It was so great to be with those of you who were able to be a part of our women’s evening last night! Loved hearing about your own journey in the word and through our study! Made me smile to see you love on each other during our prayer time, thank you for being a part!

Joy; it is a fruit of the Spirit. Fruits grow, there is nothing instant about them. The same would be true about Joy, it grows, there is nothing instant about it. Joy reveals a place of depth and determination to stay attached to the source. It is always disappointing when you buy fruit or produce that have been removed too soon from the vine, the expectation that the ripening process would continue the same without being attached is a fallacy. I think about the many times of my life where I got ahead of God and thought I could have a drop off point in spiritual maturity, where I would want to complete the growth cycle on my own. It didn’t last very long and it was never successful.

^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23, NIV

Don’t you love that last part, against such things there is no law? I always laugh a little when I read that line, it sounds a little sarcastic doesn’t it? Like when you say, It’s not going to hurt you to show a little kindness, one of those type of phrases. Looking through Galatians 5 however shows that the entire chapter is about the law, what is acceptable and what is not. The emphasis is that there is freedom to walk in the spirit and show the fruit of Christ, it’s legal.

Today take up your spiritually legal right and show some of the fruit that God has grown in you. Let your joy overflow on others today so that your Father in heaven will be glorified.

Today’s worksheet: handout 10_10_2013

Love being in the Word with you,

Cheryl J