"It's time for passing the peace." I cringe every time I hear those words in church. It’s my least favorite part of the service. But I dutifully stand up, shake hands in the radius of parishioners who surround me, smile and say “Peace be with you,” or reply “And also to you,” if they say it first, sit down, grab the pew Bible, and look up the day’s verse. I pretend, usually, … [Read more...] about Passing the Peace – Fruit of the Spirit
Devotion
Joy Versus Happiness – Which is Better?
Maybelle Crabtree here. The US Constitution guarantees us the right to pursue happiness. But what about joy? Do we have a right to pursue that? Why can't we seem to find joy? And why can't happiness be enough? Sometimes the pursuit of happiness can lead to emptiness and an unsatisfied life. The problem is we confuse joy with happiness. Joy, as the second element of the Fruit of … [Read more...] about Joy Versus Happiness – Which is Better?
Love is the Most Important Element of the FOTS?
Love is the first element mentioned in the Fruit of the Spirit (Click here for FOTS post). Why is that? Why did Paul the Apostle mention it first? My answer: it is. Paul states that in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, we have nothing and are nothing without love. In the King James version of the Holy Bible which I grew up with, the word used is "charity." But no matter which word you use, … [Read more...] about Love is the Most Important Element of the FOTS?
What is the Fruit of the Spirit?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.Galatians 5:22-23 Back when I was a child in Sunday school, on one of the walls was a cork board with a construction paper tree on it - just the roots, trunk, and branches. The above verses bordered the corkboard. A … [Read more...] about What is the Fruit of the Spirit?
Welcome to the Biblical Garden
Howdy! Maybelle Crabtree here. In our backyard I have a garden. It surrounds the grassy area where the kids used to play when they were young. All the neighborhood kids came to play in our backyard. As the only house on the block without a pool, they had room to play. Tom, my husband, built 3 beds for his vegetables in the back corner. The rest was for me. We have 5 dwarf … [Read more...] about Welcome to the Biblical Garden