Church

We've found a church to worship at for the moment. It's called Citylife Church, and is affiliated with the Presbytarian Church of America. We've been there twice and we're going back mainly for the sermons. We've been blessed by the good preaching by Dr Um. For the last 2 weeks, he preached about Gal 5:16-26 on the fruit of the Spirit and it spoke to me.

¹⁶So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. ¹⁷For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. ¹⁹The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

I realised that I've been focusing too much on what I do (which people can see) versus who I am (which only God and I can see). I'm lacking in true love, joy, peace etc and though I seem ok on the outside, I would like to be ok inside as well. The most reassuring part was that God was going to help with this seemingly impossible task. I'm actually quite excited about it. It feels like I was walking around with this chip in the shoulder and I've finally figured out what it is and now I'm scheduled for surgery to remove it. :) For those of you who would like to listen to the sermons, here is the link http://www.citylifeboston.org/sermons.htm.