Category: Uncategorized

Intro: Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with an encouraging word for your day. All through this month, we will be talking about living fruitfully. Fruitful living happens as we let the fruit of the Spirit operate in our life. Here’s a little poem reminder
Fruit Like You
Forgive us Lord, when we fall short, of all you have for us
We give in quickly to the flesh, instead of simply trust
Your will and Word they are one, our words and will can become
Fruitful evidence in our life, that’s void of sorrow, and void of strife
It’s fruit that looks just like You, through what we say and what we do.
Since we are part of The Vine, we should be fruitful! Throughout the Bible you may have noticed that God is serious about fruit. I want to be more fruitful in every area of my life, and I want to encourage you to be more fruitful in your life too. Here is your dailyeword:

This week we are talking about the fruit of peace and patience as we are living fruitfully. Have you ever heard the phrase Random Acts of Kindness? I haven’t heard anybody say it for a few years, but a short while back,it was a common phrase for a while. Somehow, somewhere, someone suggested that people do nice things for others, just out of the blue. Well, this week I’m going to give you a challenge. Is there anybody in your life that you are running out of patience with? Is there someone in your life, who it is hard to live at peace with? Your assignment this week is to do something nice for them, out of the blue. Your opportunity to do a random act of kindness will not only bless you, it might surprise them, but it will demonstrate the fruit of the spirit that we as Christians should be cultivating.

It’s hard to always react in the right way, (I’ve done it wrong—lots), but we do have a power on the inside of us that can give us control when we get impatient. That same power will help us be fruitful on every level of our life. We can progress, and get better because God’s seed of fruitfulness is on the inside of us, and His seed produces good fruit!
I Peter 1:22-25 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,[e] 24 because
“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man[f] as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
25
But the word of the Lord endures forever So find someone to be kind to, we can be patient, and we can live in peace. Do something unexpected. Then know that God is smiling, because He’s seeing Himself in you!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

Fruit Like His Matt 19:13-15
Not only is God patient and kind, Jesus exemplified both of these fruit of the Spirit when he walked the earth. We obtained mercy because of the patience Jesus showed to us before salvation. Jesus demonstrated kindness when He caught a woman in adultery (John 8:1-11) and when He blessed the children (Matt 19:13-15). Here is that scripture.

13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

I think everyone knows it takes patience to be around kids! The disciples weren’t so much, but Jesus said bring those kids here. They are what heaven is all about! We can act like Jesus, because…..the seed is within…that incorruptible seed that will produce good fruit in our life (I Peter 1:23). The poem for today is:

Fruit Like You
Forgive us Lord, when we fall short, of all you have for us
We give in quickly to the flesh, instead of simply trust
Your will and Word they are one, our words and will can become
Fruitful evidence in our life, that’s void of sorrow, and void of strife
It’s fruit that looks just like You, through what we say and what we do.

Today I encourage you to cultivate patience and peace with the people in your world.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

Ok, I didn’t pass the patience test I was in today. I flunked miserably, in fact, I wasn’t even kind and I had to apologize for my behavior and ask for forgiveness. My humanity showed through in the flesh. I forgot to do what I’ve been telling you to do – that we have to choose fruit over flesh. Fruit is much sweeter and leaves no bad after taste. In fact, it makes life so much better on every level. Well, the teacher is learning, just rather slowly!

Our goal in life, isn’t to flunk, but to pass! We don’t just want to barely make the grade, we want flying colors. The same test will keep coming until we pass – HELLO! What we all could use is a little “Miracle- Grow” on the fruit of our life. I really do believe that’s what the Spirit of God does for us. We have the power to witness and to “live out” our Christian life, but we have to activate it by our actions. We have to remember to depend on the power within to have control when we need it, to have patience when we’d rather pass judgment, and to respond in kindness in all situations.

God’s mercy is available!
1 Timothy 1:15-17
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

God is being patient with you. He certainly has been patient with me! Thank God for His patience! Shouldn’t we be able to pass along some of that same patience to others? Of course we can! And we should!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

LOVE ONE ANOTHER! In Matt 22:37-39, Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Love is one the fruit of the spirit that I just can’t seem to get away from! To be a fruitful Christian, we must love one another. The wonderful thing about the fruit of the spirit is, when you give it away, it isn’t gone. It will come back to you. We sow love to someone, and we’ll reap some love from someone. It may not be from the same person, but love will be coming back at you. A very interesting thing about love is, that you can talk about it all day, but until you put some actions to your words, those words are pretty empty. You can’t tell your spouse you love them, and be disrespectful to them. That isn’t showing love. You can’t say you love your brother or sister and talk about them negatively to someone else. Your action disproves what you’ve said. So, I’m gonna give you just one piece of homework, I dare you…… every day for the next 7 days, do something that demonstrates love to someone who wouldn’t expect to receive love from you. Think about at least one way, each day to let someone know that you care about them, you think they are special, or that you value and cherish them. I believe you’re going to have some Love coming right back at cha!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

