Sandstreams Safe Haven

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.

Meekness is easiness of spirit which demonstrates a heart of stone turned into a heart of flesh. It requires a taming of the soul which is then able to understand God’s divine truth and precepts.

Meekness is constant and steady composure in spirit and state of mind reflecting the consistent stability of our lord who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)

The meek do not run from controversy but meet confrontations with gracious restraint under the control of the Holy Spirit. Anger and bitterness choke out the comfort of a meek and quiet spirit. In James 1:19 the rules for meekness are simply laid out:

*Swift to hear
*Slow to speak
*Slow to wrath.

The fruit of meekness finds expression in simple day to day conduct. This enabling power produces faith and the genuinely humble soul draws friends and associates by his gentle and quiet spirit.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

This meek and lowly heart draws me. My soul desires rest.

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

John 3:30 He must increase but I must decrease

There is no other way to produce good fruit in our souls except by the presence of the Master Gardener, Jesus Christ. It is by the Spirit of God that any growth, maturity and conformity will flourish.

Ask!

James 4:3 Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss.
Asking amiss means asking out of desire for self-fulfillment. Seek God not self.

Thirst!

Isaiah 55:1 Everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.
Pull out of complacency and thirst for more of God and what He offers you.

Draw Near!

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.

Humble Yourself!

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He shall lift you up.

Become a flourishing, pleasant vineyard under His care and He will keep you!

Isaiah 27:3 I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.

My life is a garden,
Your life is a garden.

Is it waste, untilled, and wild?
Like an untaught, untrained child?

Or is it good soil under the Master’s hand?
Is my soul His own cherished land?

Is it grown thick with thistles and weed?
Or has it been sown with His good seed?

What is the harvest that comes from this life?
Goodness and love, and hatred and strife?

O Lord, take this stony ground of mine.
make it all, completely Thine.

Only then can it ever yield
The pleasant fruits of a godly field

Anonymous

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Self-Control is the aspect of Christian conduct and character which most have the greatest difficulty producing. The ground of our spiritual garden produces both grapes and wild brambles and weeds. As James says, Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? (James 3:11). Cultivating self control as a fruit of the spirit requires the whole being, body, soul and spirit under the control of Christ. Every aspect of life, spiritual, moral and physical must become subject to the sovereignty of God.

Lack of self-control is expressed by hostility, anger, criticism, bitterness, jealousy, hatred and many more subtle feelings and emotions. (Galatians 5:19-21 works of the flesh)

An amazing example of one with self-control is Jesus Christ. John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. Because of this strong, inner control He possessed, He was in control of every situation He faced.

Wild vines of weeds unchecked, uncontrolled in our lives cause a great tangle of inner turmoil keeping the possession of that quiet, dignified and mighty strength that Christ possessed – out of our reach. Pride and self-absorption are the flaming rulers of the mind.

But change is possible. Relinquish self-rule and turn completely and irrevocably to God. Transform and renew your mind.

Romans 12:1-3 I beseech ye therefore brethren by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Pray for the ability to live by faith in Christ’s ability to tame our inner turmoil. Gentle growth in godliness will occur. As Jesus said in Luke 22:42, Not My will, but Thine, be done.

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Isaiah 45:3 I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

It is called “treasure of darkness” when one walks blindly in obedient trust.

I walk in this cloud of God’s, not knowing where my next step will fall, not knowing anything at all. I must obediently trust Him and abide no matter how long it takes for the dawn to emerge into glorious day.

So these days of darkness are actually precious days of learning and growing with selfishness dissolving into faith.

My response to my difficulties is more important than the problems. I will consent to being changed and to become that meek and quiet spirit that I’m being tested and challenged to be. I am promised that I will come to know God and His character in a way that only adversity can teach. 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

True faith, produced as a fruit of our spirit, reaches out to the world and to the good in others. It energetically seeks to give the best to another (Philippians 2:3) putting others better than ourselves.

Look to Jesus for this true faith. His very character provides the source of unending love, kindness, patience, and goodness which flows to us undiminished each day. Knowing the depths of God’s character and His faithfulness to us creates a fertile environment for faith to grow in our hearts.

The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5) allowing us to respond to others with His same character. With faith we see those around us as God sees them and miracles occur. The fruit of faith replaces distrust with friendship. It is a virtue of deep loyalty, mutual trust and fidelity. Faith lifts, cheers and inspires.

Quotes of Faith:

If we probe a bit deeper, we see that “unfaithfulness” is very close to “disobedience,” for the man who disobeys God has cast himself loose from the only solid support a man can have, and his direction in life will be controlled by the shifting winds of circumstances and of his whimsical desire…The man who is not controlled by God has no settled reason to keep his word or discharge his obligations.
~John Sanderson~

Faith untried may be true faith, but it is sure to be little faith, and it is likely to remain dwarfish so long as it is without trials.
~Charles Spurgeon~

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we walk in them.
Acts 10:38 And Jesus went about doing good.

Goodness is giving ourselves to others. It is a fruit planted in the soul that brings a divine impulse to be generous with our time, talents, interests, strengths, energies and capacities to enrich others lives. One who gives goodness to others is strong, dignified and maintains self control. His lofty ideals, noble purposes, strong character, reliable conduct, and trustworthy integrity make him approachable.

