So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27

Two days ago I got to hear Tim Tebow speak where he reminded us of Genesis 1:27. He shared about the original Hebrew translation of the phrase ‘in his image’, and how t phrase was used to describe Pharoah and ancient kings, who were worshipped and viewed as gods. While we’ve read this verse many times, it’s so kind of the Lord to allow the significance to dig deeper the more we understand. As what this simple phrase truly says is that we’re all royalty, like the kings of this world. Every person that walks this earth, man and woman, is described in this very first chapter of the Bible as royalty. We often take it for granted – that we are daughters of the King. As we move our bodies and breath in that truth through Holy Barre, let’s consider what that could look like throughout our day-to-day rhythms. And even more, do we view others as daughters and sons of the King?

I recently got back from vacation where my husband and I got to do the whole all-inclusive Mexican resort thing. Looking back, I see how it didn’t take long for my past body image and appearance struggles to creep up. While the Lord has provided so much freedom for me and so many others in this area, I stepped into this all-inclusive resort and started comparing, critiquing and finding so much past junk coming to the surface. As I’m looking around, I quickly realize that worldly beauty and how we ‘should’ look is such a moving target as we get into all the cosmetic options and enhancements. Looking around, I was processing so much – from my body being a source of pride to having so many insecurities. It didn’t take long for my mind to become a mess, battling ugly lies and grasping for His beautiful truth. The enemy was digging in, but thankfully the Lord’s been kind to provide tools and ways to replace the lies with truth like Alisa Keeton’s two books, The Body Revelation and The Wellness Revelation. But I still struggled!

As my time there continued, the whole environment started breaking my heart, not only seeing my own sins and struggles and convictions, but then observing so many others pursuing their own false idols. In an unlimited alcohol environment, the vulnerability and what people start sharing with you because they think they’ll never see you again is heavy and real and loaded! So much brokenness was revealed as people were HONEST!

Yet His TRUTH – even before we were born, we were fearfully and and wonderfully created in His image! Period. All that stuff is meaningless, and our value is NOT found in these things of this world. What the Lord intends to bring Him glory and us joy, like beautiful Mexican landscapes and female life-giving and aging bodies, the enemy uses lie to steal our peace and joy. We are called to find our value in Him and meet others in their vulnerabilities to remind them of His truth.

Another application can be found in youth sports. Bless this generation of kiddos and their parents! My 8-yr-old daughter is spending this week and next getting ranked among all her peers on the soccer field. I’m thankful that the Lord has given her amazing abilities in which she is naturally able to thrive, but I’m already having conversations with her about navigating the reality of her making a certain team while her good friends did not. And how she can encourage her friends, reminding them their value does not lie on the soccer field. And, yes, we could take her out of this league, but we can’t take her out of this world!

As I’m doing my best to lead her to do her best and encourage the rest, I’m reminded of one of my favorite studies – A Beautiful Design by Matt Chandler at Village Church. This study talks about Genesis 1:27 and identifies the two main hurdles of women – comparison and perfectionism. I often find myself going back to this study. Because I don’t care how old we are or what circumstances we find ourselves in or how much pain and suffering we endure, the enemy is going to try to fill our minds with comparison and perfectionism.

So let’s move our bodies, knowing the Lord delights in us, knowing we are fearfully and wonderfully made, knowing we are beauty-full because we are full of His beauty. And for the days we don’t know these truth, the Spirit steps in and fills us up, providing joy and peace beyond understanding! May we have community around us to encourage and engage each other as we navigate this world, knowing we’re made for eternity with our King! Whether we make a certain soccer team or we look ‘good’ in a bathing suit or our marriage is thriving or struggling, we are created in His image. Let us delight and worship and burn bright, better together!

Written by Candace Woolard

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

John 12:24

You see, dying is the only way a seed will become more.

After the seed is planted into the moist soil, it swells and cracks, and loses its dry outer shell. It completely gives up its seed identity to become something with even greater value—a sprout! And that sprout sends out a long root. Before you know, it a stem pushes through the earth, and tiny green leaves appear. Then, eventually flowers, and then fruit!

I love the saying ‘die to self’. It’s definitely counter cultural and challenging, but we are set apart!

The dying happens in the daily giving up of what you want for yourself. It happens as you close your mouth when you want to give a string of words. It happens as you choose to see others as more important than yourself. It happens when you see others through His eyes.