Don’t Let Joy Slip Away Is 12:1-6
Did you know there is a difference between happiness and joy? An easy way to tell the difference is joy last and lasts, and is a result of our relationship with God. Happiness usually is temporary. We are happy because of circumstances or because somebody likes us, or things went our way. Joy isn’t dependent on how things are going. We have joy, just because we have Jesus. He is the one who gives us joy unspeakable and full of glory. He is the one who gives us joy in the midst of negative circumstances.

That doesn’t mean that the devil won’t try to steal our joy. If we start looking inward, and keep our focus only on ourselves, we can miss seeing the big picture of life, and totally loose our joy. We can look at circumstances and because everything isn’t going smoothly, we can let our joy slip away. The best thing to do is continually draw from the joy that is on the inside (Is 12:2,3). When we are saved, we experience a joy that the world doesn’t know about (I Peter 1:8). We can have complete contentment, and a joy that lasts and lasts that isn’t dependent on how “happy” we feel (Phil 4:11-13). God’s joy can become part of who we are. We can be “joy filled”, so we can be “joy spilled” to our world. Splash a little joy on someone you know! You’ll lift their day, and because what we gives comes back on us, we’ll get a bucket full of joy in return!

Is12:1-6
And in that day you will say:
“O Lord, I will praise You;
 Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.
2
Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.’”[a]
3
Therefore with joy you will draw water
 From the wells of salvation.
4 And in that day you will say:
“Praise the Lord, call upon His name;
Declare His deeds among the peoples,
Make mention that His name is exalted.
5
Sing to the Lord,
For He has done excellent things;
This is known in all the earth.
6
Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion,
For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”
We can draw joy from the well of salvation! What a promise.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

Are you feeling empty and used up? We all know we are to be fruitful, but life can be draining. If you are feeling empty today, here is a poem I wrote to help you refill your cup.
Empty Cup – Filled Up
Are you running on empty?
Is your cup really dry?
Does the mountain you are facing
Reach beyond the wide sky?
Has your heart skipped a beat?
Is the wind gone from your sail?
Will your storm ever cease?
Will anything else fail?
One thing we know for certain
It is written hard is stone
That when everything is falling
You can stand in Christ alone
He will never ever change
And His Word is always true
He not only is consistent
He will always pull you through
When the storms of life are daunting
When the winds are screaming loud
You’re an answer, not a problem
And you’ll stand above the crowd
What He has done before
He will surely do again
His track record is flawless
There’s no “retreat” in Him
He’s saying – “I am with you
Don’t turn back, and don’t give up
My goodness overflows
And My presence fills you up”
“Your faith has made you whole
And your armor is in place
No weapon formed against you
Will take you off your race”
“Winds and storms they do come
You’ll be challenged once again
Be positioned in My power
For I am working out a plan”
“A plan for hope and a future
With a confidence that grows
Reenergized for victory
With a cup that overflows!”

Ps 23:5,6 Reminds us that our shepherd will refill our cup, restore our soul, and lead us to a life of overflow.

5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
 Forever
I hope that encourages you TODAY!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

I Want it All Ps 23:1-4
Is a joyful attitude generally natural for you. Do you wake up happy, and stay joyful all throughout the day? Does not too much get you frustrated, and do you have the joy of the Lord is regularly flowing in your life? Or is the opposite true? Are you the grumpy, frustrated one whose joy level is set on low. It is good to remember that in God’s presence is where we find fullness of joy. Our joy level is a pretty obvious gauge of how much time we are spending in God’s presence. YIKES!! If our joy is depleted, the best place to be is worshipping God! I want to find joy and contentment in Christ. I want only more of God and His presence. I found this simple song/poem I wrote from 2002 after a sermon on contentment.

