Full with Fresh Fruit

Well, I made it. I’ve completed my journey through the Fruit of the Spirit. It was a great trip and I’m glad I took it. I am now full of fresh fruit and sincerely hope the journey was a good and uplifting for others as well.

One thing I’ve really enjoyed about this series, is going back and re-reading some of the previous posts. While a lot of it was familiar (as it should be, since I wrote it), there were some passages I read that made me thing, I wrote that? Whenever I came to a passage that prompted that thought, I paid particularly close attention because I knew that those words were not really my own, but God’s. It is both amazing and humbling to know that He has chosen to work through me.

I’d like to thank everyone who has read the words that I’ve written and particularly those who’ve taken the time to comment and encourage me on my blog. In finishing, the verse that came to mind is Isaiah 55:10-11, “For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” This is such a comforting promise. He has a purpose for the words I wrote, and He will accomplish that purpose.

In case you’ve missed any of the articles about the Fruit of the Spirit that I’ve posted here, simply click here on Fruit of the Spirit and that will take you to all articles posted here. Then just find the fruit you may have missed. Thanks again for reading and for all the support and may God bless you richly.

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” Colossians 1:10-12

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” 2 Peter 1:4-7

A Fruity Kind of Self-Control

As my travels through the Fruit of the Spirit draw near to the finish line, I find myself trekking to my final destination – the Fruit of Self-Control. I believe this Fruit is in the final position for a reason. Looking back at the previous Fruits, I see that though there may be a measure of growth without it, to truly grow and expand in each of these characteristics, requires that we use self-control.

Self-control is about choices. Throughout this quest of attaining fresh Fruit of the Spirit, we’ve seen that in order to develop and grow healthy fruit, we have to choose to do so. Regularly. Self-control enables us to walk in love, joy and peace when things are tough and all we want to do is slink off to a corner somewhere to lick our wounds. It assists us to be patient and kind when we what we we’d like to do is snap at, or even smack someone upside the head for their behavior toward us. And it is what helps us to behave in a way that shows others that goodness, faithfulness and gentleness are not extinct in our society.

Many of us, me included, tend to see self-control as something that takes away from us. But that’s not true. If we exercise self-control in our eating habits, there is no question that we are healthier, weigh less and are more physically fit. If we exercise self-control in our financial habits, we are more fiscally sound, and in reality can do more of what we really want to do (vacation, purchase our dream home, be a stay-at-home-mom, retire, etc), instead of always striving to make more so we can spend more. And if we exercise self-control in our relationships, chances are they’ll be stronger, healthier and happier.

Another benefit of self-control is that it cuts down or eliminates impulsive actions, which is a good thing. Instant gratification is almost an obsession in our society. Sure, a little can be harmless, but I think overall it can be like a drug. It satisfies us for a moment, but then that moment passes and we start looking for our next fix, and then our next. Most of us never even realize that instant gratification becomes insatiable in our lives, and it’s always just one more time. Practicing, developing or exercising self-control is the only way we overcome the vice of instant gratification.

Oftentimes a lack of self-control is really about attempting to fill a hole that is deep within us. But it never works, because we are trying to fill that hole with anything but the one thing that will work – God. We make excuses, justify and feel entitled to have whatever our weakness or desire is, and we wear blinders so we don’t see that in fact it’s actually harmful to us. Again, not everything is detrimental to us, because in moderation, most things are not really bad for us. But when we lack self-control, all around or in a specific area, we tend to not do things in moderation.

God loves us and He wants to fill the emptiness inside of us. He desires that we practice self-control because He understands how much better it makes us. Exercising self-control is about loving and respecting ourselves and those around us. It helps us to adapt good habits and forego bad habits. It helps us to live productive and fulfilling lives. This is what God wants for us, and if we allow Him to, He will help us to achieve that.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” ~ Titus 2:11:14

© 2008 Tracy Keck

A Fruity Kind of Gentleness

While it was very pleasing to me, to stay at the Fruit of Faithfulness for a brief moment, it is now time that I continue on my trip through the Fruit of the Spirit. I find that I am nearing the end of my journey, as I take time to delve into the Fruit of Gentleness. This is one stop that it does me good to linger at.

