Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit: Goodness, Part 5, Written by my Husband

Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit: Goodness, Part 5

Written by my Husband, Mel

(Galatians 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. 

(Ephesians 5:8-11) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.

The fruit of goodness is to pursue righteousness with all your heart. To be good, is to be righteous, and this does not mean perfection. Righteousness is living right in accordance with scripture. If you are truly born again, you will live a Godly lifestyle set apart from the sinful world. God’s Word teaches us to die to sin and live for Christ. Whoever is born of God should try not sin. 

(Romans 6: 1-2) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

 Living a lifestyle of habitual sins (bondages) will lead to damnation. Christ said that any tree, which does not bear good fruit, would be cut down and cast into the fire (Matthew 3:10). 

1 John 3 states that we must purify ourselves just as He is pure, and he who commits sin, also commits lawlessness. John continues that whoever sins has neither seen Him, nor known Him. These powerful scriptures are contrary to the distorted grace message that is preached in most churches today. Many churches encourage sin by teaching that there is grace for un-repented sins. Many teach that God does not care about your sins, only your actions. There are dozens of scriptures that teach us that without holiness no man shall see the Father. The apostasy (falling away from the truth), is the failure to teach believers to get sin out of their lives, as well as to love one another. Grace is given to those who repent and turn away from their sins.  

(1John 3:3-11) And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of  God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

(Titus 2: 11-12) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit, Part 4: Gentleness

  

Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit, Part 4: Gentleness

(Galatians 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. 

As I was gathering the scriptures for this series that Mel and I are writing, I noticed a trend.  Pursing gentleness (and any other fruit) is equated with pursing the good works that are so important to our Lord.  And, no, we are not saved by our works (salvation is a free gift), but, yes, our works do matter! Gentleness is not merely a personality trait; it is an active decision to treat each other with tenderness (Please read all the scriptures I listed at the end).

In a world full of strife and antagonistic people, it is not always easy to be gentle, especially when the other person is being the opposite.  Do not make the mistake of assuming being gentle is being weak.  Most of my life I have been told I need to grow a backbone and learn to stand up for myself.  Although I enjoy being in the right as much as most people, I am very shy, and I hate confrontation.  It used to bother me that I was not bolder, but the more I read my Bible and study the fruits of the Spirit, the less I have the need to prove the other person wrong. 

I have worked many jobs with a lot of strong personalities and, let’s just say, “bossy” tendencies.  I often came home feeling frustrated and even ganged up on, especially when I had done nothing wrong.  I struggled with wanting to fight back and with wanting to walk away from the job.  Then one morning I started to pray, “Dear Jesus, I want to pursue the fruits of Your Spirit and not let my co-workers’ need to always be right make me so upset.  Please give me the wisdom and strength I need to glorify Your name.”  After about my fifth or sixth week on the job, I was finally able just to smile and say, “Thanks for the advice,” or, “I’ll try it that way next time,” and not feel offended.  It was that prayer, and the direct answer to it, that inspired the theme for this blog series I asked my husband to write with me.

Being gentle is not usually a personality trait one is born with; it is something most of us have to make a deliberate effort to convey.  Rather than shouting back at a smart Alec when you feel it is your right to put him in his place, walk away.  The old saying, “If you have nothing nice to say, then don’t say anything,” is actually good advice.  Who cares if the bully thinks you are being weak by not fighting back?  What truly matters is what God thinks.  And our Savior very much wants us to pursue gentleness with others.

Being gentle also means being compassionate.  A while ago, Mel and I were at a yard sale where a woman stubbed her bare toe (she was in sandals) on a hard wooden crate.  Mel quickly asked, “Ma’am, are you okay?” but the woman’s own husband coldly turned his face away from her and walked away.  Mel and I both observed the hurt look on the face of the wife, as her husband did not bother to acknowledge her bloody toe.  How much it would have meant to her had he shown her gentleness even if he had used few words but assisted her to a chair and even kissed her cheek!  Mel and I discussed on the drive home how badly we felt for the wife.  Wives and husbands, please show each other gentleness and compassion from everything to a stubbed toe to depression and grief!  We do not have to relate to what the other is feeling or even react to pain in the same way to be able to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). 

