Message???

A few days ago I was making some pictures to go on our church bulletin boards.  The theme is growing in the fruit of the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22  But the Holy Spirit  produces this kind of fruit in our lives:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

All was going pretty well as I printed the words on the paper circles I had cut out....except two. Those two I couldn't get right to save my life!  I had to do each of them over and over and over...And would we all like to guess which ones I struggled the most with??   Yes, yes, you guessed it, self-control and patience.  LOL    I have no idea why those two would be such a problem.  Hmmmm, art mirroring life perhaps?

I actually took great hope in this whole experience.  The fact that I was able to do it over, and then retry, and then over again kind of let me know that, like with my art project, I can keep working on these areas of my life where I seem to fail often.  God doesn't just quit, and He doesn't let me just quit.  We keep trying, keep working at it.  Such an encouraging message.

Philippians 1:6  And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

2 Corinthians 3:18  So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.  And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

We can hang onto these Scriptures, knowing God is at work, changing us, growing us and causing us to reflect His image more and more.

Thank You Lord that You never quit or give up on us.  You let us keep trying, there's no failure in Your life classes.  That's an amazing, comforting thought given we live in a world based on performance and perfection.  Thanks that You love us as much when we fail as when we succeed. And thank You that You are always working in us and with us to help us grow.  Thank You for the lessons in even the smallest things.  Your hand is always upon our lives.  Help us to grow.  Help us to keep going forward.  In Jesus Name, amen.

Don't give up today!