Looking for Fruit

October 8

Looking for Fruit
Galatians 5:16-26

As believers, we all want the fruit of the Spirit, but how can we know if we truly have it? Even unbelievers can display these qualities when conditions are positive. This nine-fold fruit of the Spirit is not what we do, but who we are, and it is primarily on display in Christians when circumstances are unfavorable. Two characteristics help us recognize these traits in our lives.

Fruitful believers are not controlled by their environment. Everyone experiences trials and pain, but those who are filled with the Spirit do not lose His fruit because of their situations. They keep their joy even when difficulties overwhelm. If someone speaks harshly, they respond with kindness. Because the Holy Spirit is in control, He is free to produce His fruit no matter what the circumstances are. Even though such believers may feel pain, anger, or a desire for revenge, they choose to trust the Lord to protect them and direct the outcome.

Fruitful Christians recover quickly after a fall. These believers are not perfect, but they are sensitive to the Spirit's conviction and are quick to return to the Lord in repentance. In fact, they are actually grateful for the correction and praise God, not only for revealing their weakness but also for drawing them back to obedience.

No one produces these amazing qualities in himself. Trying harder to be godly will never work. Character transformation occurs when we submit to God, giving Him complete control of our lives. Only then will the Spirit be free to produce fruit that remains even in the deepest, darkest storms.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.
Watch Online Videos of Dr. Charles Stanley and In Touch Ministries at LightSource.com
and
Listen to Dr. Charles Stanley Online Broadcasts at OnePlace.com.

Oct.8,2010 ~ Thought of the Day

Friday, Oct. 8, 2010

Thought of the Day

(Courtesy of Our Daily Bread) <---Click for devotional

Jesus is preparing a
place for us and preparing
us for that place.

Oct. 7, 2010 ~ Thought of the Day

Oct. 7, 2010

Thought of the Day

(Courtesy of Our Daily Bread) <---Click for devotional

Fears flee in the light
of God's presence.

Wed. Oct. 6, 2010 Thought of the Day

Thought of the Day

(Courtesy of Our Daily Bread) <----Click link

God broke into human history to
offers us the gift of eternal life.

What I Can Be

What I Can Be

As I gazed up at the mountains, I was awed by their majesty; I bowed my head and asked myself,

"Why should He care for me?
I am not great like the mountains that tower so high above, What is there about me that God can find to love?"

"Father, I am not strong like the wind that makes your tall trees sway, I cannot sing sweetly like your birds; will you love me anyway?
But most of all, I am simply me, and often have cause to fear, In spite of all my weaknesses, do you promise to be near?"

With eyes closed tight against my tears, I wished He could hear me pray. Then I felt His Spirit tell me, "Child, look up, I have something to say.
"You are simply you, the spirit I love, a part of my great plan. I put you here to learn of life and to return to me again."

"You are more beautiful to me than the loveliest mountain I made, And your strength exceeds that of the wind's, so do not be afraid.
I love you not for what you are, but for what I know you will be. I am always beside you watching you grow, you are very special to me."

A smile touched my lips - I knew it was true, my Father had always been there Giving me comfort and blessings and love and my own special talents to share.

So I do my best to make Him proud. I am not afraid, for you see, He loves me not for what I am, but for what He knows

I will be.

Author Unknown

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH

This is pretty neat.
DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute .
Work this out as you read .
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have
chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1760 ..
If you haven't, add 1759..

6... Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.



You should have a three digit number

The first digit of this was your original number
(i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).

The next two numbers are



YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

Let's Live According To His Purpose

Let's Live According To His Purpose

I think we would agree that there's no place for extra anxiety among Christ's people. We are to labor, watch, and pray. Stay on the narrow way! When we came through the strait gate, there was only one road on which to walk, the narrow road. The strait gate puts us right on the narrow road. Let's stay on the narrow road; fight the good fight of faith!

Let's count it all joy when we suffer diverse temptations. Why? There's no other way to have our faith tempered, but to go through the trial, be tested and proven. It will bring us the experience where we can pray for our enemies, bless them that persecute us, and return good for evil, knowing that the judgement of evildoers is out ahead.

Why do we want to bless them that persecute us? When people persecute us and misuse us, and we know that they're guilty, let's stop a little bit and consider the awful judgment that they're going to face. It will put us on our knees, praying for them. We must go about our business, realizing that all power is Christ's and that He is committed to our eternal

well-being.

We can live every day (if we want) according to Romans 8:28. We can know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose. This is what held the morning church.

The purpose of God was being carried out. When we live according to His purpose, no matter what befalls us,

we can be blessed with the thought that it's working for

our spiritual good.

No matter how much we rise up or rebel against God, the day will come when God will laugh at us. What a terrible thing to think upon, that God would laugh at us. Why's He going to laugh at us? Because, we laughed at Him, at His Word, and His ordained plan.

