So many projects under way here in the Kilcoyne Home!

 

This year I will be focusing on some much needed personal health goals, and I’ll be sharing along the way on nutrition, fitness, and personal thoughts as the months go by. I am also preparing my home for a possible move by the end of the year, Lord willing, which means, de-cluttering, cleaning, organizing and a little decorating just for fun! Homeschooling will resume shortly, which means Freezer Frenzy will be included in our weekly schedule to keep our freezer stocked with good meals so mom won’t be wasting precious time in the kitchen every day, and believe me, with five boys and a husband, I can easily spend hours in the kitchen keeping up with demand!

 

I have goals for just about every area of life, and it doesn’t take a New Year to get me going on them! For those who are close to me, they know I am always after something, working toward something, whether tangible or not. I wasn’t always like this, it wasn’t until I began seeking the Lord for His Plans that I began to realize how fruitful he wanted me to be in every area of my life.  A fruitful vine is ‘ever-producing and ever-bearing’ and I’ve learned to be on the lookout continually for areas that need my attention, need pruning, planting, watering, etc… it truly has become a way of life for me. In recent years though, I have come to see that it is not the ‘seen’ things that are so important as the ‘unseen’ things happening in our lives. Our God is a God of the heart. I love when my efforts produce outward results, but more so these past few years, I have been discovering the joy of my inward heart efforts producing inward heart results.

 

Galations 5: 22-25 says:

 

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

 

To have the fruit of the Spirit in our hearts is true freedom and fruitfulness. To have crucified the flesh in an area where you have previously been held in bondage is a joy to the soul. Working out the weak areas of my flesh before a loving God, asking Him to change my heart, deciding day by day to listen to the Holy Spirit whose presence is a true comfort and strength- this is real fruit to me. Simply put, it is a Relationship with Him.  No matter what I do outwardly in life, it cannot produce results like this! The more I learn to walk after the Spirit and not my flesh, the more I know Him, the richer my fellowship with Him, the more confidence I have in Him, the more I sense His Love. Isn’t that what this life is all about?

 

I want to encourage you this year to not just look at the outward things that need to be done, go to Him with your heart and talk with Him about it. Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and to follow Him. Seek after REAL FRUIT this year that will have lasting, eternal results!

 

This week’s posts:

 

 

Sweep & Keep House Challenge Introduction – How I will begin a clean sweep through my home to get it in top shape for the year and ready for a possible move!

 

Sweep & Keep House Challenge – Master Bedroom- This is my most neglected room so it is number one on my list!

 

Freezer Frenzy Time! – Time to stock up the freezer with yummy meals!

 

Mother Roar Series – Part Four: A Wise Woman Builds

 

Book Highlight:

 

This month I am going through the books Nourishing Traditions

 

 

and

A Love That Multiplies: An Up-Close View Of How They Make It Work

From time to time I'll be sharing what I am reading this year. I love books that give real information and guidance, and that lift the spirit, and these two are no exception. Nourishing Traditions is an education in food all by itself, if you are wondering where to start when it comes to healthy eating, look no further! A Love That Multiplies is the newest book from the Duggars, and is filled with parenting wisdom for today. I am enjoying each book very much.

Remember to tell your lady friends about Fruitful Vine and that you can now sign up via RSS feed or email subscription! We also hope to join the ranks of Facebook and YouTube this year, so be on the lookout for exciting developments!

Over the next couple months we will be diving into herbal care for the family, marriage, women's health and much more. If there is something you would like to see posted here at Fruitful Vine, please don't hesitate to let me know!

Have a blessed week! --Completely His, Nicci

 

 

 

Related posts:

1. Joy!;Gingerbread Scones; & Mother Roar Series Part Three! 12/10/11 Frutiful Vine Weekly Posts
2. 11/12/11 Fruitful Vine Weekly Posts…
3. What Does the New Year Mean To You? Homemade Everyday Bread & ! 12/24/11 Fruitful Vine Weekly Posts
4. 11/5/2011 Fruitful Vine Weekly Posts
5. 11/19/11- Fruitful Vine Women’s Outreach Weekly Posts