The Fruit of Kindness by Sharon Heagy

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." Galatians 5:22-23

Though I hate to admit it, there are many days when I am not kind. When I let my impatience and irritation get the best of me. Those days I am snarky and snappy and crabby. Often I don't even know why I am reacting like an unruly child, or overreacting to, well, everything. There is just a sense of restlessness, an air of prickliness, a profound crankiness. Everywhere I go I feel like I am accompanied by the music played in Bugs Bunny when the bad guy appears. Bomp bomp, bomp bomp, bomp bomp, bomp bomp. These are also days when remorse rears its head and I weep for the people who have been on the receiving end of my grumpy attitude as I overthink how my obnoxious behaviour has affected them. Believing they will never forgive me when in reality most of them weren't even bothered and carried on with their day as if nothing ever happened. "Good grief, Charlie Brown!"

Then there are other days, when I look beyond myself and am able to extend some sort of small kindness to others or to receive a blessing from a gentle person. Most of us find the latter harder than the giving but the need to be gracious is imperative for both. In our community, meals and flowers are exchanged when someone has passed away or is ill. If there is work to be done, people come together in a work bee to lift one more burden from the back of one who is suffering. Fundraisers abound to help those with financial stresses in times of need. Yet the compassionate acts that are unexpected, those that come or go at just the right time, are tender gifts best loved. And if they are done in anonymity, all the better. They get our warm fuzzies going and produce a bursting grateful heart overflowing with love.

But is that what kindness is all about? Is it just about being good to one another? A feel-good action and then we are on our merry way? The questions bounced around my brain and I sought to find the answer.

In the verse from Galatians 5:22-23, kindness is mentioned as one fruit the Spirit provides. The Greek word for kind is chrestotes (khary-stot-ace). The meaning of the word does confirm the importance of benevolent actions to another but its meaning holds so much more. It is a way of being. There is a purity about it that also includes having a tender and gentle disposition. It is a matter of character and attitude even to people we'd rather not deal with or with those who would rather not deal with us. How easy it is to be kind and giving to those who love us, yet more difficult to allow others to give us a slap on the cheek and turn and offer the other. (Matthew 5:39) Kindness is not an inherent natural quality. It is a gift from God given by the power of His Spirit.

The greatest kindness I have ever received is truth given in love. When my steps become wayward and confusion bars the path, there are those who love me enough and will, in His loving kindness, help to clear the way and set me straight on the road home once more. It doesn't always feel like kindness in the beginning, but I am grateful for those who persevere and for a God who confirms the truth. It isn't always easy to share the truth either but it's priceless to those who will receive it. A parcel to unpack along one's faith journey.

The ultimate kindness for me was to be introduced to Jesus. To learn of His grace, mercy and forgiveness. To learn of the price He paid for my debt. He loves even me, just the way I am. He loves even you, just the way you are. On Sunday, we will celebrate the resurrection power that saved all humanity if only we would ask and believe. Perhaps an opportunity will be opened for us to share that ultimate kindness with a fellow faith traveller, to share the Saviour Himself. 

May each of us be transformed by God into a person of continual kindness and may your Easter season be blessed.

Sharon Heagy writes from the little town of Rockglen, which is nestled in the hills of southern Saskatchewan. Her kids have flown the coop so she and her husband have retired to town. She writes to inspire and give hope with a chuckle or two along the way.

"Good grief, Charlie Brown!" - Charles M. Schultz

Christmas Meditations by Sandi Somers

December is filled with memory-making experiences of Christmas. In our blog this month, our writers reflect on their own important Christmas themes.  

Go Light Your World

         Candlelight services are some of the most meaningful celebrations of Christmas for me. On one Christmas Eve, the pastor began the candlelight ceremony by lighting the white Advent candle of Jesus’ presence. The church lights were dimmed until all was in darkness, except for the glow of the Advent candles.  Then the pastor lit his and his wife’s small candles from the Candle of Jesus' Presence.

A hush fell on the congregation the pastor and his wife walked down the aisles to commence lighting our individual candles. As we each received the flame and shared with our seatmates, he instructed us to keep our candles low and cover them to further block out their light. Because we were seated, this was easy to do. 

After everyone had a lighted candle, our pastor instructed us to lift our candles high. Immediately the sanctuary was filled with a beautiful bright glow. Around me I heard people “Ooh” and “Aah”. While our musician sang, “Take your candle—go light the world,” I was amazed at how God dovetailed this service with my thoughts that very morning—God had brought Jesus’ words to mind: “You are the light of the world”

It was a holy moment, filled with profound meaning.

* * *

The memory of this candlelight service became even more powerful for me when, several years later, I toured Israel. While in Galilee, our tour guide quoted Jesus’ words from Matthew 5:14. “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” Our guide pointed to Safed, a city on a hill above the bowl of the Galilee valley. He added, “Jesus may have pointed to that city. Listeners would have understood Jesus’ message, as they could see the lights of Safed at night.”

 I thought of how Jesus taught His followers.

