in the ages to come, He might clearly show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches and redeeming kindness towards His creation through Christ Jesus’s triumph over death, return and restoration of the New Earth, and eternal reign to come. For it is through His remarkable compassion and favor that He has drawn us to himself and bestowed on us the gracious gift of salvation, because of Christ’s great sacrifice. Our inheritance cannot be earned by our good works or keeping all the rules. Instead He has fashioned us, as his workmanship and created us in Christ Jesus, birthing us from above and spiritually transforming and renewing our minds, hearts and will, which He has prepared in advance for us to walk in and empowers us to chose moment by moment (Ephesians 2:1-10)

We can have ultimate confidence, steadfast reliance and absolute trust in His Son. We are sufficiently qualified to fulfill His plan. We are His witnesses and He has bestowed on us His glory, and splendor to proclaim His very good news. We are able to act and speak in courage, boldly unveiling His tender heart and redeeming story and plan for mankind. He is faithful through EVERY circumstance and miniscule detail. He delights to hear our every request and loves to give good gifts to His children. We are able to keep our word, and let our yes be yes and our no be no. When we are true to our word, He calls us blessed, spiritually mature, morally courageous, and makers of peace. We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We cannot remain hidden. He has designed us to glorify His faithful Father and let our light shine before men in a way that they may see our good deeds and moral excellence, and recognize, glorify, magnify, worship, and honor our Father. Through him, we are able to fulfill our vows to His people and to the LORD, not making meaningless oaths (Matthew 5). I urge you to be brave and courageous and lean fully on the Spirit in you, trusting him to hide you in the shadow of His wings, let you soar like an eagle and run this race with endurance.

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Fruits of the Spirit | Patience at the Feet of Jesus

There are two primary words for patience in the Bible, which are frequently used together: Makrothume and Hupomone. Makro means long, and Thume means temper and is frequently defined as long-suffering. It is the ability to endure and sustain a lengthened period of difficulty or challenges. Biblical realization of this word includes suffering at the hands of others and suffering under the weight of circumstances. The second word for patience, Hupomone, also comes from two words. Hupo means under, and Mone means to abide. It bears the idea of abiding under challenges. 

When I consider my life, there are many areas where I need patience, but the area I believe I need the most patient endurance is during seasons of waiting on and trusting in Jesus. I find it extremely difficult to endure waiting on the Lord to move, fulfill his promises, or to act in accordance with the leadership I felt he had given me as I had sought him for guidance.

The story of Anna, the prophetess in Luke 2:36-38, always astounds me. Luke writes that Anna’s husband died after seven years of marriage. Hebrew girls would often marry at about 12 to 13 years of age. She devoted herself to fasting and prayer in the temple from that time forth. At the time of Jesus's birth, Anna was about eighty-four. That means she spent about 64 years in prayer, fasting, and unwavering dedication to the Lord. Luke writes that when she heard about Jesus, she talked about Jesus to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. Anna waited faithfully for over 60 years for God to fulfill his word to send the Messiah, and suddenly, after waiting on the Lord for so long, he fulfilled his word. I want that kind of patient endurance.

As an extrovert, I tend to like to be busy. I tend to plan out too much and then fail to get it all done. Tasks tend to rule my heart each day. More often than not. I tend to join the spirit of Martha as she hurried around her home, preparing a meal for Jesus in Luke 10:38-42. I don't see anything inherently wrong with being task-oriented, but more than getting my list done, I want to be a person like Mary, who knows how to sit and listen at the feet of Jesus. I want to fulfill the first commandment: "love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, mind, and soul" (Matthew 22:37, NLT). And allow the second commandment: "love my neighbor as myself," (Matthew 22:39, NLT), to flow out of my encounter with Jesus in the first command. I think that Mary of Bethany, Martha's sister, patiently endured all that needed to be accomplished by slowing down and making space to listen to all that Jesus had to say. The pressures and platitudes of the day were not Mary's concern. She found solace patiently waiting at Jesus' feet.