Let's remember, there's a law of sowing and reaping.

We're in a battle. The powers of evil are raging, and they might even be raging worse. It may come right down to every one of us. It will be a proven fact, whether we have the goods or not, because it's going to take the goods to stand. In the past, we may have been able to follow the crowd, but the devil can get stirred to the degree that he makes us individually run up our flag or take it down.

Our choices: either to commit ourselves to God, get a fresh infusion of His Spirit in our lives, where we can speak with boldness, or to keep still and suffer great loss!

The Wellspring of Life

Check out today's Daily Boost devotional..by clicking

the link provided:

http://www.pe.ag.org/personal_growth/daily_boost.cfm?targetBay=97007034-2970-4f78-866c-7dd07f6c16f4&ModID=2&Process=DisplayArticle&RSS_RSSContentID=17422&RSS_OriginatingChannelID=1321&RSS_OriginatingRSSFeedID=4308&RSS_Source=

"Around the Block"

Please check in with today's daily Boost devotional titled "Around the Block"

http://www.pe.ag.org/personal_growth/daily_boost.cfm?targetBay=97007034-2970-4f78-866c-7dd07f6c16f4&ModID=2&Process=DisplayArticle&RSS_RSSContentID=17420&RSS_OriginatingChannelID=1321&RSS_OriginatingRSSFeedID=4308&RSS_Source=

My Day With Tommy

My Day With Tommy

What have we done to help and minister to the homeless?
Read today's Daily Boost devotional..entitled
"My Day With Tommy" Just click the link below:

view link <---Click

WHEN YOU DON'T HEAR FROM GOD

WHEN YOU DON'T HEAR FROM GOD

by Carol Strange

copyright 8-16-2009

When you don't hear from God, sometimes you think your prayers or answers aren't coming. In your frustration you fall to your knees in tears and say, "God, where are You".

Have you ever been through a time where God is silent for weeks or months? You just don't hear Him at all. I went through that for weeks.

I thought maybe my spiritual ears were deaf. I would say quietly "God are You there"? Nothing, no sound at all. You really don't know what to do when you have always heard from God even in small matters.

A few weeks before I felt led of the Lord to download beautiful songs sung by Jeff and Sherri Easter, the Gaithers and David Phelps. So I'm just having a great time doing this for hours. I played the songs so much that I knew them off by heart.

One day a friend and I were in the kitchen just talking and I said "does God ever go silent on you"? She said "yes". "What do you do"? No sooner than I got the words out of my mouth I suddenly just got up and started towards the hallway. Next thing I knew, God spoke these words to me. "When you can't hear Me, Praise Me." I shouted "Yes!"

I understood what the Lord meant.

The songs I downloaded weeks before I was to listen and praise God.

This is what you do in between God's gigs. What I mean by gigs is....

doing God's will.

Between God's gigs we are to be reading His word and praising HIM with a joyful heart. Usually God is preparing you for something that

is coming down the road. Jesus does warn us if we take the time to hear Him speak.

When we are too busy and have a lot on our plate we tend to forget about God. I mean, He is there but way back in our minds somewhere. It's kind of like we put God on a shelf until an emergency pops up.

Father, we need You every second of our lives. We cannot function without You. I thank You for the times You have corrected me in

Your mercy.

I thank you for Your great love and desire to be our Father.

I thank you for being there in the lonely times of our lives when no one else sustains us but YOU. Let us forever hear the voice of the Holy Spirit telling us what to do and say to bring You glory.

I love You my Father and forever I will stand in You.

AMEN.

Defined By God

September 15, 2010

Defined By God

Shari Braendel

"The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord."

Psalm 45:11 (NIV)

Devotion:

One word. Flabbergasted.

That was the emotion I had coursing through my body as I sat at the coffee shop discussing my weight issues with a friend.

I told her I had recently cut out certain foods from my diet, but was continuing to maintain my "happy weight," that number the scale just seems extremely happy to faithfully report whether I have eaten healthy and exercised that week or not. We had a good laugh as she described how sometimes she locks her scale away so she's not tempted to jump on it every day just to find out if she's still her same "happy" self.

As a result of this conversation I realized that if I am not careful I can easily allow the scale, or the mirror, to become a compass that shifts my focus and points me in the wrong direction. It seems illogical, yet at times I look to this digital device, or this earthly reflection to gauge my emotional status and essentially define me.

The Bible tells us that the God of the universe is enthralled with our beauty. Seriously? Yes, indeed! He thinks we are amazing and wonderful. Unfortunately, more often than not, we look in the mirror and only see our flaws; hair that's just a mite too frizzy; a tummy that's a bit too fluffy; and thighs that have a few too many dimples on them. My friend Renee likes to call her cellulite "the fingerprints of God." One time I shared that with a group of women, and one of them said, "Well then He must have REALLY big hands!"