Jesus Christ was by far the most incredible example of gentleness anyone could ever have exhibited.  It is why so many scriptures refer to Him as a lamb.  No, He was not weak, as being gentle does not make one cowardly.  Yes, He corrected the Pharisees of their legalistic ways and scolded His disciples when they were too stubborn to understand His words.  However, He spoke the Truth in love.  He wept and prayed for all those he walked among just as He still intercedes for mankind today.  When led to His own horrendous crucifixion, He did not fight back, but allowed His false accusers to torture Him so He could die for our sins.  That is not only gentleness personified but also sacrifice and love exemplified.  Doesn’t that only make you want to be gentle as Christ was (and still is) gentle?      

                                                                                                          

(Matthew 11:28-30) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." 

(2 Timothy 2:19-26) Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity..." Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. 

(James 3:13-18) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

(Ephesians 4:1-3) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  

(1 Peter 3:3-5) Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves.

Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit: Peace, Part 3, Written by my Husband

 Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit, Part 3: Peace

Written by My Husband (Mel) 

(Galatians 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. 

I recently dreamed that I was in a large church filled with young men. Two, very tall, male angels were passing out headphones to many of the young men. A message from the Father was broadcast over the headphones to those who put them on. God the Father said, “This is a message to all of the young men who refuse to work on their lives. Don’t shoot one another; this is how the world will destroy itself.”

I understood that when Christians attack one another, this is very displeasing to the Lord. When I was a young man, I was taught to stand up for myself and to fight back when attacked. If someone would make me trouble, I would give it back to them. I felt at times, that turning the other cheek was a sign of weakness. However, God’s Word teaches us to pursue peace with all men. I have witnessed many quarrels in the workplace, in families, among church members, and on a larger scale among nations. The contentious nature of people leads to wars among nations, and ultimately to nuclear destruction. When the restraining hand of the Lord is removed, sudden destruction will come upon mankind.

Christians are to reflect the attributes of Christ. We are to bless those who curse us, and to do good to those who persecute us. When slapped upon one check, we are to turn the other. We are to love our enemies as our self, as well as to pursue peace with all men. We are not to render insult for insult or reviling for reviling. When we bear the good fruit of God’s Spirit, we will bring glory to our Father which is in heaven. Fighting and bickering among Christians, will push people away from the truth of salvation through Christ. We need to keep in mind that people are watching us. We need to give the world a reason to want the hope that we have in Christ. Showing kindness and love toward others is the greatest witness of our faith in Jesus Christ.

 It is not wrong to defend our lives, or the lives of others. Christ’s disciples had two swords for their personal protection. It is also honorable to defend your nation when it is unjustly attacked. However, offensive warfare is to be deplored. We must use wisdom in interpreting the scriptures. 

Pursuing peace with all people is not easy. It requires work on our part, as well as guidance from the Holy Spirit. Many people will say or do things, which may inflame us, but we must be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, because the world is watching us.  

(James 1:19) So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

(Hebrews 12:14-15) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

(1Peter 3:8-9) Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

(1 Peter 3:10-11) For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.

Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit, Part 2: Joy

Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit: Joy

(Galatians 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. 

I began writing this blog about a month ago (in 2018) and then became too busy to finish it.  The week I had planned to work on it again was the same week my beloved seven-year-old Manx cat, Xander had to be euthanized.  Therefore, I was unable to write about joy last week.  Ironic, isn’t it?  But it made me realize even more so how much joy is a choice in our lives.  You may think that joy is not an active decision, but that one can only have joy when everything in life is going perfectly.  Realistically, how often can we say there is nothing in our lives that causes stress?  I am mostly a happy person, with a wonderful husband and a God who loves me, but there are often things cause frustration and, as with the recent loss, sadness.

(Nehemiah 8:10) Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. 

I would also reverse that and say that the strength of the Lord is my Joy!  It is how I can keep a smile on my face.  Yes, I can feel sorrow at the loss of my cat, but I can still feel happiness and peace when I lean on the love of the Lord.

I have been relying on the Truths of Isaiah 61:3, “To console those who mourn… To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."  Notice here, that our joy glorifies the Lord!

When you read some of the below verses you will also see that simply having faith and persevering in the knowledge of God’s goodness will produce joy.

Like most people, I have had my share of heartache and hard times.  There was a time in 2014 when I was so shattered that I could not pray.  Let me rephrase that, I would not pray.  I was so angry and confused with God that there was no way I could consider praising to lift my heaviness.  So, I know some of you are thinking that I am being too simplistic and unrealistic in expecting you to praise or sing when you are feeling wounded.  It got to the point where my soul was dangerously dry and I thirsted for the Lord, therefore I could not stay silent.  I missed my Heavenly Father, I knew He did not cause the harmful situation, and He wanted to comfort His child.  I started small with simply saying, “Thank you,” at the end of each day for all I still had, especially my husband.  My prayers slowly grew longer until I was back to being my usually chatty self with the Lord.  I was eventually even able to sing praises again without feeling like I was going through the motions.  It took at least six months for me to go through the process, but when I chose to pursue joy and release my anger and bitterness, I began to heal.