I desire to have the patient persistence of Anna the prophetess and Mary of Bethany. I want to make the concerns of Jesus my own. I want to wait patiently for his thoughts, heart, and purpose to be expressed to my heart so that I can purposefully express it in my home, neighborhood, and county. Sitting and waiting can be an act of long-suffering, but the Word promises that he will faithfully lead us by his Spirit. It promises that the secrets of his heart have been and will be revealed to us by his Spirit. The fruit of patience, of long-suffering, at Jesus' feet is answered prayer, peace of mind, and life everlasting. 

"Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary" (Isaiah 40:31, NASB). "I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry" (Psalm 40:1, NLT). "I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope" (Psalm 130:5, NIV). 

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About the Author

Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and four kids. He loves Jesus, art, music, and poetry. He currently works as the Manager of Learning Technology Solutions for Los Angeles Pacific University and is passionate about adventuring outdoors.

Fruits of the Spirit | Kindness

Kindness has become a trendy buzzword lately. Kids see it in school rules: “Be kind, Be safe, Be responsible…” We see it on signs in people’s lawns. I recently discovered that there are even “kindness” clubs and committees in our communities, when a kindness club marched by in the Springfield Christmas parade. I think most people would agree that “kindness” is something to aspire to, something that helps our world in general, from the local to global levels. 

So why is it so hard to do? Why does our world still not get along? Why are there so many teen suicides because of bullying and other unkind acts? 

The answer is complex. Obviously, acts of aggression are a different ballgame than unkind words due to immature communication. But watching my new children interact, I think one likely cause is not knowing how to deal with anger. We get a hint of how anger and kindness are connected in the book of Ephesians:

Ephesians 4:25-27, 29 - 5:2 (NIV)
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin” [quoting Psalm 4:4]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

To me, this passage speaks of a combination of healthy boundaries and love. Because God loves us and creates in us love for others, we are motivated to be kind. But we also need to have boundaries. Boundaries to protect us so we can speak truthfully to others about what we need and let them know when they’ve hurt us. We can use this skill when we’re angry and hurt to make the situation better instead of lashing out to cause more hurt. 

We can see this easily in children because they’re less subtle about it. They get hurt by their sibling/peer/etc. and retaliate instantly, causing escalation. Or if they don’t, they hold onto the anger, which gives “the devil a foothold” by allowing the anger to become bitterness and resentment or even eventually malice. We all do this sometimes but may not even realize it. 

But God provides a different way. He doesn’t say “Don’t be angry.” Instead He says “In your anger do not sin.” We can be honest with each other about our boundaries or what they’ve done to hurt us, but we can do so respectfully and kindly, out of love and compassion for that person. Not only with the intent to not hurt them, and not only to help them learn and grow, but also to maintain the relationship between us. We can help the other person see that we’re communicating our needs/hurts because we value their relationship. We can walk in the way of love, as Christ does for us. 

Today, after writing this post, one of our kids did a great job of demonstrating this principle. She’d misheard something I’d said and her feelings were understandably hurt. It took her a few minutes to tell her dad and I why she was upset, but she articulated it well. I was able to assure her of what I’d really meant, and she forgave me. Later I affirmed her great job of communicating. I’m so grateful that she didn’t lash out or hold on to the hurt, because I love her. 

Kindness. It’s not just a buzzword, but a way to heal our relationships and our world.

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About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.

Fruits of the Spirit | Joy

One of the most wonderfully surprising scriptures I’ve come across is this one in the book of Nehemiah:

Nehemiah 8:9-12
Nehemiah, the governor, and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.”

Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because now they understood the words that had been made known to them.

Were you a little surprised by something too? For a little context, many of the Israelites, especially the wealthy, the educated and those skilled in the trades, were taken as slaves to Babylon in 586 BCE. The “less useful” people were left in Judea where Jerusalem lay. Life was extremely harsh for the Judeans under the Babylonians (You might remember the story of Daniel and the lion’s den and fiery furnace).