Now that’s quite a list, and I would say, quite impossible to live up to. But it’s really nothing more than being a servant of all, “broken bread and poured out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ.” Goodness comes from God’s invincible power of overcoming evil. It is because of the greatness of His love we can become new creatures. Our guilt is gone. We are free from the past. The weeds of fears, forebodings and pride are pulled, transforming a new character of positive, powerful *goodness* reflecting not our own but God’s good image.

With all pride and patronage removed, the fruit of goodness emerges in full bloom, showing it’s gracious and generous heart by helping those who are downtrodden, bringing joy and light by sharing the good news of God’s love.

Impossible? No! 2 Corinthians 9:8 says And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor that ye through His poverty might be rich.

Kindness is a healing, compassionate, merciful virtue. It is a deep and genuine concern for others trapped in the pain and pathos of the world.

Our most amazing example is the Heavenly Father who cares for us in such a way that He lays down His life for us. He is honest and open and gives Himself without hesitation to enrich us. He is merciful and compassionate, giving Himself for our well-being.

The fruit of kindness being produced in our Christian character should be of such a high quality, it extends to enemies, those that curse, hate, despise and persecute us. (Matthew 5:43-48)

The weeds of self-absorption must be removed for the fruit of kindness to flourish, then warm affection and joy will flow out, bringing light to darkness, lifting burdens, bringing peace and encouraging the poor in spirit.

The fruit of kindness is cultivated by meditating and reflecting on God’s great kindness to us. How can you not respond in gratitude by following His example, pouring out gentleness and kindness to a weary and dejected world?

In Psalm 23, David shows his confidence in the kindness of God and let’s us know that if the Lord is our Shepherd, goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Philippians 2:13It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

The vision of God is the source of patience, because it imparts a moral inspiration. Oswald Chambers

Patience is a powerful attribute that enables us to remain steadfast under strain and moving forward. It is selfless love to suffer long under adversity. It is the ability to bear with adverse circumstances without breaking down.

If we have any faith at all we have strength. It is this faith and strength that enables us to endure. It is this endurance that nurtures and develops the fruit of the Spirit, patience. Patience exhibited in our conduct generates hope and optimism in those around us.

Patience sown into the spirit, the very being of a person, brings the sure confidence that God does all things well and we can be content knowing that He empowers us to face every adversity and every obstacle with joy and gracious optimism.

Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

John 14:27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Proverbs 16:7When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Peace, a supreme attainment, fervently desired yet seldom discovered. Peace is a quality of life produced by God alone – the God of peace. (Jeremiah 33:6-9) Our response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit determines whether we can enjoy peace or remain swallowed up in terrible hostility.

2 Corinthians 5:17If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The old life, which is to have passed away when we allowed Jesus to come into our lives, consisted of animosity, bitterness, hostility, belligerence, jealousy, bad temper, quarreling and rivalry. The new life is a dramatic change in our character and conduct and exhibits peace, goodwill, good cheer and contentment.

It’s as easy as asking for change. Peace comes when you determine to hate your hatred. Selfishness, the root cause of hatred, is a weed in soul’s soil that must be plowed under by the Master Gardener. Remove pride and become humble and you will find peace and rest.

The person of humbled heart and contrite spirit in the care of a loving Husbandman is a person of peace.W. Phillip Keller.

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

See the merit of the Master Gardner in His toil and labor in the soil of our souls. He is worthy of our pleasant fruits new and old. And because of this we have joy. All manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved. (Song of Solomon 7:13)

Joy comes not from my own successful accomplishments. Joy comes from the complete fulfillment of what I was created and called to do.

The joy the Lord experienced from doing what the Father sent Him to do can also be ours as He has sent us also. (John 20:21)

Be faithful to your calling, fulfilling that ministry so that you will have joy when you hear “well done, good and faithful servant. (Matthew 25:21)

He Holds the Master Key of Joy and Sorrow
by Annie Johnson Flint

O Christ! who once has seen thy visioned beauty
He counts all gain but loss,
And other things are naught if he may win Thee
And share with Thee Thy Cross

And he on whom its shadow once has fallen
Walks quietly and apart;
He holds the master key of joy and sorrow
That opens every heart.

The burdened souls that pass him on the highway
Turn back to take His hand,
And murmur low, with tear-wet eyes of anguish,
“You know – you understand.”

Read Annie Johnson Flint’s inspiring Biography
More poetry by Annie Johnson Flint

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley

Galatians 5:22  The Fruit of the Spirit is Love

Love flourishes in the hearts of those who have allowed the Master Gardener to till the soil of their soul.
Hosea 14:8 From Me is thy fruit found.
Romans 5:5  Hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Because the love of God constrains us, I live to persuade others of the love of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:14) It is only through the holiness and power of God that I am capable of being caring and compassionate to those in need. Christ enables me to convey a genuine, respectful, open and warm attitude allowing a hurting soul to trust me enough to open the door from the inside out.

God desires all to know Him and to understand and rely on His presence and power. (Daniel 11:32) His Word will provide guidance in resolving life’s problems with sin and suffering and can help keep the Christian from sinning (Psalm 119:11). Helping those in our care to believe the truth of the Bible is the beginning of healing.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says that if we are in Christ we are new creatures… all things are become new. Change is possible! To deny it is to deny the power of God. Healing will come when there has been repentance, godly sorrow, and forgiveness. Guiding those in need to turn away from sin and turn to faith in Christ will bring change by the grace of God.

Human love is a wonderful thing – and it is most wonderful where it has the least to gain. Willa Cather

© 2011 Debora P. Gilley