Friday, October 22, 2010

Operation Christmas Child

Tomorrow my Wife and I will take part in a Family Fun Day to spread the news about Operation Christmas Child. This ministry of Samaritans Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org) takes shoeboxes and sends them full of gifts around the world! What is so incredible about this ministry is that the Gospel message goes with each shoebox to millions of children who have never heard about Jesus.

Take some time to go on-line to Samaritans Purse website and find a collection location near you. You only need to enter your zip code. You may also 'pack a shoebox' on-line if you don't have the time. Its a great family tradition to start today!

Christianity - A Process and Not a Destination

As I was reading Galatians 5 -6 this morning, I came across the 'Fruit of the Spirit'.

"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control"

I am reminded that becoming a Christian (Christ follower) is not a destination. There is never a point when we have arrived. Yet, it is more of a process that is not unlike a traveling. We are always striving toward the perfection of Christ, knowing that we can never achieve it until we are indeed at our destination which is heaven and in His presence.

Don't ever think that a church membership, baptism or other ritual will get you to the point that you are at your destination. All are well and good but they are yet part of the process of traveling toward Christ.

Instead, strive toward integrity by keeping Christ-centered. Paul tells us in Galatians that we can do this by focusing on the fruits of the spirit.... love, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I wrote those on a 3 x 5 card today and will carry them with me. How will you focus your heart on the fruits of the spirit?