Over time, Babylonia was conquered by the Persians, who treated the Israelite captives much better than the Babylonians had. The king of the Persians, Artaxerxes, even allowed the Jews who wanted to return to the the land of their ancestors, to do so. The governor of the region of Judea was Nehemiah. The priest during this time was Ezra. Nehemiah learns that the walls of Jerusalem were crumbling and, after much prayer, asked King Artaxerxes if he could go back and rebuild the walls. Amazingly, Artaxerxes agreed! The walls were rebuilt with a lot of resistance from the neighboring Samaritans who hated and feared the Jews. But the Jews succeeded and the city was safe to live in again, or at least safer. To celebrate this great moment, all the Jews gathered in one place and the priest Ezra read from the Bible in the presence of all the people. They began crying with tears of sorrow and shame, understanding that they had been taken away captive as a consequence of their ignoring and disobeying their God.

Wallowing in this sense of remorse and guilt, you might have expected the priest and the governor to have exacted some punishments or acts of contrition from the people: possibly fasting from food, wearing burlap and/or pouring ashes over their heads, as was the custom. But what did the leaders instruct the people to do? Go eat, go drink, be joyful…and be sure to share with those who don’t have anything! And to top it off, they taught the people that the joy of the Lord is their strength!

It seems to me we can learn so much about our God from this story. How often do we sink into guilt and shame because of our wrongdoing? We might even feel it is the right thing to do, if we are to be humble people. But the wisdom from this story reminds us that sinking into an introspective funk is not helpful to us or to those around us. Instead, this wisdom seems to say, “Yes, you’ve done wrong. Yes, you need to change your ways. But turn to the Lord who is ever-forgiving and ever-loving and demonstrate your love back to him by rejoicing in his goodness and looking how to serve other people who don’t have as much as you do.” Wow! How awesome that is, and “just like God” to focus on the good and to see how we might help others. God seems truly committed to getting us out of our heads and egos, and into the goodness of the universe around us.

Have you ever experienced that when you’re suffering from shame, you feel weakened? Conflicted? Self-conscious? Lacking in clarity and confidence? I sure have. So I’m thankful to be reminded that it’s the JOY of the Lord that gives us strength. I’m thankful for the advice to confess my sin honestly, but then to get up, stand up, celebrate God’s goodness and live life alongside other folks whom he loves so much. Not to mention…..eat some good food and drink some good drinks! Thank you, Lord!

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About the Author

John lives in Pleasant Hill with his dog, Gunnar, and a multitude of guests who enjoy the peace and beauty of the Cascade foothills. With three children and three grandchildren all living in Oregon, he is continually blessed with their company and the good food that always accompanies their get-togethers!

Fruits of the Spirit | Self-Control, The Life-Long Pursuit

In my mid-twenties I was invited to co-teach a Sunday School lesson to primary school children, focused on the Fruits of the Spirit. The lead teacher was a close friend and informed me I was assigned to explain and demonstrate the importance of self-control.

I immediately replied to my friend that I was the last person to teach on this spiritual principle, since I was severely lacking in it! I reminded her how I struggled with arriving to events on time, and other important aspects of this virtue.

My friend smiled and calmly replied “maybe that makes you the right person to teach this character strength, while highlighting what can happen without it. It’s a great opportunity for you to ask the Lord to teach you to better manage this fruit of the spirit.” I reluctantly agreed.

On presentation day, I made myself an obvious visual example of a lack of self-control. My long hair was neatly clipped back on one side of my head only, with hair on the other side hanging over my eye and chin. My cardigan was buttoned askew, and my tennis shoes were untied.

As part of my exaggerated character, I walked in front of the class, describing how I had been in a hurry when getting dressed for church, and wanted to do things my way. I then proceeded to trip on my shoe laces and fall down in front of them, in a dramatic but uninjured way. 

