Fruitful Living Monthly Connections (January 2025)

 

Greetings Fruitful Life Family, Friends and Followers:

As you know, Fruitful Life is a community and ministry of soul care and spiritual wellness for all of us who are facing battles and struggles in mental, emotional, physical, financial, occupational, or relationship challenges; or simply working through life's many setbacks and sidetracks. We are overcoming together as we turn to God and walk alongside others who will listen, offer support, and pray with us through the journey. 

Earlier this month, Chris and Carol celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary.
They also led us into the New Year with a message from Jeremiah 1:12 titled, A Year of Execution: God Will Perform His Word (See link below)

Here’s what’s happening now:
Be inspired to do more than sit in a chair on Sunday.
Be inspired to Become the Church.
https://youtu.be/2qheANo68eo?feature=shared  

Midweek Connection Schedule 
Feel free to join our weekly Midweek Soul Care and Spiritual Wellness Support Group as we unite from coast to coast in the United States.

Wednesdays at 7:00PM Eastern Time, USA

The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/972473313 
· Prayer Watch – intercession for families and communities 
· Peer Support 
· Bible Study through the lenses of Biblical Counsel, Coaching and Mentoring

Sunday Fruitful LIFE Cast
Sunday Video Postings in January

Guided By God's Eye
https://vimeo.com/158864203 

Six Fundamentals Every Believer Should Know
https://vimeo.com/901732552 

Why Do We Serve?
https://vimeo.com/908489001 

Add to Your Faith
https://youtu.be/N2kmySQa9go 
 

Midweek Connection Archive
Recordings from Wednesday Online sessions in January

A Year of Execution: God Will Perform His Word
https://vimeo.com/channels/upperroom2025/1043217580 

Practices, Patterns and Growth of the 1st Century Church (Part 1) 
https://vimeo.com/channels/upperroom2025/1045205505 

Practices, Patterns and Growth of the 1st Century Church (Part 2)
https://vimeo.com/channels/upperroom2025/1047352573 

Trusting God’s Process
https://vimeo.com/channels/upperroom2025/1049525123 

Recognizing and Responding to Mental Health Challenges in Our Families 

https://vimeo.com/channels/upperroom2025/1051774026  

Health and Wellness
Mental Health and Wellness Support 

RISE: Mental Health Essentials: (Amethyst Roberson, MA, LPC, NCC, CMLC-T)
https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/rise-self-care-essentials

 
Christianity and Mental Health (Uniting Faith and Counseling)
https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/christianity-and-mental-health 

Life Care Training (Amethyst Roberson, MA, LPC, NCC, CMLC-T)
https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/life-care-training 

Elephant in the Room: Mental Health and Wellness in the Church
https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/elephant-in-the-room 

The Latest Blogs
Articles, News and Updates

Community Connections
https://www.chrisandcarolgreen.com/community

Books and Publications

Rest, Retreats, Revival and Other Comedies
https://chrisandcarolgreen.blogspot.com/2024/11/mental-health-advocates-and-care.html

 
Renovation in Hearts and Homes 
https://chrisandcarolgreen.blogspot.com/2024/06/chris-and-carol-green-revive.html

Processed for Success (Free e-Book Download)
https://www.chrisandcarolgreen.com/processed-for-success 

YouTube Video Channel
Fruitful Life’s Video Archives

Fruitful Life-cast
https://www.youtube.com/@FruitfullifeNetwork 

Responding with CARE Podcasts
https://vimeo.com/channels/respondingwithcare 

STEP Forward Life Institute
"You don't have to light up the whole world. That will happen as each one of us brightens the part of the world where God has placed us.”

Personal Growth and Spiritual Maturity
https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/personal-growth-maturity 

Fruitful Life Education Certificate Courses
https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/certificate-courses 

Our Resource Library – Recommended Books and Courses
https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/library 

Staying Connected
Join the Fruitful Life Learning Community’s Social Media Support Group Page

This is a wonderful spaces to keep up with teaching series, encouraging video clips, prayer postings, and stay up to date with what God is speaking and doing in other ministries around the country and all over the world.