I have read possibly thousands (at least hundreds, but a lot) of books in my life, and it is difficult to choose a favorite, yet I can say that next to the Bible, the book that touched me the most has been Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard.  If you have never read it, I highly encourage you to do so.  My husband and I read it together and we both were very moved by the story.  Much Afraid’s journey reminded me so much of myself in allowing bitterness and resentment to bully me to the point where I was hindered by going to the High Places with the Good Shepherd.  Had I been a character in that book I would have been called Walks by Sight (or Much Too Logical).  I have learned (am still learning) to become Acceptance with Joy as I can see that Sorrow and Suffering have been my companions for a specific purpose.  I may never fully understand why.  However, I can accept the hard times by remembering God only wants the best for His children, and He does not cause bad things to happen (See Jeremiah 29:11).  He can use the hurts of our past to make us become better people if we allow Him to.  That is, when we chose joy.

Here are some more scriptures on joy:

(Romans 15:13) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

(Colossians 1:10-17) That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 

(Hebrews 12:1-2) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

(James 4:7-10) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. 

(1 Peter 1:7-9) That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. 

Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit, Part 1: Love and Longsuffering, Written by my Husband and Me

Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit: Love and Longsuffering

Written by my Husband (Mel) and Me

(Galatians 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. 

When we display the fruits of the spirit, we automatically invite a spirit of harmony into our home and outside relationships. 

The root of all the other actions is love.  Think of it as the tree that grows all the other fruits from its magnificent branches.  When you love one another, your actions will (or should) reflect your feelings.  For when your love is sincere, you care more about another person's happiness than your own, and you would never do anything to cause someone else harm, especially when you consider how much God loves that person.

(Matthew 7:12) Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.  

As Christians, we are called to be a reflection of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we are indwelt with God’s Holy Spirit, then we should have God’s divine nature and attributes present within our lives. As the moon reflects light from the sun, we should reflect the light of the Son. The greatest of all of the fruits of the Spirit is love. It is impossible to be truly saved without love in your heart. For God is love, and those indwelt with his Holy Spirit will be people of love. God’s Word tells us we should love God, as well as love our neighbor as ourselves. Christ is our example of selfless love. Although Christ was God, He left His throne in glory, became a man, and humbled Himself to the death upon the cross. Upon the cross He said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Christ taught us to love our enemies, and to do good to those who wrong us. We should imitate Christ and have this same selfless love for our neighbors.

 Christ told us that in the last day’s lawlessness would abound, and the love of many will grow cold. 

(Matthew 24: 12-13) And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 

Many, within our modern culture consider hardness, and coldness toward others, as a strength to be admired. It is considered fashionable not to smile, but rather to look hard when being photographed. Television, movies, books, as well as our public schools, teach that the strong must walk on others to get ahead in this life. Love, kindness, selflessness, as well as charity, are frowned upon as weakness. It is popular to have sculls and crossbones on adult, as well as children’s clothing. I don’t understand why anyone would want this symbol of death on their clothes, or in their home.

It is truly as the days of Noah today, and the attributes of Satan are visible in most people’s lives. As Christians, we must go against the grain of our cold society, and let the love and light of our Lord Jesus Christ shine through us. 

Longsuffering is another form of love, and it means that we are to be patient with those who are difficult.  The bullies, those who are purposefully antagonistic, the bad drivers, and poorly trained or just plain rude customer service people, etc.   It is learning to have mercy on someone who you want to retaliate against. It is learning to see them through God's eyes of love and compassion.  It is learning to put Matthew 5:43-45 into practice.

(Matthew 5:43-45) "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

It is sometimes hard to have love for our fellow humans, but with Christ, all things are possible. We live in a fallen world, and we all have faults, that is why it is important not to be critical of others. Longsuffering is love in action. Love keeps no record of wrongs but endures all things. The patient enduring of the character or personality flaws of others is demonstrating true Christ-like love. However, in order to maintain peace, as well as to avoid conflicts, it is sometimes necessary not to associate with certain people. Nevertheless, we are to continue to love that person, and not to allow bitterness into our heart.

