THE SEED“Come, follow me.” Mark 1:17 The importance of leadership is neither doubted nor debated—in government, education, business, or church. Elisha, like most leaders, begins as a follower. Elijah finds him plowing in his family’s field and summons Elisha to follow him, just as God has directed (1 Kings 19:16). Elijah throws his cloak over… Continue reading Followership

THE SEED“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives” Mark 14: 26 To round up the Last Supper, the Lord took a hymn together with His disciples. He was about to make His most difficult trip to the Cross. Looking at the example of our Lord, it is… Continue reading God Gives Songs Part 2

THE SEED“Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life” Psalms 42:8 “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms” (James 5:13). One way of utilizing your pleasant… Continue reading God Gives Songs Part 1

THE SEED“Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness)” Ephesians 5:8-9 An old poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson says, “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you… Continue reading For Goodness’ Sake

THE SEED“[We have] everything we need … through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3 At first glance, we might think Paul didn’t need to include goodness in his description of the fruit of the Spirit. Goodness can seem to be a catch-all that absorbs every… Continue reading Goodness

THE SEED“When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us” Titus 3:4-5 The Greek word that is translated as “kindness” in Galatians 5:22 sounds similar to the Greek word for “Christ.” In the days of the early church, that sometimes led to confusion among unbelievers. They weren’t always sure if Christians… Continue reading Kindness

THE SEED“I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience” 1 Timothy 1:16 When we hear the word patience, we probably think of the virtue that enables us to wait. That’s one way of looking at it, but Spirit-led patience is also much more. Patience… Continue reading Patience, Forbearance

THE SEED“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” Colossians 3:15 Are you familiar with the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi? It begins with the words “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” Then it describes some ways we can spread… Continue reading Channels Of Peace

THE SEED“The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 Philippians is sometimes called one of Paul’s “prison letters.” That’s because Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned, probably in Rome (see Philippians 1:12-14). While the details of Paul’s imprisonment are sketchy, it probably was… Continue reading Peace