9 Ways to Restore Broken Relationships

The fruit of the Spirit is a byproduct of having the Holy Spirit dwell inside us. These are nine of the qualities that are evident and increasing in our lives as we nurture the Spirit’s presence and influence within us.
Having said that, we can further excel in these areas when we focus on them intentionally. In addition to being the natural result of spending time in the Spirit, when we seek to increase these qualities by living in the Spirit, this is one of the ways we are transformed into the image of Yeshua.
(more…)Yeshua’s Life-Changing Love

“I belong to my love and his desire is for me.”
Song of Songs 7:10
That’s not just a song from Solomon to one of his many wives. This is a picture of how Yeshua wants to live with us every day, every hour, every minute.
(more…)Receiving God’s Gifts
I had always received things from God in terms of their value for others, not fully embracing their value for myself. There had to be a practical reason for everything, including the talents and desires God gave me. As an example, although I wanted to take voice lessons, I found it difficult to get motivated, because I didn’t know what I would do with the singing once I learned how. It wasn’t enough that I just wanted to learn to sing.
One day in casual conversation, I found that a friend of mine spent a lot of time growing bamboo. My first question was, “What’s the commercial market for bamboo?” (more…)
The Power of Yeshua’s Sacrifice
Whenever I heard, “Jesus died for your sins,” I often thought, “What sin did I commit that would deserve death?” I’m a good person; I keep the 10 commandments; I try to love God and love my neighbors as myself. Then I heard, “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23). So I asked, “Which sins can I die from?”
For a long time I understood this to mean that if I live sinfully, I will live separate from God, not enjoy His abundant life, and maybe eventually die from a destructive lifestyle. All of those are true, but later I asked, “What did it mean to those who first heard it shortly after Yeshua’s death?” (more…)