The begining of a new year is the first day of the rest of the year. After all this is when everyone can have a new leash on life with a new years resolution. What is your New Years resolution. Are you ready to plan for a big event or only a little change. Nothing climatic, but definitely a change. Only you can decide what the New Year will bring. Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year from Turtle30cshell. May God richly bless your New Year.

What is the revolutionary fruit stand but a box of our favorite fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is those fruits that are put on a shelf by backsliders and not yet read by those that are just learning about the baptism fire of the Holy Spirit. It that daily walking just to survive in this world of sin and flesh. The world of goodness only gain by obedience to God's Holy Word. Learn a little patience, or a little love in which you really need long suffering for. The hope of faith, the compassion of Christ all must be learn by each and every believer in Christ. Not so easily done or said, but it brings hope to a nation once read.

Opening the door, or saying hello might just seem like proper ediquet. Yet in truth it is that kindness of stranger of helping one carry a load, or butting in with good advice that seems like a bore, might be what saves your life. That passing car warning with lights that there danger ahead, would never thought to help in a traffic war. Yet so far these all seem like common sense and not the work of the Lord.

In truth these things might be taught but it not always first thought. What is the work of the Holy Spirit if all these things are common sense. It is the teaching of God's grace to love unconditionally, to teach with patience, to strive with hope of God in one's life. To not be absent from reminders of God through simple mediatation. Looking up toward heaven to know our Creator and Lord.To know that when no answer seems available, God provision is available. What about the man of faith going toward persecution. Was there any hope of God's deliverance. No it more like Stephen plight in Acts 7. Knowing that even with his death, Stephen had victory, because he was with His Lord. That is faith and hope of the Holy Spirit. None believers can't have that hope until they decide to believer. It something instilled in the heart of each believer of faith, from the very first day of salvation. That peace of hope of a tomorrow with our Lord. Knowing that longer suffering with non believers and persecuters that life continues on.

This All might all seem like fables and folklore, until one experiences first hand for themselves. It going through illness with the peace that passes all understanding. It that hope that stills one's anger in the middle of the storm. It calms one's heart with out mental conditioning of discipline. It is that very act of God when one wants to punch someone or normally might of and that fist does not even clinch to draw back. The craving of alcohol is replaced with milk and apple cider, without a thought of even a sip of wine. It the act of God when nothing else seem probable.

Yes, God can give you that hope and teach you about those fruit of the Spirit on the shelf, but you must be willing to receive each one. To know the truth about what the Spirit says and will do for His glory and honor. That one thing that makes people ask why you did what you did or do what you do, and you respond because of God's grace and power.

Marching to Zion, onward and upward we go. marching down the road, going over land and sea where the Spirit of God goes. Our destination assured with each step of faith we take, yet salvation rest in belief in Jesus from the first step one took in faith. Each step not always easy, with pot holes in the road, and some deep ravines one has to trust in a stairway to heaven one can not always see. Yet if God's word says the Jacob's ladder is there we must climb, knowing that final step of faith is ushering us to heaven with the enemy right behind us, not knowing there no laddder rung to catch his feet.

With a rock for pillow in the road of life, camping only to find rest on the road of life. Flashlight of faith shining bright as one continues their journey even through the night. The sounds of hoot owls, and grizzly bears only causes the eerieness of the night air. As the flames of war glow all around, the light of war only makes two sound. Death to the enemy and life to the saint. Wounded soldiers lay in the road, but the battle call is onward here one go. The night leaving as the shadow of death passes, to bring the dawning of a new day.

The ladder of faith continuing on, with angels surrounding as one journeys on. Those angels of mercy that Jacob did see going up and down the stairway toward heaven. Yet each one must be ready to take that first step, Jacob not quite ready to take the first step, saying only if you do this then I will when I return to this place take that first step. Jacob running from God and from his family, yet the hope of one day returning to the stairway that went toward heaven.

Taking the highway more easily seen, is never the journey of faith. The road less travel might be a battle, but it is not without weapons of faith. Weapons that take practice to use, and yet with God's Spirit the aim is always true. Abraham saying I am ready to go to the promise land and Lot seeing only green grass in which to feed his sheep. Yet disciples traveled on roads that seem to only lead to death, their hope rest assured in the land of promise and a cloud elevator that will come down with the Father's request, carrying the Messiah back to us ready to send out his Father's decree. From chariots of fire, ride upward the saints, the angels descending and ascending on ladder rungs of faith.

No not every one ready to take the first step, but those who are, know the wings of eagle's will carry them so far. Yet sooner or later one has to learn to fly upward and onward and upward to city of gold. A place ladden with treasures untold. A place only hope for and dreams only imagined, to give each believer a hope of mansion washed in spring water, polished and spit shine, a place of perfection and eternity that last with streets of gold and lakes of pure glass. Standing at the throne of God knowing our Savior voice. Knowing we made it up the ladder of faith success. No longer needing to take a step back, only onward with Jesus feasting and rest.