My One Word Responses

A friend of mine started this on her blog and sent out a challenge to participate. It was a series of questions that had to be answered in a single word. It was fun to do, but a little challenging too, on some of the questions. (Or maybe I'm just too "wordy"). Feel free to copy and insert your own one word answers. I hope you enjoy.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your significant other? amazing
3. Your hair? ponytail
4. Your mother? Seattle
5. Your father? Absent
6. Your favorite thing? chocolate
7. Your dream last night? dream?
8. Your favorite drink? cold
9. Your dream/goal? published
10. The room you're in? warm
11. Your ex? who?
12. Your fear? snakes
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Montana
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you're not? wimpy
16. Muffins? chocolate
17. One of your wish list items? acerage
18. Where you grew up? Arizona
19. The last thing you did? vacuumed
20. What are you wearing? shorts
21. Your TV? off
22. Your pets? furry
23. Your computer? slow
24. Your life? full
25. Your mood? content
26. Missing someone? Yes
27. Your car? small
28. Something you're not wearing? make-up
29. Favorite store? Target
30. Your summer? HOT!!!
31. Like(love) someone? definately
32. Your favorite color? PURPLE!
33. Last time you laughed? morning
34. Last time you cried? hmmm?
35. Who will re-post this? someone

A Fruity Kind of Peace

As I continue on with my Fruit of the Spirit study, I’ve journeyed beyond the comfortable resting place of joy, and have found myself trekking on toward peace. I found myself at a loss as to how to best describe the peace that God gives us. Try as I might, I couldn’t think of a good example or story to tell, that would accurately portray what I wanted to say. Then I received a phone call.

It was a message actually, left by a dear friend, telling me that another friend of ours had given birth on Father’s Day. Normally, this is the kind of news a person would love to receive. But not this birth, not this time. My friend is now, for the second time, planning a funeral following the birth of her child, rather than a homecoming. It was not until during this pregnancy that a rare genetic disease was discovered.

How does one make it through such terrible tragedy, not just once, but twice? Only by the grace of God and the peace he gives us. John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” See, He never tells us that we won’t have trouble. On the contrary, he assures us that we will. It’s a fallen, broken world and bad things happen, even to good people. But that’s not the end. A second look at the verse reveals that we can have peace because He has overcome the world.

For most of us, it didn’t take long in life to realize that things aren’t fair and we can be deeply hurt by other people and by circumstances that are beyond our control. We understand that dark, ominous clouds can roll in at any time, bringing a frightful storm. Sometimes we may have some sort of warning, but other times it’s seemingly from out of nowhere. It can be downright terrifying and it would be easy to be panicked or hysterical, if it were not for God. If we allow Him to, He can step right into the midst of the storm and command peace. That’s what happened in the fourth chapter of Mark. There was a great storm on the sea and the disciples were terrified, so they woke Jesus. The verse reads, “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace! Be still! And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39 Jesus commanded peace to the storm, which brought about calm.

When he was walking on this earth, Jesus taught that trouble, trials, tribulations and storms of various sorts would arise. The degree of severity may fluctuate, but all have the potential to ravage us. It is staggering to consider the potential for loss we all could face. The loss of a job, a home, a dream or a relationship could be a tough burden to bear. The loss of a loved one, especially a spouse or a child could seem to be unbearable. And on our own it probably is. We need to take comfort from something and without God that something could be alcohol, drugs, sex, food or any of a number of things we could do to numb the pain and mask the fear. But when we have God, we can lean on Him and receive the peace He has to give.

In Philippians 4:6-7 it says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” My friend has suffered multiple losses that I would never even want to imagine. But she is strong in Christ and I believe that even through this awful time she is experiencing this peace that surpasses all understanding. I believe she knows that she is a daughter of the King, and that her Father is still on the throne. While she is yet grieving, her heart and mind are guarded from hopelessness and despair.