I Want It All
I’m satisfied with You alone, In your presence I’m at home
My heart is yours, forever more
I want it all, I want it all, I want all that You want for me Lord

Everything You want for me to know, I want to know
Everywhere You want for me to go, I want to go
Everything You want for me to be, that is who I want to be
I want everything you have for me

Content to follow where you lead, Your spoken Word supplies my need
Fully yours, but wanting more
I want it all, I want it all, I want all that You want for me Lord

I want all the joy that God has for me. I know where I can find it. I want all the joy that God has for you. Do you know where to find it? It’s in the presence of God, that’s where your joy cup is full and overflowing.

Here is Psalms 23:1-4
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with an encouraging word for your day. All through this month, we will be talking about living fruitfully. Fruitful living happens as we let the fruit of the Spirit operate in our life. Since we are part of The Vine, we should be fruitful! Throughout the Bible you may have noticed that God is serious about fruit. He started earth’s productivity by telling Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. In Psalms 92, we are told how to flourish, and that is to be planted in the house of the Lord, in a local, Christian Bible believing Church. I want to be more fruitful, and I want to encourage you to be more fruitful in your life too. Here is your dailyeword.

How would you rate your joy level? On a scale of 1-10 where is your joy? The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength, and we receive strength, when we worship God. So truly God has enough joy to go around and we are strengthened by Him when we worship Him. Have you ever noticed that your joy level was diminished from it’s normal place of overflow. Looking back, you might wonder why your cup a lot less full than normal. Did you just let some of your joy slip away? There can be many reasons, from stress, to not spending time with God in His Word, not taking time to worship, to a myriad of other things, our normal full cup can run a little empty.

Don’t let a joy deficit become a normal experience for you. Don’t let go of your joy. God’s grace is amazing, and because hopefully, what was going on in the inside, didn’t affect me significantly on the outside. It became obvious to me that I had to draw from the well of salvation on a regular basis. The river of life flows from our belly, but we have to access it, so our joy can be full. So this week, why not let your joy level increase. Let go of stress – worship God, and draw from the well. God is working in you, and He’s got more than enough joy to go around. Get all you can! Here all 5 verses of Psalms 100.

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
2
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;[a]
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

This week we’ll be talking more about fruitful living, with the emphasis on Galatians 5:22 and 23. The fruit of the spirit in our lives, gives evidence of how fruitful we are. Love starts it all off, and no wonder. God is love. Love is the essence of who God is. He is love personified. So the very first fruit on the list is love. You’ll notice that it is the very last on the list in I Corinthians 13. Maybe God just wants us to be reminded, just like he is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, love is the beginning point and the ending point with God. Everything else in between needs to be covered in love. So how can we operate in the fruit of the spirit of love. You’ve heard it said often before that love is a choice. We make a choice to love. Love is also an action. Just like faith without works is dead, love without corresponding action is just words floating in the air. We make a choice to operate in, walk in and demonstrate love in every situation. That’s where it gets hard, because flesh is selfish. We want someone to give love to us. We want to be the recipient, not the one who has to give it out! Well the wonderful thing about God is that when we do give, it comes back to us. When we choose the way of love, we’ll receive it back. So make a choice today, to walk in love.

Eph 4:1-6
I therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, There is one body and on Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

We are called to love one another! Let’s put the flesh under, and walk in love.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS

The first listed fruit of the spirit is such a big subject, that we could talk about it all year.
We know that God is love, and love is demonstrated. Love comes from the heart and love is what makes the world go round(!!!) It’s #1 on God’s list, and I think that is significant! Well, love is all of those things plus more. It is a dynamic force that has the potential to change our world. I just thought about all of the people on the earth, and how many of them are believers. If every believer on this planet began operating in the love of God, the world would be turned upside down. (Or right side up!) We would be a force to be reckoned with.

If we would merely become an instrument of love in our homes, our communities and our work places, we would see hearts mended, broken homes restored, neighbors living peacefully, and more generosity and gentleness in our society across the globe. Okay, that does sound a bit like utopia. We do live in a real world, with a real devil who comes to deceive and blind the eyes of everyone to the truth. We have to deal with that bad dude. We do know that he is the god of this world’s system, but the only reason he has room to do what he does (kill, steal and destroy – John 10:10) is because we aren’t enforcing the victory of the cross. Satan is defeated, let’s remind him of that! Let’s use our authority on the earth, and walk in love! Jesus demonstrated love to the highest degree, let’s turn our love walk up a notch or two. We can cover everything we do in the love of God.

I John 4:7,8 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

The biggest issue for believers is – let’s just be who we are – we have had the love of God poured into our heart. The Spirit of God lives and abides in us, so let’s act like our Father. Let’s be just like Him now! If we could truly love each other, and then demonstrate it, what a better world we’d live in!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS