VIDEO An Example of the Fruit of the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Sweet Mama Dog Interacting with a Beautiful Child with Down Syndrome Jim Stenson
Sep 22, 2012

Life is full of special moments, open your eyes, open your mind and most of all, open your heart, you will see. I found this video online, I did not film it but I thought it was so special I had to put a song behind it. To me, the female Lab is trying so hard to befriend the child, I believe this is the first time they met, I DON’T KNOW. The boy is cautious but curious at the same time.

The person who filmed the original video contacted me in January 2013 She is the mom, her name is Ana, her sons name is Hernan, and the dogs name is Himalaya. Watch when the dog puts her paw on the boys shoulder as if to say, I love you, everything will be ok. If your heart doesn’t melt your not human.

FYI: The text in the video was inspired by a beautiful little DS girl I met that said “God didn’t make a mistake when he made me” and her daddy said she was a “Gift from God”.

The video is edited to fit the song but its all original content. If you saw it once, check it out again. I think you’ll like it. Much love to all who appreciate it for what it is.

BTW you can find the original uncut version on here by searching, Haciendose amigos! Thanks Ana. (Update) 2/5/2013 Ana told me, “Hernan, is a bit withdrawn and flees from physical contact. He does not like be touched, but Himalayan (the dog) insisted so patiently, and she was so soft that’s why it is so moving, she is left to do anything.

I do not think that Gods commits errors, (God doesn’t make mistakes) everything happens for a reason. Best regards, Ana”

Always An Upgrade

Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; . . . but above all these things put on love. —Colossians 3:12,14

When I’m about to leave the house, sometimes my wife, Martie, stops me and says, “You can’t go to the office dressed like that!” It’s usually something about the tie not matching the jacket or the color of the slacks being out of sync with the sportcoat. Though being questioned about my fashion choices may feel like an affront to my good taste, I have realized that her correcting influence is always an upgrade.

Scripture often calls us to “put on” attitudes and actions that match our identity in Christ. Sometimes we are known by the clothes we wear, but we can make Jesus known by wearing attitudes and actions that reveal His presence in our lives. The apostle Paul advised us to set the fashion standard by modeling the wardrobe of Jesus’ compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness (Col. 3:12).

And, he added, “above all these things put on love . . . . And let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (vv.14-15). Clothing ourselves in Jesus’ likeness begins with spending time with Him. If you hear Him say, “You can’t go out like that!” let Him lovingly take you back to the closet so He can clothe you with His likeness. It’s always an upgrade!

Lord, help us to see ourselves the way You see us. By
Your Spirit teach us to adorn our lives with the
attitudes and actions You have designed for us as a
public statement about our identity with You.

Clothing ourselves with Jesus’ attitudes and actions shows His presence in our lives.

Look for His Likeness

He will keep his agreement of love for a thousand lifetimes for people who love him and obey his commands. DEUTERONOMY 7:9

We are God’s idea. We are his. His face. His eyes. His hands. His touch. We are him. Look deeply into the face of every human being on earth, and you will see his likeness. Though some appear to be distant relatives, they are not. God has no cousins, only children.

We are incredibly, the body of Christ. And though we may not act like our Father, there is no greater truth than this: We are his. Unalterably. He loves us. Undyingly. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (see Rom. 8:38–39).

A Gentle Thunder

Follow Righteousness

“Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

The word “follow” is frequently translated “persecute” in other passages. Jesus used the word this way: “The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). The connotation of the Greek term includes a dogged and relentless effort.

Anyone who wants to serve the Lord Jesus faithfully must be determined to pursue righteousness. Those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness” are promised both happiness and fulfillment (Matthew 5:6). Those who seek “first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” have the promise that God will supply all their earthly needs (Matthew 6:33).

Perhaps a quick review of some of the passages that require “pursuit” of a godly lifestyle would be helpful.

-“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Romans 14:19).
-“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1).
-“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
-“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men” (1 Thessalonians 5:15).
-“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Timothy 6:11).
-“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

Even this short list should keep all of us on our knees asking both for forgiveness and for strength to obey. HMM III

Alone

“Alone.” (Deut. 32:12.)

“The hill was steep, but cheered along the way
By converse sweet, I mounted on the thought
That so it might be till the height was reached;
But suddenly a narrow winding path
Appeared, and then the Master said, ‘My child,
Here thou wilt safest walk with Me alone.’