If you have bitterness in your heart toward others, I urge you to let the love of Christ melt away the ice on your heart. Even the roots of bitterness are an open door for the devil to have a stronghold in your life. If you have animosity toward someone, let it go, and let the peace of God rule in your heart and mind. Sometimes, it is better not to even speak about a person who stirs up hard feelings. Silence is golden and will help you forgive the person who has offended you. Praying for the offender is the best way to bring a release to your heart.  

(1 Corinthians 13:4-8 & 13) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Galatians 5:19-26

I will next be posting a series my husband and I wrote on each Fruit of the Spirit, but for now here are the verses about the sins of the flesh verses the fruits of the Spirit.

(Galatians 5:19-26) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

The Book of Galatians Quick Preview

 

The Book of Galatians Quick Preview

I know I post this every time, but in case you are new to this blog:

I want to make it clear that all of my dear readers understand that the purpose of sharing my Bible Journal is merely for the sake of helping others realize what the Bible truly says. I pray you read the entire Bible on your own, perhaps read each chapter along with the postings. I also pray you ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart as you read and make His holy words come alive to you and give you His understanding as you study.

Before each book of the Bible, I will take a quick video of the book so you can see a preview of what will be shared for that book. Just remember, I am not a very good artist. but I wanted to share with you how God's Word inspires me. These postings are in no way instructional on how to Bible journal. This is not about beautiful art that covers up and distracts from the scriptures on the pages, it is about expressing my love for the holy Word of God. So even when the pages I share are "ugly" or uncreative, I will still be sharing them as God's Word is always beautiful!

A few notes on the videos. I am not a professional and only have my inexpensive phone to record on. Also, I live in the Pacific Northwest where it will be cloudy from now until at least June, so I apologize if the quality of the videos is too dark!

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 & 2 Corinthians 12:7-10: Living in the Strength of Jesus

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 & 2 Corinthians 12:9: Living in the Strength of Jesus

Again, sorry for the poor-quality photo, but these are two great passages I wanted to share. These two portions of scripture aren't related, they just both happen to be on the same journaling page.

I will explore spiritual warfare in greater depth when we get to Ephesians, so for now, please read the below portion and pray for spiritual protection as you walk with the Lord.  Jesus will send His angels to help you battle the strongholds of Satan.  Note the last phrase; it is an active decision to recognize when our thoughts are wrong and correct them before we follow through with bad actions. The Holy Spirit will always give us strength to walk away and do the right thing. (1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.)

(2 Corinthians 10:3-5) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

As I was beginning to write this new paragraph, I just realized that these two portions of scripture are actually related! They both have to do with living in the strength of Jesus.  The verses in chapter 10 revolve around letting the Holy Spirit be your strength to walk away from doing the wrong things, while the below verses focus on physical strength.

If you don't mind, I am going to get a bit personal.  Since at least 2018, I have been battling an unknown neurological condition.  I will not list all my symptoms but in a small nutshell, I suffer from weakness in varying stages from head to toe. Beginning in late 2019, I finally found a doctor who wanted to try to get to the bottom of my illness.  Unfortunately, she was not a neurologist, and the specialist that I saw off and on from 2019-2022 eventually gave up on trying to come up with a diagnosis and released me from his care. I still do not have a title for my condition, but it matches all the symptoms of (and considering the lesions in my brain, it probably is) Multiple Sclerosis.  

On top of dealing with a long list of neurological symptoms, in 2023 I had two surgeries to remove two cancerous tumors from my body, as well as a complete abdominal hysterectomy, lymph node dissection, and had my omentum removed (layer of tissue that covers abdominal organs).  I praise God these tumors were diagnosed as synchronous ovarian and endometrial cancers, which means they were supposedly independent of each other, and both were considered to be stage 1.  It was, however, a painful and frightening process to go through.  I should have stayed in the hospital for at least a week but talked them into releasing me on day five.

In chapter 12, Paul mentions that he has been dealing with a thorn in his flesh that he had repeatedly asked God to remove.  We do not know what this issue was.  Some say it was persecution while others think it was a physical ailment, which is what I tend to believe, but we do not know for certain.  Perhaps it was both issues. What we do know is that God would not release Paul from this thorn, but instead empowered Paul with His strength to endure the trials so that the name of Jesus could be glorified.   

Through all my thorns (including the emotional ones), 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 has become another one of my favorite verses (last two sentences below), along with Psalm 73:26 (My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.), Nehemiah 8:10 (The joy of the Lord is your strength.), and Philippians 4:13 (I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.)  These verses are not just empty words to me, but are my strength, joy, and hope.  

