Fruit of the Spirit

"Fruit of the Spirit" Sunday School Class

2009-09-17T10:58:00.002-05:00

Due to many requests...

On October 11th at 9:45AM in Gore Hall, at the Glasgow Cumberland Presbyterian Church, we will be starting a Sunday School Class focusing on the "Fruit of the Spirit".

This is a repeat of a Wednesday night class that was given in the spring of this year. Many people working in our Wednesday night program(s) and at their public jobs were not able to attend this class. So, we are offering it as an addition to our normal Sunday School structure.

We hope you will make plans to attend this wonderful study into the different aspects of the Christian life.

America Becoming Less Christian

2009-03-10T06:58:00.002-05:00

While reading up on the latest news on CNN, this article was one of the top stories:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/03/09/us.religion.less.christian/index.html

Basically, the American people are rejecting ANY type of religion according to the survey. Of course, it is just a survey...

However, does this increase your focus on your fruits? It does mine!

Keep cultivating!!

Patience

2009-03-08T19:22:00.003-05:00

Yes, this is one I struggle with a lot!!!

Since September 2007, I have been praying about a career change - and not just a little change either. It's very scary and is a risk. However, I know what God wants me to do. I just don't know the "when". That's where I have to have faith and patience.

My career change is from engineering in a large corporation to becoming a small business owner in retail. I know I am meant to be the owner of Scrapbook Village. However, trying to get a loan was a dreadful experience. I did not get it. Then, others tried to get loans - 6 in fact. They were denied also.

With the economy tanking like it did, I am VERY thankful that the door was closed, but not shut tight. There is a time for everything, so I am patiently (or impatiently) waiting for God to open the door so I can walk through and do what he wants me to do.

Besides, maybe He's not done with me yet where I am right now.

Patience Handout

2009-03-08T19:16:00.000-05:00

Please click on the picture above

Random Act of Kindness Part 2

2009-03-07T15:59:00.002-06:00

For those that attended class this past week, don't forget to do a random act of kindness for that person that you drew. It does not necessarily need to be anonymous.

This morning, there was some monkey bread on the porch for Robb. He loved it!!

Just think what could happen to the world if we just picked someone once a week to do just a little something for.

Prayer, a food item, help on a utility bill, a card, a kind word, a phone call, an email... use your creativity. God gave us all some - and if you don't think you have any, PRAY. God will show you an answer!

Random Act of Kindness

2009-03-03T06:43:00.003-06:00

Has anyone done their random act of kindness? Do you make this part of your life?

These are small simple things that let another person know that you have thought about them. How about:

opening a door for someone - could be a mom wrangling children into the grocery store, a person older than you with a few sacks around their wrist,

a smile and hello on Sunday morning, talk to someone you do not know, introduce yourself

pick-up something dropped for someone

return a cart to the front of a store

offer your cart to someone going into the store

bring a snack to work to share with others

donate something to the youth fund or to WOW

It's the little things that matter...

Kindness Handout

2009-02-26T21:10:00.001-06:00

Please click on the picture above to access the handout

Goodness vs. Kindness

2009-02-24T21:30:00.002-06:00

So what's the difference? I started preparing next week's material on kindness - I realized that kindness and goodness go hand-in-hand.

But there is a difference... Think about this as we get ready for tomorrow's class.

Also, please pray for Robb. He tested positive for strep, again.

Our house desperately needs a healing touch!

ARK

2009-02-22T14:00:00.002-06:00

Has anyone seen Evan Almighty? If not, I recommend it. Basically, Evan becomes a modern day Noah and although this flood is not global but more localized, the flood does happen.

God's goodness is portrayed through one Act of Random Kindness (ARK). Providing shelter, food clothing, an ear to bend, a shoulder to cry on... the possibilities are endless.

Ruth Jean, Rebel and myself attended the Fiskars event in Cave City on Saturday. At the end of the event, they gave out the tools used during the classes with the promise for A Random Act of Craftiness. Many scrapbookers and paper crafters have taken this to help someone new get started in scrapbooking, while others go farther and create cards and gifts to send to our troops overseas, to children's hospitals, hospice, etc.

Basically, do something good for someone to show God's love - one Act of Random Kindness!

Homework for Wednesday

2009-02-16T21:28:00.002-06:00

Don't forget...

