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.

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Karis WomenNaomi BallardFruit of the Spirtit by Karis Women, galatians, devotional
Brazil Team 2017: Good-bye Brazil, With Saudade

As I sit here, Atlanta-bound on Delta flight DL60, it’s 10:00 p.m. on the last day of our trip. My eyes are heavy, but my heart is full. The back of my eyelids have become the perfect projector screen of memories from the week. As I look back, I cannot help but want to shout, “What a God we serve and what a people He has created in Brazil!” This people who feels deeply, loves passionately, serves faithfully, and devotes themselves wholeheartedly. We saw these amazing qualities put to beauty and destruction as some gave themselves to God and others to the kingdom of darkness. Yet, amidst it all, one thing is clear: Brazil is ripe for the Gospel of Jesus to flourish.

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GMIKim StillBrazil, Brazil Spring Break 2017, Restore Brazil, eric papp, Jessica Fleshman, short-term missions, Mission
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.

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Karis WomenLeanna GroveFruit of the Spirtit by Karis Women, kindess, devotional, galatians, community