Life is a journey. And within that JOurneY is a beautiful thing called JOY. It's not easy to find, nor easy to keep. In the Bible, the Apostle Paul teaches the Galatians a TRUTH about life, learning, and spiritual growth: "But the FRUIT of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). Notice the singularity of "fruit." It's not fruits but fruit. These spiritual qualities aren't a bunch of bananas, but one banana. Perhaps a better metaphor is cake: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are the ingredients.

But there's a deeper truth. As we grow in our FAITH, we explore new spaces and stages. Everything starts with LOVE. And once we've mastered loving God, others, and ourselves, we can open a new door to JOY. When we love with joy, we walk into PEACE. And when love, joy, and peace collide, there's PATIENCE and KINDNESS, which evolve into GOODNESS, then FIDELITY, GENTLENESS, and finally, SELF-CONTROL. Of course, the opposite is equally true. When we fail to love (God, others, ourselves), there is no joy or peace. We become impatient, unkind, and evil in our intentions and behavior. We aren't faithful to our word, spouse, friends, church, work, etc. We're no longer gentle, choosing rather to be rowdy and risky. And that's when we lack and lose control, falling into addiction, hopelessness, depression, and worse.

To explore FAITH begins with L-O-V-E. The only difference between the words "love" and "live" is "I." I am the difference. I choose to love (or hate).

And in a culture that's everything but loving, or misinterprets "love" for sexual pleasure, or affection for a sports team, the true concept of LOVE can get lost. But that's where we start, my friend. If you want to explore FAITH, here are three ways I can help you out:

1. Sign up for my Morning MANNA! e-newsletter. It's a work in progress at the moment, but it's usually once a week, and sometimes Monday through Friday. It's inspirational, helpful, and packed with spiritual nuggets (like my devotional thought of the day). Click HERE to sign up for the MANNA!

2. Invite me to speak at an event, retreat, camp, or conference. I have numerous spiritual topics and Bible themes to share. I can also train your leaders and teachers, and others in creative communication, leadership styles and principles, motivating positive behavior and learning, and discipline/classroom management. Learn more at www.mannasolutions.org.

3. Join me on a MANNA! Tour to Israel, Greece, Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Switzerland, Germany, France, England, Scotland, Ireland (to name a few). Some tours are directly related to places in the Bible (Israel, Greece), people (Jesus, Paul, Martin Luther, John Wesley), or great historical moments (early church, Renaissance, Protestant Reformation). Learn more at www.mannatours.org.

Feel free to clink on the links to the left for more information, to ask me a BIBLE or THEOLOGY question, or simply to introduce yourself.

Live today blessed and beautiful!