God’s heart for you is that you be like a tree planted by rivers of water that yields its fruit in due season

Psalm 1:3

He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.

Jeremiah 17:8 ESV

“It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.””

Mark 4:31-32 ESV

Love the visual in this passage of us being small in our faith, yet, as we grow daily with watering from His word, our faith grows bigger and bigger and then we can ultimately hold someone else up, provide comfort, or security for those who need it.

Encouragement for today-

Let’s place the seeds of this life (our doubts, our fears, our anxiety, our kids, our marriage, our job, our relationships-all of it!) in the Master Gardener’s hands. Open your hands and watch what only He can do🌱🌳

This is the last characteristic for a reason! Having self-control is way easier when the other eight traits are present! Self-control can simply be seen as walking in step with the Spirit.

Beth Moore states, ‘Self-control is the decision to remain within the boundaries of victory.’ Or as Proverbs states, a man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. (Prov 25:28). Physical discipline and spiritual discipline are connected. While I don’t want you to focus on controlling and tracking and restraining the physical aspects of your life, there is value in applying self-control to all areas – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual!

But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!

Romans 13:11-14 MSG

I loved this statement from a YouVersion reading plan: ‘But the soil of God’s love in Christ is rich enough to produce all the self-control you need.’ Amen! The fruit of the Spirit is definitely not natural . . . BUT GOD! But His soil! But His Vine! But His Living Water! But His Light! But His Pruning! But His tender care! But His faithful promise of growth and abundance! And our deep roots in Him!

Stay connected, Friends! The fruit-filled freedom will follow!

Let’s begin our discussion with the best example of pure gentleness – Jesus! Gentleness, as portrayed by Christ, is not weakness but actually controlled strength. His life and ministry exemplified spiritual gentleness – not getting easily frazzled or offended. It’s taking a deep breath, focusing on the truth and interacting with others and the Spirit with an open heart.

Let your true beauty come from your inner personality, not a focus on the external. For lasting beauty comes from a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is precious in God’s sight and is much more important than the outward adornment of elaborate hair, jewelry, and fine clothes.

1 Peter 3:3-4

When researching this fruit of the Spirit, these words were found to help define gentleness: teachable, submissive to the Lord, humble, aware, and repentant. In addition, the opposite of living with gentleness is being easily offended.

Gentleness gives such a stark contrast to our culture today as those around us almost take pride in getting offended, pursuing self-help, believing their way is right, taking charge, and only surrounding themselves with like-minded people. May we stand out as gentle people producing loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, and faithful fruit. And may our message be one of remaining in the Vine, always acknowledging our fruit and strength and power come from the Lord.

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

2 TIMOTHY 2:24-26

Here are some gentle truths from two of my favorite authors. As Beth Moore says, let’s leave condemnation to God and conviction to the Holy Spirit. And as Lisa Bevere states, like the lioness, let’s be at ease with strength and at rest with power.

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

ISAIAH 30:15

Our faithfulness is founded upon God’s faithfulness. As with all fruit of the Spirit, our being faithful is our response to His continually being faithful to us! But while ‘faith’ is a common word in our language, the idea of ‘faith’ is honestly a mystery. We’re all too familiar with the term ‘unfaithful’ and quickly label others by their unfaithful acts or faithlessness. But Jesus . . . Jesus changes everything.

To have faith is basically being okay with not fully understanding or grasping all the ways God is faithful to us! So our response is to keep our eyes fixed on and remain in Him and pursue the mystery of faith in Jesus Christ!

When it comes to faithfulness, we must believe ‘in’ more than believe ‘that’. Our faith can’t be dependent upon outcomes but must be founded on His everlasting love and truth. Faithfulness is lived out little by little and seen through obedience in the moment. ‘For we live by faith, not by sight.’ 2 Cor 5:7

Faithfulness is resting in His certainty, being persuaded by His honesty, trusting in His reality, being won over by His veracity . . . being sure that He’s sure and believing He’s worth believing.’

Beth Moore, Living Beyond Yourself

Faithfulness spurs us forward with boldness, confidence, gratitude, hope, and power as we trust in our Father and His plans. In scripture, faithfulness and righteousness are often discussed together like in these two passages below.

Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. – Isaiah 11:5

Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. – Psalm 85:10

If faithfulness is believing what the Lord says, righteousness is doing what the Lord says. Or some even go so far as the say these two words are more synonymous than complimentary. Both are included in the Armor of God and serve to protect and strengthen us. So we can say with confidence . . .