I concluded the lesson, by clipping back my remaining loose hair, adjusting my sweater, and tying my shoes. I then described how life was more enjoyable and safer when taking better care of myself. Modifying my own undesirable behavior was my only understanding of self-control at that time in my life. 

Since then, I’ve discovered another important aspect of self-control. Fast forward thirty years. After my mother’s death, I became the power of attorney for my surviving father who suffered from dementia. Disagreements with other family members involved accusations, then lawyers. I felt overwhelmed and experienced frequent bouts of anxiety. The continual questioning of my decisions and criticism of my actions left me with debilitating self-doubt.

I found myself struggling to do the simple tasks at work and home which involved focusing my thoughts, and quickly recalling details. I thought a lot about future commitments and deadlines, but accomplished very little. I experienced a type of paralysis of mind from overthinking. I was stuck. I ached to be free to take the actions I urgently needed to complete, in the course of my everyday responsibilities and obligations.

In retrospect, my mistake was to think I faced this crisis by myself. I remained stuck for long periods of time because I repeatedly forgot Christ was waiting to help me. On a deeper level, I feared my problems were too ugly and smelly for God. Finally, I cried out to the Lord asking him to deliver me from what felt like a prison of thought and anxiety. 

I then waited on the Lord, standing firm in my faith that Christ would deliver me according to His schedule. I remembered so many life experiences throughout my past which clearly demonstrated how Christ had always guided, protected, and loved me.

He answered my cry, which first led me to scripture:

Psalms 23:1-3 TPT (The Passion Translation) 
“Yahweh is my best friend and my shepherd.
I always have more than enough.”

“He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love.
His tracks take me to an oasis of peace near the quiet brook of bliss.”

“That’s where he restores and revives my life.
He opens before me the right path 
and leads me along in His footsteps of righteousness,
so that I can bring honor to His name.”

I felt the Lord tell me, the most painful and broken aspects of my daily life are an indispensable part of my spiritual training! And that I can’t run away from the pain or deny its existence. This thought felt to me like the prospect of running through fire. Staring at the figurative flames in front of me, I desperately hoped to make it through to the other side.

During this season of what I experienced as sorrow and suffering, I internally heard the Lord ask me: “Are you going to embrace or discard your training?” My gut tightened, but I said “Yes Lord, I embrace this training you’ve personally prepared for me!” I also internally heard Him say “Do not despise the uncomfortable and painful parts of your training.” These words encouraged me to resolutely trust Christ, and to continue to move forward by living my daily life.

Christ revealed that my pursuit of self-control is a journey, and it’s a harvest of His truths. As I follow Him by studying scripture, He continues to lead me to life-saving verses that help me drop heavy lies along the way. My spirit is lighter and my steps toward Christ quicken. I can experience the gift of His Holy Spirit momentum. My human frame is not capable of continuing this pace for long, but I’ve had a taste of what living in God’s love feels like. And I’m no longer willing to settle for less.

Psalms 23: 4-5 TPT
“Even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness,
fear will never conquer me, for you already have!
Your authority is my strength and my peace.
The comfort of your love takes away my fear.
I’ll never be lonely, for you are near.”

‘You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight.
You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit;
You give me all I can drink of you until my cup overflows.”

“So why would I fear the future?
Only goodness and tender love pursue me all the days of my life.
Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence 
to be forever with you!”

I took a class at my church on the Enneagram and learned about my specific temperament. The principles of the Enneagram taught me which situations stress and immobilize me. It also taught me which new attitudes and behaviors can help channel my anxiety into more productive patterns of thought and action. 

I watched You Tube videos, listened to podcasts, and did a lot of reading on a variety of topics. This included scripture and published writings that described the components of vibrant and joyful mental health. And Christ led me to a series of qualified people to listen as I talked things out. This started as prayer with my pastors and friends, then later transitioned to a season with a trained counselor. I don’t have many answers, but these are the things that worked for me.