Even as I say the word, this characteristic is almost foreign to me, and there is a good reason for that. I have been called many things in my life, but I’m almost certain I have never been called gentle. Gentleness is not a characteristic I come by naturally. In fact, more times than I care to admit, I’ve been compared to a bull in a china shop. Yikes! I have to work hard at softening my speech, movements and actions. It’s not that I mean to be bullish, it just sort of happens.

When communicating with others I tend to be direct, and sometimes that's not taken well. I don’t mean to seem short or harsh, but I do realize that sometimes that’s how it sounds. I’ve learned to get better at thinking about what I’m saying and softening it bit, rather than just blurting it out, but I still have to consciously work at this. I know I can be rather abrupt at times and I certainly don't intend to be.

What is gentleness really? Looking it up, I see that it is soft, calm, amiable, soothing and polite. These are all good things. These are all traits I would like to display naturally and regularly, but know that I do not. However, the Lord is usually pretty faithful in showing me when I’ve lacked gentleness. And as they say, knowledge is power. So with that in mind, I have the power to take the opportunity to cultivate the traits that make up gentleness and grow in that area. As I’ve said many times before, it’s all about choice. I get to choose to grow in this, or stay the same.

Choosing to grow in gentleness is one more great way to develop my character from that of being self and worldly-oriented to that of others and spiritually-oriented. The Bible admonishes us to portray gentleness. Philippians 4:5 says, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near”. This tells me that a gentle spirit within me should be obvious to those who meet me. As I emulate the character of my Father, it should be apparent to others, and they should see Him through me.

Many times, we find ourselves in situations in which someone is short with us or angry about something, that we may or may not have had anything to do with. While it is natural to get defensive and respond in kind, that does nothing to solve or ease the situation, but rather it tends to escalate it. We’re told in Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” I’ve found this is true in my own life. When I respond from my gut, chances are I’m making things worse instead of better. But when I refuse to take offense, tame my tongue, and offer up a softer response, I usually find that starts to open the door to resolution of the problem. Or if doesn’t really help to solve the problem, at least it doesn’t make things worse.

I’d like to say I’m there, that I’ve made my way to being a gentle person, but that’s not true. I am however, further along in my quest for gentleness of spirit. And I know if I keep going, I’ll keep getting that much further along. It’s the process allowing the Lord to change me from the inside out and going from glory to glory. I haven’t yet arrived, but praise God, I’ve left the gate!

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” ~ Colossians 3:12

© 2008 Tracy Keck

A Fruity Kind of Faithfulness

Having completed my brief visit with the Fruit of Goodness, I find that I am two-thirds of the way through my Fruit of the Spirit journey. The trip thus far has been delightful and I’m so glad I decided to take it. I’m not through yet though, and am pleased to move on to my next stop, which is at the Fruit of Faithfulness.

Faithfulness is simply the act of being faithful. But what is faithful? It is a characteristic that is to be admired. If we are known by our faithfulness, we are known to be loyal, constant, reliable, trustworthy, honest and true. And no, we are not to be considered Golden Retrievers because we carry these traits. (Though you gotta love them Golden’s!) Anyway, to be known as trustworthy, is something that all Christian’s should strive to be. Of course, Christians don’t have exclusive rights to this or any other characteristic, but as a Christian we should exemplify it because we whether we like it or not, we are modeling God to the world.

The thing that I love so much about faithfulness is that it is so closely tied to God. He is always faithful to us. His love is not conditional. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He always forgives us when we ask. When we feeling tossed about by the storms of life, he is always our life preserver. When we have God, we have peace. When we have God, we have hope. When we have God, we have someone on our side, always.

God is absolutely faithful. We are assured of this over and over in the Bible. In Psalm 86:15 it says, “But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” In Psalm 100:5 it says, “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” And in Lamentations 3:22-23 it says, “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” These are such great and comforting promises that we can hold onto. And there’s many more too!

