Ladies, being faithful causes us to stretch. It can often be hard. But if we want to please God, it’s something we should strive to do. It’s in us to be faithful, we simply have to work at it until that fruit is developed. It’s not always about what we do out in the open where people can see us. Sometimes, its small things we do behind closed doors. If we can develop a habit of doing more than enough in our private lives, it will come naturally and show in our public lives. I’m asking GOd to forgive me for doing a half job and I am asking Him to help me to be more faithful. I encourage you to do the same.

Faithfulness: More Than Not Giving Up Part 3 of 3 is a post from: Mrs. BliSs for WomantoAnother.com

Let’s look at some examples of being faithful. In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus tells a parable about 10 virgins waiting for the bridegroom to come. 5 were foolish and 5 were wise. The wise virgins took extra oil for their lamps. The foolish didn’t bring extra oil. In other words, they brought just enough.  Verse 5 says that the bridegroom was late. When the bride groom did finally show up, the virgins that hadn’t brought the extra oil missed out when the bridegroom showed up because they had to leave and go get more oil. This parable simply tells me that it’s foolish to simply do just enough to get by…

to be continued…

Faithfulness: More Than Not Giving Up Part 2 of 3 is a post from: Mrs. BliSs for WomantoAnother.com

Being faithful requires us to stretch ourselves. When we want to give up or do a mediocre job, it can be hard to give a little more. But, faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit. When we accepted Christ into our lives, the Holy Spirit came into us. With it came the fruit of faithfulness. So, it’s in us to give more when it’s hard, we just have to develop that fruit (see It’s “Already There” Part 1 and Part 2). Eventually, giving more won’t be so hard and being faithful in this maner will be a way of life…

to be continued…

Faithfulness: More Than Not Giving Up Part 1 of 3 is a post from: Mrs. BliSs for WomantoAnother.com

Instead of allowing some of life’s issues to get us upset, we can look at it as we are exercising our fruit and getting a spiritual work out. I’m sure many of you know, exercising can sometimes be painful. Especially when you first start out. But, as you progress, it gets easier. Sooner or later, what seemed to be a challenge at first, is a breeze. The same goes for our spiritual workouts. When we choose to do what’s right when it doesn’t feel good, we are growing spiritually. Later on, when we do that same right ting and it’s easy, we are enjoying the growth that previously took place.

So, be encouraged. Know that the fruit of the Spirit is already in you . We just have to get on the spiritual treadmill and work out so we can see it. Let’s not allow the things of life to upset us. Let’s count it all joy while breaking a spiritual sweat

It’s Already There Part 2 of 2 is a post from: Mrs. BliSs for WomantoAnother.com

In John 14:16-26, Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit. In verse 17, Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will not only live with us, but  in us as well. Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes into us. And since the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22) is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, that comes in too.

So, if we already have the fruit of the Spirit, why can’t we sometimes see it in our daily lives? If I were to take a picture of you with a camera (one with film), I can say I have that picture. But, you can’t see it because it hasn’t been developed. To develop the film, it has to be done in a specific location and under certain conditions. Another example can be seen in fitness. Everyone has muscle. However, if you want to see that muscle, you have to work out and put stress on it…

It’s Already There Part 1 of 2 is a post from: Mrs. BliSs for WomantoAnother.com

I chose this picture for today’s post because it is important that we really take a close look at who or what is controlling us. Is it God? It is our emotions? Is it friends and family? Sometimes, we let the wrong things control the way we behave. This is something that God has dealt with me on and is still dealing with me. So many times we as women give the excuse for it being “that time of the month” as an excuse to have an attitude. This is an example of emotions controlling our behavior. Honestly, I think PMS is an excuse for women to act up. When it is all over, we go back to being normal as if nothing ever happened. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are physical things that take place during this time that can be pretty stressful. But, it is no excuse to allow it to control our emotions.

Proverbs 25:28 says, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” During Biblical times, cities were surrounded by walls. These walls offered protection from enemies that could come and destroy the city. When we don’t exercise self control, we are operating as if we have no defense against the devil. We allow him to have control over our “cities” destroying our spiritual fruit. When are controlled by our flesh, we are not only destroying our fruit, we are possibly shutting doors to blessings. If we show God that we cannot exercise self control, things that He may want to bless us with may be put on a shelf because we are showing Him that we cannot handle them. For example, if you are the type of woman that shops on impulse and emotion, God may not bless you financially because you are showing that you cannot control your spending habits.

