Listen: “From him (Christ the head) the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does the work”. (Ephesians 4:16) “Each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” (1 Corinthians 7:17) […]
Conflicts We Face: Stewarding Our Time
Listen: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.” (John 14:27) “And God is able to make all grace abound […]
Transforming Conflict through the Fruit of the Spirit: Self-control
Listen: “Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble…No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead bless – that is your job.” 1 Peter 3:8-9 (The Message) Reflection: Working and living closely together in community in a busy retreat center requires special grace to deal with conflict that arises in stressful situations and to overcome personal […]
Transforming Conflict through the Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness
Listen: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, GENTLENESS and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23 Reflect: Gentle Giant or Goliath? In 2016, a movie came out called The BFG (Big Friendly Giant). It is about a giant and a little girl who, through a series of events, […]
Transforming Conflict Through the Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness
Listen: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, FAITHFULNESS, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23 “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Exodus 34:6 Reflection: How do […]
Transforming Conflict through the Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness
Listen: I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:13-14) Reflection: Last week, a very difficult criminal trial in Dallas ripped the city apart. An innocent, unarmed black man named Botham Jean […]
Transforming Conflict through the Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
Listen: Colossians 3:12: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.“ Reflection: The Holy Spirit wants to grow kindness in our lives and here we are told to ‘put it on’ to ‘wear it’. Perhaps kindness should be a pair of glasses that enable us to see past […]
Transforming Conflict through the Fruit of the Spirit: Long-suffering
Listen: “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:32 (NIV) “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Colossians 3:12-13 […]
Transforming Conflict through the Fruit of the Spirit: Peace
Listen: “Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” (Romans 14:19) Reflect: My mom was diagnosed with esophageal cancer last month. This means that stress has moved into my mom’s, my sister’s and my life in the form of appointments, care, worry and the unknown. This stress has been the source conflict among us […]