Wednesday, August 3rd Mission Trip Devotional

Fruit of the Spirit - Susan Love

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified the flesh with it's passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competeing against one another, envying one another. - Galatians 5:22-26

July 21, 2011 was the one year anniversary of a dear friend's passing. This was on of Sam's favorite passages from the Bible. As I remebered him this past Thursday, I was reminded of this passage and how it so exemplified my good friend's life. Sam glowed with the Holy Spirit, for that was the kind of man he was. And he demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit through his love, his incredible kindness and gentleness, and most of all his faithfulness. While sitting up in his hospice room one night, Sam spoke about his faith and just how certain and comforted he was by it. He never wavered in his faith, even in his last days. What an example of Christian faith in action!!!

This brings me to this very special Mission Team from AUMC. All of you are committed to building a home for kids who are orphaned because of AIDS, and working at the Maua Hospital painting their staff housing. Talk about faith in action! Knowing who you are and whose you are makes me want to be working side by side with you. I see the fruit of the Spirit in this Team. And you will no doubt share your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control with the new friends you will make. Thank you for being the hands, feet, and face of Jesus Christ to this African community.

Prayer:
Bless you Lord for this amazing Mission Team that you have put together. Bless you Lord for their safe travels and the incredible opportunity you have given each of them to be Jesus with skin on to the wonderful people in this community. Bless you Lord for this Team's adventuresome spirit that takes them around the world. Bless you Lord for warpping your arms around each person and keeping them safe and out of harm's way. Bless you Lord for planting the seeds of the fruit of the Spirit in each Team member, and bless you Lord for cultivating these seeds to the fullest while on this mission trip. Bless you Lord for the many blessings this Team will return home with. And, bless their families left at home by putting a special peace in their hearts while their loved ones are in Africa.


Amen.