Fruit of the Spirit Series: Peace — The Kind Only God Gives
A few years ago, I sat in a doctor’s office and heard three words that shook my world:“You have cancer.” Time slowed. The room didn’t spin, but it stilled—like something sacred was happening, even in the shock. I thought peace would flee from me. But instead, it walked in like it already belonged there. And that’s when I realized:
Fruit of the Spirit Series: Kindness – Not Just Nice, But Holy
My grandmother never raised her voice. She never needed to. She had the kind of presence that made you want to do right just by being in the same room with her. She didn’t hand out compliments carelessly, but when she told you she was proud of you, it stuck. You could feel it in your bones. Her home was the kind of place where people came in with burdens and left with peace.
Fruit of the Spirit Series: Joy – The Steady Strength Beyond Circumstance
I used to think joy was just a heightened version of happiness. Something you felt when life was going well—when the doors opened, the sun was shining, and your plans were falling into place. But life happened. Disappointments happened. Delays and detours came. And I learned quickly: happiness fades. Joy endures. Joy isn’t found in external wins or perfect moments. It’s discovered in the middle…
Fruit of the Spirit Series: Patience – When Waiting Feels Like a Wilderness
I used to think patience meant staying calm while waiting in line or not yelling at someone who cut me off in traffic. But that’s surface-level patience — a shallow definition of a deeply spiritual principle. I truly learned what patience meant in the quiet, hidden places where I had no control over the outcome, no deadline to cling to, and no one cheering me on.
Love – The Foundation of All Fruit
Continuing the “Fruits of the Spirit” Series I used to think love was a feeling. The kind that gave you butterflies, made your heart skip, or had you daydreaming about someone’s smile. I grew up hearing “I love you” tossed around like a common phrase, something people said when they felt good around you or wanted something in return. But over time, especially through the hard moments, I learned—love isn’t just an emotion.
https://faithandpurposeca3.wordpress.com/2026/02/26/love-the-foundation-of-all-fruit/
Fruit of the Spirit Series: Self-Control — The Root of Emotional Regulation
In a world that often praises instant reactions and unfiltered emotions, the biblical call to self-control can feel countercultural. Yet, it’s one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines we can develop. As we begin our series on the Fruit of the Spirit, we start with one of the most foundational yet overlooked virtues: self-control. What is Emotional Regulation? Emotional regulation is the…
Rediscovering Compassion: Rebuilding What the Pandemic Tried to Steal”
What Does Compassion Look Like?Compassion is more than sympathy—it is love in action. It’s the ability to not just feel another person’s pain, but to be moved enough to respond. True compassion compels us to pause, care, help, and stand in the gap when someone is hurting, overlooked, or overwhelmed. It’s what Jesus modeled consistently: feeding the hungry, healing the sick, weeping with the…
When It’s Time to Turn the Page: How to Know You’ve Outgrown a Chapter in Your Life
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1 There’s something sacred about the quiet moment when you realize you no longer fit where you once thrived. Maybe it’s a job, a relationship, a role in your church, a city, or even a mindset. At first, it feels like discomfort. Then, it feels like suffocation.
Spiritual Blind Spots: What You Don’t See Can Hurt You
We all have them. Blind spots — areas of our lives we can’t see clearly. Not because we’re evil or rebellious, but because we’re human. In the natural world, blind spots make driving dangerous. In the spiritual world, they can hinder your growth, your relationships, and even your intimacy with God. You might be sincere in your walk with God, active in ministry, passionate about the Word — and still have…
The Gift of Accountability: Why We Can’t Grow Alone
Accountability isn’t just about having someone check in on you when you mess up. It’s not just correction or confrontation. At its core, accountability is a gift — one that God uses to mature, shape, protect, and position us for the life He’s called us to live. We weren’t created to do life, or faith, in isolation. Growth is personal — but it’s never meant to be private.
