"But the fruit of the Spirit is...FAITHFULNESS"

We are to our 7th fruit of the Spirit, which is Faithfulness. The writer of this fruit is Kathy Bycroft...my mom-in-law. If you know Kathy at all, she loves to study God's word, check out the commentaries, and do word studies of all kinds. So I knew that I had to include her in this because of the amount of wisdom that God has given to her. She is a student of the Word for sure, and loves to learn. She doesn't just stop there...she not only teaches what she has learned to young kids, but teaches adult women in leading studies for them, whether it be small groups or Bible studies for all that want to take part. She even has written some of her own material...not all can do this. This takes a lot of time, and "faithfulness" to what you think is important...and that is to reach others for Jesus.

I have known Kathy now for almost 16 years. We didn't just naturally become close right when we met. This took time and a lot of getting to know each other and what we were about. I actually was kind of scared of her when I first met her...ok, maybe the right word is "intimidated". I found out that we are different in many ways, but both committed to God. I'm glad to say that I have a good relationship with my mother-in-law. Not everyone has that. So I'm thankful. I have learned a few things from her too over the years. Anything from learning from her Biblical wisdom...to learning different ways to cook for a diabetic...to something I thought I would never do, and that is working in the garden snappin' beans! I am proud of this accomplishment since I didn't grow up a country girl. She is a very strong woman with thick skin. I can tell in the different trials or difficulties that she has gone through in her life, that she has learned to take it all to God, and not whine about it. So I think it's fitting that she was randomly chosen for this fruit of "faithfulness". Kathy has proven faithful time and time again to God, and to her family and friends.

You're in for a lesson as you read this. The words that she wrote reflect who she is. Kathy is a simple and to the point kind of girl...she pretty much tells ya like it is. It took me a while to figure this out! :) But I got it now. Throw in truth and a lot of boldness and there you have it!

And by the way Kathy, I'm not scared of you anymore! I'd like to think I helped loosen you up a little with my good sense of humor! Love ya! ;)

Name: Kathy Bycroft
Hometown: Tyro, KS
Married to: David Bycroft (they celebrated 40 years of marriage last October...see above pic!) And they've been ministering at Tyro for that long too as senior minister and wife.
Family: 1 daughter and 2 sons, all married...along with 8 grandchildren and another on the way this summer!
Current Living: Tyro, KS
Hobbies: collects Iris and herringbone depression glass; makes wedding cakes and all of the birthday cakes for all the grandkids (very creative cakes I might add!); fixes food for families with new babies, or home from the hospital, or with other needs; gardener and canner of veggies; has taught Sunday School since she was a teenager; plays the piano; loves her grandkids and possibly the biggest is this: takes care of Dave! :)


And now, a lesson from Kathy...


"FAITHFULNESS"


"We have just celebrated a special occasion within our church family. All the couples who have been married 50 years or more were invited to an evening in their honor. Over a thousand years of marriage commitment and faithfulness were represented there!

What keeps two people together that long?

It’s not an easy thing, especially in our time and society when no one seems to stick to much for very long.


Don’t like your job? Just quit and find another one. Your spouse getting old or not pleasing you in some way? Leave and find someone "better".

Not happy with your church? Go see if there’s another one that will fill your "needs". There are plenty around to choose from! God disappoint you in some way? Give up on Him!


Faithfulness (commitment) is a rare commodity these days. People don’t want to stay in for the long haul in much of anything. Why?? Because we are a selfish people. That’s the bottom line. We want things to please us, or we will take our toys and play elsewhere.

How do we overcome this? It’s only by the power of the Holy Spirit in us, because we certainly aren’t faithful people by any natural inclination.

So we must put to death the natural and live by the Spirit.

God Himself is the ultimate example of faithfulness.

Most of the time, when asked to describe God’s nature, we say He is LOVE. But did you know He is called FAITHFUL (in both the Old and New Testaments) more times than He is called LOVE? Without the faithfulness of God...His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness would mean nothing.

Without His faithfulness, we wouldn’t know whether we could trust Him to carry through on His other promises.

And so without my being willing to be faithful to God and keeping my promise of commitment to Him, my talk of love, joy and peace; my attempts at being kind and good mean nothing.

There is no such thing as a person who is “sorta faithful”. You either are or you aren’t. Would a wife say her husband had been faithful to her if he’d only had a few affairs over the course of their marriage? Would a husband say his wife had been faithful if she took his paycheck every week but spent it on another man?

I think not!

And so neither are we faithful when we want the blessings God gives us, but don’t want the responsibility of commitment to Him that comes with the blessings.

It’s really an issue of what you believe is true. If God is the truth, then He deserves our faithfulness. And if you are not totally faithful, then maybe you don’t really believe He is THE TRUTH.


Check yourself: Your faithfulness to Him shows what you really believe about Him."