Monday
2.14.22
"By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things." -
Galatians 5:22-23 NRSV
This seems more than appropriate for today, for this week. Of course, I will have to combine a couple on some days, but today, "Love" will be by itself.
Which, Ironically, is not the way "Love" is supposed to be at all.
A "fruit" is grown from seed, takes time to ripen, and, when ready, provides nutrients and satisfaction to the one recipient. As it is all eaten, all that is left from the fruit is a seed to be grown for another to benefit.
How do we "Love"?
Is our Love rooted in the Spirit? Do we allow Love to mature? Do we selfishly devour Love? Do we share Love? Do we allow Love to grow in or for others?
How do we, Love?
Sisters and Brothers, it's no accident that the symbol or Love is a heart.
Jesus gave His heart for us. Jesus taught from His heart for us. Jesus healed from His heart for His.
Jesus loved us from His Heart for us.
Let us make sure, let us do all we do, from Love with Love.
Let us do all from our Heart for another.
Be Blessed, Beloved.
- Rev. Damon
© 2022 Faith First Project
Tuesday
2.15.22
"By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things." -
Galatians 5:22-23 NRSV
What gives you"joy"?
When was the the last time you gave someone "Joy"?
"Joy" is uncontrollable, all body consuming, total mental relaxing, smile inducing, eye widdening, audible yet not verbal, happiness.
When is the last time that has happened to you?
When is the past time you gave that to someone?
"Joy" is a fruit of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Why? Two reasons.
1. To remember and live in the "Joy" of our promised forgiveness and salvation.
Which leads to 2.
"To get through this thing called life", Jesus knows we are going to need Joy. To fight injustices, we need Joy. To keep going, we need Joy. To appreciate living our lives, no matter what the circumstances are, we need Joy!
Joy is the result of miracles that have been delivered.
In order to give Joy, we have to give a miracle or a blessing.
Here's the thing... When giving Joy, Don't try to plan it. Don't try to create a situation for your elevation. Don't point down to uplift yourself.
The miracle, the blessing, the Joy is the result of us being Joy-fillled and Joyful to one another.
Joy. Live in it and Live it. Most of all, share it.
Be Blessed, Beloved.
- Rev. Damon
© 2022 Faith First Project
Wednesday
02.16.22
"By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things." -
Galatians 5:22-23 NRSV
Be Blessed, Beloved.
- Rev. Damon
© 2022 Faith First ProjectThursday
02.10.22
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Thursday
02.10.22
“How happy is the one whom God reproves; therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he binds up; he strikes, but his hands heal.” – Job 5: 17-18 NRSV
Do you trust God?
Not in the easy way? Not on Sunday during service. Not in Bible Study or Church School. Not when that Kurt Carr, Tasha Cobb, or old time hymn spiritual hit you.
I mean do you absolutely, completely with all you have, trust God?
There will be situations when it will be our wrong actions or ill, -timed in actions, when our wrong words or silence will cause trouble, trauma, for another or ourselves.
Yep.
And in those moments God may discipline us, correct us. Sometimes, it will last 30 seconds. Sometimes, it may take years.
God is going to get our attention. God is going to provide opportunity(ies) to learn.
Sisters and Brothers, we are not perfect. We will not always be right. We not always be the Chrsitlike Christian we think we are.
When it happens, and even though Jesus has already saved us, we still have living on earth to do. God wants us to be better.
So God will "pull our card". Let us not despise God the Father Almighty when God checks us.
Let us not run away from God when God "wounds" us.
Remember this, scripture says that God will "reprove" us. That is our Hallelujah!
"ReProve". Here it is. God will make us see the error of our ways, teach us a lesson AND then give us another chance!
Then God will "wound", us but then, with Holy Hands, heal us and build us up, showing us yet again, how much God loves us!
No matter why, let us never run away from God... even when he pulls our card. There is no better partner to have across the table of life.
Be Blessed, Beloved.
- Rev. Damon
© 2022 Faith First Project
Friday
02.11.22
“For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share His holiness. Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12: 10-11 NRSV
So often in stories, the He/Shero goes through a transformation. They start out living defined by other people, put into boxes to have a certain existence.
As the world’s projection plays before us, we often accept the role that has been cast for us.
But there is this independent producer of all, a radical director who is known for saving projects, and a Holy Ghost-writer that has an entirely different story for us.
In order to play our part in this new feature, we have to be Disciplined. We have to study our lines, to practice the methods of our faith, to pay attention to the intersections of humanity and how the plot twist of a 3rd-day resurrection changes everyone’s story.
Our minds, hearts, bodies, and spirits must be built up; that only comes from being disciplined. The weight of this role is the weight of the cross.
So let the world try to hold you down. Let systems of oppression try to stop you. Let the digital popularity comprised of friendly liking followers that blow you up, who also can’t wait to destroy and distract you get in your way. Let evil try to confuse you.
You have a new role. You have a different part to play.
The One who was found by a Star wants you to be the star of your own life.
Jesus invites us all to the table, for the read of a lifetime. The moment that water touched us, we got the part.
It is up to us to stay disciplined to maximize our anointed talent. It is up to us to be directed by the only Director we need.
Will you take your directions from the trades… or the one who traded His life for you?
Be Blessed, Beloved.
- Rev. Damon
© 2022 Faith First Project