all that i am

Fill us at daybreak with Your kindness
          and let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us
          and establish the work of our hands
                             Psalm 90:14, 17

starting with that little verse from the Psalms
           Fill us at daybreak with Your kindness
so much tumbles

I just long to be 'kinder'
yet I feel it is not within me to be 'kinder'
and yet that is what we are called to
and in that verse from yesterday's reading
I am reminded that it comes only from God
    it is His kindness that needs to fill us
    only His kindness that will enable us to fulfill His desire for us
    'to be kind'

and I know there is not a 'hierarchy of fruit'
but it seems like kindness is such an entry level 'fruit'
one of the 'easy' ones

but in Galations and in 2 Peter
it comes pretty late in the list...

and not that I have obtained or exhibit all the fruit
all the time

I know I still have so far to grow in love.....
and I long to know everlasting true joy......
and to live in peace....

but at this time
'kindness'
seems to be something to focus on

"Be kinder than necessary, because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle..."

       the fruit of the Spirit is...
        love
        joy
       peace
       longsuffering
       kindness
       goodness
       faithfulness
       gentleness
       self-control
And those who are Christ's
have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires
               If we live in the Spirit
               let us also walk in the Spirit
               Let us not become conceited
               provoking one another
               envying one another
                    Galations 5:22-26

Add to your faith virtue
to virtue knowledge
to knowledge self-control
to self-control perserverance
to perseverance godliness
to godliness kindness
and to kindness love
      for if these things are yours
      and abound
      you will be neither barren
      nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
           2 Peter 1:5-8


You have not chosen me
       I have chosen you
Go
and bear fruit that will last
         John 15:16

sometimes I feel so wilted
[just like these hydrangea]
I have no strength in me
I'm done

yet look how beautiful the hydrangea still are
their flower remains
long after the leaves has faded

I love how they begin to crumple
and curl
how their colors fade
how they become so delicate
and I remember
it is not all up to me
HE HAS CHOSEN ME
created me...
for a purpose
and He will accomplish His purpose
for His glory.....
in His time

having done all to stand
stand therefore
           Ephesians 6:13