“I trembled, yet my heart’s deep trust replied,
‘So be it, Lord.’ He took my feeble hand
In His, accepting thus my will to yield Him
All, and to find all in Him.
One long, dark moment,
And no friend I saw, save Jesus only.

“But oh! so tenderly He led me on
And up, and spoke to me such words of cheer,
Such secret whisperings of His wondrous love,
That soon I told Him all my grief and fear,
And leaned on His strong arm confidingly.

“And then I found my footsteps quickened,
And light ineffable, the rugged way
Illumined, such light as only can be seen
In close companionship with God.

“A little while, and we shall meet again
The loved and lost; but in the rapturous joy
Of greetings, such as here we cannot know,
And happy song, and heavenly embraces,
And tender recollections rushing back
Of pilgrim life, methinks one memory
More dear and sacred than the rest, shall rise,

“And we who gather in the golden streets,
Shall oft be stirred to speak with grateful love
Of that dark day when Jesus bade us climb
Some narrow steep, leaning on Him alone.”

“There is no high hill but beside some deep valley. There is no birth without a pang.”—Dan Crawford.

They gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh

“And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but He received it not.” Mark 15:23

A golden truth is couched in the fact that the Saviour put the myrrhed wine-cup from His lips. On the heights of heaven the Son of God stood of old, and as He looked down upon our globe He measured the long descent to the utmost depths of human misery; He cast up the m total of all the agonies which expiation would require, and abated not a jot. He solemnly determined that to offer a sufficient atoning sacrifice He must go the whole way, from the highest to the lowest, from the throne of highest glory to the cross of deepest woe.

This myrrhed cup, with its soporific influence, would have stayed Him within a little of the utmost limit of misery, therefore He refused it. He would not stop short of all He had undertaken to suffer for His people. Ah, how many of us have pined after reliefs to our grief which would have been injurious to us! Reader, did you never pray for a discharge from hard service or suffering with a petulant and wilful eagerness? Providence has taken from you the desire of your eyes with a stroke. Say, Christian, if it had been said, “If you so desire it, that loved one of yours shall live, but God will be dishonoured,” could you have put away the temptation, and said, “Thy will be done”?

Oh, it is sweet to be able to say, “My Lord, if for other reasons I need not suffer, yet if I can honour Thee more by suffering, and if the loss of my earthly all will bring Thee glory, then so let it be. I refuse the comfort, if it comes in the way of Thine honour.” O that we thus walked more in the footsteps of our Lord, cheerfully enduring trial for His sake, promptly and willingly putting away the thought of self and comfort when it would interfere with our finishing the work which He has given us to do. Great grace is needed, but great grace is provided.

Strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the Lord’s house

“Strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the Lord’s house.” Jeremiah 51:51

In this account the faces of the Lord’s people were covered with shame, for it was a terrible thing that men should intrude into the Holy Place reserved for the priests alone. Everywhere about us we see like cause for sorrow. How many ungodly men are now educating with the view of entering into the ministry! What a crying sin is that solemn lie by which our whole population is nominally comprehended in a National Church! How fearful it is that ordinances should be pressed upon the unconverted, and that among the more enlightened churches of our land there should be such laxity of discipline.

If the thousands who will read this portion shall all take this matter before the Lord Jesus this day, He will interfere and avert the evil which else will come upon His Church. To adulterate the Church is to pollute a well, to pour water upon fire, to sow a fertile field with stones. May we all have grace to maintain in our own proper way the purity of the Church, as being an assembly of believers, and not a nation, an unsaved community of unconverted men.

Our zeal must, however, begin at home. Let us examine ourselves as to our right to eat at the Lord’s table. Let us see to it that we have on our wedding garment, lest we ourselves be intruders in the Lord’s sanctuaries. Many are called, but few are chosen; the way is narrow, and the gate is strait. O for grace to come to Jesus aright, with the faith of God’s elect. He who smote Uzzah for touching the ark is very jealous of His two ordinances; as a true believer I may approach them freely, as an alien I must not touch them lest I die. Heartsearching is the duty of all who are baptized or come to the Lord’s table. “Search me, O God, and know my way, try me and know my heart.”