So, what would life look like if we accepted God workmanship? Can you imagine how different we would feel about ourselves if we glanced in the mirror and told God "thank You for making me so wonderfully"? If you listen closely, I bet you would hear Him respond, "All beautiful, you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you" (Song of Solomon 4:7, NIV).

No matter your size or shape, the number on your clothes tag or your scale, you are beautiful! Let's embrace that we are fine just the way we are because if God says so, then it's true!

Dear God, thank You for making me the way I am. Please help me to have more confidence. I will practice defining myself through Your eyes and not my own. I am grateful, and humbled to be Your beautiful daughter, and I can feel Your approving gaze upon me. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Related Resources:

Shari's new book, Good Girls Don't have to Dress Bad: A Style Guide for Every Women is a complete, full-color, style guide with lots of pictures of real women of all shapes and sizes!

Visit Shari's Blog to continue this conversation and to enter a contest to win a signed copy of Good Girls Don't have to Dress Bad: A Style Guide for Every Women along with your own set of personal color swatches to help aid in choosing your best colors when shopping.

Do You Know Him?

Behind Those Eyes: What's Really Going on Inside the Souls of Women by Lisa Whittle

Application Steps:

Make a list of five things you really like about your outer appearance.

When you find yourself in a funk, remember to define yourself through God's eyes.

Accept a compliment with a smile and a thank you.

Reflections:

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to treat yourself to something new? You are valuable to Him, and to those who love you. It is okay to take care of yourself too.

Does my scale define me?

Power Verses:

Psalm 139:14, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (NIV)

Song of Solomon 4:1, "How beautiful, you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!" (NIV)

Ephesians 2:10, "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (NIV)

� 2010 by Shari Braendel. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

Our Country's Christian Foundation

Watch this awesome video of our country's foundation:

A Washington Tour

http://vodpod.com/watch/4279006-u-s-capitol-tour-with-david-barton

Our Country's Christian Foundation

Watch this awesome video of our country's foundation:

A Washington Tour

http://vodpod.com/watch/4279006-u-s-capitol-tour-with-david-barton

Our Country's Christian Foundation

Watch this awesome video of our country's foundation:

A Washington Tour

http://vodpod.com/watch/4279006-u-s-capitol-tour-with-david-barton

Hearing God

Hearing God The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher. Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, I've begged God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn't God answer? The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room. What did you say? he asked. The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher's chair. Sorry, he said. I still didn't hear you. With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. God sometimes whispers, he said, so we will move closer to hear Him. This time the young man heard and he understood. We all want God's voice to thunder through the air with the answer to our problem. But God's is the still, small voice... the gentle whisper. Perhaps there's a reason. Nothing draws human focus quite like a whisper. God's whisper means I must stop my ranting and move close to Him, until my head is bent together with His. And then, as I listen, I will find my answer. Better still, I find myself closer to God.

"Being Careless"

^"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1

Some of the synonyms for the word "careless" are: inattentive, negligent, forgetful. And one of the definitions given for the word is: unconcerned in attitude or action; heedless; indifferent. I bring up this word this morning because I want to talk about treating Jesus "carelessly". There are many ways we can treat Jesus in a "careless" manner, but there is one in particular that I want to discuss because we usually don't associate it with careless treatment of Him.

Did you realize that when you don't read your Bible, when you neglect to read it or study it, when you go for periods of time without even opening it up, you are treating Jesus in a careless manner? We just think that we are neglecting the Bible, but we are actually neglecting Him. How is that? Jesus is "THE WORD". He is the living Word that is brought to life for us through the pages of the written word.

When you are careless about your reading, you are being careless in your treatment of Jesus. You are being inattentive to Him. You are neglecting Him. You show your lack of concern about who He is and what He has to say to you. (You can't read the word of God without it speaking to your heart.) You are being forgetful of the place He should occupy in your life. You are saying that you have no time for Him. You are showing an indifference toward Him. Your action- or lack of it- is revealing your attitude toward Him.

Like I said earlier, we don't usually think that by neglecting our Bible and treating it in a careless manner we are treating Jesus the same way, but we are. Has that been you? Is that you? Are you neglecting Jesus by neglecting His word?

Have a great day. Our careless treatment of the word of God equals careless treatment of Jesus.

For further reading:

John 5:39; 1:1,14

1 John 5:7

Revelations 1:1

Hebrews 2:3

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: /www.mastersbusiness.org/">http://www.mastersbusiness.org/">www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.

Please remember to give credit to

About the Master's Business Ministry.

Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.

http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

"Red Letters"

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63

It seems as though the Lord keeps speaking to me through songs for the devotional lately, because there is another song on my heart this morning and it is one I have not thought about or heard in a long time. The song is entitled, "Red Letters". The chorus says, "There is love in the red letters. There is truth in the red letters. There is hope for the hopeless, peace and forgiveness. There is life in the red letters, in the red letters."

