The Insomnia Chronicles

Gentleness

Guest Blogger: Erika Williams

The first thing that came to my mind when I was thinking about gentleness was a sweet little old lady who is always smiling and baking cookies... or me being nice to the lady at the post office while i'm standing there waiting in line for an hour or even the line at the grocery line being nice to the usually grumpy clerk.  but as i began to look into what gentleness means and look into the word i came up with a whole different conclusion...

Gentleness is more than something that we just "put on" it comes from within. It's who we are and starts in our thoughts.

    Philippians 4:5 "Let your gentleness be evident to all the Lord is near."

        WHO? Me-those I am around a lot.
        WHY? Christ has been so kind and gentle with me... so i need to follow his example. (titus 3:2-3)
        WHEN? Always... Christ is coming soon. From God's view a thousand years is like a day. So for each generation his return is near.
        HOW? Taking a thoughtful approach for others even when things are difficult for me. When I think only of myself it is easy to hurt                      other's unintentionally. So thinking about others instead of just me.

    Matthew 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest in your souls."

The thing that I've learned about gentleness is it's not a quietness or passiveness but it is a confidence and comes with humility. In difficult or stressful times my thoughts can be planted right on me... "hows this going to work out... i feel.... what about me?"

But not gentleness it has a consideration and concern for others. Wanting the best for everyone. It's more than just a kind smile or thoughtful word it is something that begins in our character. We learn how to be gentle from Christ. He has been so gentle and patient with us.

Gentleness starts in my thoughts and is clearly and accurately displayed to those I am around the most. It's displayed when I'm at work and things get a little crazy, or when I'm at home with my roomates. We see our true gentleness spill out or not spill out when we are around people we see the most.

Faithfulness

Guest Blogger: Whitney Hertstein

When I began thinking about what it means to be faithful, I couldn’t help but think of a verse from a favorite Psalm of mine. Psalm 119.

I have chosen to be faithful.
I have determined to live by your regulations (v30)

Faithfulness doesn’t just happen. It’s a series of choices. To be faithful to God, I must choose to obey God in every moment. Yes, even the difficult moments.

It is choosing to obey God…when I don’t feel anything.
It is choosing to obey God…when I don’t understand. When I’m tired. When I don’t feel like it. When I don’t see automatic results. When everyone else has given up. When it hurts. When it’s scary. When I am weak. When it doesn’t seem possible.

I choose to be faithful. You choose to be faithful.

Paul went through it all (see 2 Corinthians 11:25-29). But remained faithful to God through it all! And at the end of his life, he could say…

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:7-8

There is a reward in store for us too, if we choose to remain faithful to Him.

Fighting to be faithful…

Goodness

Guest Blogger: Tom Fogarty

"For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord."
-Ephesians 5:8-10 (ESV)

Do you remember as a small child being told to "be good" by your parents? Perhaps there was company over, you were going out somewhere, or maybe you were just doing something bad. Basically, your parents were saying "act right," whatever that view of righteousness was in their eyes.

God asks the same thing of us, His children when He calls us to be lights in this world. (Matt 5:4) That means the world has to see the fruit of that light and we can no longer walk in darkness, because our Father has told us not to; and as good children, we seek to please Him.

Others will see our goodness in our actions and in our speech, but God will see it in our faith. (Gal 3:11) That kind of faith that we are to live by tells us that we are to obey God no matter what, because we have faith.  God knows when we are good; and that goodness is powerful in our prayers: "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (Jas 5:16)

We will never be as good as God, and as "imitators of God," (Eph 5:1) we will fail sometimes; but no matter what, we should always be seeking a righteous life in the Lord. (Matt 6:44)

You good?

Kindness

Guest Blogger: Steve Gagne

Gal  5:22 – "But the fruit of the Spirit is… kindness…"

Whenever I think about kindness, I think about opening a door for someone that is carrying groceries, or smiling at the cashier at the market when she looks like she hates her job, or even helping the guest out at work by digging out some change from my uniform apron so they have exact change for the bill.