 “People don’t light a lamp and put it under a bowl,” Jesus said. “Instead, they put on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

Then Jesus made His point: “You are the light of the world.”

Sometimes we misinterpret this verse when we say, “I should be a light,” or “I want to be a light.”

Jesus is not telling us we “should be” or “want to be” a light. He is saying that we are the light to the world. There’s a powerful difference.

* * *

However, being a light to the world is more than a metaphor to express how our faith glows to others. It is a spiritual reality, as I discovered in Haiti, a country dominated by voodoo worship.

While visiting a missionary friend, I heard a story of a witch doctor who had come to believe in Christ. He said that while a witch doctor, he sometimes could not look directly at Christians, because they emanated so much light.

Our spiritual light is real.

Our spiritual light is real to all who interact with us.

We are lit by the flame of Christ’s love for us. His pure light is ready to shine powerfully in us and radiate into the prism colours of grace: love, joy, peace and the other fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Jesus challenges us with these words: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  

As we walk in love and obedience to Christ, we will reflect the radiance of Jesus to all who interact with us, so that they, too, can be transformed.

This Christmas, as we light the Advent candles or attend Candlelight services, let us reflect on Christ, the source of our light and salvation (Psalm 27:1). Let us ask God to show us how we can better shine His life into our own and others’ lives.

How to Have a (Good) Marketing Attitude by Glynis Belec

     Writing is my heart passion. Business is my reality. 

I thought about comparing my career as a writer to a love/hate relationship. But then I got thinking how easily I can psyche myself into something. I definitely don't love marketing but I don’t actually hate it, either. I prefer not to do it but I don’t hate it even though I think I hate it.

All my life I have loved writing. Then once I learned writing for the serious scribe is actually 50 percent the written page and 50 percent business, I knew I had to expand my horizons and do it with a willing heart. Otherwise (I know me) I would be prone to whining and then I would convince myself how despicable marketing is and I wouldn't do it. 

I have learned that I choose my attitude - good or bad. I have discovered that if I pick good, only good will come out of it - even if things go bad. If I pick bad it ends up bad every time. I sought to have the 'somewhere in between' attitude. It never works. It always ends up bad, too. 

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that 'hate' isn't my issue, 'not knowing how' is more like it.

Resources are good when you want to learn how to do something. I've found a great Resource that never seems to fail. It sure has changed my marketing attitude. How about I share? 

1. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.    Colossians 3:23

• remember that we are not out to please man with our brilliant marketing schemes. We are intent on glorifying God with how we go about sharing our words. I won't pay for reviews, I will earn them
• I will glean some information from all these people who tell me they know how I can sell a thousand books in one day (as long as I buy their product) but I won't fall prey to their 'get rich schemes' at all costs. 
• I will try my best to make a good, doable plan for promoting my work.

2.  Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant          than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

• I won't mock others or think I have the upper hand when it comes to making contacts 
• I am grateful that God has blessed me with a passion to write, but I will also encourage others to grow in their craft

• I will help others market their books because I know that when we help others we benefit the most. And when I help others market their books, I won't do it for selfish motives but purely because God doesn't want us to be rivals, but sisters and brothers on the same path

3.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,         

    faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Galatians 5:22-23

• It is much more fun to be nice. 
• I started a Facebook group a while ago and we now have close to 500 members. I LOVE talking to my Angels (I call them) about writing related topics. God has stirred a passion in my heart to help promote Canadian authors who write and engage readers who love to read quality work. I will admit, I started out with a little motive of building my 'tribe' and then using it as a marketing platform. It has become much more than that. God has used my wimpy idea to build some great relationships and allowed us to have some super conversations. I rarely plug my own books, but it feel so right what I am doing. 

4. Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for       you. 1 Peter 5:7

• One of the best ways - or maybe THE best way for me to sell my books is to speak
• When I first felt the nudge from God to speak I was dragged kicking and screaming, thinking what a lousy job I would do. Oh, I am a drama queen from way back and have graced the stage numerous times. The difference, though, was I always had a script - and the story was not mine to be told. I heed God's direction now and I love telling my story and sharing about so many things. God has blessed me with the gift of hope and laughter and I love to share that gift with whomever will give me the time of day. And often, blessings follow with the back of the room sales. 

5.  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count      slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that          any should perish, but that all should reach     

     repentance.                                                                                          2 Peter 3:9                                                                                                                                                           

• My brain wants to rush the process and I sometimes feel that I am not doing it right because I don't have at least 100 reviews on each book or people battering down my door begging to buy my books. 
• Then I remember my timing usually always differs from God's. He's been pretty patient with me over the years so I try to do the same. 

I could go on and on. Each day I get inspired. No, I have not turned in to Suzie Q Brilliant Marketer. I never will. But I found that once I changed my attitude and looked at marketing and promotion and everything business related from an "I can do this with God at the helm" attitude, I found it a much more pleasant task. 

Marketing isn't easy. Nor is brain surgery or waiting on unruly customers or building houses. But changing my attitude is. 

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:10

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Glynis