Many Bibles have the words of Jesus written in red. The whole Bible, of course, is the word of God but this morning I want to talk about the "red letters"- the words of Jesus Himself. There are many counselors and advisors out there in the world. There is no lack in finding someone who is ready to give you some instruction. There are people who make a living at telling you what you should do and how you should do it- life coaches, financial advisors, therapist, etc. (Some people won't make a move without consulting them.)

While there are those who can give us help and instruction in certain areas of life, none but Jesus have the words of life. He is the Word and He is Life. Therefore, His words are life to us. This is where your true counsel lies. He, and His word, is where you should turn to first. His words are the words you should heed above anyone and everyone else. His words are the words you should obey even when they conflict with the words of men. His word takes precedence over every other word.

We often get in trouble because we don't seek His word or heed His word. He will never lead you astray. He will never lead you in the wrong way- He may lead you in the opposite way that you wanted to go, but His way is always best. He will never lead you on a path of death or destruction. His words bring life, health and peace.

How sad it is when we have to be reminded to go to Jesus and seek the counsel of His words when we are in need and need instruction. For the Christian, going to God's word and seeking His counsel should come naturally. It should be the first place we consider going- not the last.

If you are needing instruction, guidance, help, counsel, wisdom, etc. look at the "red letters" in your Bible- in other words, look to Jesus- you will find the answers you are looking for.

Have a great day. There is life in the red letters.

For further reading:

John 5:39; 1:1,14; 14:6; 17:17

Psalm 119:105, 130,160

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: /www.mastersbusiness.org/">http://www.mastersbusiness.org/">www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.

Please remember to give credit to

About the Master's Business Ministry.

Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.

http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

"Times of Life"

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Psalm 23:4

This morning, again, there has been a song repeating over and over in my heart. The words are, "The God of the mountain, is still God in the valley. When things go wrong, He'll make them right. And the God of the good times, He's still God in the bad times. The God of the day, is still God in the night."

Life is made up of various "times" - we learn this from creation. We learn this through the changing of the seasons- there isn't just one season, there are four. We can look at the landscape and see that it isn't all the same- there are mountainous areas, wildernesses, forests, valleys, the desert, etc. They each are needful and they are all part of this physical life.

We go through spiritual seasons as well. There are times when everything in our lives is wonderful and the blessings are flowing. Then there are times when it looks "dead" with no sign of "life". There are also times when we feel like we are in a valley or on a mountain top.

But regardless of where the "times" of life take us- God doesn't change and He is with us in them all. He is with us on the mountain top. He is with us in the valley. He is with us in the wilderness. He is with us when it feels like the windows of heaven are open and when it feels like they are shut up. He is with us when we face "dry spells" and when the "river" is flooding our lives.

I don't know where you might be this morning. You might be in one of those times when everything is going good and it doesn't feel like it could get any better. Or you might be in one of those times when it feels like it can't get any worse. But wherever you are, you are not alone- God is with you.

Have a great day. God is still God even when things change in your life... and He is still with you.

For further reading:

Malachi 3:6

Matthew 28:20

Psalm 23

Daniel 3:25

Deuteronomy 1:33

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: /www.mastersbusiness.org/">http://www.mastersbusiness.org/">www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.

Please remember to give credit to

About the Master's Business Ministry.

Take time to visit our on-line Christian magazine and blogs.

http://livingstonesmagazine.homestead.com

Learn to Laugh

Learn to Laugh

If you're constantly negative in your outlook, something's wrong. "There is... a time to laugh..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 NKJV) You say, "Right now I can't find anything to laugh about." Then observe how the Psalmist opens Psalms 124, 125, and 126: "...If the Lord had not been on our side... they would have swallowed us alive..." (Psalm 124:1-3 NIV) "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken..." (Psalm 125:1 NIV) " When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion... Our mouths were filled with laughter... Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." (Psalm 126:1-2 NIV)

When you can rejoice in the midst of trouble, people want to know what your secret is. And you can always find a reason to rejoice when you remember Who is on your side.

Doctors have confirmed what the Bible teaches: laughter de-stresses you and strengthens your immune system; "A cheerful heart is good medicine" (Proverbs 17:22) plus, a positive attitude will bring you favor and cooperation.

When you keep adding to the heat and confusion of a crisis, people lose respect for your ability to handle things under pressure. But if you stay cool and maintain your sense of humor when things are falling apart, they'll show their appreciation in better work and increased loyalty. Sure, some problems are serious, but you gain nothing by dwelling on the bleak side. Put the problem into God's hands and watch the results!

"He will... fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouts of joy." (Job 8:21 NRS) Now, if Job could agree with that, surely you can!

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

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