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

2 TIMOTHY 4:7-8

To keep the faith, we stay connected to the Vine. We keep our eyes on Him. His faithfulness reaches to the skies (Psalm 36:5) and continues through all generations (Psalm 100:5). Even when we are faithless, God is faithful! And through the Spirit, we produce His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness . . .

For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. . . . The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

GALATIANS 5:5-6

One beautiful application of faithfulness can be seen in the artwork of my dear friend, Shauna. Like many of us in this middle season of life, the Lord surprises us with random requests for obedience and calls us into roles we never expected. Believing in His faithfulness, Shauna started painting more as a form of worship and spiritual therapy than for others to enjoy. Yet the Lord began to challenge her to reach beyond her comfort zone, bringing Him glory and us all joy through her obedience and faithfulness! Explore what’s included in this post and more of her pieces here!

Beth Moore in Living Beyond Yourself introduced kindness and goodness together, as two characteristics that go hand in hand when it comes to being connected to the Vine. And ever since going through her study years ago, I have seen this truth played out again and again! I realize this verse below seems a bit random to include in this study, but let’s dive in.

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

MATTHEW 10:16

In the context of the fruit of the Spirit, we’re likely familiar with ‘kindness’ and such innocence. We desire kindness from others, praise the Lord for His kindness towards us, and know the value in showing kindness to others. We also fully realize that our showing kindness is easiest when it’s an outpouring of His kindness in us!

Kindness is vital to our nature and to living in the freedom we have in Christ! Showing kindness truly reflects who Jesus is and is one way we put His love into action. As mentioned in the verse below, it’s interesting to see kindness listed with justice and righteousness.

but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

JEREMIAH 9:24

When it comes to goodness, it’s going to require more shrewdness. I’ve seen a variety of definitions and applications presented around this type of ‘fruit’. Maybe it’s because the word ‘good’ is so overused in our world and definitely can have a broad meaning. And while I completely support and agree with an emphasis of being and doing good through His Spirit, the ‘goodness’ listed in Galatians 5 might be a little more specific. Various translations of this fruit point more towards virtue, benevolence, accountability, obedience, and righteous living.

All these word associations are in fact ‘good’ of course, but ‘goodness’ might not always feel good! Bearing the fruit of goodness might involve some toughness. In goodness, we sharpen, rebuke, and even correct fellow believers, knowing we are better together. So as with all fruit, goodness should come from the Vine and be Spirit-led.

Goodness is best understood when considered, compared, and contrasted to the quality of kindness.

Beth Moore, Living Beyond Yourself

Kindness and goodness paired together are powerful, life-giving fruit! If each are separated, kindness could be interpreted as purely ‘feel good’ while goodness could be interpreted as purely ‘do good or else’! A similar comparison can be applied to grace and truth. We need both in order to show His love!

So let’s revisit that verse at the top about snakes and doves. As we remain in the Vine, bear fruit, love God and others, and burn bright, we must cling to both kindness and goodness, just as He has called us to be innocent as doves and shrewd as snakes. We must show kindness and be pure of heart and be virtuous and pursue righteousness. We must settle into the balance and stand firm on His truth, dancing to the rhythms of His grace on His holy ground!

As we continue through the summer, move with us online, any where and any time, through our YouTube channel!

Ah, patience. Patience is definitely a virtue and a characteristic of God. Whether it’s in scripture or our surroundings, we see the role of patience at work.

Let’s begin by continuing the Vine and fruit analogy. We can all agree that gardening is not a rushed or speedy process. Even something as simple as pulling weeds requires patience as if you move too quickly, you’ll disrupt the good growth by removing the bad. Out of curiosity, I searched online to see how long it takes to grow a successful vineyard. Here’s one response from Wine Spectator, emphasis mine.

‘Grapevines are typically planted in the spring, and as much as they might grow that season, it’s unlikely that they will yield grapes by harvesttime. The following year, a grapegrower can expect to see a lot of growth and some grapes, but that first crop of fruit usually consists of very small, sour berries that aren’t suitable for making wine. But by the third harvest, growers can expect to get a proper yield of wine grapes. In winemaker lingo, each growing season is nicknamed a “leaf.” So a grapevine will be ready to produce grapes for wine by the “third leaf.”

