I am wanting to look at the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) as an indication of where a 'blogger is coming from, for myself and when I read a blog.  Is the post written in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance? Or is it written to defend a position, doctrine or opinion?  Does it sound boastful, prideful, self-righteous, arrogant?  Are the results/fruit of that post hurtful?  Or are they edifying?  Are they merely there to win or defend an argument?

It is true that The Message of the Cross is offensive but the Holy Spirit is not offensive at all.  The enemy condemns but the Holy Spirit convicts. It is not my job to convict or convince other people of something that God is showing ME.  Sharing is great, but it can so easily come across as, "this is truth and anyone who doesn't do this is WRONG". Does that make sense? I think that we can be so right that we are so wrong.  I know that I have been like that

As you can tell (and those who know me know) I am pretty opinionated.  I am hoping that I have not hurt or offended anyone with these opinions.  I still have MUCH to learn but if God is indeed showing me something new, getting closer to Him would surely manifest in more loving characteristics?  (I mean Love as defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8Charity never faileth: )

Too often, I have exchanged one set of bondage for another calling it "what God has shown me" and I have led others astray.  I have to repent of this.
 
When I was about 7 years old, there was a person my parents knew.  This person struggled with their 'gender identity'.  They were convinced they should be a woman not a man.  They said that they asked God for a sign to tell them it was ok to have a gender change operation!  They apparently got their sign!  It was something to do with receiving the gifts of the Spirit.  They were so totally convinced it was a sign from God and they went ahead with the surgery.  How does this fit in to what I am saying?  As a human, there is always the possibility that I am wrong.  The enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy has the same agenda he has always had.  He will even use me to deceive myself because he is the father of lies.  Satan will even twist things in scripture for his benefit and people can be led astray.

Ok, I have said enough..... this is me signing off endeavouring to be careful and let only His Words come out of my mouth/fingers.

This is from Colossians 3:

 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.