…to be continued

Exercising Self Control Part 1 of 2 is a post from: Mrs. BliSs for WomantoAnother.com

1 Corinthians 13:7 says that love believes, hope and endures all things. I believe that love has faith.  Hebrews 11:1 gives the definition for faith. “Now faith is the substance for things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We believe that God will deliver whatever it is we are have faith in. When we are walking in love, if we are believing for a loved one to get saved, we endure and continue to pray never giving up, if we have faith that God will fix our marriage, we continue to endure, no matter how hard it gets. This also goes back to being long-suffering.

When we look at all of the aspects that make up love, we can see why without it, we are nothing. We know by Galatians 5:22 that love is a fruit of the spirit. The only way to produce this fruit is through Christ. No matter what spiritual gifts we possess, if there is no love, it is fruitless. I have learned that our prayer life and our love walk go hand in hand. If our prayers aren’t being answered, chances are, our love walk is not 100%. My sister, I pray that you will continue to walk in love. If there are areas that need to be strengthened, study God’s word on love and pray that God will strengthens you in the areas that need the be strengthened.

“And now abide faith, hope, love these three; but the greatest of these is love”  ~1 Corinthians 13:13

It’s All About Love pt 5 of 5 is a post from: Mrs. BliSs for WomantoAnother.com

1 Corinthians 13:6 says that love rejoices in truth. The first thing I thought about when I read this is the “no snitching policy” that exists in the streets. When we know someone did wrong and the police asks us about it we are to speak up and tell what happened. If your safety is a concern, there are ways to confidentially give the necessary information. As Christians we should know to depend on God for our safety and security. What makes you think that God won’t protect you when you are doing what is right? Saying we don’t know anything is like covering for the ones that did wrong. Covering up for the wrongdoing of others is not rejoicing in truth. In fact, it is the opposite. As mentioned above, this makes us just as guilty as the person that was in the wrong. Another way to rejoice in truth is to rejoice when we hear of others that live upright and Godly.

It’s All About Love pt 4 of 5 is a post from: Mrs. BliSs for WomantoAnother.com

Next, 1 Corinthians 13:5 says that love does not seek it’s own. In other words, love is not selfish. In today’s world, selfishness seems to be all around us. It seems that everyone wants to excel in one area or another and will do it by any means necessary. Even if it is at the expense of someone else. When we walk in love, we don’t behave this way. Philippians 2:3 tells us to not do things out of selfish ambition. There is nothing wrong with striving to succeed. The way that success is obtained is what is important. Philippians 2:4 follows by saying “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” We are to look out for one another. In a post I recently wrote titled “Supporting The Ministry”, I talked about how I noticed that during the New Testament times, the early Christians took care of each other. If someone had a need, they would see to it that the need was taken care of. In walking in love, we are to not just care about our own needs. We are to be concerned with the needs of others as well.

The third behavior given to us in  1 Corinthians 13:5 is not being provoked. Being provoked is the same as being short tempered. This means make you upset at the drop of a dime. Did you know that not being provoked goes hand in hand with long-suffering? When we are long-suffering, we don’t allow anger to come in so quickly. Although being angry is a natural emotion, what we do with it is what often gets us into trouble. Ephesians 4:26-27 says “ Be angry and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath nor give place to the devil” One way we can sin is with our mouths. We allow our emotions to control what we say and we end up saying hurtful things. Colossians 3:8 tells us to avoid this type of behavior. Not letting the sun go down on our wrath means that we are to forgive someone when they offend us and not hold a grudge. 1 Corinthians 13:5 says that love thinks no evil or keeps an account of evil. Not letting the go down on our wrath means we have 1 day to get over it. After that, we shouldn’t bring it up anymore. When we forgive someone, we let it go.  Not giving place to the devil means we take it up with God, not our neighbors, family, co-workers etc. When we give our hurts to God and truly let Him deal with the issues, there is no place for the devil. We have given that place to God.

It’s All About Love pt 3 of 5 is a post from: Mrs. BliSs for WomantoAnother.com

1 Corinthians 13:4 says that love is not envious. Being envious can also be defined as being covetous. One of the ten commandment is to not covet. Coveting is to strongly want something that someone else has. When we are envious or when we covet, it shows that we are not content with ourselves and/or what we have. If we were thankful for what we had, then we wouldn’t strongly want what someone else has.

The final part of 1 Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up” This tells us that an aspect of love is not conceit or arrogance. In Matthew 23:4-8, one thing that Jesus mentioned when He brought correction to the pharisees was that they paraded themselves around and loved to receive recognition. Matthew 23:5 says “But all of their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge their garments.” Phylacteries are small leather boxes of scriptures that some Jews would tie to their foreheads or to their left arms. They are also called frontlets. The things they were doing were not to glorify God. It was to glorify themselves. We must be careful not to do things to glorify ourselves. Everything we do must be to give God the glory and recognition.

It’s All About Love pt 2 of 5 is a post from: Mrs. BliSs for WomantoAnother.com