Tomi,

I am sure you know already what I am saying here, but I have to say for myself, it's something exciting that I have come to learn as I have been spending several hours everyday with the bible study I am involved with. The focus of this bible study is "the fruits of the spirit". Galatians 5: 22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control. Against such things there is no law.".

I grew up as a Christian, but this bible study has done more good for me than 1000's of self help books. I have found that the Bible is the best self help book I have ever tried to read. I have found that the key for me is to allow the Holy Spirit to enter into me. Through the Holy Spirit working in me, I am given the ability to understand things that I never dreamed of understanding in ways I never thought I could understand. I am able to do things that are way beyond what I myself am capable of doing, & I can feel things that I had never felt before.

By the Holy Spirit provides us with spiritual truths to live by in providing wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, & also the ability to believe in God. When the Holy Spirit is in us we are enabled to love those who we can't imaging loving (not saying that getting divorced has changed).

I constantly find great joy in discovering God's love for me & how truely involved the whole concept of eternal life really is....way too much to understand without the help of the Holy Spirit & that no matter how much trouble I have in this life, I will be completely restored.....& what a joy that feeling is NOW to realize that.

Peace is something that we all want......How can we feel peace with all the horrible things that are going on in the world around us? There are some peoples lives that look like they are nothing but peace & others of us, it feelis that peace will only come with dying. When we try to control our life, it seems that there is no peace, but once I let God take over.....even with all the tough things going on in life, there is a sense of peace behind it all, knowing that God is in control of my life & I know that he will give me what I need. He cares about all the birds & critters in his world & he says that he cares for us even more so why should be worry when they don't have to worry.

Patience is a tough one for me......cause I'm a very type A personality & want things done NOW or YESTERDAY. I never want to wait for anything.....but knowing that God has everything in his hands, I can endure the challenge that are placed in front of me. Patience with people however is another situation. Patience with people requires mercy which is definitely impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit....the Holy Spirit allows us to keep from judging others, having mercy & patience with their actions & the ability to forgive people for things that seem unforgiveable. It a way, this also provides a peace inside of us because we know it's pleasing to God since he commanded us to forgive others as he forgives us.

Kindness is another action we are well aware of. Knowing how much of a gentle caring heart God has for all of us, we have the desire to treat others kindly......there are things that get in the way of that, but usually it's the other person & our basic desire to to be kind. Goodness towards others is also a quality that is given to us through the Holy Spirit......that doesn't mean that as always being fun, easy, or pleasant, but it means to do what is most beneficial to others, which includes training, correcting, teaching. The purpose is that goodness ultimately brings gladness.....but with this comes the responsibility of using kindness to teach.

The Holy Spirit also allows us to have Faithfulness that fills us with the peaceful feeling of knowing that God is real even with all the ups & down's in our lives. Being able to base faith on How God is & not what he does is the most important part of faith.

Gentleness (not passiveness) & self -control also come from being filled with the Holy Spirit. I have found that all of these things start working together inside of me. I started understanding the reasons why things would happen. Instead of fighting the bad feelings I had about the things that were going on in my life & the mean passive person I was married to, I am able to sit back & listen to the directions God is giving me & what I need to do with my life to make sure I don't continue living the way I was living. That fighting & turmoil that I was constantly feeling has finally calmed down.

I have found that with all the insights that I have come to know, it has also had a good calming effect on my body....or at least it must.....I was able to realize how to control the situation so that I wasn't constantly being pushed into the rage that was happening. I couldn't stop his actions & there was no way even a super kind, gentle, passive, meek person would't have reacted with rage, so I realized that I had to cut that communications that was causing it.......I was provided the insight to handle the situation. I know that allowing the Holy Spirit to finally take an active role in my life (it's been there all along, just not active) has done more for me accepting my life & coming to peace with the things that are going on & have gone on. There are still many things I have a hard time letting go of, but I am also seeing where my experiences can now be used for the good of others rather than just holding onto the anger. I am learning what the meaning & why these things happened in my life rather than just holding onto the anger. There isn't a self help book out there that could have done more for me than this bible study which allowed me to get back in touch with my Christianity & the peace it has brought to my mind, soul, & body.

I am sure that many of you have been at this point for a long time.....& having lived in a Christian home from the time I was born...I would have thought I would have realized this long before now.......but I am blessed that God has given me this experience.

Debbie