Growing #7

Knowing and Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit

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

Have you read Galatians at all lately? Recently I was prompted to take a look at the book of Galatians.  Attempting to try and achieve what this passage is conveying has always been a goal of mine. Something to strive for, however, I must confess I am not there yet. I am learning that each fruit is a characteristic of the Holy Spirit’s active presence in our daily activities. This month here in my editorial I'd like us to look at each one and ask some  questions that I have been asking myself, to make sure we’re healthy.

Love I don't feel the word love (agape) here refers to those warm fuzzy feelings you sometimes get, but rather to a deliberate attitude of dedication and devotion to others. This type of love gives freely without looking at whether the other person deserves it or not, and it gives without expecting anything back. Can I motivated myself to do this for others like Christ has done for me? Or do I just love others because I am looking to get something back? 

Joy I think the type of joy that is spoken of here is gladness that is completely independent of the good or bad things that happen in the course of the day. In fact, joy indicates a supernatural gladness given by God’s Spirit that actually seems to show up best during hard times. This is because you are fixing your focus on God’s purposes for the events in your life rather than on the circumstances. Sometimes I question myself; am I experiencing a joy of life on a regular basis, or is my happiness dependent on things going smoothly in my day?

Peace  I recall many years ago in a conversation with my Dad about the peace of God.  He reminded me that peace is not the absence of turmoil, but rather it's the presence of tranquility even while in a place of chaos.  My Dad said that peace is a sense of wholeness and completeness bringing contentment in knowing that God controls all the events of my/our day.  I still sometimes wonder why I find myself frazzled by the crashing waves of turmoils I sometimes have in my life, or am I experiencing what Phil 4:6-7 says where it talks about "the peace that passes all understanding."

Patience Other words that describe this fruit of patience are lenience, long-suffering, perseverance, and steadfastness. Having God given patience provides me with the ability to endure wrongful treatment from life or at the hands of others without lashing out or paying back. Am I able to keep a godly perspective when people irritate me or things go wrong?

Kindness Did you know that when kindness is at work in a person’s life, they look for ways to try their best to meet the needs of others. It is moral goodness that overflows as moral goodness expresses an essentially new and higher sense of the idea of value. It’s also the absence spite.  I try and ask myself, is it my goal to serve others with kindness, or am I too focused on my own needs, desires, or problems to let the goodness of God overflow to others? I really hope it's to serve others. 

Goodness Goodness reflects the character of God. With having goodness in you, you desire to see goodness in others.  Does my life reflect the goodness of God?  What can I do to help other experience God's goodness at a deeper level in their own lives? God is good: it's not just what He does but rather it's who He is and who He is NEVER changes. 

Faithfulness A faithful person is one with real integrity. Others can look to the faithful person as an example, and someone who is truly devoted to others and to Christ. Our natural self always wants to be in charge, but Spirit-controlled faithfulness is evident in the life of a person who seeks good for others and glory for God. When studying more about faithfulness I question - are there areas in my life where I act indifferent towards others or is my life one that is characterized by faith in Christ and also to those around me? 

Gentleness  Gentleness is not without power, it just chooses to defer to others. Meekness is not weakness. It forgives others, corrects with kindness, and lives in tranquility. Gentleness does not mean you are headstrong or brash. Gentleness allows the grace of God to flow through you to others. 

Self-control We are told in the bible that our fleshly desires are continually at odds with God’s Spirit and we always want to be in charge. Self-control is literally releasing our grip on the fleshly desires, choosing instead to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. I ask myself from time to time, am I allowing the Spirit to direct me to things that please God or am I allowing my desires to control my life?  One last question that has come to mind after studying Galations 5 is, am I willing to confess to God that His ways are better than mine, and that I need the Spirit’s guidance to live? 