So if we are to be like God, and to grow in the characteristics of God, what then does faithfulness look like to us? It’s walking in integrity, giving our word and keeping it. It’s being loyal even when things get tough, or it’s not the easy thing to do. It’s being trustworthy, and giving no doubts to anyone about the kind of person we are. Being faithful is seeing a project of job through to completion. It’s holding on to our faith, even when times get tough.

The one person I think of most in regards to faithfulness, is my husband, Jeff. He is full of integrity, reliable as the rising and setting of the sun, unwavering in his beliefs and persistent in completing his tasks. And I admire him greatly. Because of him and the example he sets, I know I am a better person. There is a verse that I think fits him perfectly. It’s Proverbs 3:3-4, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”

God assures us, that if we are faithful with a little, we will be given a lot, and that is when we will hear “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” And because of His faithfulness, God also helps us resist the temptations of sin. I’ve heard it said that ‘cleanliness is next to Godliness.’ I believe though, that a more accurate statement would be, ‘faithfulness is next to Godliness!’ Wouldn’t you agree?

“This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:11-13


© 2008 Tracy Keck

A Fruity Kind of Goodness

Once again, I find it’s time to move on in my journey of discovering some fresh Fruit of the Spirit. Having enjoyed my time at the Fruit of Kindness, I know that the Fruit of Goodness awaits. Goodness, Mmm, it even sounds good!

When I think of the exhibition of the characteristic of goodness, one person in particular comes to mind. This person is one of my oldest and dearest friends, and is truly the embodiment of goodness. In all that she does, she tries to do good. When faced with choices in any given situation, there are a couple of acronyms that are sometimes used. For Christians, the acronym is WWJD, for What Would Jesus Do? For Republicans, the acronym is WWRD, for What Would Reagan Do? And for me, before I became a Christian it was WWLD, for What Would LaNae Do?

LaNae is one of those rare individuals who honestly walks what she talks, and she is who she is, whether she’s around others or alone. She doesn’t just quote the golden rule, she lives it. On the rare occasion she interacts with someone who isn’t very nice, or perhaps is just rude in general, she typically uses the “kill ‘em with kindness” approach. Now, before you think I’m idealizing her, I know she’s not perfect, and she’d be the first one to admit that. As with all good friends, boy could I tell stories! (Wink, wink, LaNae) But the point is, she always tries to do the right thing, shows kindness to everyone and walks in integrity. She is a genuinely good person and has always been both a true friend and a great influence to me.

Part of the reason that she is such a good person, is because though she’s not perfect, she looks to, and follows, someone who is perfect – God. He is our ultimate example of goodness. He loves us, even when we’re unlovable. He comforts us, when nothing else can. He forgives us, though we don’t deserve it. He is faithful to us, even when we aren’t faithful to Him.

God’s goodness is abounding for those who love and follow Him. Because of His goodness He blesses us, He provides for us, He heals us, He protects us and He leads us to the kind of life He has for us. There are many scriptures in the Bible that refer to the goodness of God. Psalm 31:19 says it this way, “How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.”

Even with the goodness of God, unfortunately, we still live in a fallen and broken world, and though we are His children, we still have stresses and storms in our lives that come upon us. Fortunately for us, we also still have His word to cling to. In Psalms 27:13 it says, “Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.” Isn’t it wonderful that we have the assurance of God’s goodness, while we are still here in the land of the living?

Doing the right thing is not always the easy thing, but that is what leads us to goodness. When we come to God, through Jesus, He gives us clothes of salvation and a robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), not because of anything we’ve done, but because of what Jesus did for us. Since we have a robe of righteousness, we are able to walk and grow in goodness by having integrity, virtue and sound morals. It is through the development of goodness, that we are able to choose to do what is right, or what is good. When we choose to walk in goodness, the goodness that God has shown and given us, we are then able to say no to gossip, slander, lying, stealing, cheating and all other types of sin. Saying no to sin may not give us an easy life, but it does help us to have a good life. So I guess you could say that goodness is very good!

