So one day I remembered the jar I used to keep out on the counter full of what we called fruit tickets. The fruit ticket was a strip of card stock that I had printed a row of different kinds of fruit. These tickets represented variety that represented the Fruit of the Spirit.
Gal. 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
I can not remember where in the world I got the idea or how in the world I came up with the idea of the Fruit of the Spirit jar. The idea though is to be an ‘intentional’ parent. One of the ways I am intentional is to put the jar in a place I am sure to see it, so I will be reminded to actually follow through with my plan. Not every time but sometimes when they bear fruit I will hand them a fruit ticket.
For example: offering forgiveness, using self-control when they choice not to hit their brother because they were really mad, obeying with a good attitude, helping without being asked, etc.. When I give them the ticket I will explain to them why they are getting it, maybe even what specific fruit they were showing. I make sure to thank them for their choice in bearing some fruit. Not every time but every so often, I also remind them that when they choose to bear fruit it is not by their power but it is by the grace of GOD through the power of the Holy Spirit that they can bear fruit.
Every couple of weeks I will collect the tickets. Each ticket is worth so many points, and I add these to the points they earn on their ”My Job Chart“. The point system doesn’t need to be included for this to work. I just do it so at a later date there is another opportunity for me to be intentional and to ”bless’ them for bearing some fruit!!
In case you wondered, my boys were very happy to see this jar back and to receive their first fruit ticket in a long time!! In a later post I will talk about the two other jars I have sitting in my kitchen window above the sink.
~Written by Angie
Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett: Your Passport to Learning Adventures!
COFFEE
That warm creamy Vanilla-Caramel cup of goodness.
You are to me relaxation and peacefulness in liquid form.
I prefer you when you are full of that most special part of you, though if I have to, I will take you when you’re not quite yourself.
I need you in the morning, it may still be a need and not just a want when I have you in the afternoon.
When evening comes and my day is almost at an end, it just isn’t the same if I don’t have you once again.
Oh, to hold you in my hand, to breathe in your scent, to take that first sip, is to me a most extraordinary moment.
Thank You Heavenly FATHER for creating the special bean that is the foundation of this treasure, and for giving someone the idea for this amazing substance of which I speak.
GOD is NOT dead, NOR does HE sleep!!
Isn’t that FANTASTIC news for those that belong to HIM through HIS son JESUS!!
GOD is NOT dead, NOR does HE sleep!!
Come on read it again, but out loud this time….
GOD is NOT dead, NOR does HE sleep!!
Doesn’t it have an incredibly sweet ring to it….
GOD is NOT dead, NOR does HE sleep!!
If you’re hurting, sick, anxious, confused, or lonely just remind yourself of this truth….
GOD is NOT dead, NOR does HE sleep!!
HE can heal your pain and your sickness, HE can can bring you peace, HE can make things clear, HE is with you and will never leave you…
GOD is NOT dead, NOR does HE sleep!!
HE never has been and HE never will, dead or asleep that is….
No matter what trial or tribulation you may be going through, and no matter what your circumstances look like, take comfort in the beautiful fact that….
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”
************************
This fact comes from a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is a Christmas carol based on the 1863 poem “Christmas Bells” by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.[1] The song tells of the narrator’s despair, upon hearing Christmas bells, that “hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men”. The carol concludes with the bells carrying renewed hope for peace among mankind.~~wikipedia
You will find the very interesting Story behind the poem HERE and at the above Wikipedia link
A You Tube video of Casting Crowns singing the song I heard the Bells on Christmas Day, which was inspired by the poem below
“Christmas Bells”
(The original poem, complete with all seven stanzas)
“I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”
~ by Angie, The One Thing
Yes, I finally did what I should have done years ago.
I am a homeschooling mom of two wild but wonderful boys. One is “wilder” than the other one. I believe the LORD has been telling me for a very, very long time to start our day by sending my boys outside. I kept resisting this idea, because it just didn’t seem right or at all productive. I told myself we can’t do that, they need to do morning chores, and we need to get going with school.
Well, I finally did it! I finally listened and obeyed the Holy Spirit and I am so glad I did. Since I finally did it, I have a praise report! The last couple of weeks have been some of the best since we started home schooling. After breakfast if it isn’t raining, my boys must go outside. They must play, and exercise. Almost half of these days I went out after they played a while and we went on at least a short walk. Then we would come back in complete morning duties, and other morning activities (ex. piano lesson), then we would have bible time and start school.
We also have a longer lunch break and they go back out and play. Yes, some the school days do seem longer because of this new plan, but when we aren’t leaving the house it doesn’t matter. Since I submitted to this plan our days have been more peaceful and productive. Thank You Father!
My advice to you would be abide with the Father through His Son Jesus and listen and submit to the Holy Spirit, in every area of your life!! You will be so blessed when you do!
~ by Angie, The One Thing