These acts are not too far from this word "kindness" that we find here in the Galatians 5. This word in its original written language can also be translated as "goodness" and "usefulness". When I first read the word "usefulness", I paused. Huh… usefulness… that's different! I never considered kindness to be associated with usefulness! Here we get a taste of the practicality of who Jesus is!

This Greek word for Kindness is found a few other times in the New Testament. Specifically in Titus 3:4-5

"But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, buy the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Sprit,"

Jesus is the embodiment of God's kindness and love! His love for us, and the plan to make a way for us to be with Him, was lived in out in the life of Jesus! Being good and useful at the same time is what makes up kindness – which embodies the work that was done on the cross by our Savior Jesus Christ.

The "usefulness" of our lives is best demonstrated when others see Jesus in us and because of us! After all, isn't that the reason why we even have life? Not that we may get any recognition, but that the Father be honored and glorified! You might say, "But I'm tired of feeling used!" The beauty of being used by the Father, as opposed to some person that you need to get away from, is that He is our purpose, the giver of our strength, our very breath! The more you are poured out as a cold drink to those who thirst, the more He pours back in!

Am I useful to those around me?
Does my attitude reflect a desire to be useful, that they may see Christ? Or do I simply do for the sake of doing, that I may work my way to the Father?

To be good and useful, motivated by the love of the Father… now that's some tasty fruit!

Enjoying feeling used,

Patience

Guest Blogger: Andrew Jump

"Be humble under God's powerful hand so he will lift you up when the right time comes" 1 Peter 5:6

I cook Italian food nearly everyday. This week God has been bringing patience into clear focus around a  boiling pot of rigatoni. Patience requires your full attention. Patience is humility. Waiting for God to act is one of humilty and  attention. It's not enough to put the pasta in and have patience until it is finished. It still requires stirring along the way. Even more specifically, pasta left alone, especially near al dente (firm to bite), is dangerous because "when the right times comes" we must act immediately to stop the cooking process. It's being humble in waiting and humble in acting (stopping the cooking process by draining the water).

God allows us to wait in humilty for just the right time. Yet this process can be difficult, sometimes I rush things and end up with pasta not fully cooked. Other times I,  so preoccupied "waiting patiently" (doing other things), that I am not able to act when the pasta is finished and my pasta becomes too soft.

If we decide to wait for God to act, we must give our attention to him; if he wants us to wait, there is a very good possibilty that he is preparing us to act at just the right time. But honestly, watching pasta can be frustrating and boring, especially if you're hungry. Waiting patiently for God to act can feel the same way. But there is no substitue for real al dente pasta. There is no real substitue for God acting through you at just the right time. Acting top early or too late can ruin the whole dish and can hinder the fullness of God's amazing plan for this moment,  for MY next moment,  for YOUR next moment.

Waiting for al dente,

Peace

Guest Blogger: Andrea Gideon

Galatians 5:22 NLT
“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.”

*Peace- freedom of mind from annoyance, distraction, and anxiety. To be untroubled or content. (www.dictionary.com)
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*Peace- Hebrew word for peace is ‘salom’ meaning “to be complete” “to be sound” or “to be whole”.

*Everyone desires peace. We all desire to be free from worry and anxiety. We desire to be untroubled and content. We desire to be complete and whole… it’s what the whole world is after. So why are so many people not free? Why can’t people find peace?

*I am glad you asked.

*At the beginning of this verse it says, “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit…”

*Peace only comes when the Holy Spirit is in control.
*What does letting the Holy Spirit be in control look like?

-It is trusting, no matter what we feel, no matter what we think and no matter what makes sense to us, and then, we must let that trust lead us to obedience and complete surrender to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

*God wants us to have peace, but he can’t give it to us unless we are surrendered to His control.

Phil. 4:7 NIV
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace (wholeness, soundness, and completeness) of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

*What an awesome promise! If we let go of control in EVERY situation and pray… giving God control, He will give us wholeness, soundness, and completeness which passes all of our understanding. This peace passes all our worries and concerns, and fears… all we have to do is let go!

*Now, does this mean that there will never be times in our lives when everything is in an uproar? Absolutely not… BUT, in the middle of the uproar we can be sound knowing that as we give up control and follow the Spirit’s leading that God will always come through.