In no way does this peace make one to be a “Pollyanna” or in denial, but rather it is an understanding that even though we may be facing trouble, trials, tribulations and storms, we are not facing them alone. In God we have someone who has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. In God we know that there is someone bigger than us to help us bear our burdens. In God we understand that we will make it through whatever we are facing and this life, with its ups and downs, is only temporary. Our eternal home is with Him in heaven, where there will be no tears, pain, sickness or death. But while we are yet here, He has given us His peace, so that we are not merely survivors, but rather we are over-comers.

Often we hear war protesters chant “Give peace a chance.” Though they are referring to another type of peace, I agree. In Christ, we should give peace a chance indeed!

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

(C) 2008 Tracy Keck

An Everyday Hero

I’m really looking forward to this Sunday, which is Fathers Day. Having not ever known my own father, this is the first one I’ll be celebrating and honoring someone I love, my husband Jeff. This is the first year we’re ‘officially’ parents (I’m told the 4-legged kids don’t count). Our sweet baby girl, Reagan, is nearly nine month old. She has been a blessing and a joy for us both.

Just the other day I was asked, what had recently moved me deeply. I promptly responded. Not long ago, I saw Jeff singing to and dancing with Reagan. The scene was perfect and I was immediately moved to tears. It was so beautiful – a man (who doesn’t like to dance, by the way) holding his baby girl close to him, singing and dancing, seemingly oblivious to anything else. It was a sight that truly blessed me and is one I’m not likely to forget.

In that moment I realized how happy I was for my daughter. She has a daddy who loves her more than anything. She is so special in his eyes, and he can’t wait to see her when he gets home at night. Though he is often tired from a long day at work, he still takes time to play with her and just be with her. He has a good, strong work ethic and provides well for his family.

Jeff is a godly man. He has more honor and integrity than anyone I know and his walk matches his talk. He is strong, yet gentle and a great natural leader. Jeff is a very deep person and doesn’t talk a lot, but when he does, he has something to say. Something that should be heard. There is a natural wisdom that comes out from deep within him. He’s really intelligent, but also down to earth. He loves his wife and his little girl greatly. He truly is a wonderful man and while the world may not recognize him as such, to us, he’s a hero!

I’ve heard it said that a girl is naturally drawn to guys like her daddy. If that’s true, then I know that many, many years from now, she too will find and marry a good man. One who will love her, take care of her and cherish her the way she deserves to be. Because that is what is modeled for her now… If she’s ever allowed to date, that is!

(C) 2008 Tracy Keck

A Fruity Kind of Joy

I recently set off on a journey, down the path of the Fruit of the Spirit. The first stop was the Fruit of Love. I lingered there briefly, taking in what my Father spoke to me about love. It was a time to appreciate the love He showers down on me always. Though I was happy to bask in the wonder of His love, I did not linger long, as it was time to journey on. I set off down the path again, this time to find myself stopping to experience the Fruit of Joy.

To have the Joy of the Fruit of the Spirit is not the same as being happy. To be happy is fleeting. It’s something that comes and goes and seems to change with the wind. Or if you’re like me, it changes with the traffic. Happiness is not something to count on or trust, because in our busy, hectic, always in overdrive world, it’s very easy to go from happy to irritated, or happy to sad, or happy to frustrated, or, well, you get the picture. The point is, happy can turn on a dime.

Joy, on the other hand, is more than happy. Joy is something that goes deep inside you, to the dark recesses of your soul, and fills it with light. It is the light of having a relationship with God. It is a light that stays lit even when darkness looms. The joy of the Lord doesn’t come through external circumstances, but rather from an internal peace and knowledge that no matter what the situation, God is in control and His love and power will carry you through. I know this from personal experience.

