The pursuit of happiness is futile. Happiness, peace of mind, and serenity are the results of the way you think God would have you live.
(Author unknown, heard at AA meetings)
But when the Holy Spirit controls your lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)
As far back as I can remember my conflicts in life came as a result of laws. Im not necessarily talking about the police and judges, even though they have been a source of conflict in my life. My mom laid down the first laws I remember. I remember when I was three years old and we lived in Germany, my father was in the military as part of the occupational forces in Europe. The year was 1949 and my mom told me not to put bugs in my pockets. I remember I had a fascination with roly-poly bugs and worms. The roly-poly bugs when you touched them would roll up in a ball, which made them perfect for picking up and putting in my pockets. Likewise the earthworms were slow and could be easily caught and placed in my pockets. When my mom washed my clothes she would always check my pockets and I guess it freaked her out a little to find the bugs. I remember being warned more than once about putting bugs in my pockets. Later as I went to school there were always laws about behavior that were explained and enforced. In high school the laws became more and more. I remember one especially that sticks out in my mind. Thou shall not skip school. I had trouble with this law all through my high school years. Probably the reasons were because I didnt find a lot of peace and serenity in high school at that time. As I recall I had no spiritual life and my self-control was just that, my self-control. As I started to drive, more laws were enforced on my life. I got my first driving ticket for excessive noise, and then speeding, next care-less driving and then I started a string of DWIs. There seemed to be a progression to my law breaking. In 1968 I became involved in illegal drugs and then it seemed like I was always outside the law. I was an outlaw, and several times a fugitive from justice. After several incarcerations, in 1983 I found myself in jail with plenty of time and a brand new Bible. I started to get a glimpse of spirituality and the life that could be lived under the control of the Holy Spirit. I was very reluctant to give in completely, and as a result my self-control stayed in charge. Another fifteen years of doing things my way led to a state of living the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous refers to as Pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. Now theres some five dollar words to explain a lousy life. Today I try and listen to the Spirit as I read the Word of God daily. Here there is no conflict with the law. These words of the apostle Paul speak to me today. I dont want to go back to the way it was. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself JRE
Share this with me from the Life Recovery Bible on these verses of Scripture.
These qualities are produced by the Holy Spirits work in a life submitted to God. Just as a tree bears fruit by means of Gods silent work in nature, we experience these fruits of the Spirit by means of Gods power alone. Our part is to entrust our life to him. When the Holy Spirit begins to bear these fruits in our life, our dependency loses its power. With joy and peace we overcome the pain of our broken past. With love, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness we restore our relationships and make amends. With patience we preserve through the difficult times. With self-control we stand against our tendency to relapse. Gods Spirit can supply everything necessary for a successful recovery.
(Author unknown, heard at AA meetings)
But when the Holy Spirit controls your lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)
As far back as I can remember my conflicts in life came as a result of laws. Im not necessarily talking about the police and judges, even though they have been a source of conflict in my life. My mom laid down the first laws I remember. I remember when I was three years old and we lived in Germany, my father was in the military as part of the occupational forces in Europe. The year was 1949 and my mom told me not to put bugs in my pockets. I remember I had a fascination with roly-poly bugs and worms. The roly-poly bugs when you touched them would roll up in a ball, which made them perfect for picking up and putting in my pockets. Likewise the earthworms were slow and could be easily caught and placed in my pockets. When my mom washed my clothes she would always check my pockets and I guess it freaked her out a little to find the bugs. I remember being warned more than once about putting bugs in my pockets. Later as I went to school there were always laws about behavior that were explained and enforced. In high school the laws became more and more. I remember one especially that sticks out in my mind. Thou shall not skip school. I had trouble with this law all through my high school years. Probably the reasons were because I didnt find a lot of peace and serenity in high school at that time. As I recall I had no spiritual life and my self-control was just that, my self-control. As I started to drive, more laws were enforced on my life. I got my first driving ticket for excessive noise, and then speeding, next care-less driving and then I started a string of DWIs. There seemed to be a progression to my law breaking. In 1968 I became involved in illegal drugs and then it seemed like I was always outside the law. I was an outlaw, and several times a fugitive from justice. After several incarcerations, in 1983 I found myself in jail with plenty of time and a brand new Bible. I started to get a glimpse of spirituality and the life that could be lived under the control of the Holy Spirit. I was very reluctant to give in completely, and as a result my self-control stayed in charge. Another fifteen years of doing things my way led to a state of living the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous refers to as Pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. Now theres some five dollar words to explain a lousy life. Today I try and listen to the Spirit as I read the Word of God daily. Here there is no conflict with the law. These words of the apostle Paul speak to me today. I dont want to go back to the way it was. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself JRE
Share this with me from the Life Recovery Bible on these verses of Scripture.
These qualities are produced by the Holy Spirits work in a life submitted to God. Just as a tree bears fruit by means of Gods silent work in nature, we experience these fruits of the Spirit by means of Gods power alone. Our part is to entrust our life to him. When the Holy Spirit begins to bear these fruits in our life, our dependency loses its power. With joy and peace we overcome the pain of our broken past. With love, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness we restore our relationships and make amends. With patience we preserve through the difficult times. With self-control we stand against our tendency to relapse. Gods Spirit can supply everything necessary for a successful recovery.
