About This Blog

The butterfly picture in the upper left corner is a symbol and reminder for me of the spiritual process. Sometimes I am the caterpillar - barely able to see far enough in front of me to put one foot in front of the other. Sometimes I find myself in that dark place of the soul, and I remind myself that it is simply my cocoon. While all may seem dark, and I may feel like everything is totally disintegrating around me (and in me!) a miracle is at work in my life and I will soon be able to fly! I love those days where I experience the butterfly in my life! The ability to fly above all the mundane earthy matters and remember the truth and experience God's power in tangible ways in my life are wonderful times indeed that occur more and more often as I continue this journey! Thank you, God!

If you are so inclined, I invite you to journey with me as we seek the promised land together. While I hope to share some "faithbooking" (scrapbook pages or artistic journaling about my faith journey), much of the time the journey may well be seen in words, rather than pictures. I invite you to create your own pictures. How do these things play out in your life? I'd love to hear from you about your own spiritual journey!

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Faith working through Love


I'm finding myself still a bit surprised at how much the process of Faith Journaling is helping me to hear God's voice at a deeper level.  Today, I continued working on the page I've been thinking about much of this week. 

Earlier in the week, I focused on the Fruit of the Spirit (Galations 5:22-23).  I recognize that these are all traits I want to express more fully.  

As the week went on, I found myself also drawn to verses 6, 13&14:
" For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself. " (NIV - emphasis mine)
The NAS says in verse 6, "faith working through love".  The more I pondered that phrase (as I practiced my lettering over and over so it hopefully would look okay when I lettered directly in my Bible), the more I realized that this really sums up the Fruit of the Spirit - faith working through love.

As I actively seek to express the fruit of the Spirit more fully in my life, I don't really need to remember all 9 of those fruits by name and try to keep my focus on them.  I simply need to focus on faith working through love.  As I, through faith, focus on the Holy Spirit's voice within me and seek to step forward as directed, all I really need is to open to God's love and allow it to flow through me.  The automatic result is the expression of the fruit of the spirit as listed in Galations 5:22-23 - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control.

Father, thank you for your love and guidance.  Once again this day I ask that your love flow through me in all I say and do this day.  Father, please guide my steps this day.  You know the challenges I am facing and the fear that is trying to force its way into my spirit.  Father, I am so grateful that your love drives out fear (1 John 4:18)!  May I step forward in faith, allowing your love to work in and through me that the fruit you wish to grow in me matures to a sweet harvest.  Thank you! I love you, Father!

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This blog is simply a sharing of my "daily bread" - my daily walk with God. If something I've said has touched your heart, or sparked a new thought, I'd love to hear from you.

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