A Gentle Spirit

‎"Let your gentleness be known to all." ~ Phil. 4:5

Have you ever met someone with a "gentle spirit"?

I had the opportunity of meeting someone like this 10 years ago. She was my biological mother. From the moment I met her, I felt her love and gentleness. She was a godly woman, tenderhearted, never raised her voice to anyone and never lost control. Everyone who knew her enjoyed her company and she always had kind words to say.

When I met my mother, I thought there was no way possible that I could be related to this woman because I was the complete opposite. Life had made me bitter and angry at the world. I saw gentleness as weakness and always walked over anyone in my path before they could walk over me. But there was something about my mother's gentle spirit that made me want to spend more time with her. We were able to spend three years together and became the best of friends until she went home to be with the Lord. My mother taught me that being gentle does not mean being a doormat. It only means having strength under control. She also taught me that there are gentle ways to be bold and stand up for what is right and gentle ways to lead.

Gentleness is one of the fruit of the Spirit and should be part of our nature. God allowed me the opportunity to spend three years with the most gentle person I've known in order to harvest this fruit in my life.

(Picture of my mother holding me when I was 3 months old. Shortly after this picture was taken, she sent me to live in El Salvador and I didn't see her again for 34 years)


Just as my mother showed me how to develop a gentle spirit, Jesus showed his disciples gentleness in his answers as they asked him so many questions. He never lost patience with them or raised his voice, He always spoke kindly.

In 1 Kings 19:11-13 "The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

God was not in the powerful wind and was not in the earthquake, was not in the fire, on the contrary, the Almighty God spoke from the "gentle whisper".

Got Faith?

"Your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." Matt 5:34


Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live." So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, Who touched Me?' " And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." Mark 5:21-34


Chapter 11 of Hebrews contains other examples of suffering the early Christians endured. I will not go through every example, However I will point out that in Hebrews 11:39 it says: “It was by faith”. This means God honored them for their faith and used them for His glory.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him"~ Hebrews 11:6

No matter how much suffering you are going through right now or how impossible your situation may appear to be, determine in your heart to keep your faith and believe that God is on your side fighting the battle for you. He wants you to trust him because your faith is important in order to have victory. Are you willing to trust him?
"The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." ~Exodus 14:14

Effective ways to increase your faith:

1. Believe

Like the apostle Thomas, we want solid evidence. We are trained to only believe what we can see. But the Truth is that the Holy Spirit, our Helper is invisible and dwells within us.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."~ Hebrews 11:1

2. Read God's Word Daily

Life is busy enough and making time to read the bible on a daily basis can seem to be almost impossible. The Bible helps us draw close to God and build our faith in times of trouble. Reading Bible stories about people who had great faith such as Abraham, Joseph and David can teach us that God rewards those who put their faith in him.
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." ~2 Timothy 2:15

3.Pray Daily

Prayer can be one sentence or as long as you want it to be. Prayers bring our focus back on God instead of our problems.
"Rejoice always,pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ~1 Thes.5:16-18

4. Look for Praise Reports

It's so exciting when God answers prayers! People love to share praise reports because it's an opportunity to tell others how God brought them through a trial. God uses other Christians to encourage us.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" ~1 Corinthians 1:3-4

5. Think about how God has answered your prayers.

As I look back on my life, I can see how God has rescued me in so many situations and provided an even better solution than I hoped for. If God worked in my life in the past, I can be sure that He will do the same today and in the future.
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." ~Hebrews 13:5



"I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" ~Ephesians 3:16-17

A cup of Goodness

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord." Ephesians 5:8-10

What makes a person good? Sometimes religion can get us to focus on rules, regulations and even rituals. But, God is looking at our heart. And He is looking at our life. Is it full of goodness? Are we living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Are we living a life that is true and dedicated to God through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ?



Do Good Anyway ~

People are often unreasonable,
illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

~ Mother Teresa


"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." ~ Phil. 4:8

"Acts of Kindness"

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ~James 2:14-16


Many years ago, while in college, I found myself completely broke with not even enough money to buy Top Ramen or Mac 'n Cheese. I wouldn't get my financial aid check for a couple of weeks and home was 400 miles away. When I returned from class one morning, my roommate told me that she bought enough groceries for the both of us and she invited me to go with her to stay with her parents on the weekends, they only lived 45 minutes away. We developed a beautiful friendship and I will never forget what she did for me. A simple act of kindness and love had such a lasting impact on me.


"For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" ~Matthew 5:46

The following is a true story I read in "Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul"

One night at 11:30, an older African-American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her -- generally unheard of in the deep South during those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be a big hurry! She wrote down his address, thanked him and rode away.

Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. to his surprise, a giant combination console color TV and stereo record player were delivered to his home.

A special note was attached. The note read:

Dear Mr. James:

Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes but my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." ~Heb. 13:2



"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." ~Phil 2:3

The Story of the Good Samaritan

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' " And Jesus said to his disciple, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." But his disciple, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor? "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." ~ Luke 10:30-38