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Listen while you read: "God Of Our Fathers Whose Almighty Hand"1 (Lyrics) |
For many years, my mother adopted and daily cared for a small, neglected, historic cemetery in California, USA. On days of celebration — Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Veteran's Day — she and another couple set out American flags on the graves of veterans.
Through her 80s and into her 90s, she worked clearing and burning winter debris, raking, cleaning, weeding, and mowing. My son helped her repair the damage done by vandals. She enjoyed remembering the pioneer families as she took care of the cemetery grounds. She purchased many small chunks of granite and had names engraved on them as headstones for unmarked graves, their names known only to the cemetery district. What bothered her the most was the toll that erosion took in wearing down the names, so that some were illegible. But she always remembered that Scripture states that those who believe in Christ have their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Revelation 21:27 – But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. (NKJV)
There is a place secure and safe in our Saviour's love. From eternity past, our Father wrote in the Lamb's Book of Life the names of those whom He knew would become believers. If we are living life through Christ's righteousness, we desire to act in loving obedience to God's will. While we live our lives for Jesus, the fruit of the Spirit becomes an obvious part of our spiritual nature, and we treat others with the fruit of the spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (NKJV)
Because we miss the mark sometimes, we can go to Jesus with a penitent heart, ask forgiveness, and take care not to miss the mark the next time. Because of the grace that He has shown to us, what joy there is in following Christ with love, while being confident that wind, water, and temperature cannot wear down our names in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Let's examine our lives and hearts to make sure that the fruit of the Spirit is being shown to others. If there is any area where we need to grow, or any confession that we need to make to the Lord, let's do it now.
Prayer: Dear Father, may we hear the whispered call to obedience by the Holy Spirit. Thank You for the victory in Jesus, and may it bring us to obedience in every little thing that would be impossible without the power of Christ. Thank You for calling us to be Your children, safe and secure in all Your love. Help us to allow the fruit of the Spirit to grow and flourish in our lives, all to Your honour and glory. Amen.
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Amen, Karen.
Beautiful prayer.
Thanks Karen, blessings.
Thank you, Karen. good memories create good messages.
Thanks for a good word today, Karen, l appreciated it.
Blessings.
Amen, Karen. Thank you for caring for those whom time has forgotten, but God has not! Blessings.
Wonderful when others care enough to keep the sacred ground and stories alive. Bless you for sharing.
Thank you ever so much Karen. I feel immediately that I want that scripture verse on my fridge door to read. What a PRECIOUS Mom!
Good afternoon, Karen.
Thank you for your good words today. Our names are written in the book of life for sure.
What a wonderful thing your mother did.
Blessings.
Many thanks Karen for another of your interesting and most meaningful devotional writings. Focusing on the fruits of the Spirit in our daily lives is a very positive route and keeps us from going astray in a negative direction. Blessings for these writings you do and share with us in the devotional program.
Good morning, Karen,
We hear that the people of Europe, still look after the graves of the soldiers who fought dying to free their country from war. I am impressed that your mother took on the care of a cemetery and even went as far as putting stone markers on graves that didn’t have one. It is interesting to hear what other people do to make this world a better place.
It is so true that we should all practice the fruits of the Spirit towards others and ourselves. When I read the list of fruits, I am always intrigued by the “self-control” fruit. I think it should be first in the list because with the practice of this fruit we are better equipped to use the other 8 fruits.
I have been working on “gentleness” because I know if I respond with a gentler voice, then it is easier for the other person to hear me. I definitely need self-control and peace to make this happen.
Thank you for sharing and I am praying for water in a gentle form to fall in California and other places in the world who are badly in need of rain. Blessings.
Karen, such good words that reminded me of the words from a song new to me which was sung in my church last Sunday. The repeating phrase was a prayer, something like “tend the garden of my heart, and I will grow”. Our sermon was about the fruit of the Spirit. Our hearts are the garden of the Holy Spirit where we allow the Spirit to manage. I like this metaphor.
Blessings on your day, Karen.