Fruit of the Spirit: Letting Goodness Grow

This is the fifth post in our blog series by Karis Women on Galatians 5:22, check out the rest of the series here.

Galatians was written to a church full of gentiles who were saved from their sins by grace, through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Believers who were being turned aside from the gospel. Because religious people were questioning their identity as children of God (questioning their right to call themselves part of the family), questioning their salvation, their practices, or lack thereof. Wanting them to prove their devotion to God by keeping His law. All around there was intense pressure to try harder, to be better, to be more religious. Galatians is so much more than a fruit covered Sunday school poster proclaiming Christian virtues. Please take some time to study this whole book–it will feed your soul.

Karis WomenNaomi BallardApril 18, 2017Fruit of the Spirtit by Karis Women, galatians, devotional

Fruit of the Spirit: God's Kindness Leads Us to Repentance

first would like to share several ways that I have received KINDNESS through families from Karis. Every time our Missional Community meets at my home, Timothy, Sarah, Janice, Liz and Joseph scrub my kitchen clean and tidy up the messes made. They ask me how I am doing, pray with me when I’m melting down and babysit my children, over and over again. Countless times my friend Maureen has watched my girls. She has bought me post-pregnancy clothes when I didn’t have time to (and didn’t even ask!). She’s dropped off everything from toys to school supplies to food. I could go on forever with stories of so many people showing me kindness.

But why are these people caring about me, treating me with kindness? I think, and I am positive they would echo, that it’s because they have first been shown kindness.

Fruit of the Spirit: In our waiting, Christ will sustain us

his is the fourth post in our blog series by Karis Women on Galatians 5:22, check out the rest of the series here.

I have always been a bit impatient and constantly waiting for the “next thing”. When I was twelve years old, I couldn’t wait to be a teenager. Then I couldn’t wait to be sixteen, to get my license, graduate high school and go to college. Marriage, a job, and kids all followed on my list. My mother would often tell me, “Sister Sue, stop wishing your life away, be patient and content with where you are!”

Fruit of the Spirit: Finding Peace in a Stressful World

This is the third post in our blog series by Karis Women on Galatians 5:22, check out the rest of the series here.

It is a badge of honor in our world today to be able to reply, when asked how you are doing, that you are “busy” and “stressed.” In a culture that so idolizes stress, it is almost unheard of to exude a strong sense of peace – and yet, Paul writes in Galatians 5:22-23 that peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit, a characteristic we should expect to see in all who are followers of Christ and have the Holy Spirit in them. We know then that we are to be pursuing and praying for peace in our own lives.

Karis WomenAlison BallouDecember 15, 2016Fruit of the Spirtit by Karis Women, peace, galatians, adoption

Fruit of the Spirit: Joy in the Midst of Sorrow, Pain and Trials

What actions or faces pop into your head when you hear the word “joy”? Do you see laughter and big smiles? Do you think amusement parks and parties? Do you think of that coworker you want to smack, because she is just too bubbly? Maybe we have the wrong definition of joy.

What does the world say to us about joy?

Karis WomenAmy LarsonNovember 22, 2016galatians, Fruit of the Spirtit by Karis Women, joy

Fruit of the Spirit: What is love?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love… Galatians 5:22

I sat down to write this and the first thing that came to mind was the 90’s song What is Love? by Haddaway. Yeah, now you try and get that song out of your head! Culture has taught us a lot about love, right? …or has it?

Karis WomenSarah HixonOctober 24, 2016galatians, Fruit of the Spirtit by Karis Women, bible study, love

Fruit of the Spirit: A Galations 5:22 Blog Series presented by Karis Women

f you frequent craft stores, chances are you’ve seen a decorative sign with this verse on it.

“ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. “ - Galatians 5:22

I impulsively purchased one during a trip to Hobby Lobby four years ago, bringing home a “fruit of the spirit” sign that was fire-engine red, three feet long and impossible to ignore from my wall as I dressed each morning.

Many times I would stare down the words on that sign and feel inadequate. That decorative piece had become more than just a cheesy interior design choice. It was a representation of the virtuous woman I desperately wanted to be, but couldn’t measure up to no matter how hard I worked.

Karis WomenRachelle CoxSeptember 29, 2016galatians, theology, bible study, Fruit of the Spirtit by Karis Women