“Abiding in the Vine” Christ being the vine, we are the branches (see John 15).
One of the fruit of the Spirit is gentleness. “But the fruit of the Spitit is is love, joy, peace, gentleness…”
Gentleness or being gentle has become a lonely word in our current intolerant society. Anger and rudeness have become the ‘accepted norm’. If I don’t get my way then tough #@*!. People get upset when we don’t fall into somebody’s manipulative trap to argue with them. I remember an old saying, ‘kill them with kindness’. Most of us have lost our cool or patience at times and the hot andchumid weather does not help. Have you ever tried to tease or pet a dog in this heat only to have them snap at you! Yes, we are all human and have emotions and there are times that we do not control our emotions and we snap back. This is where the work of the Holy Spirit come into focus. Jesus said, ‘apart from ME you can do nothing’. We need the Lord’s help and grace for these branches to become more fruitful! Sometimes it is painful to get pruned.
Gentleness, patience, and kindness are part of the vine that is a work of the Holy Spirit or fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23).
If I want to become more fruitful then we need to ‘die to the flesh’ and mour old selfish ways. The Lord Jesus encourages us to spend time with Him alone in prayer and reading the Word of God. It’s in these times our branches get pruned if we allow the Holy Spirit’s work to purge us and become what God and others desire us to be.
Remember, it’s not about me bettering myself, but it’s more important that God is glorified in our life! Be grateful in every circumstance! Try to be at peace with all people, if possible. Take it easy on those front line workers trying to make a living, and those customer service people on the phones. They are trying to help, but getting angry, yelling, and screaming at them will not work or help. Be kind, be gentle, be patient, and show respect, it goes a long way my friend.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”. Matthew 11:29 NIV
“Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight”. 1 Peter 3:4 NIV
Stay cool from the heat my friend and enjoy your day and coming weekend while being kind and gentle. 🍓🍊🍉🍇🍈🍐🍑🍒
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Published by Andy
Greetings! My name is Andy Provitola and I live in New England on the South Shore between Boston and the beautiful Cape Cod region.
The purpose of my blogging and writing is to encourage you in your journey here on planet earth. Life is full of pressing issues and problems and my desire is to discover a place for peace, hope, healing, and contentment. I am a follower of Jesus Christ – God’s one and only Son and I discovered these truths along my own personal journey.
Having discovered a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ does not mean I have to be religious to attain the rewards of heaven. The fact is God provides grace for us and accepts us as we are in His image. In other words, we cannot attain heaven or life eternal on our own, but by God’s loving grace and no merit of our own. Simply by accepting Him by faith and believing.
My goal is to continue to find a balance of life from a spiritual and practical perspective with a purpose to please and glorify God in all that I do because of His ‘Gift of Grace’.
God is not transcendent and so far away that he is out of reach with humanity. God desires that His presence lives within us and not just in the galaxies and the universe. Experiencing the unconditional love of God has been so rewarding and while discovering the truth and purpose for my life. Moving forward in this life is not a sprint, but a marathon when it comes to this race here on earth.
I am blogging because I find it is a good way to connect in a much more effective and efficient way when it comes to communicating and interacting with people that I know or do not know. Blogging and writing challenges me and also stretches me specifically in my thoughts, my mind, my emotions, and my spiritual life. To live a vertical relation with God and a horizontal relationship with others.
There will be a variety of topics and subjects to address including youth, young adults, family, singles, seniors, relationships, etc. Some of the topics will include God’s creation and power, depression, loneliness, suicide, hope, healing, setbacks, financial matters, business, stress, anxiety, care, encouragement, and so much more.
I would like to connect with all walks of life, ethnicity, culturally, other religions, socio-economics, and in so many more ways.
I am currently writing a book and several memoirs about my own life and journey . The journey begins at a young age growing up in Malden, Massachusetts, specifically Maplewood Square to where I am today. I became paralyzed from the waist down as a senior in high school and I share how my life changed for the better!
“But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus. To testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious undeserved] grace [which makes us free of guilt of sin and grants us eternal life]. Acts 20:24 Amplified Version
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