THE FOURTH FRUIT By Sally I. Kennedy

Why wait? Do it, and do it now. Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?
Don’t procrastinate! Set your feet to your faith. Roll up your sleeves and get to work. Just do it!

I was taught by my parents to be an “action” person, and I have always believed that is part of a good value system. The Bible, however, tells us that patience is a virtue, a “fruit of the Spirit.”

Recently I had an experience that brought this home to me a little better. An idea kept circulating in my mind, and I was just itching to do it. I talked to the Lord about it, sort of. Then I pretty much went right on with my own plans.

The timing wasn’t good, and I blew it. I exercised no patience, just self-determination. Looking back, I believe that if I had waited on the Lord’s timing – with some patience, things would have gone smoothly.

Fruit is something that naturally grows on fruit trees. With good conditions, good fruit; with not-good conditions, not-so-good fruit. Patience is a virtue; it is ‘fruit’ exhibited in believer’s lives as a result of Holy Spirit living in and with me. In other words, it’s all about Him, and not about me.

My Father is infinitely patient with me, unbelievably so. I pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit, and the promise in the Bible for the fruit of patience, that I will grow increasingly more of the ‘fourth fruit’, patience. Thank you, Lord, for Your help in this area today, amen!

THE OLD MULE Author Unknown

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' -- or whatever mules do when they fall into wells.

After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving.Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back... HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage
himself.

No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well!

What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him... All because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. Hey, that's life!

If we face our problems and respond to them positively and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity... the adversities that come along to bury us usually have within them the potential to benefit and bless us!

Remember that forgiveness -- faith -- prayer -- praise and hope all are excellent ways to "shake it off and step up" out of the wells in which we find ourselves!

WHITE BUTTERFLY By Sally I. Kennedy

My husband and I were threading our way down the path from our trek up to the waterfall. Nothing around. No people, no birds, no animals... except for one very small chipmunk scurrying from rock to rock to avoid our big scary shoes coming toward him.

Then a tiny white butterfly appeared. It fluttered along in front of us all, as if leading the way. All the way down the trail to the bridge at the bottom. There, by the river's edge, it flew into the woods, only to reappear behind us when we moved on.

We weren't lost. But sometimes we don't have to be completely lost to need a little guidance and direction. Or even reassurance, comfort.

Ten thousand feet up in the Rocky Mountains, could a white butterfly be a reminder saying God will go ahead of us to lead the way? And that He will also come behind us?

God tells us in the Bible, "I will never leave you or forsake you." (Joshua 1, Deuteronomy 31, Hebrews 13)

It's a promise! That's good news.

HOW TO STAY SAFE IN THE WORLD TODAY Author Unknown

1. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.

2. Do not stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.

3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.

4. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation.

5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in Hospitals. So, above all else, avoid hospitals.

BUT, you will be pleased to learn that only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is at church!

And, Bible study is safe too. The percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less.

So, for SAFETY'S sake, attend church, and read your Bible IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

RESCUED by Marion Smith

He bounded from one side of the beach to the other, frolicking in the ocean and sand. He then would race through the sand dunes onto the grassy plateau behind the condos which lined the beach. He was a black and white mixed breed, with long hair and a long tail, and I never did discover his name. I walked up to a lady holding a
leash, assuming she was the owner of the dog. I told her what joy it gave me to see her dog free and unleashed, having such a grand time. She agreed it was a sight to behold, and I went on my walk.

On my return ,the master and the dog were still on the beach. As I drew nearer I became concerned because the dog had run so far ahead he looked like a pencil in the distance. I was afraid he would get lost or be hurt in some way and not be able to get back to his master.

I approached the owner once more and said, “aren’t you afraid he won’t be come back?” She told me this five year old dog had been her pet for only three months . She got him at the humane society, where a family who was moving had left him. She rescued him from certain death, and somehow I think the dog knew how special an owner he had.

She was able to give him all the freedom he desired, because no matter how far he roamed, he always returned.

God rescues us from certain death, and gives us life eternal through Jesus Christ. He stands with leash in hand, allowing us freedom galore. We may run from place to place, and even get far away from Him, but we will return. He knows it; once we are His, and we have been trained in His way, we shall return.

The Bible gives us this promise, and I believe it is true.