The Upper Room

https://fruitfullifenetwork.mn.co/

Support Chris and Carol and their Work at

https://www.chrisandcarolgreen.com/donations

 
***

Fruitful Living Monthly Update (December 2024)

 

Greetings Fruitful Life Family, Friends and Followers:

Happy New Year!

As you know, Fruitful Life is a community and ministry for all of us who are facing battles and struggles in mental, emotional, physical, financial, occupational, or relationship challenges; or simply working through life's many setbacks and sidetracks. 

We are overcoming together as we turn to God and coming alongside others who will listen, offer support, and pray with us through the journey.

 

We understand that several links were not working in last month's update, so we have corrected that technical error moving forward.

 

Here’s what’s happening now: 

 

Midweek Connection Schedule 

Feel free to join our weekly Midweek Spiritual Support Group as we unite from coast to coast in the United States.

 

Wednesdays at 7:00PM Eastern Time, USA

The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/972473313 

· Prayer Watch – intercession for families and communities 

· Peer Support 

· Bible Study through the lenses of Biblical Counsel and Coaching  

Sunday Fruitful LIFE Cast

Sunday Video Postings

 

Setting the Stage

https://vimeo.com/86263137  

 

Inexplicable: The Original Scandal

https://vimeo.com/channels/635425/87423186

 

The Search

https://vimeo.com/channels/635425/88602881

 

Godly Responses to December 25th

https://vimeo.com/17998811

 

You Were Chosen

https://vimeo.com/124775041

  

Midweek Connection Archive

Recordings from Wednesday Online sessions

 

True Doxology (Introduction) 

https://vimeo.com/channels/spiritualwellness2024/1031776998

 

Healing the Disconnect Between Worship Leaders and Pastors 

https://vimeo.com/channels/spiritualwellness2024/1036208820  

 

Worship: Our Response to God 

https://vimeo.com/channels/spiritualwellness2024/1038413377

 

Preaching: The Declaration of the Revelation of God’s Word and Will 

https://vimeo.com/channels/spiritualwellness2024/1040613591

 

Health and Wellness

Mental Health and Wellness Support

 

Self-Care Essentials: R.I.S.E. (Amethyst Roberson, MA, LPC, NCC, CMLC-T)

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/rise-self-care-essentials   

 

Christianity and Mental Health (Uniting Faith and Counseling)

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/christianity-and-mental-health 

 

Beyond the Altar (Amethyst Roberson, MA, LPC, NCC, CMLC-T)

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/beyond-the-altar 

 

Elephant in the Room: Mental Health and Wellness in the Church

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/elephant-in-the-room  

 

The Latest Blogs

Articles, News and Updates

 

Community Connections

https://www.chrisandcarolgreen.com/community 

 

Books and Publications

 

Processed for Success

https://www.chrisandcarolgreen.com/processed-for-success 

 

Renovation in Hearts and Homes 

https://chrisandcarolgreen.blogspot.com/2024/06/chris-and-carol-green-revive.html 

 

YouTube Video Channel

Fruitful Life’s Video Archives

 

Fruitful Life Media

https://www.youtube.com/@FruitfullifeNetwork 

 

Responding with CARE Podcasts

https://vimeo.com/channels/respondingwithcare  

 

STEP Forward Life Institute

"You don't have to light up the whole world. That will happen as each one of us brightens the part of the world where God has placed us.”

 

Personal Growth and Spiritual Maturity

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/personal-growth-maturity 

 

Fruitful Life Education Certificate Courses

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/certificate-courses 

 

Our Resource Library – Recommended Books and Courses

https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/library 

 

Staying Connected

Join the Fruitful Life Learning Community’s Social Media Support Group Pages

Both of these are wonderful spaces to keep up with teaching series, encouraging video clips, prayer postings, and stay up to date with what God is speaking and doing in other ministries around the country and all over the world.

