How is the previous fruit of kindness different from goodness? A person who is kind does good things, and a good person does kind deeds. Since Galatians 5:22 lists each separately, I knew there had to be some distinction. In researching these words I learned that kindness is defined by ...

There is a popular saying: “Do random acts of kindness” throughout your day. The vast majority of people are kind. It’s part of human nature and doesn’t, in most cases, require much effort. It can be exhibited through conversations, deeds, giving, and simply being thoughtful of others. The Bible has ...

How many of you you have felt defeated, overwhelmed, depressed, or like giving up because of a lost job, home, loved one? Or maybe you’ve experienced divorce, money issues, feeling unloved, or confusion about your life? In that moment you feel like your faith is being shattered, and wondering why ...

When our country was embroiled in its fight for independence, there was a small ring of spies who helped bring about victory. The Culper Ring was a real spy story set during the war and it had all the elements: brave, but nervous participants, suspicious minds, work done under cloak ...

My great grandmother, Mary Jane, came to America from the southern shore of England when she was a young woman. Of all the little ways of English life she continued to cherish here in America, tea time was a favorite. Throughout her 80 years, she always made time in the ...

Patience, or long-suffering, is the fourth fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. There are, of course, many examples of patience, like waiting in lines, dealing with traffic, interacting with difficult people, or waiting for some situation to be resolved. Indeed, patience really plays out in our relationships. It ...

With summer winding down I always think about my own summer vacations so long ago. One of my happy memories were the days that I would take my mother’s Betty Crocker cookbook that she received as a wedding gift in 1963 and walk the block to my friend’s house. Michelle ...

 In the beginning, the earth was formless and empty, darkness. In the city Jungle, cement skyscrapers rise from the ground, No sunrise or sunset can be seen on the horizon. The sky overhead is shaped by the edge of buildings. My soul was trapped, couldn’t breathe, just like the cement.   Day 1: ...

The bible has a lot to say about our words. Most of it is sobering. If only we could remember what we read before we speak…We’ve all been guilty of saying something at the wrong time, or saying the wrong thing when something different was needed. This is part of ...

Every class has a clown, that guy or gal who makes all the kids laugh and gets in the most trouble with their teacher. In my seventh-grade class that person was Kenny, and he sure could make us laugh! He struggled in his classes and had been held back a ...