But not everyone makes wine with that first successful harvest. Some wineries won’t use grapes from vines younger than a decade or even older for their top wines, and until then the grapes are used to make lesser wines or sold to other wineries.

—Dr. Vinny‘

I realize lots have changed in our world since Bibles time, but I doubt the time it takes to grow good fruit has quickened that much. So when the Lord Jesus says He is the Vine and we are branches, remaining in Him to bear fruit, I don’t think He means one and done! Producing patience and living in the freedom of His timing is not a quick and easy process. But praise the Lord that He is so very patient with us! And His patience with us is a gift and example for His glory!

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I TIMOTHY 1:15-17 NIV

I’m currently going through another Bible study about the Trinity. It’s meaty and full of powerful truth yet a challenge to fully understand and process. It’s been reminding me how patient the Father is with me as I dig deep and seek Him. The Spirit reveals His truth and love as well as my idols and misunderstandings. I have to laugh at the lies I’ve believed over the years as well as the pride I’ve let creep up as a leader. Thank you, Lord, for your continued patience with me and desire to see me bear fruit and bloom each season.

While I love a good analogy as much as the next person, the patience we’re talking about here is more in regards to people rather than things. While we have to be patient when it comes to gardening, waiting on answers to prayers, or any other aspect of our purposed timeline, true patience comes in the form of being patient with other people. I know, I know . . . that’s even harder! Ha!

My dearest brothers and sisters, take this to heart: Be quick to listen, but slow to speak. And be slow to become angry.

JAMES 1:19 TPT

Beth Moore states, ‘Patience is inspired by mercy, devoid of condemnation, and evidence of the presence and power of our Holy God.’ So producing patience is often reflected in our inaction, our ability to pause, breath and bite our tongue, our pursuit of prayer, praise, and forgiveness, and in our belief that everyone is doing the best they can. And there are times we need to zoom out and see the picture of what He’s doing so we can zoom back in with more love, joy, peace, and patience (and kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.) Also, we must, must, must be patience with ourselves! Progress and growth come little by little, which actually produces sustainable fruit.

This means that, contrary to man’s perspective, the Lord is not late with his promise to return, as some measure lateness. But rather, his “delay” simply reveals his loving patience toward you, because he does not want any to perish but all to come to repentance.

2 PETER 3:9 TPT

I have found great comfort over the years in this quote – ‘God is never in a hurry but He is always on time.’ And I believe it’s how we handle the waiting that can bear the most fruit! So as you wait, show mercy, forgive, be real, cry out, hope, repent, restore, reach out, and be still before the Lord! That’s how we burn bright, better together!

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

PSALMS 37:7

Oh, Lord, thank you for being so patient with us!

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:9-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We must pursue peace, Friends.

Yes, it’s freely given to us as believers and as branches of the Vine. But the fruit of peace can so easily rot! Fear, worry, anxiety, lies, shame, guilt, too much info, too little info, attempts to control, etc are all used by the enemy to infest our bountiful harvest of peace and thus steal our joy and invade our love.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

ISAIAH 26:3, COLOSSIAN 3:15

There’s a reason the Gospel of Peace is included in the Armor of God. We must stay rooted in His peace and stand firm on His holy fertile ground.

So what does that look like? We stay connected to the Vine, to His truth, to His purpose, and to His rule. We trust the Lord and follow Him. I received a reminder from Her True Worth recently that ‘peace isn’t just a promise from God, it is a guide’.

May the peace of Christ rule your heart.

COLOSSIANS 3:15

We pursue peace and prune the choices that hinder His gift of peace from thriving in our lives. As we fight for peace, we seek Him first. We seek first the Kingdom of God. When faced with choices, we chose the Vine and His peace.

Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. Put into practice the example of all that you have heard from me or seen in my life and the God of peace will be with you in all things.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6-9

Stand firm in peace! The enemy loves to disrupt our peace and break down our joy. The gospel is founded on His love and peace, just as our feet must be founded on secure, solid ground.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

PHIL 4:7

Like joy, true peace can be best revealed in the midst of struggle, battle, chaos and commotion. The gospel is based on our having a peace beyond understanding – having peace with God establishes our relationship with Him so we can experience the peace of God. Pursue peace with God first and grab hold of the Gospel, the Good News, the story of Jesus our Lord, the abundant life from the Vine!