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” ~ 2 Peter 1:3-4

© 2008 Tracy Keck

A Fruity Kind of Kindness

Having survived my brief intermission at the Fruit of Patience, it is time to continue on my journey of the Fruit of the Spirit. The current destination is to the Fruit of Kindness. Now this promises to be a good place to sojourn for a bit. Kindness. Just saying or thinking of it, puts a smile on my face and in my heart.

Kindness in life is essential. A little kindness goes a long way, and the warmth it brings lasts much longer than the moment it is experienced. It would be easy to focus on the lack of kindness that is shown in the world today, but it is my desire to promote kindness in love, not judgment. What is the best way to define kindness? Simply put, it is to be nice, compassionate, thoughtful and forgiving, just because. It is to act in these characteristics without regard to self. It is being nice to someone, not because of who they are or how they act, but because of whom you are and how you choose to represent yourself. Acting in kindness is so important it is even emphasized in the Bible. Proverbs 3:3 reads, “Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.”

Years ago, there was a movement to promote social kindness, and it even had a name. It was called “Random Acts of Kindness”. People were encouraged to do something nice to another, for no reason other than to be nice and perhaps brighten their day. It was the original “Paying It Forward” theory, in that the only thanks desired was to do something nice for someone else. It still goes on today, but you don’t hear about it as much. I had the unexpected pleasure of being a recipient of this campaign years ago. I’d gone into an ice cream store, placed my order and when I prepared to pay for it, I was told it was already taken care of by another customer who’d been in earlier. The cashier explained that the customer had given an extra $20 to pay for anyone else who came in. I was both thrilled and shocked. So what did I do? I gave them the money I was going to use, and then some, to keep it going!

Though practicing kindness is by its own nature selfless, it’s one of those funny little things that often times does as much good for the giver, as it does for the receiver. How does that happen? Well, as we give kindness to others, we tend to feel better, happier and more at peace with ourselves. Knowing we did something nice or helpful to another person has a tendency to brighten our own day. Kindness given can make the receiver feel blessed, loved, cared for and welcomed. It can also give hope, friendship, warmth and aspiration. And it can help to push back fear, sadness, emptiness and loneliness.

There are many stories that could be told about acts of kindness. Simply Googling it will bring up numerous results. Reading the Chicken Soup for the Soul books will give you an abundance to choose from. All are heart-warming, most are touching, and some will downright make you cry. The one I want to focus on now though is the kindness that is shown to us perpetually by God our Father. The kindness He shows is displayed in the love He gives us, in the grace He has for us, in the blessings He showers on us and in the sacrifice He made for us. By giving up His own Son, to die on a cross for us, while we were yet estranged from Him, He gave us the opportunity to be reconciled with Him and have all of our sins forgiven and forgotten. Because of His kindness, we have an eternity of love and joy and light to look forward to, rather than an eternity of despair, darkness and separation from Him.

Obviously we can’t repay God for His kindness to us, so what do we do? We become more like Him and extend kindness to others. In doing so, we show people the love of God, through our actions. The Bible reinforces this, by stating in 2 Cor. 6:6, “We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.” There are endless ways to show kindness to others, from a simple smile, to a meal for someone in need, to holding open a door or giving up a seat for someone who could use it more than you. How you choose to extend kindness is up to you. It could be based upon need, or it could be simply because you want to. It could be done openly or anonymously. When we show kindness to others, we are merely imitating God our Father. Now that is paying it forward!

Usually I end with a scripture verse that is fitting to the topic. Today I’m adding some nice quotes I found about kindness as well. I hope you enjoy.

“So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.” ~ Eph. 1:6-8

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~ Mark Twain

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness. ~ Seneca

Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not. ~ Samuel Johnson

No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves. ~ Amelia Earhart

Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver. ~ Barbara De Angelis

Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind. ~ Eric Hoffer

Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence or learning. ~ Frederick Faber

© 2008 Tracy Keck

A Fruity Kind of Patience

Spending time with the Fruit of Peace has been good. I’ve lingered there much longer than I probably should have. I knew what was coming. I can’t say that I didn’t consider changing the next Fruit on the list from patience to procrastination. I’m naturally much more comfortable with procrastination, but I realize that would be more fitting of the Fruit of the Flesh, than the Fruit of the Spirit. So here I am, having dragged my feet to this next stop on my fruity journey.