Just over two years ago, I had a miscarriage. I’d never experienced such grief. But in the midst of that grief, I still had joy. My Father, in His great mercy and grace, showed me that my little one was with Him in Heaven, and would never know pain, sickness, sadness or tears. I was able to draw strength and comfort from the joy that was deep within me. No, it didn’t take the sorrow away, but it did give me hope, and it helped me to make it through. Was I happy? No, absolutely not. But the joy of the Lord never left me. At that time, I really understood Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Spiritual joy, or the joy of the Lord, rises up from deep within us, regardless of the circumstances. The Bible tells us in Nehemiah 8:10, “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” When we are in the midst a storm in our life, we can trust that if we choose to offer up a sacrifice of praise to the Lord, if we choose to draw on the joy He has deposited in us, we will then be strengthened to withstand whatever may come. This joy of the Lord gives us strength to endure to the end, knowing that if we do not grow weary in doing good, we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up (Galatians 6:9).

So, how do we grow in joy? That’s where external factors come in. There are various activities one can engage in that help to build the joy in your life. Living a life that is holy and pleasing to God builds our joy. Practicing hospitality and helping others who are in need builds our joy. Giving an encouraging word to someone who is hurting or lonely builds our joy. Knowing we are doing something to make another’s life better builds our joy. In other words, laying self aside and doing things that are not about us builds our joy (and kills our flesh). Isn’t that something to rejoice over?

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. – Hab. 3:17-19

(C) 2008 Tracy Keck

A Fruity Kind of Love

Last week, I was feeling a little in need for some fresh fruit in my life. Some fresh Fruit of the Spirit, that is. The first characteristic listed as “fruit” in the Fruit of the Spirit, is Love. As I was contemplating Love, one thing kept going through my mind. It’s a song that Frank Sinatra sang called “Love is a Many Splendored Thing.” What the heck does that even mean anyway? But it got me to thinking that there’s no shortage of songs, movies and books that portray an idea of what love is – wonderful, beautiful, passionate, all champagne and roses and happily ever after. We’re led to believe that being “in love” is the pinnacle of achievement emotionally, and when we finally attain that, everything will be okay. Wrong. Like anything else in life that matters, love takes work.

Love, real love, is so much more than a feeling. It’s an emotion that we experience in many kinds of relationships. There is love in familial relationships. There is love in romantic relationships. There is love in platonic relationships. There is love in the relationships we have with our pets. There is even love in chocolate relationships! Certainly there’s a difference in the types and the depths of love we may feel, and that’s ok. Obviously, you’re going to have a stronger love for your child than your friend. You may even have a stronger love for a dear friend than you would for a family member, based on the specific relationships involved. It is important to mention that love is only as healthy as the person who loves.

Love is also a choice and an action. Sometimes we have to choose to love even when we don’t feel like it. When we’ve been hurt by someone we love, it’s not easy moving past the pain, but it can be done if choose to do so. The Bible tells us that love covers a multitude of sins. If we really love someone, we can forgive them when they’ve hurt us or let us down. If we really love someone, we can choose to see beyond their actions, to know their heart and believe in them even when they’ve disappointed us. Special Note: Love is not abusive. If you are in an abusive situation, get help and get out, especially if there are children involved.

The love between a woman and a man can be powerful and passionate, but when the passion fades, what’s left? If they had real love, built on a solid foundation with friendship, shared beliefs, common interests and real commitment, then they still have all of that and their relationship has not crumbled. Passion is good, but there is a natural ebb and flow with passion, it is fluid, not something you can build up or stand on in times of trouble. If that’s all you have, then really you have nothing to hold on to.

There is another kind of love that can occur between a parent and a child. This is a love that is felt no matter what. This love enables a parent to sacrifice their own needs or wants to provide for their child. This love turns a mild-mannered, polite, decent person into a raging, fierce and fearless force to be reckoned with, when their child is in danger. This love gives a parent the strength to go without sleep when their child is sick and to mete out discipline when necessary, to build character and teach the difference between right and wrong. Sadly, this is not experienced by every child, because like any other type of love and relationship, the love that is given is only as healthy as the person who is giving it and if a parent is unhealthy emotionally, they are unable to express or even experience a healthy kind of love.

