It was over 5 years ago that we enjoyed a brand new kitchen at our old home of 10 years.

I remember the freshness of moving in, unpacking from the garage, having brand new things -- and feeling on top of the world.

Then life became ... reality. The once sparkling new kitchen didn't seem that new any more. The glitter of  it all started to fade as I still had to do dishes.  Just when you think you have the kitchen clean, all the kids come home, food is left out, and dishes are left in the sink.

My stacks of "stuff" piled up on the counters... mail to be opened, reminders to put on the calendar. The kids make huge messes, the cupboards need wiping down because of the spaghetti sauce that ran over. My busy life left my new kitchen looking not so pretty anymore.

My happiness began to wane.

Those of you who have followed my blog know that we're on the cusp of enjoying another new kitchen in our current home. It's been a long process to get it done, doing much of the work ourselves and working with a tight budget. We've had to make decisions to cut things that we wanted, to add in things that were important to us, to make it a place of comfort, rest, healing, and satisfaction to many bodies who will be congregating in our kitchen in the years to come. I've been getting that taste of "newness" and "freshness" and thinking my life will be happier when ... my new kitchen is done.

I want to remember the lesson I learned with the old. My happiness doesn't lie in perfect or new. Because perfect and new wears off. In fact, it becomes old rather quickly, and as life settles in again, I know I must keep my priorities straight.

As the newness fades, I need to stop and remind myself that it's what goes on in our kitchen that really matters. It's about the love that transpires, the bonding with friends and family, the nourishment that will be provided and shared together. Bringing our kids and their friends back into the "center of the home," last minute get-togethers, planned holiday events, my Balcony Girls group, and sit-down dinners with our friends. It's sitting back and relaxing; what I call sharing "the common life."

Even though it might take some time for us to complete our flooring, God blesses us with exactly what we have each day. It's perfect for the day, whether old or new, and he meets our needs down to the finest details.

I want to daily create a place of love in the heart of my home called "the kitchen," where food is served and real sharing takes place. 

"What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns met." Luke 12:29-31, The Message

A little boy went over to a pastor's house, where the pastor was doing some carpentry in his garage. The boy simply stood there and watched him for quite a long time. After a while, the preacher wondered why this boy was watching him and was finally so curious that he stopped and said, "Son, are you trying to pick up some pointers on how to build something?"

The little boy replied, "No. I am just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer."

Often, we will find out what we are made of by what comes out of our mouths in both good and bad circumstances. When we have a change in conduct and character in our lives, it is a type of spiritual fruit.

Galatians 5:22 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control . . . " (NKJV). A Christian's life should be characterized by these things.

Are you producing fruit? Or is the opposite true?

Instead of love, is there hatred, bitterness, or even prejudice in your life? Instead of joy, is there constant gloom? Instead of peace, is there turmoil? Instead of gentleness, is there a short temper? Instead of faith, is there endless worry? Instead of meekness, is there pride and arrogance? Instead of self-control, are you a victim of your own passions?

If so, then either you don't know God at all or a recommitment to Christ would be in order.

If you are a Christian, then people should be able to look for-and find-fruit in your life. Why? Because a disciple of Jesus Christ will produce spiritual fruit.

Jesus said, " 'My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father' " (John 15:8 NLT). Jesus also said, " 'By their fruits you will know them' " (Matthew 7:20 NKJV).

The metaphor of bearing fruit is used quite often in the Bible. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus spoke of seed that falls on different types of ground, representing different reactions to the truth of the gospel message. The final category He mentioned in Mark 4:20 was good ground: "But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred" (NKJV).

In other words, those who have spiritual longevity are those who embrace this truth and produce fruit. The Bible tells us that we should bear fruit worthy of repentance (see Matthew 3:8).

The Bible gives us different pictures as to what "bearing fruit" means. For example, praising and thanking God is a way of bearing fruit in our lives. Hebrews 13:15 says, "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (NKJV). When you praise God, that is bearing fruit.

At one of our church services, I noticed a young woman in the front row who was in a wheelchair. Her legs were gone, and she had only one arm, which was a partial one.

As we were worshiping, this young woman lifted what she had of her arm to the Lord. I thought about how this must have pleased God. She didn't have hands to lift, but what she had, she lifted to the Lord.

Did she have troubles in her life? Did she have difficulty? Of course she did. But she offered a sacrifice of praise to God.

We don't praise God only when we are in the mood. Rather, we praise God because He is worthy of our praise. Our word, "worship," comes from the old English form, worth ship. We praise that which is worthy.

Therefore, we don't praise God because we feel like it. We praise God because He deserves our praise. When we do this, we are bearing fruit.

What we say is also a type of fruit in our lives. Jesus said, " 'A good person produces good deeds from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil deeds from an evil heart. Whatever is in your heart determines what you say' " (Luke 6:45 NLT).

When you are a true Christian, it will be reflected by what you say. This is bearing fruit as well.

Can others identify spiritual fruit in your life? Remember, people are watching you. They are listening to you. I hope that you are pointing them to Jesus.