Max Lucado on “Self-Control”

Well, kids, we are on our last fruit of the Spirit as told by Max Lucado.  He’s done a great job, I must say.  Self-control is something we try to teach our children, yet seem to struggle with ourselves or, maybe it’s just me.  I think God added “self-control” to the list of spiritual fruit because He knew all about PMS. If only I remembered this handy fruit before I opened my mouth many days, life would be less complicated!

 “I Choose Self-Control…

I am a spiritual being…

After this body is dead,  my spirit will soar.

I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.

I choose self-control.  I will be drunk only by joy.

I will be impassioned only by my faith.

I will be influenced only by God.

I will be taught only by Christ.

I choose self-control.” 

 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

I have a friend who taught her kids to recite the Fruit of the Spirit when they are angry rather than counting to 10.  What a good idea!

Blessings,

Carol

Max Lucado on “Gentleness”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

Boy, I could have used this reminder yesterday.  I am usually a pretty quiet, easy-going person, but yesterday, I was just u-g-l-y!  We have a lot of stressful things going on in our family right now and I didn’t handle it very well at all yesterday.  I have asked my family for forgiveness and they graciously gave it to me. I asked forgiveness from God who always forgives and and is always gracious and loving with us.  So today is a new day – same problems, new day – but I am leaning more on Jesus today to help me through without the ugliness of yesterday.  Later I will be posting about one of the things that has me down, but it’s nothing that a puppy can’t fix . Now here’s Max:

“I Choose Gentleness…

Nothing is won by force.  I choose to be gentle.

If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise.

If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.

If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.”

Blessings,

Carol

Max Lucado on “Faithfulness”

How ironic that today’s Fruit of the Spirit is “faithfulness” as I was debating whether or not to continue on with all the Fruit.  But as I sit here wearing my husband’s third place medallion from the She’s Got Game 2008 Tournament trying to imagine what it would have been like not to have been tied for dead last, I realize that I must finish what I started.  Besides, Max Lucado is a very wise man and we would do well to follow his lead in allowing the Holy Spirit to control our actions.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” Galatians 5:22-23

“I Choose Faithfulness…

Today I will keep my promises.

My debtors will not regret their trust.  My associates

will not question my word.  My spouse will not

question my love.  And my children will never fear

that their parent will not come home.”

Blessings,

Carol

Max Lucado on “Goodness”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” Galatians 5:22-23

“I Choose Goodness…

I will go without a dollar

before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked

before I will boast. I will confess before I will

accuse. I choose goodness.”

Max Lucado on “Kindness”

I am continuing on with Max Lucado’s writings on the Fruit of the Spirit because I love the way he describes what living out the Fruit of the Spirit looks like. My prayer is that I may portray the Fruit of the Spirit each day in my life. ~Carol

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” Galatians 5:22-23

“I Choose Kindness…

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.

Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to

the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.”

Max Lucado on “Patience”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” Galatians 5:22-23

“I Choose Patience…

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.”

Blessings,

Carol

Max Lucado on “Peace”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” Galatians 5:22-23

“I Choose Peace…

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.”

Blessings,

Carol

Max Lucado on “Joy”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” Galatians 5:22-23

“I Choose Joy…

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.

I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…

the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see

people as anything less than human beings,

created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as

anything less than an opportunity to see God.”

Blessings,

Carol

Max Lucado on “Love”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

So much of life is made up of choices. We choose what we eat, we choose what we wear. We choose where we work, and where we live. While we don’t always choose what happens to us in life, we can choose our response. For the next few days, I am going to share with you some of what Max Lucado has to say about our choices and the fruit of the Spirit because it is really good stuff for all of us and it is very profound.

Also, I started a new job today and the shock of the adjustment from being a stay at home mom to the working world has sucked all the originality and inspiration out of my mind – at least for today. Tomorrow I will catch my breath, and post some more from Max and maybe something from my own brain. I hope this series of posts on the fruit of the Spirit speak to you as much as they spoke to me.

“I Choose Love…

No occasion justifies hatred;

no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.

Today I will love God and what God loves.”

Blessings,

Carol