Fall... almost.

I know I'm two days early, but I can hardly wait, so I'm saying it now. HAPPY FALL, EVERYONE! I'm sure you already know that this is my favorite season, and even though I'm away from the gorgeous maple trees of the north, there are still signs to the coming season here in West Texas. The air has been refreshingly cool in the mornings when we get up, which goes perfect with a hot cup of coffee. This week the local grocery store set out all the pumpkins out front for all the little kids to start picking out which ones they want to take home and carve... and yes, I think I'll get one too. You can now find gourds in the produce section also. Apples are abundant, which of course calls for more baking. (I've already made two apple crumb pies- yummy). The daylight is fading earlier in the evening, making me want to come inside to read more books. And then there's the football. The next home game isn't until the 29th, but just the fact that the season is here is one more indication that Fall is in the air. Mind you, the last home game was over 90F, and we were all sweating, but I believe that cooler weather will come, even here.

I've started a new Beth Moore study: Living Beyond Yourself. It's specifically about the fruit of the Spirit, and the involvment of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Here's something I find interesting... I've grown up in the church always hearing about the fruits (plural) of the Spirit. However, Moore points out in the introductory lesson that the famous verse(s) listing them says "fruit (singular) of the Spirit". I think this is interesting because it means that if the Spirit lives within us, and we allow Him to direct our steps, then we should exhibit all of those qualities, not just the ones that come easily for us. Seems it's easy to say that we're not good at kindness, or self-control, and then think we're absolved from having to behave that way. Wrong. We're to exhibit all of the fruit, not just what we choose. The best part? His Spirit enables us when we can't find the strength to be self-controlled, etc. All I need to do is ask, and He provides.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23