  GROW STRONGER IN YOUR BIBLE

GROW STRONGER IN YOUR FAMILY COMMITMENT

GROW STRONGER IN YOUR PRAYER LIFE

GROW STRONGER PHYSICALLY

Hope - a special word from my daughter Naomi #6

Be Inspired

By Naomi Stuive

Hope

A few weeks ago my sister and I decided to paint some rocks to place around our favourite walking spot. We thought it would be fun for neighbourhood kids and families to spot some cute painted creatures and read the encouraging messages on our rocks all the while it would be fun for us too to find hiding spots for them far enough into the bush but not far enough that they couldn’t be seen. We had hoped that these rocks, while being a small gesture would bring some joy and encouragement to those passing through. A few days later, however, after we had set out on our walk I became discouraged when the rocks began to go missing. These rocks I had thoughtfully and intentionally painted with messages such as hope, unity, and trust vanished. I had anticipated that some would go missing as kids may bring them down to the water or slip one in their pocket but to see them all gone so fast took me by surprise. This however made me realize that even though we may hope and even anticipate a certain outcome we can not expect how things turn out some things are just beyond our control and for me when my sister and I placed the rocks around the park they where then out of our control. We can hope that they would have lasted longer, hope that whoever did take them home enjoyed them but beyond that we just have to trust that while they were only temporary they were still enjoyed.

The word “hope” has been a word that has been on my mind lately. I believe the Lord wanted to show me something through this that I hope can be an encouragement to you. Sometimes we can place are hope in something and our expectations will fail or disappoint us. We can get so caught up in the anticipation that when something does not turn out how we wanted it to or what we thought would be best we can find ourselves feeling hopeless. It made me ask myself what am I putting my hope in? When I put my hope in something that is temporary it has become apparent that it does not always last as I expected. Rather, when I put my hope in the Lord who in his word he says is unchanging I know that He is faithful. I am assured that He knows what is best for me and I can expect that it will be far better than what I could have imagined for myself. So I leave you with this; rocks may come and go but the Lord remains faithful. Continue to put your trust in Him the author and perfector of your faith because he promises you a hope and a future far beyond what you could have ever hoped. Be encouraged- He wants the best for you!

- Naomi Stuive

God says #5

The other day when I was trying to come up with something to write for my opening editorial, I came across this picture. Now initially I had some other ideas of what I wanted to write but my mind kept coming back to this picture that I found. Maybe I'm just a sucker for beautiful sunflower pictures? I'm thinking that maybe I was just drawn to the message in that simple little picture. 

To be absolutely truthful, for me the struggle has been real ever since this Covid-19 pandemic has started. I am not typically one that sits at home day in and day out. I love getting out to the gym a couple of mornings a week; getting out and doing groceries, having coffee out with friends, visiting my Mom. For the first couple of weeks I was sort of okay with it. I was enjoying having my kids around; we'd grab a Tims once in a while to make up for not being able to go out for coffee.

Days have turned into weeks and weeks have turned into months. Almost three months now. In the beginning I would often find myself crying out to God asking Him why He was allowing this to happen. I mean, we have plans. Our son Zach and his fiance Cassidy were to be married in the end of June and now this!!  Come on God! In those times of questioning, God would send someone to reach out to me - a phone call here, an encouraging message there. In my mind I would think, "How can these people think so positively in times like this?" Then I was subtly reminded that God does not speak to us all in the same way. Some of us need to be reminded that God works differently in all of us. I needed to be reminded of this and that is where this pretty picture came into play

How can I get the encouragement I need directly from God? By surrendering myself to God and asking myself  "Who does God say I am"? These are awesome reminders of who God says I am.(Click on the bible verses if you want to see what they say. Then click your back button to get back to this screen)

God says you are UNIQUE: Psalm 139:13     

God says you are SPECIAL: Ephesians 2:10  2 Corinthians 5:17

God says you are LOVELY: Daniel 12:3  John 3:16

God says you are PRECIOUS: 1 Corinthians 6:19 -20

God says you are STRONG: Psalm 18:35    2 Corinthians 5: 14-15  

God says you are CHOSEN: John 15:16   Colossians 3:12 

Who does God say YOU are?

I declare! #4

I Declare

I declare I will experience God's faithfulness. I will keep my trust in Him knowing that He will not fail me. I will give life to every promise God put in my heart and I will become everything God created me to be.

I declare God's blessings over my life and my family's lives. I will see God's goodness. I will experience His surpassing greatness.

I declare I will choose faith over fear. I will fix my eyes on Him.

I declare I have the grace I need for today. Nothing I face is too big for God. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.

I declare it is not too late to accomplish everything God has placed in my heart.

I declare I am grateful for who God is in my life and for what He's done. I will see each day as a gift from God. My heart will overflow with praise and gratitude for all of His goodness. 

I declare a legacy of faith over my life. Not only my generation, but the generations to follow will be blessed. God's abundance is surrounding my life today.

I declare that God has a great plan for my life. He is directing my steps.

