Deanna Nowadnick asked me to read her book Fruit of My Spirit: Reframing Life in God's Grace. It was a quick and simple read but it had some very hard-hitting concepts. It is a memoir of Deanna's spiritual life in the context of Galatians 5:22-23.
One of my personal hobby-horses, soap-boxes, tinder-box-issues is what people commonly refer to the "Fruits of the Spirit" and then mention the nine characteristics of these verses. These are not the only "Fruits of the Spirit," but only ONE fruit. But I digress. This was not Deanna's intention--she was telling a story of how God had developed these characteristics in her own life and this book is an able vehicle for that.
One of the most important concepts in this book is detailed in a conversation between a pastor and music conductor. The music conductor asked the pastor, "What is your business?" and the pastor started in on a litany of activities and duties associated with his position. The pastor, in turn, asked the conductor, "What do you do?" and the conductor said, "There is a difference in what my business is and what I do. My business is to bring others to Christ. To do that, I conduct music."
My business is to bring others to Christ. To do that, I write this blog, I pray, I read, I participate in a small group, I have cancer, and I give.
Becky, beautiful review.You capture the heart of the book: my business is to bring others to Christ. Thank, God, for His fruit!
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