You might feel this message does not apply to you, but may I suggest you could soon hear someone expressing some of these struggles. Would you please seize the opportunity to remind them that long ago, Christ died to set the captives free, eternally! They are not alone. Christ is with them and is waiting to show them a way out of their “stuck feeling”. Christ will then faithfully lead them into the freedom of a fresh start and a more joyful way to live!

Please encourage them to take up their spiritual sword, God’s word, and fight against the lies that would seek to imprison their mind. Tell them they are not being selfish in making choices that feel right to them, based upon what God is guiding them to do. They are freed by Christ’s death and resurrection to live in a loving partnership with Christ here on Earth and in His forever home.

I close with verses 2 and 3 from the classic Christian hymn: “The Solid Rock”.

“When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.”

“On Christ the Solid Rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand, 
All other ground is sinking sand.”

“His oath, His Covenant, His blood support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.”

“On Christ the Solid Rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand, 
All other ground is sinking sand.” 

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About the Author

Sara has attended CitySalt Church since 2004, the year it was founded. She studied Journalism, wrote for her college newspaper, and is a member of Oregon Christian Writers. Sara also enjoys singing hymns with friends: “there is a sermon in every hymn waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.”

Fruits of the Spirit | Gentleness

Gentle. Humble. What comes to mind when you think of these words? If you wish, take a quiet moment and just rest with those words. See what memories or pictures come to you.

This quality, “prautes” (prah-oo'-tace) in the Greek, is one of the fruits of a Spirit-filled life that Paul lists in Galatians 5. This life and these fruits are contrasted with a life driven by the appetites and temptations of the flesh. The word is translated “gentleness” or “humility” at various points in the New Testament. 

Gentle* (adjective):

1. Considerate or kindly in disposition; amiable and tender.

2. Not harsh or severe; mild and soft.

3. Easily managed or handled; docile.

Humble* (adjective): 

1. Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude or spirit; not arrogant or prideful.

2. Showing deferential or submissive respect.

3. Low in rank, quality, or station; unpretentious or lowly.

I wanted to include both words, because I think together they give a richer understanding of both the action and the motive, the visible fruit and the belief behind it. I think that when I am gentle, it’s based on seeing God, myself and others clearly. I am submitting my understanding of reality to God’s truth (acknowledging that what God says about me and others is the most important thing), which empowers me to act in a tender or mild way. James alludes to this when he says “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13, NIV) According to this, the wisdom that comes from growing in understanding of God’s truth and ways is the source of humility.

I’ll give an example from my own life. (I am sharing this story with permission from my child.) I host a homeschool hiking activity a couple of times per month, and at a recent meetup there were several moms running very late. They were so late, we decided we’d start without them and meet part way up the trail. Both of my boys love running free in nature, but one of them in particular really values communing with nature on his own terms. That day, he wanted to run up the giant hill and go all the way to the top. We discussed ahead of time that we would need to balance the needs of everyone in the group that day. However, he was soon far ahead of the adults, and I had to run to catch up. I have to admit, as the group host, it was a bit embarrassing to have to run up the giant hill, chasing after my children, trying to get them to listen to the plan. But I know my kids. It can take some time for them to change the picture in their minds about what is going to happen, and there’s no rushing it. When I caught up and explained that he’d gone too far, he stopped and said he would wait there until the rest of the group caught up. I explained that we wouldn’t be coming back that way again, but he wanted to wait there. I thankfully had a little more time to spare as we were still waiting on the final mom to meet us at the crossroads, but eventually they all arrived, and I had to urge them to go on ahead while I went back yet again to try to convince my child to come along with the group. I needed to lean into the Spirit for gentleness that day. I had to remember what I knew about my son, how he has his own pace when it comes to change. 