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

2 THES 3:16, JUDE 1:2

Lastly, the Bible Project teaches how the original Hebrew translation for ‘peace’ means completeness, wholeness, and restoration.  Jesus came to bring peace . . . to bring completeness, wholeness, and restoration.  He came to give life to the fullest!  And while we value and cling to His teaching, it was through His sacrifice that true peace can be enjoyed.  He died so we can live in His complete, whole, and restored peace!

So as we reflect and savor His peace, desiring for that kind of peace in our lives, we choose trust and hope as we look forward to Christ’s return and our eternity with Him. Til then, we’ll remain attached to the Vine and pursue His peace in all things.

Joy! Fruit of the Spirit #2. Intentionally placed right after LOVE in Galatians 5!

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart! Where?! Down in my heart! Where?! Down in my heart! Or better yet . . . move your body as you listen to this joyful song!

Scripture clearly states God’s love surpasses knowledge (Eph 3:9) and His peace is beyond understanding (Phil 4:7), so we shouldn’t be surprised joy, sandwiched between love and peace in the list of the fruit of the Spirit, is also a challenge to fully comprehend. Complete and full joy is best seen through a life of love, freedom, and gratitude . . . regardless of our circumstances. Let’s dive into His word to provide some clarity, contradict culture, and experience His true joy!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

JAMES 1:2-4

We’re supposed to consider is pure joy when we face trials?! Interesting . . . So regardless whether you’ve read this verse above hundreds of times or this is the first time seeing these ironic words combined into truth, process each word above and below slowly.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 COR 12:8-10

So now He’s telling us to find delight and joy in our weaknesses?! I know, right?! But just check out this passage – ‘fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.‘ Hebrews 12:12. Yes, you read that correctly. Jesus was crucified for JOY?! Let’s read The Passion Translation of this same scripture to provide a little clarity.

We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be His, He endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!

HEBREWS 12:12 TPT

His heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be His! So when we read Romans 12:12 (below), we can see how even Jesus was joyful in hope of the future relationship we would have with Him.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

ROMANS 12:12

We can be joyful in hope as we look towards the future. Like the woman described in Proverbs 31, through Jesus and His fruit of joy, we can be ‘clothed with strength and dignity’ and ‘can laugh at the days to come’. (Proverbs 31:25) I love the correlation of strength and dignity and the idea of completeness.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

JOHN 15:11

It’s super important to note that the entire chapter of John 15 leading up to verse 11 emphasizes how Jesus is the Vine – life to the fullest is lived remaining in Him and remaining in love. Check it out here! And in connecting to the Vine, our joy can be complete! The fruit of joy is produced through the power of the Vine in us.

What’s even better is the joy found in doing life with other believers. Praying, supporting, encouraging, and loving each other in community. Paul mentions this in Philippians 1. Because like we always say in Holy Barre, we’re better together!

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,”‭‭

PHILIPPIANS‬ ‭1:4-6, 18-19, 25‬

I pray that these truths actually fill you with joy! A joy, thriving from the Vine, rooted in gratitude, love, and freedom, that draws you closer and closer to Him. Regardless of our present trials, weaknesses, unknown future, etc, we rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. Because He is our source of joy! Our overflow of His joy in us bears such beauty and power. Let’s rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

PHIL 4:4

Here’s a phone screen for you as well from our partners at http://www.familyunite.org/

As we explore the specific Fruit of the Spirit, I must emphasize their order in scripture. As with all things in His Word, even the order in which the fruit are listed has purpose. Starting with love communicates the foundational truth that God is love. Jesus’s ministry, life, death, resurrection, etc. all center around His love. The Good News (or Gospel) is all about love. Love is the answer. Love is a choice. Love is a response.

And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

2 JOHN 1:5-6 NIV

While this sounds simple and redundant for those of us who’ve been going to church for years, let’s not miss the power of this love! Especially since ‘love’ is such an overused word! We love our new shoes, our favorite book, our friend, our children, our husband, and our God. So for clarity, let’s talk about the different types of love.

We have what we call ‘friend love’ or ‘PHILOS’. Yes, this is how Philadelphia got its name as the ‘city of brotherly love’. You’ll see this kind of love when reading about the churches in Act 2 and in Galations 6:10 – ‘Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.’ The Holy Barre community has allowed so many of us to experience this type of love in action. Showing up for each other and doing life together in authentic relationships! Truly a gift!