Bring a small gift (& wrap it) of no more than $5. It needs to be suitable for either gender. This gift is to signify God's love in some way.

Goodness Handout

2009-02-16T21:27:00.001-06:00

Please click on the picture to download the handout.

What kind of love?

2009-02-13T15:56:00.002-06:00

As Valentine's Day is tomorrow, think about the kind of love that we celebrate. It is Eros - the romantic or sexual love. But, shouldn't we celebrate ALL types of love?

Our family is planning a little day-trip together on Valentine's Day - Stergo.

How can we show Agape and Phileo on Valentine's Day - think about it and try!

Week 3 Prayer List

2009-02-11T21:42:00.003-06:00

In addition to Week 1 & 2 lists, please add our Local Mission Projects.

Link to Week 1 http://gcpc-fruit.blogspot.com/2009/01/prayer-list.html

Link to Week 2 http://gcpc-fruit.blogspot.com/2009/02/week-2-prayer-list.html

I hope this helps Brittney! :)

Love Handout

2009-02-09T19:10:00.004-06:00

Please click on the picture below to download the file:

Galatians 1

2009-02-09T18:44:00.003-06:00

Yes, I am a little behind - however a house full of sick people, and then being sick myself, tends to do that!

A couple of thoughts on the first chapter of Galatians:

No matter what you have done in your life and how far apart from God you have lived, you can be redeemed and used to do God's will. Look at Paul - he persecuted the early Church. And yet he became a faithful missionary that spread the gospel throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean.

The other thought is to beware of false preaching! We have the Bible, translated into English in a variety of versions of which to better understand. In fact, we have the Bible on the internet - readily available free of charge! http://www.biblegateway.com/

These are our weapons against false preaching! When something sounds "hinky" - compare it to the words in the Bible. It will become obvious whether there is truth or deception.

Self-Control Handout

2009-02-09T18:39:00.000-06:00

Please click on the picture for the file to download.

Week 2 Prayer List

2009-02-09T18:27:00.004-06:00

In addition to those on Week 1's prayer list, please add:

Jeremy, Nikki and Weston Alexander

Sickness

2009-02-06T12:39:00.003-06:00

Our family has just been hit with sickness...

Robb now has the flu, so we have not been "communicating" on this class.

Hopefully, I will be able to post tonight or tomorrow some thoughts and the next handout!

Homework

2009-02-02T12:09:00.002-06:00

Just a reminder to everyone for Wednesday...

Bring 5 clean jokes, cartoons, etc. to share
Bring your favorite praise music
Bring a finger food to share
Some items from your Journal of Joy to share

We hope to see everyone there on Wednesday night!

What to do...

2009-01-30T12:03:00.002-06:00

Stay focused on joy...

We will be covering Joy on Feb 4th.

We will be revamping the schedule, so there will be some changes. See the side of the blog. Of course, this is subject to change! :) I will update when there are changes.

I hope everyone is safe after the storms!

Last day of the week

2009-01-27T09:57:00.004-06:00

Our last day for our Journals of Joy.

It is such a slippery mess this morning - I'm working from home today. Trying to at least - Kids are home too. And it's not just my road, it's also the roads getting to 31E and to the babysitter's place that are no good.

Check out Deb's comment on yesterday's post - she is so right - it is beautiful. Here's a photo from our back porch. Earlier today, all the cattle were huddled up near the barn in the background.

Enjoy the beauty God has put before us today, but please be careful. There's more coming at us!

Wednesday Class

2009-01-26T19:17:00.002-06:00

Just a reminder to everyone - if Barren County Schools are out due to weather, we will not be having WOW. This includes all the adult classes including Fruit of the Spirit. Hopefully, all the bad stuff will miss us - by that I mean the ice.

On another note, Robb has strep throat. So he is "under the weather." But he got a penicillin shot!! So it is just a matter of time (hours) before he's better. He should be ready for Wednesday - I'm just the teaching assistant and administrator! :)

Keep on journaling, just one more day!

Joyful Music

2009-01-25T15:49:00.004-06:00

Everyone has their favorite type of music that they love listening to - rap, reggae, pop, heavy metal, southern gospel, classical, country, and the list goes on.

But what about joyful music - the kind that speaks to your every being and you can shout out, "AMEN!"