Even then, I could feel the pull of my flesh-the embarrassment of being seen as a parent who can’t “make their child behave,” especially as the leader of the group. The strain of matching wills over and over with a persistent child…

I had to push back hard as shame and fear tried to creep into my thoughts. 

“What do I know here?” I asked myself. I am human, my child is human, and we are both limited and imperfect beings, yet created good in God’s image. I know that my child struggles with transitions and changed plans. That’s OK. That’s part of how God made him, and he is in the process of growing into maturity in this area. I know that I cannot control my child, I can only control myself. And it is not a righteous desire to look more put-together than I am in front of these other moms, even if I am the ‘leader.’ God asks me to be a loving guide and protector to my child, discipling him in God’s ways. He doesn’t ask me to make my child do the “right thing” at every moment. (This is all the humility part- acknowledging the truths that God has already taught me, and letting this shape my perspective on the situation.)

This perspective then allows me to make gentle choices in the reality I face:

I can facilitate this group of moms, while also making space to come alongside my child and walk through this transition with him. (This is the working out of the humble perspective as gentleness.) Even though it is tiring to walk back and forth, and keep talking this out with my kiddo, I am parenting for the long-term. I want him to know that I value him enough to slow down and help when he needs it. I want him to know that we are in this together, and that he is capable of changing his mind. Even though I feel shame trying to creep in, if I know I’m making the right choice, I can despise this shame. Who knows? It might even be helpful for another parent to see this work in progress. 

Anchoring my perspective in the truth of God helps me make gentle choices. It helps prevent me from straying into fear and shame-based reactions that can often be harsh and unloving. In the story I shared with you, the Spirit empowered me to act gently. But of course, I’m not perfect, and some days I find myself flailing about in situations beyond my current wisdom. I’m so thankful God is gentle with me too. God draws us nearer, forgiving our sins and failures, healing our wounds, binding up our broken hearts, teaching us new ways according to where we are. God promises to give wisdom (remember, the source of humility) to all who ask. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5, NIV)

Let me send you off on a sweet parting note- here are Jesus’ own tender words to us regarding His gentleness:

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

*American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th ed.

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About the Author

Kayla is is 37. She has been married to her husband, Joel, for 17 years and she homeschools their two energetic boys. She loves stories, being out in nature, meeting interesting people, and seeing others grow in their freedom in Christ.

Fruits of the Spirit | Peace that Disrupts

Most, if not all, humans want peace. But there are different ways we imagine peace in our lives, and some of the ways that we imagine it are not necessarily aligned with the kind of peace that the Spirit wants to create. What is the nature of the peace that the Spirit generates and desires to work out in our lives and in the world?

1. It is Disruptive

We often think of disruptions in our lives as those things that take away or invade our peace. We especially feel this way when life is going well for us, and things seem to be functioning as we have planned. I’m quite happy sitting by a pool and reading a book. Please don’t interrupt my peace and quiet!

But, when I read the Bible, I notice a pattern that the peacemaking work of the Spirit in the world is often initially experienced by those involved as a disruption. It is usually more chaotic or uncomfortable than it is calm or easy. 

Advent season is an especially good time for us to reflect on the fact that the various stories leading up to the birth of Jesus include promises of peace in the midst of significant disruptions. 

With the birth of Jesus come announcements of peace:

• Zachariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesies that his son will prepare the way for the Messiah and in doing so will “guide our feet into the path of peace (Luke 1:79).”

• The angels declare to the shepherds that this child will bring “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace (Luke 2:14).”

• Matthew notes that Jesus’s birth fulfills the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah 9 where among the titles given to this child is “prince of peace (Matthew 4:14-16; Isaiah 9:6).”

But these announcements of peace do not immediately result in tranquil or calm or easy situations for those involved. They are quite disruptive and inconvenient:

• Zachariah’s prophecy came as a result of his wife’s unexpected pregnancy that rattled him to the core (Luke 1:18-20).