The best, sweetest and most pure form of love is the love God has for us. It is called agape and it is the only kind of love that is completely without condition. God loves us so much He sent His own Son to die on a cross for us. He loves us so much, that He forgives us when we ask Him to, no matter what we’ve done, and see’s us as His child, forgetting what He’s even forgiven us for. This agape love is what we all want, to know that someone loves us no matter what. When we experience this kind of love, it changes us. It helps us to love others more freely, more compassionately, more unselfishly. It helps us to love the unlovely, and to forgive the unforgiveable. This kind of love is available to all of us, but it’s up to us. We have to choose to receive it.

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.” ~ Psalm 103:11-13

Normally, I end with a portion of scripture that I feel fits the topic. Today I’d like to finish with something else. While pondering this piece, I was inclined to look up something I’d seen before on the internet. Here are a couple of examples of how children would describe love.

~ Love is that first feeling you feel before all the bad stuff gets in the way.

~ Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.

~ Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.

(C) 2008 Tracy Keck

Feeling Fruity

I’ve been thinking about and wanting a lot more fruit lately. Maybe it’s because I’m trying to cut back on sugar and fruit is naturally sweet. Maybe it’s because it’s summer time and in the hot Arizona summer fruit is cool and refreshing. Maybe it’s because cherries are almost in season and I love cherries! Whatever the reason, I’ve been feeling a bit “fruity”. I really do love so many different types of fruit. Some of my favorites are cherries, strawberries, apples, oranges, cherries, pineapples, bananas, cherries, watermelon, cherries, well you get the idea. There’s so many to choose from! And they’re not just tasty, but they’re good for us too!

Not too long ago, I was kind of on an apple kick. Not any one particular kind of apple, but I was really enjoying many different apple varieties. Some were tart, others sweeter, all were crisp. They were yummy! Right now I have melon in the refrigerator - both cantaloupe and watermelon. Mmmm… What I really want though, what I’m waiting for, are cherries. Oh sure, there’s a few bags at the store, but they’re not really all that good yet and are way too expensive. But the time is coming very soon, that I will have cherries a-plenty. Yeah!

Thinking about all this fruit has led me to thinking about the Fruit of the Spirit. We all bear fruit in our lives. Meaning the characteristics we display. What fruit are we displaying? The Bible tells us we are known by our fruit. Just as a tree is identified by the fruit that grows on it, we are identified by our actions.

I’ve read the Bible a few times, and I know that the Fruit of the Spirit is listed in Galatians 5:22-23. I even have a plaque of the Fruit of the Spirit in my kitchen. So I know what characteristics make up the Fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Pretty simple, right? Well I guess if you’re just reading a list, then yeah, it’s pretty simple. But what about trying to live them out? That’s a bit harder, isn’t it?

So here I am, examining the fruit in my life. Yikes. If I were to be totally honest with myself, and with you, I’d have to say my fruit needs a bit of tending to. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-Control. Yep, all of these need some work. This task could be a bit daunting. I can already feel my flesh starting to bristle at the thought of my working once again to put it to death. I know this is not a destination, so much as it is a journey, but it’s time to start moving along that path again. I know I’ll never be perfected in this life, but that doesn’t alleviate my responsibility to grow and improve while I’m here.

In this, I’m comforted in knowing that I am not alone. Once again, God will work with me, lovingly, joyfully, peacefully, patiently, kindly, faithfully and gently. Hmm, isn’t it wonderful that He gives us Himself to model after? I am so thankful that though I fail him, often it seems, He loves me anyway and is always ready to forgive me. He never gives up on me. Sometimes I don’t know why, but I’m thankful that He doesn’t.

I intend to examine and write about the Fruit of the Spirit, one characteristic at a time. I hope you’ll join me on this journey, and maybe even tend to some fruit of your own. I’m sure the Lord will speak to us and bless us for our effort.

“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

(C) 2008 Tracy Keck