KINDNESS

(Photo by @heatherd)

What's Inside: The first thing that comes to mind when I think about the word kindness is a fair, delicate, Disney Princess. She skips about, she is at peace with the world, she sings and is kind to every animal and creature she meets. Cute. How does kindness show up in our world? How do we Christians not just perform acts of kindness but actually be kind? The implications of not doing so may surprise you.

PATIENCE REQUIRED - Patience P2

(photo by @_rachelcrowe)

What's Inside: There are three significant areas that require our patience on a daily basis: other people, the results, and us. The key is remembering first and foremost that all belong to God: other people, the results, and us.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE - P1

What's Inside: “You have heard it said, ‘Patience is a virtue’.  But I’ll tell you this; patience is evidence of the Holy Spirit residing in us. It is a way of life” (- Me).  Patience is a quality that everybody needs yet nobody wants to have. We have patience within us by way of the Holy Spirit, but we must be intentional about developing that “muscles”.

TRANSCENDENT PEACE

What’s Inside? We pray for peace: peace on earth, peace in the Middle East, peace and quiet, peace of mind and just plain peace. But what of that Jesus peace that transcends all understanding. What is it and how do we get it? Let’s explore together.

IS YOUR JOY COMPLETE?

What's Inside: I could certainly use a fresh dose of joy, could you? Join me as we wind down this topic of conversation with more tips on how to reignite your joy. (If you missed part one, GOT JOY? read it here.)

GOT JOY?

What's Inside: Could you use a little joy in your life? I know I could. I did some soul searching on the subject and came up with ways that I could refresh my joy as needed. I’ll have to admit, this was a tough one for me. Who can be happy all the time? Is that even a requirement? I‘ll share with you in two parts what I found. I hope you enjoy and share some tips of your own.

LOVING THOSE YOU LOVE TO HATE (Love, Anyone? Part 3)

What’s Inside: 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. (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7). This is how we show love to everyone around us. We went into detail with the first two verses of this passage in parts one and two of this post series (click here if you missed it). This week we conclude our talk about love for our neighbor being the first indication that we have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Our neighbor is not just anyone around us but everyone around us including our enemies. It is easy to love this nice people. But, how do you show love for that boss who makes you feel less than, that coworker who constantly tries to undermine you, that parent who refuses to support your choices or that clerk with the nasty attitude? Let's explore 1 Corinthians 13:7.

LOVE, ANYONE? Part 2

What’s Inside: Love. The conversation continues. We are not talking about just any love. We are talking about the love for which we are held responsible as Children of God, the love that is the marker of our faith and the evidence of a Christian. How can you tell if someone really has a relationship God? “By this everyone will know that you are my (Jesus) disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Is it possible to show love to everyone around you? Yes – through your patience, kindness, genuine happiness for others and humility. (If you missed Part 1 to this post series, check it out here). There are so many ways in which we share our love for one another. Lets explore a few more.  

LOVE, ANYONE? Part 1

What's Inside: Love. It is the greatest commandment and the greatest virtue. It is the foundation of the Christian faith. It is the message that will reach the people around us far sooner than our many words. But, how do we express it on a daily basis? How do we appropriately show love to a neighbor or a stranger? How do we show love to our enemies? I have a few guesses. And, I say we start with an easy one – 1 Corinthians 13. We know it as the wedding passage, but it’s application reaches much further than our intimate relationships.

THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING

What's Inside: How can you tell if someone is really a Christian? Is it based on their level of success? How godly he or she speaks, talks or acts? Are the Christians the ones who do the most community service work or go to church three times a week? How do you know when someone is actually walking the walk and not just talking about it?

NOTHING BUT LOVE, BABY

What’s Inside: I talked a lot about what the Christian faith is not. I did more talking about what a relationship with God could look like. But then, I pointed out that the all-important relationship with God is not something we can arrive to. If the rain falls on both the just and the unjust and success and failure come both believers and non-believers, what is the litmus test that we are headed in the right direction with God? Does one even exist? I hope you enjoy this read.