• The angelic birth announcement interrupted the work of rural shepherds and sent them traveling in search of this child (Luke 2:15-16).

• Isaiah’s vision of the prince of peace is introduced with visions of a leader who breaks, shatters, and burns various tools of oppression (Isaiah 9:4-5).

And when this child of peace finally arrives, it is anything but easy or tranquil for his parents entrusted with his care. Bethlehem is so overcrowded that the only bed they can find for their newborn is a feeding trough. After his birth, they are forced to travel to Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous edict. The only story we have of Jesus as a young boy includes his parents frantically searching and afraid for him.

Perhaps all the uneasy disruptions that take place in the narratives of his birth and childhood foreshadow the kind of peace that Jesus brings to the world. It is a disruptive peace. Simeon, who longed for the “consolation/comfort of Israel” understood through the Spirit that Jesus was “destined to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel (Luke 2:25-35).” Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, described peace as that which comes to the Gentiles through Jesus “tearing down the dividing wall of hostility (Eph. 2:14).” And the greatest example of peace coming through uncomfortable disruption is Jesus’ own death on the cross (Col. 1:20).

These passages lead me to conclude that God’s peace breaking into my world will often feel anything but peaceful. I should not expect the peace that the Spirit generates in my life to correlate directly with calm, relaxing and/or tranquil circumstances. It does lead toward those things on a cosmic scale, but in its generative form, the peace that the Spirit brings is often initially disruptive, unsettling, and uneasy.

2. It is Collective

One reason the peace that the Spirit brings is a disruptive peace is because the peace that God wants is collective, not individual. God’s vision of peace on earth is ever widening. God is not interested in maintaining peace for the powerful at the expense of those who are weak and poor, but that is often the kind of peace that we are attracted to, move toward, and settle for without even thinking about it. 

In order for a new kind of peace to be experienced, old arrangements that leave people out must be disrupted, and those disruptions are often uncomfortable. As the great Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann says,

“The prophetic vision of shalom stands against all private arrangements, all ‘private peaces,’ all ghettos that pretend the others are not there… Shalom is never the private property of the few.”(1)

3. It is Restorative

Another reason the peace that the Spirit works out in our lives is disruptive is because it is restorative in nature. It is not a peace that seeks to simply maintain relationships as they are. It is a peace that restores relationships (with God, others, self, and the creation) that have been damaged or lost. This restorative work is often initially uncomfortable. In order to fix something, you have to know what’s wrong. But sometimes we would prefer to live in a state of denial or distraction.

In his description of the biblical visions of peace as shalom in the Bible, indigenous theologian Randy Woodley says,

“Shalom always restores dignity to the most marginalized of society.”(2)

Even as a baby, Jesus was beginning to change things and upset norms by bringing dignity and honor to people (shepherds, Mary, David’s family) and places (Nazareth, Bethlehem, a manger/stable) that had been forgotten or left out. This ministry of restoring dignity continued throughout Jesus’ public ministry, and it continues now in our midst through the Spirit.

So, are disciples of Jesus doomed to a life of change, unsettledness, and discomfort? I think the answer to that question is yes. But that reality does not necessarily lead us to be people of anxiety, fear, and worry as the world wants us to think. In fact, with the help of the Spirit, it leads us in the opposite direction. True joy, true peace, true hope can only come as we participate in God’s cosmic project of reconciliation (Col. 1:15-20). This is what the Spirit bears witness to in our spirits even as God is disrupting things (2 Cor. 1) in our lives. This is “the peace of God that transcends all understanding (Phil. 4:7).”

This is an area where my view of God’s work in my life has radically changed over the years. For much of my life, I assumed that a good test of the Spirit’s work was how peaceful or calm or tranquil it made me feel. Because of that, I think there have been many times that I have ignored genuine stirrings of the Spirit just because they made me feel uncomfortable or uneasy. Rather than quickly running from things that make me uncomfortable, I now realize the importance of asking questions about those feelings: Why do I feel uncomfortable? Is it possible this discomfort is something God wants me to feel? Is there something that God is wanting to disrupt in me or around me in order to make room for a greater, broader, and more enduring peace to reign? 

