How the Holy Spirit helps us quiet our reactions and listen with love Our journey through the Fruit of the Spirit brings us to the final quality Paul names in Galatians 5:22–23: self-control. We often associate self-control with managing anger, resisting temptation, or knowing when to stop eating. But self-control also shapes something we do […]
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Gentleness: A Safe Place for Weary Souls
How the gentle and humble heart of Jesus teaches us to handle hurting people with care “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22–23 Over the past several months, we have explored how the Fruit of the Spirit helps us live connected with hurting […]
Faithfulness: The Love That Keeps Showing Up
How the Fruit of the Spirit helps us remain connected when healing takes time “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…”—Galatians 5:22 Over the past two months, we have explored how kindness and goodness help us live connected with hurting people. Kindness notices someone’s need and moves toward […]
When Kindness Becomes Goodness
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness…”—Galatians 5:22 Last month, we considered how the fruit of kindness is key to living-connected.. This month, we turn to the closely related fruit of goodness as the extension of the connection kindness creates. Until this series, I hadn’t really thought about all […]
JUNE — Kindness Creates Connection
“Be kind and compassionate to one another…” — Ephesians 4:32 When is being kind different than being nice, and how is it much more of a connection tool? What makes someone feel truly seen? Not noticed. Not acknowledged. Not merely greeted. But genuinely seen. Think for a moment…do you remember anyone who made you feel […]
APRIL – Pausing to Bring Peace
Understanding the Power of Pausing to Lower the Temperature in the Room. You remember the moment when a discussion escalated and became a disconnected argument. The tone changed.Words sharpened.You could feel it escalating. You were getting frustrated—maybe even angry because it felt like they weren’t hearing you, they weren’t valuing what you had to say, […]
March – Anchored Joy in Unstable Times
Helping Others Find The Joy Of Stability When Life Feels Like It Could Collapse Living connected in a way that heals means carrying anchored joy into someone’s pain— So you can sit with them in it… and then help them see beyond it. Larry Crabb writes: When two people connect with the soul, something is […]
When You Don’t Know What to Say at Christmas to the Homeless or a Loved One Who is Estranged
The joy of Christmas, for me, is real—gatherings, traditions, worship, gift-giving, the lights, the sounds, the smells… connection with loved ones. It truly is my best time of the year. Yet, alongside that joy, Christmas reveals a painful layer of my heart that many share. It’s during Christmas that strained relationships feel heavier, distance feels […]
When You Don’t Know What to Say to a Grieving Friend (During Thanksgiving)
Thanksgiving is a season centered on gratitude, celebration, and gathering around the table with loved ones. But for someone who is grieving, this season can feel painfully different. While others anticipate joy, tradition, and togetherness, a grieving heart can feel the absence more intensely than ever. An empty chair at the table. A silent phone […]
What to Say to Someone Facing Financial Hardship
A Live-Connected Approach to Restoring Dignity and Hope Money troubles cut deeper than the bills we can’t pay. They touch our sense of identity, security, and dignity. When someone you care about is struggling to make ends meet, they may not just be short on cash—they are running low on hope. For many, financial hardship […]