Then there is ‘romantic love’ or ‘EROS’. This is a little deeper, more intimate love that can be expressed physically, mentally, and emotionally. God’s design for this kind of love allows marriage to be the closest thing we have on earth to the spiritual relationship of Jesus and His church. Of course since marriage unites two imperfect, sinful people, it’s super messy, and I’m begging you not to compare your husband to Jesus! But if we approach this ‘EROS’ love through a lens of holy adoration, intimacy, forgiveness, and service, the result can be quite beautiful with the help of Christ and the Holy Spirit! Connection and communication are key, and my husband and I have found benefit in going to marriage counseling as well as receiving a weekly email from the Gottman Institute – click here to sign up!

One unique aspect of ‘EROS’ is the gift of intimacy. This includes physical closeness as well as intimate conversations, revealing our deepest and most vulnerable desires, dreams, and disappointments. I realize intimacy may be a hot topic and one that can stir up a lot of pain and shame. Yet I pray regardless of your past, your future is filled with beauty and life in the bedroom. And I pray the Lord brings restoration and intimacy into your marriage in light of ‘eros love’. These words by Beth Moore always get my attention.

Physical love or sexual intercourse is to marriage what prayer is to our spiritual life.

Every single day I pray to thrill to his touch.

– LIVING BEYOND YOURSELF, BETH MOORE

There’s plenty of baggage even within the church about sex and marriage. Pleasing your husband can often be presented as a wife’s duty rather than a joy. Or there is little discussion about it at all, and we’re just supposed to figure it out on our own. I’ve been there and I’m guessing many of you have as well. Yet it breaks my heart how the enemy uses our insecurities, culture, friendships, and even past hurts to distort the gift God intended for sex. So I’m praying with you for freedom in the bedroom!

And if you want to spice things up, certain barre moves make for a fun connection! I pray barre expands your confidence and physical intimacy! Barre for the Bedroom, anyone? (Yes, I went there . . . I’d rather we talk about sex in biblical community instead of getting our knowledge from movies or online articles.)

Now to the best kind – AGAPE love. This is the love of God. The 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love. The love WE ARE INCAPABLE OF! Our action is to respond to this type of amazing love! ‘Agape is expressed through me when I surrender to the empowerment and temperament of the Holy Spirit.’ – Beth Moore. This is sacrificial love . . . ‘offer your bodies as a living sacrifice’. (Romans 12:1) ‘Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, ALL your strength, and ALL your mind. [Then] love your neighbor as yourself!’ (Matthew 22:37-39) I added the ‘then’ because pure love is an overflow of His love in us!

We often discuss love in terms of giving, serving, helping, showing love to others. But I’m learning how we RECEIVE love may be even more valuable than how we GIVE love. Let’s stop to answer two important questions:

• Do you believe your God love you with an ‘AGAPE’ kind of love? Do you receive it?

Because the truth is, if you can’t answer ‘yes’ to these, freedom in Christ is going to be fleeting. I’m guessing your husband doesn’t tell you he loves you constantly nor does he compliment your effort, body, love, etc daily. So why do we fill in the gaps or create a story in our heads that he must then not appreciate us, must not be attracted to us, or must not love us.

What if we daily loved our husbands in a way that we fully believed they loved us, just as we are today, with an EROS kind of love, empowered by the AGAPE love overflowing within us from the Holy Spirit? What if we loved our friends and family with a PHILO love, empowered by His AGAPE love?

Even more, why do we struggle to accept and live in God’s unconditional, abundant, everlasting love? Why do we cling to shame, hang on to hurt, attempt to control, give grace to others but not ourselves, strive to follow all the ‘rules of righteousness’, and keep score of our behavior, our husband’s, and others?

We have a tough time believing in this AGAPE love because God’s love surpasses knowledge and understanding (Eph 3:19). We truly can’t grasp it fully! This is where surrender and sacrifice come in. But just as love is a choice, we just chose to believe in love and trust Him! So let’s grab hold of faith, believe God’s telling the truth, trust Him in love, and move forward with His Spirit of Love filling our hearts, souls, strength, and minds.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

EPHESIANS 3:16-19 NIV

Lord, consume us with your love. Reveal its power in this season and allow us to grow and thrive like never before. Free us from our own insecurities, pain, abuse, control, etc that hinder Your love! Fill us with your love so we overflow and produce abundant fruit bearing Your name!

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. . . And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. . . Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us.

I John 4:11-12, 16, 19 NIV