Whether stuck inside an MRI listening to the head-splitting clanging and banging sounds (I have had 5 MRIs, an uncountable number of CT scans and blood panels, and even a failed - long story- lumbar puncture), or laying on an operating table knowing that when I wake up, I will be in a lot of pain, or waiting for the results to see what stage cancer I had, I truly was and still am able to find joy and peace in the Lord's strength.

If what I have gone and may still go through helps encourages even one person to put their trust in the Lord and brings glory to the name of Jesus, it is all worth it!

Earlier this month, while dealing with another wave of extreme weakness, pain, and fatigue, I had a vision of God placing His hand on my heart and telling me to take His hand.  He said that no matter what was wrong with me, that He was with me and that I would be okay.  With tears streaming, I grasped His fingers and held tight.  No matter what I face, I will cling to His promise to continue to be by my side. Even when not physically fine, I am whole in mind and spirit. Since that experience, I am continually reminded to hold to God's hand and never let go because He will always be my strength. I pray you allow Him to be yours as well.

(2 Corinthians 12:7-10) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

And He said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18-7:1, Part 2: Unequally Yoked

 

 2 Corinthians 6:14-18-7:1, Part 2: Unequally Yoked

I know I already posted a writing on this same passage of scripture, but I wanted to now look at it from another angle.

God does not want us to fit in with the world.  Yes, we are to be kind-hearted to all, but there needs to be a limit with how close we become to the world. In other words, God does not want us to be unequally yoked with those who rebelliously choose to walk in the dark. (I will address marriages at the end of this writing.)

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness...  for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate," saith the Lord, "and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18- 7:1   

 

It is not wrong to be friends with unbelievers, but you should not be overly involved in their lives lest they drag you down. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 says, "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not." You cannot blame anyone if you backslide, you are responsible for your own actions, but why tempt yourself to give in to doing things you know are wrong that go against the will of God?  It is better to keep relationships shallow with those who practice things that you know go against the principles of Jesus Christ.  In other words, we should not be so closely knit with the world we become "unequally yoked."  

Too often Christians who are on fire for the Lord allow the cold influences of the world to cause them to temper their desire for the holy things of God.  Whether it is out of wanting to fit in with those who make fun of you because you refuse to go to the bars, laugh at you because you walk away when the conversations become lewd, or make sarcastic jabs at you because you have given up movies, television, and secular music.  Whatever the reason, you have given in to peer pressure and compromised your holiness beliefs just to be liked by the world. 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2

As Christians, our goal should not be to please the world, but the please the Lord.  Notice in Romans 12 it says that not conforming to the world is "good and acceptable and perfect."  Not that anyone can be perfect, but God honors our efforts.  Considering the amazing gift of salvation Jesus graciously died to give us, striving for holiness truly is our "reasonable service."  

Galatians 1:10 puts it this way, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

I know it is not easy sticking to your values when you feel rejected by those who you care about.  However, and I do not say this to be cruel but bluntly honest, your true friends will not make fun of you for your morals, and if they do, they are the wrong friends.

Don't forget, Jesus was despised and rejected by His family and friends and ridiculed by the very people He came to die for.  And He is still mocked today.  We can endure the criticisms and remain steadfast in our beliefs when we remember our Lord and Savior went through the same rejections, only on a much, much larger scale.

The goal of every blog I write is always to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.  The biggest frustration some of you face is trying to be Godly in an ungodly world. You get tired of being the odd one out in groups and not getting invited to join others because your morals prick their conscience.  But if you are truly desiring to please your Creator, the best way to feel strengthened is to consider what the Bible says. Think of it this way: would you rather be uninvited to parties, family gatherings, etc. because of your stand for Jesus, or uninvited into heaven because you compromised and gave into ungodly behavior just to be liked?

I have seen too often people praise the Lord on Sunday, curse with their friends on Monday, go the bar on Friday, and to a movie full of violence, sex, and/or the occult on Saturday.  Then when back in church on Sunday, guilt sets in, and they repent and feel on fire again.  However, as soon as they try to speak about the Lord to family members or friends, they are made fun of, and their fire gets doused with the coldness of the people they care about. Make no mistake, God will spit you out of His mouth if you cannot make up your mind whether you want to please Him or the world! 

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:13, 15-16

Your buddies did not die for you so you can have eternal life (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John  3:16)!  Nor will not be the ones judging you after you die (And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Revelation 20:12)!

Now is the time to choose Jesus over the world and repent for all the times you have allowed the world to douse the fire you had for the Lord and quench the flames you had for pursuing righteousness. Now is also the time to be bold for the Lord and be the influencer for His name, not the other way around! Jesus ate with the sinners, but He was not the one changed, the sinners were!