I think these are the kinds of questions that Mary was willing to ask herself when the angel visited her with the startling news that she would give birth to the Messiah. I think her willingness to answer these questions gave her the clarity in the face of such a great disruption to say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled (Luke 1:38).”

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1. Water Brueggemann, Peace (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2001), 19-20.

2. Randy S. Woodley, Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2012), 25-26.

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About the Author

Aaron is a passionate seeker of God and truth, and he enjoys encouraging others in their own pursuits of the same. He especially likes to think about how God is at work in the most ordinary and mundane aspects of our existence. He loves going on adventures to new places with his wife, Heather, and four kids and his perfect day would involve an excellent cup of coffee (or two!), a hike to somewhere beautiful and serene, and some good conversation over a pint at a warm pub. He currently serves as an adjunct instructor at Portland Seminary and co-leads the CitySalt Kids’ Ministry along with his wife, Heather.

Fruits of the Spirit | Love - The Best Fruit

I am fascinated by fruits.

But it wasn't always so. I have to admit I may have taken them for granted, because in this land of plenty, fruits are always close at hand. The party-bro to the more pedestrian vegetable, fruits are easy to like with their bright, appealing colors, inherent sweetness, and grab-and-go ease.

I also appreciate Apostle Paul's fruit of the spirit comparison, and the greatest of these - love. These character fruits are the highest bar of personal and spiritual wholeness - the gold standard of what we should partake in and become, as followers of Jesus. The comparison is rich with allure - life-giving nourishment, sweetness and goodness to share.

But then there's the science.

Our God is certainly an innovative creator, and to me seems a kind of restless genius - always tinkering. Over a millennia, as His plants evolved to fit expanding people groups, fruits played an essential role - in so many ways and in so many places. And inspired by our creative heritage, we all have influenced plant propagation as well.

 With fruit, it's all about sugar and seeds. And birds.

Among all edible greenery, vegetables and fruits certainly contain essential nutrients. But a fruit’s specialty is sugar, attracting hungry attention. Their larger and more accessible seeds become reproductive tools, and animals and humans alike multiply and distribute the plants - by land and sea, and by air on the wings of birds.

Hang on, there is a point to this.

Galatians 5:22-23 now seems to me much richer and more dynamic, like an apple that becomes a vast orchard of spiritual possibilities. The fruits of the spirit are within everyone's reach, and are spread by believers who practice them, and by the subtle but efficient flight of the Holy Spirit.

The humble apple is our world's most common fruit, and perhaps not just a random choice for the symbol of mankind's fall from grace. In that light, Paul's fruit metaphor seems to be pure genius, from a literary standpoint and also a spiritual one. Just like Jesus' parables, God's most essential truths are always ripe with meaning and easy to grasp when served up with simple symbolism and story.

Which brings me back to love - the best commandment.

When I read Galatians 5:22-23 with its wonderful array of fruitful attributes, I can't help but notice that ALL of them point back to love. We can't be joyful without love. We can't enjoy true peace, and we can't have the patience to trust in God's heavenly outcomes without love - in Him, in ourselves and in those around us. To truly love and allow ourselves to be loved is the highest attainable personal and spiritual goal. It is the prize fruit on God's tree of life.

And it's best when shared.

Galatians 5:22-23 ASV
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law."

Galatians 5:22-24a The Message
"But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way."

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About the Author

Terry is a man in constant motion to explore new horizons. He has a thirst for new places and faces, and a deep love for the natural world - with a weakness for waterfalls and sunsets. All of this venturing out helps to both ground and inspire him, because it opens him up to people, with their vast, collective array of experiences, outlooks and responses.

He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.