Let me tell you about my favorite right now - Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. I'm not sure how one would categorize this style. I like it for a number of reasons - there is a good mix of funky rhythms and classical instruments, extremely low and high notes, and a wide variety that mixes the different styles mentioned above.

What brings me joy is the history of the church and Jim & Carol Cymbala. Carol is truly blessed by God and it shows through the music of the choir. She does not have formal music training and if you watch her on a DVD, she does not direct like a director. She cannot read nor write music. But that doesn't matter. God blessed her and equipped her with what she needed.

There are other churches that are similar in style and in their music program. But none of the music compares to the blessings I receive with the Brooklyn Tabernacle. There is where the joy comes from - something God has given through an indivdual to spread to the whole world.

To find out more about Brooklyn Tabernacle, check them out at their website: http://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/

Almost through the week

2009-01-24T12:55:00.003-06:00

So, we are about at the halfway mark. How are the Journals of Joy coming along?

Any thoughts as to our other homework? I have one comic strip I enjoy - Dilbert. It seems like he experienced my engineering world at Dana.

If you cannot read this, try clicking on the comic - it should link to www.dilbert.com

And while the end message is not good, it describes life in corporate America. So why do I enjoy this so much? Because I am not the only one enduring these things. And it describes my job perfectly! :)

See you in the funny papers!

Where's the Joy in Jury Duty

2009-01-23T12:14:00.003-06:00

Yes, I received my paperwork to be a circuit court juror.

My initial thoughts:
Why now?
UGH!!
This stinks!

Thoughts as I reviewed the schedule:
AAAAHHHHH! The last two dates are during my scrapbook retreat!! That's MY time! And of course, I'll probably get picked!

But then God speaks to me, "Michelle, are you sure this is the right attitude?" And the answer is a definite, "NO!"

So, where is the joy?

The joy is in the fact that we have a jury system in our country. Trials are decided by a panel of our peers and not just one person.

The joy is to be able to use my fruits of the Spirit and gifts of the Spirit and apply this to what may come. There may be something of tremendous importance that God wants me to do during this time.

There's the joy! Knowing that God will use me and see me through whatever is put before me.

Have a joyful day!

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

2009-01-23T09:50:00.002-06:00

In the past couple of days our weather has started to warm a bit.

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!

Take this opportunity to get outside and let him speak to you through his creation and rekindle some JOY in your life.

We've noticed a continued increase in the hits to this site.

It's encouraging!

Maybe the word is getting out about our class and we may have more to join us next week.

To quote part of the Doxology, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!"

R

Joy Journal

2009-01-22T09:36:00.003-06:00

Yes, I'm in the blogging mood!

So what is a blog - this is an online tool that acts as a journal. You can add photos, slide shows, lists, links, etc. You can also make it a private or public blog.

What a great way to maintain your Journal of Joy!

I'll post some of my thoughts throughout this week to prompt those that are struggling.

JOY for Wednesday -

Robb came home last night EXCITED! A good number of people came to the class. There's opportunity here for all of us to become more Christ-like and let our fruits shine to those that do not know Christ.

The comments on the blog and getting that up and going - it is public, so maybe someone that does not know Christ will stumble upon this. What an opportunity!

Yes, joy does come from within, but to be able to reach others or help others grow in Christ - that's joy!

Joy Handout

2009-01-22T09:19:00.002-06:00

Please go to the link below to download this week's handout.

Successful Introduction

2009-01-21T21:31:00.001-06:00

I hope that you all had a good time at the Introduction meeting tonight!!!

I want all of you to realize that I don't want to be a "teacher", but rather a facilitator of learning. As we move through these lessons I want all of us to learn from "each other".

I believe that all of you are attending the class because you are wanting to know MORE.....

I'm excited and encouraged by some of the comments already. I can't wait to get started.

See you next week!!!!!

R

Week 1 Prayer List

2009-01-21T21:08:00.000-06:00

Brad Alexander
Nell Eaton
Debbie Morris (baby Kaydence)
Littia Wimpie
Beatrice Perkins
Jessica Clark

Please keep these people in your prayers this week.

Introduction

2009-01-18T22:05:00.001-06:00

Download Adobe file here

Welcome

2009-01-18T21:53:00.001-06:00

Welcome everyone to the Fruit of the Spirit class! Our first class session is Wednesday, January 21, 2009. We will be adding thoughts here throughout the week to help cultivate your fruit.