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15  

Now I want to also address the issue of being unequally yoked in marriage. What do you do if the unbeliever you are unequally yoked with is your spouse? If you are currently married to an unbeliever, it is clear that the Lord does not expect you to get a divorce, but just the opposite ("For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, for it covers one's garment with violence," Says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 2:16).

Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him... But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed.  1 Corinthians 7:10-16 & 27

Also consider:

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.  1 Peter 3:1-2 (NIV - all other verses listed are KJV)

Live your life by a good example, and you very well may lead your mate to Christ.  Do not be a nag when it comes to differing beliefs because that will just drive a deeper wedge between you.  Stand firm in your faith and do not compromise in your love for the Lord.   Most importantly, do not give up praying for him/her.  There have been many instances where the believer’s kindness and patience paid off, and their loved one eventually became a Christian as well.  Unless your partner is doing something immoral, illegal, or causing you and/or your children harm, stick to your wedding vows and follow the principles of the Bible to be type of spouse God wishes you to be.    

If you are unequally yoked with your mate, do not give up praying for him/her!  Continue to be a witness without being a self-righteous or judgmental nuisance that only pushes your loved one farther away from the things of God.  Also, if you have not done so in a while, consider offering to pray for your mate’s specific prayer requests (silently or out loud, it is up to you) to show your love and compassion for his/her needs.  If it would not cause dissention, consider hosting or leading a Bible study group at your home for a few weeks or months (even if it is for youth or a gender-specific group) as your mate may be more likely to attend (or at least overhear) what it being taught in the safety and privacy of his/her own home.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18-7:1, Part 1: Is it unclean?

 2 Corinthians 6:14-18-7:1, Part 1: Is it unclean?

For advice on how a Christians should interact with the ungodly things of this world, I possibly quote 2 Corinthians 6:14-18-7:1 more than any other verses:

( 2 Corinthians 6:14-18- 7:1) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness...  for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate," saith the Lord, "and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

To me, this really is not that complicated. God does not want us to be involved with situations, items, or people that are openly opposite of His Holy scripture. I will explore more on relationships in part 2.

If you are confused, follow this same rule for all decisions in your life. Look to God's Word, not to your "religious" leaders who have an agenda for you to give them money to help them pay for their luxury items. Not to your buddies who will only be your friends when you agree with them; they do not want to give up their secular lifestyles so they will lead you to stray with them. And not to Hollywood which is dripping int the filth of all the things that are unclean. Only look to scripture.

Here are some prime examples of what is considered unclean, according to laws of Jesus Christ. Whether you are actively participating in them or watching/reading about someone else doing it, it is still an affront to God to glorify such behaviors:

(Galatians 5:19-21) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

I have done a more extensive writing on how much God hates witchcraft if you want to read about it here: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2024/10/should-christians-celebrate-halloween.html

Again, when in doubt, always consult your Bible.  If your conscience is being pricked and you feel guilt when you touch, watch, or listen to something unwholesome, thank the Holy Spirit for His love in prompting you to change your entertainment choices.  Then repent for your disobedience.  And finally, give it up and do not go back to it.  

In my past, I have been very guilty of watching and reading stories with witchcraft and violence in them.  I praise God I listened to the heaviness in my conscience and threw away a large collection of movies, books, and even music that was not as "Christian" as it claimed to be.  I knew they were wrong, and yet I had chosen to listen/watch/read them all anyway.  After repenting and tossing the unclean items, the nightmares stopped, the unexplained anger disappeared, and I began hearing more and more from the Lord.

Hollywood is full of violence, over-sexualization of children, perversions of every sort, glorifies the occult, and goes against all the Bible teaches in general.  Even the so-called Christian or Biblical movies are inaccurate to history, and still show the characters dressed provocatively, swearing, and drinking alcohol, etc.  Realizing that no matter how "innocent" the program, if it comes from Hollywood (or any other entertainment city), it is coming from an unclean source. In 2015, my husband and I gave up all television and movies.  Please prayerfully consider doing the same.   When you give up the unclean things, then you can praise God that you can be considered His son or daughter!

I will leave you with one last verse to consider when you are making choices for your entertainment.  Are your choices true, honest (based on Biblical Truths), just, pure, lovely, good, or virtuous?  If God doesn't even want you thinking on such negative things, then He definitely does not want you filling your eye and ears with them.

(Phillipians 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.