                            Letting go of control…

-Do you have peace?
-Is the Holy Spirit in control?
-Are you trusting Christ?
-Are you obeying Him?

Joy

Guest Blogger: TJ Reid

I remember the summer breaks in middle school and high school where I would just sit in my bed almost all day.  It wasn’t because I was just a lazy teenager, but because I really struggled with depression.  Most of the time I just wanted to be by myself, and asked that people would just leave me alone.

However, when God saved my life at 18 years old, there was a new deeply rooted joy in my life.  People who knew me before were amazed at the change in my demeanor, perspectives on life, and just the smile on my face.  I am truly grateful to God that He saved me and gave me joy.

Joy has become God’s thumbprint on my life.  As I go through tough situations, He reminds me of what He has brought me through and where He is bringing me.

Joy isn’t a feeling, it’s clear focus on Jesus and not myself.  I constantly am reminding myself of what He has done, what He is doing, and what He is going to do.  I created this list that helps to remind me that joy belongs to me, because Jesus gave it and no one can take it away.  Below is this list that I want to share with you:

Joy belongs to those who love God’s Word (Psalm 1:1,2; Psalm 19:8)

Joy belongs to those who have been forgiven  (Psalm 32:1,2, 11)

Joy belongs to those who have been saved by Jesus (Psalm 51:12)

Joy belongs to those who need the strength of God (Psalm 84:5)

Joy belongs to those who are disciplined by the Lord (Psalm 94:12)

Joy belongs to those who are people of integrity (Psalm 119:1)

Joy belongs to those who have kids (Psalm 127:5)

Joy belongs to those who are helped by God (Psalm 146:5)

·      Is joy growing in you?

·      Is your focus right now more on your problems or are you getting a clear focus on Jesus and His promises?

·      Have you told your face that you are joyful today?

Growing in joy...

 

Love

Guest Blogger: Erin Gancer

But the fruit of the Spirit is love…

There are times when I am severely dissatisfied with the English language.  Trying to describe love is one of those times.  How can I “love” my shoes in one sentence and in the next “love” my family?  Yes, I admit that I too am guilty of polluting the meaning of this word, love.  But as followers of Christ, we ought to know what Jesus meant he commanded, “just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”  (John 13:24)

How exactly did Christ love us?  A good question.  This wasn’t a “like” kind of love, or a “say one thing and do another kind” of love. “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)  God’s love revealed through action, sacrifice, and through no work of our own. 

The Greek word for this love is Agape, meaning a brotherly love and affection; goodwill.  No mention of feelings or preferences – single minded selfless devotion to doing whatever it takes for the good of another.  This is how Christ loved us. This is how we are to love each other.

So how do we grow in love for each other?...I’ve found two ways that help me: 

The first is Practice.  Practice preferring other people, and seeking their best interest regardless of yours!  That means, at times, telling your feelings to take a hike, and serving someone else.  Not easy!  But try.  Again and again.

The second is Prayer.  Paul called love a “fruit of the Spirit,” meaning it is what comes naturally out of a relationship with the Holy Spirit.  Ask God to help you love, to prefer yourself less and others more.  Grow closer in relationship with Him, and more of this fruit is sure to grow, and be evident in your life.

The greatest command, to love. 

How has God’s love for you changed your life?
Are you sharing that love with others?
What hinders your love for others the most?
Are you working on it?

The FRUIT Stand.

I'm off for around 10 days of vacation...  so, no bloggin' from me for a while... but, the "Insomnia Chronicles" WILL CONTINUE!! That's right, I've asked some of my bloggin' allies to bring their wisdom and perspective HERE while I'm gone.  They will be doing a word by word  study on the "Fruit of the Spirit"... I'm calling it "The FRUIT Stand" ~ as they will be teaching us how to take a stand for Christ by living a fruitful life!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law" Galatians 5:22-23.

I'm really looking forward to reading their thoughts on this really cool passage.  God wants your life to be fruitfull ~ so, I ask you are these things abounding in your life on a regular basis?  IF not, check here everyday and study with us!

And yeah, leave some feedback love' in the comments for them...

Thanks, Chilly

p.s. please pray for my family & me while we're away.