To be honest with you, I think I kind of forget about patience when I decided to do this study. I’ve always been more like the person who prays, “Lord give me patience, but do it NOW!” Of course, I don’t actually pray that prayer, because I realize that He may grant that prayer by increasing the amount of situations I’m in that require patience. Lord knows, I don’t want that!

Reflecting on my life, I see how I really have grown in the patience department. Maturity, marriage and motherhood have been good on me in that regard. However, I certainly have not gained enough of the Fruit of Patience. Not by a long-shot. In fact, nothing can make me lose my patience quicker than being in traffic. (I swear I don’t know why they let some people drive, but I digress.) Please understand, that as I write this, I truly am preaching to myself here.

There is a reason that patience is listed as a Fruit of the Spirit. One thing we know about God, is that He desires us to live beyond just us. It does us good to think about others and to consider them and not just ourselves. When you really think about it, impatience is controlling, narcissistic, prideful, selfish, and egoistic - all about self. It is about having things our way and now. Often times, we don’t consider, even for a moment that maybe our way isn’t best, or that there may be a good reason for a delay. Maybe sometimes, we even need to just chill out a little and let things go. It says in Proverbs 19:11, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience, and it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”

We live in a fast food, microwaveable, instant gratification society. Credit card companies encourage us to buy now, pay later. Advancing technology allows us to reach out and touch someone, at any time, in any place. Cosmetic surgery gives us the ability to see result in our physical appearance almost immediately. The internet and satellite media gives us world-wide information right now. Isn’t it funny though, that no matter how quickly we get things, or how quickly we travel, it’s never quick enough?

Recently I’ve had the opportunity to observe patience in action, from an unlikely source. Reagan is now nine months old and is learning and growing by leaps and bounds. It amazes me, at how often she shows patience through the learning process. Now it’s not always, I mean the child isn’t perfect, but it is incredibly often. She typically tries things over and over again, with a cheerful spirit. Particularly if the ‘thing’ she is trying is chasing our cat! Though they are still much quicker than her, it’s like she knows someday that will change, if she just keeps at it. I’m astonished at how much patience she shows when she is tired or hungry or getting a bath (especially the washing and drying of her hair). It’s like she instinctively understands, “The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and patience is better than pride.” Eccl. 7:8

There are times when a situation maybe justifies that we are indeed correct in our analysis of said situation. We may actually be right. If we witness or experience an interaction with a person who is driving dangerously, for instance, we know that that individual is driving/behaving badly. However, whatever is in our own hearts is what dictates how we respond to that. Do we let it go, or do we take it personally and let it actually affect us for a period of time? What about with our family? If we continually treat poorly and snap at our loved ones because of something they are doing or not doing, are we not then putting the importance of that activity above the importance of our loved one? Is it really necessary to be right all the time and at any cost? Some say they are most impatient with their loved ones because their relationship gives them that freedom, that they don’t have to mind what they say or do, but I think we should treat them with more patience because we love them.

In truth, growing our patience is growing our grace for others. Growing our patience is developing good character. And growing our patience teaches us that it’s not ‘all about me’. Of course there are times we do have to correct and train, but we know most people respond better with patience and understanding rather than impatience and contempt. There will always be things we want our way and in our time, but if we choose to grow our patience through these times, just think of how much better off we will be! The Bible says we can clothe ourselves with patience – that means we can make a conscious choice to put it on. It says in Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” If it’s still difficult to do, think about God and the patience He offers us daily. I know I’m grateful for that patience, and the best (but certainly not easiest) way to show Him that I am, is to extend that same type of patience to others.

“We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, ‘The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.’ Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15: 1-6

© 2008 Tracy Keck

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

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