Apples, peaches, pumpkin pie

Still waiting and trusting the Lord. I haven't heard anything from Seattle so far.

The week is still young and yet so much has already happened to bring my focus right off of God and back onto myself or others in a less than effective or positive light. Instead of responding in negative ways or grumbling which many may say I would be entitled to do, I am going to ask a series of questions.

What does my life look like when it is lived for Jesus? My life is NOT my own, as much as I want to claim it for myself and do with it as I please. Every time I want to rage and act selfishly, my thoughts return to what Jesus had to pay for the world. He laid down his life, His every right. He calls us daily to pick up our cross and to follow Him. What is our cross? The cross signifies death. It is both our literal and figurative death.

What are my fruits? May fruit abound! The fruits of the Spirit are righteousness, peace, joy, kindness, patience, self-control, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and love. These are the fruits that others should see in my person and character. Someone has brought it to my attention that they are having a hard time seeing my fruit. Others are able to see it. Now, why might that be? As Christians, we cannot be choosy about who we are kind to, and who we show love to. Jesus cared for the Pharisee, the tax collector and the prostitute alike. The Bible clearly says that as believers, we are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be easily hidden. Our fruit will follow us, and our good deeds will show us for what we are. Christ-followers. I am not too worried about the accusations brought before me. Our fruit will show us for what kind of trees we are.