Your story will not be like mine; your story is your story. BUT it will have something in common: the grace of the cross and the power of Christ. Our lives and stories are like a signature fragrance with the same base note of “Jesus.” And your faith story will seep out of you and impact others long before you realize that anyone is paying attention.

Today, I want to finish talking about our fruit tree, as in our very body that is the temple of the living God (1 Corinthians 6:19). Over the last few blogs, we have talked about many aspects of being a believer who produces ripe, lasting spiritual fruit. But one thing we haven’t discussed is what good fruit actually looks like and the impact it has on those around us. The way I see it, our hearts and thoughts grow our attitudes, words, and actions - aka our fruit. They determine if what comes out of us is good or bad.

When we, as believers, plant ourselves in good soil and are well-watered, well-fertilized, and well-pruned, our roots will be strong, and the fruit that we produce will be fantastic! A great fruit tree will not produce great fruit until its roots are strong and it’s had time to mature. So, if you find yourself in a season that feels barren or if God is pruning something away in your life - be patient; the good fruit is coming.

When life shakes us, what fruit – what characteristics – are revealed? How do we respond when we are passed by for a promotion, when the diagnosis is bad, when a friendship is broken, a job is lost, or money is tight? What fruit falls? In these moments – I believe the true condition of a heart is shown.

How do we make disciples of every coworker, customer, and vendor, especially when our jobs seem redundant, boring, stressful, or frustrating? I believe that to carry out the great commission IN our workplace, we have to resolve to change WHO we work for. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” When we realize that ultimately, it’s not our bosses or their bosses or their bosses that we work for, but that we work for God, it changes everything.

I love to watch movies, and there are so many favorites it’s hard to pick just one. That said, I do have an all-time favorite line from the movie The Italian Job. In the film, a couple of characters are having a conversation, and one of them asks, “how are you doing?” And the other answers, “I’m fine.” The first one responds, “Really? Freaked out,insecure, neurotic, and emotional? How are you really doing?”

Relationships give us a platform to speak about truth, share our experiences, and witness about Christ. And there is almost no one you spend more time with than the people you work with. So many people joke about having a “work family” and a “home family,” but the truth isn’t that far off. Since we spend an average of 72 hours a week sleeping and 50 hours a week working, that only leaves 40 hours a week with our families at home. That means you spend more time at work than you do at home, including Saturdays and Sundays.

It’s January, and in the classic western tradition, most of us are thinking about things we can change to make this year better than the last. Whether it’s eating healthier, going to bed earlier, or hitting the gym… New Year’s is the time to commit to healthier habits. But for Christ-followers, it’s also a time to consider what spiritual habits should be cultivated in our lives so that our faith can grow and make a powerful, eternal impact.

Something we’ve wrestled with in this season is the words Jesus spoke in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you… for my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” In the face of difficulty, hardship, the unknown, and the unexpected – how do we trade in our burdens and find rest? How do we carry on WELL both as people and as leaders?

With Christmas just a few days away, the holidays' chaos, busyness, and stress are at peak intensity. Between finishing up work, decorating, cooking, cleaning, traveling, shopping, and family… most people feel burnt out and exhausted before they even reach December 25th! But isn't it interesting that when the heavenly hosts announced Jesus' birth to the shepherds, they said, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests"?