A harvest of blessing is coming

This is a long passage, but an important one for this season.

"Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other's burdens and in this way, obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

Don't be misled. You cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." - Galatians 6:1-9

What an awesome passage to guide our community as we learn to relate to each other in a new way.  My heart still grieves over broken relationships at NJ.  I continue to contend for the healing of injured hearts. Sometimes I find myself not knowing what to do or what to say ... If anything at all.  I find myself paralyzed with fear of falling into a trap of gossip or suspicion. But this passage encourages me to still stand along side my friends, being gentle and humble as we discuss their sin. (Just as my dear friends have confronted me on my sin!) And I can continue on in my ministry with excellence, without giving up. I am encouraged that this is not all for nothing. There WILL be fruit and their WILL be blessing.... At just the right time.

Pastor Steve is exhorting us to keep a soft and prayerful heart towards God this season. I smile as I think back a couple months ago when I had to fight off bitterness that tried to make a home in my heart. Thank God I won that battle. :)