 On the list next for the Fruit of the Spirit Study is Self-Control. It is tempting to keep scrolling. Who wants to read about self-control right?
In an earlier post for the Fruit of the Spirit Series we stated, “ Love is the foundation that is required to grow joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control”. The fruits of the spirit are so intertwined. To really love others you have to be joyful, be kind, be peaceful, have goodness, and have faith! To be joyful you have to practice the other fruits. Faithfulness also is fed by kindness, patience, and self-control. Being filled with the Holy Spirit can be thought of as having a basket full of these fruits!
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 Goodness just sounds like such a sweet fruit of the spirit when it rolls off the tongue.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2nd Peter 1:5-8 At my Dad’s house we have a set of blocks that has stood the test of time. They are at this point probably 40 years old. Not only are these blocks good quality, but if you start off with a good foundation whatever you build is very strong. This verse reminds me of building blocks; you start by having faith, add goodness, and then lots of other things can be added!  This week’s topic in the Fruit of the Spirit Series is kindness. This word is thrown around a lot these days as everyone is struggling just trying to get through the day sometimes. Kindness is a choice but it can also be abundant. How can we be kind not just in single moments but also make kindness a part of our character?
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I gave you with unfailing kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)  “I just need some JOY!” This phrase is often heard in moments of sadness. How many times in desperation has joy been desired as a solution to that feeling? Let’s look at what scripture says and how there are actually varying degrees of joy.
Joy is often something thought of as either having or not having, something that is present or not present, found or lost. If you look at how joy is experienced and referenced in scripture, there are actually varying degrees from having a little bit of joy to being filled up and running over! Also, joy can be experienced in different amounts throughout the day. This study looks at joy from two perspectives. Joy can be a choice. Joy can be given by God.  There are few things that take your breath more than seeing your name on a stone. The arrival of Tall Boyfriend’s headstone was delayed by the quarantine and I was none too sad about that. I had dreaded the day that I had to stand and see, written in stone, not only his name but my own name as a reminder of loss and the finality of life. I am not one to enjoy thinking about the fact that we age, get sick, and eventually leave this world. I typically live in the moment and soak up every piece of it… or so I thought.
 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. Jude 1:12-13 (NIV)
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