I declare I am His masterpiece. I am made in his very image. I am a son/daughter of God.

I declare that As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord! 

God who Chose me #3

Be Inspired

Our Fathers Love

Ephesians 1:4 says "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." 

Did you catch that? God's love for us isn't dependent on anything we do or don't do, blab, or omit. Our Father's love itself is what makes us whole and holy, not anything we can contrive, create or earn. And he's had us - you and me - in mind to be the focus of his love even before the creation of our world!.

What a calming, reassuring thought! Such indescribable security. To know that we are truly loved, regardless of how many times we blow it. Even if we react poorly, there's a way out. We are treasured, cherished, admired. God wants nothing more than to just love on us with His comfort and peace into our troubled hearts, anytime, anywhere! He never gives up on us, never loses hope in us, and His love endures through every circumstance. Wow I am overwhelmed just thinking about how much He loves me, so unconditionally. It's this love that carries me through and for that I am so grateful! 

Huisbezoeken #2

Huisbezoeken  Sounds like an old Dutch term doesn’t it? The actual translation for it is House(Huis) Visiting(bezoeken). Huisbezoeken is a lost “art” in the modern church. 

Back as a child, I vividly remember that once a year we either had a "huisbezoek" from the Minister or two elders. Typically they came in the evening and sat down with my parents for coffee. 

Back when David and I were first married, we lived in northern BC before we moved here to Maple Ridge. We moved here shortly after our twins Rebekah and Naomi were born and had our membership transferred here to MRCRC. Not long after our arrival we had our first "Huisbezoek". One afternoon when life was feeling rather hectic (when doesn't it feel that way when you have newborn twins and an 18 month old energetic son) there was a knock at the door. I opened it only to see an old High School teacher, Rick Spiers and his fellow elder Gary Bil. We didn't have much in the way of living room furnishings, but these two men didn't care. They spent the next hour or so holding babies, and playing with Zachariah. With Rick it was like renewing a friendship(my Dad was actually a friend of Rick so I knew him outside of school as well as in school) and with Gary it was making a new friend who just loved our kids. He even offered his daughter to babysit for us when we wanted to go out on a date.

Over the years we were at MRCRC we had occasional visits from either elders or the Pastor. Fast forward 10 years and we are now back again.  It was important for David and I to meet together with Pastor Tim and he obliged. Then shortly after David's Mom passed away, we again were visited by Pastor Tim.  Both these visits meant a lot to us, just knowing that some out there cared about us.

"Huisbezoeken" is not just restricted to Pastors and elders. 1 Peter 4:9 tell us "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling" and Romans 15:7 says "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Hospitality is suggested in the scriptures yet we see it as an optional part of the bible. For some people hospitality comes very natural and it's easy yet for others they feel it involves a lot of work and with our busy lives now a days, it's just nice to sit back and rest on a Sunday. Hospitality is an important endeavor, and it is a joy to those who extend it, as well as those who receive it. Love God, Loving our city, Loving one another!

May our goal and joy in hospitality be to build up fellow believers for the coming day when Christ will gather us to His home. The greatest "Huisbezoek" ever!

Words to inspire #1

Words to inspire

Let this be the year you choose COURAGE over FEAR!

You never know what will happen when you let go. When you finally let go of the fear that you won't be enough. You never know where your mind will wander or what you will start to think about or how you will make sense of how your life looks right now. But even while all this is happening within you, you are still allowed to experience the freedom with the unknown. The freedom to trust even though letting go can feel like the ultimate embodiment of emptiness and being alone, you are opening up. You are being strengthened.  Grace is more than enough for you here.

So dare to look beyond your fears. Say goodbye to the worries that you are not worthy and it's too late for you. Let this be the year you look back on a  day: "I never knew I had it in me.  I never knew I had the strength to do this and I am here I am.  Here I am, learning to come alive, through the wild of letting go. Early this year, I thought it was over for me. But now, I am so grateful that I chose courage and I kept going.  I may not know what tomorrow looks like, but I have found a river filled with life. I am starting to trust I can breathe in these unknowns. I can dare to come alive." Allow yourself to be open to the very hard work of trusting, You have not seen all there is to see and there is more ahead of you.

Being in the unknown will ask a lot of you but there is freedom within it, too......slow down and notice the world around you and how even here the Light pours through.  MHN

Philippians 4:13  I can do ALL things through Him who gives me strength!

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.