The fruits!

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When I Woke This Morning, God Gave Me These Words

Well, my name is Ligaya, and in English it means joy. God wants me to be joyful no matter what the circumstances are. That’s not easy most of the time—especially when my body is in terrible pain, when my loved ones are going through difficulties, or when the world seems to be falling apart. But I thank God for reminding me that no matter what, I can place everything in His hands and choose joy in all circumstances.

PATIENCE
I must have a bucket of patience, because I am an impatient woman. I don't like waiting—especially for someone who is always late. If I want to do something, I have to do it now. If someone is telling a story, I don’t want to hear all the details—just tell me what happened and be done with it! For me, "time is gold."
But God is saying patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit. So I suppose I have to let the Spirit of God work in me—and give me a bucket full of patience! :)

KINDNESS
Well, maybe this is the easy part. I worked in an activity center for the elderly—and I loved them. So showing kindness to them was natural for me.
But how about showing kindness to the people who hurt me? That, I need God’s help with—not only to forgive them, but to show kindness to them. God gives us opportunities every day to show kindness—not only to our loved ones, but also to the unlovable.
Well, that’s an everyday challenge. And that’s what makes life exciting!

LOVE
What is the definition of love? Everyone longs to be loved—and to love.
I believe the greatest love ever shown was when God gave His Son Jesus Christ to die for us sinners, so that those who believe in Him can be forgiven and saved.

God’s definition of love is found in 1 Corinthians 13:
“Love is patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
Well, I have a long way to go to love like that!

PEACE
In today’s world, peace can be hard to find. We are surrounded by noise wherever we go. And not just noise—problems and sickness that make us worry. The storms of life can rob us of the peace we long for.

But God says:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:6–7

There we have it! That is the secret to having peace, no matter the circumstances.

FAITHFULNESS
Am I faithful in everything I do? Well, I’m faithful to my husband, my work, my family.
But how faithful am I to God? In prayer, in trust, in good works, and in faith?

I have to depend on God to help me be faithful to what He has entrusted me. I’m not perfect—none of us are—but He is. And I can call on Him any time of day, and He is faithful to listen.
I just hope each one of us stays faithful in listening to God—because His wisdom never ends. :)

GOODNESS
Do we experience God's goodness every day?
Sometimes people become blind to it, asking, “Where is God in the midst of all the bad things happening around the world?” But God’s goodness is everywhere—in nature, in the people who lend a helping hand.

God is good—He has given us eyes to see, ears to hear, hands to touch, feet to walk, and minds to think.
He has given us one another—to love, and to be loved in return. He’s given us talents and the ability to develop them. God’s goodness is too many to count—we just have to open our eyes :)

GENTLENESS
I’m the kind of person who’s always on the go, always doing something—often multitasking.
Most of the time, while doing one thing, I’m already thinking about the next task.
The result? I sometimes forget to be gentle with what’s right in front of me.

I remember when I was very young, I worked as a dishwasher in a cafeteria. The first month, I didn’t earn anything—I broke so many plates and glasses because I was always in a hurry! My employer didn’t pay me. That’s when I learned dishwashing wasn’t the job for me :)

Now, I work with elderly people—and I need to be gentle with them. I suppose I’ve become very good at it now.

SELF-CONTROL
The cat in the picture is a great example of self-control. I need that kind of self-control when our cat uses the floor as her toilet.
I need it when my teenage daughter is doing “her thing” and won’t listen to me.
When my husband wants to listen to country music on Saturday night—and all I want is a quiet evening with him.

Oh, how I thank God for creating tears—because sometimes I just cry, and I feel better afterward.

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Dear God,
Let the fruit of the Spirit be seen in me—and in us—so that this world can become a better place to live for each and every one of us.

JOY