 

1.) Upper Room Community

https://www.facebook.com/groups/fruitfullifecommunity 

 

2.) Hearts and Homes Community

https://fruitfullifenetwork.mn.co/

 

 

Support Chris and Carol and their Work at

https://www.chrisandcarolgreen.com/donations 

 

***

In Remembrance of Yeshua (Jesus) the Christ

 

Did you know that December 25th is not the actual arrival date of Yeshua (Jesus) Christ? 

Did you know that Christmas was a celebration of Christ that was established by the Roman Catholic Church when they initiated a Mass during the same season that people were already engaged in various winter solstice celebrations? 

That's how the term Christ Mass was established. It was all part of an effort to convert people to Christianity. However they failed to steer the people away from the sun god rituals in spite of the new church-initiated Mass to celebrate the Son of God.

We share this with you because many skeptics use this well established historical fact to attack the validity of Christian beliefs because of Christians who are ignorant of Church history. They feel that this discrepancy, concerning the birth of Christ, gives them leverage to deny the Bible and the Son of God.

We're just providing a little more understanding as to why there is so much confusion and controversy surrounding December 25th. There is a vast difference between Christmas and the winter sun god rituals that permeate our society.

Many Believers already know that the Bible never says that Christ came in December. The point is that it doesn't matter that His coming wasn't on December 25th. We assert that this church-initiated celebration was never an attempt to celebrate December 25th as Christ's date of birth. It was intended to celebrate the REALITY and PURPOSE for Him coming into our world. 

Since millions of people have come into the Faith as Protestants, they have never been aware of the history behind December 25th. Most of the evolution and perversion of the original purpose for Christmas is very negative and even involves an annual persecution of Jewish people on that day. For most Jewish people, December 25th is directly connected with a negative history of persecution, and it is a 24-hour celebration declaring that there is another way to come to Jehovah God; so they want no part of it.

Over the years, the Christmas (Christ Mass) celebration has embraced many non-Biblical traditions and those traditions have become disconnected from historical facts and understanding. Of course the history is far more complicated than this, but we really don't have space to cover every detail in a simple newsletter. Hopefully, this will get you started in pursuing answers in your own personal study.

As a side note, many Biblical historians believe that Christ actually arrived at a much more significant God-ordained time (perhaps the Feast of Tabernacle). 

Over the past few weeks, we have been offering very important points for you to consider for making Godly responses to the pagan origins of December 25th.

Here are the four points we asked you to consider for responding to people who are caught in the midst of this controversy:

1.) Become all things to all men - 1 Corinthians 9:18-23

2.) Don’t cause your brother to stumble - 1 Corinthians 8:4-13

3.) Use the opportunity (holiday) to bless your enemies - Matthew 5:43-45; and

4.) Continue in the early church lifestyle of giving to others/ helping the poor - Acts 2: 40-47

In concluding this series of blogs, we are offering the fifth response:

5.) Consider a foundational Christian celebration: Partaking of the Lord's Table in Remembrance of Christ (Luke 22:14-20).

Yeshua (Jesus) instructed His followers to partake of the communion table in remembrance of Him. The winter holiday season is simply another OPPORTUNITY to RETURN the emphasis back to Christ by gathering to do what HE instructed us to do. That's what we choose to do on a regular basis within our Fruitful Life Learning Community.

Millions of Believers will gather in sanctuaries or in their homes to partake of Holy Communion and truly reflect upon the reason Christ came into the world.

These special gatherings remind us that the Son of God is not to be merely thought of as a baby lying in a manger, but as our Savior who was brutally beaten and nailed alive to a wooden cross. We should remember that He rose again from the dead to usher all of us into the Family and Kingdom of God.

As we stated last week, we are simply trying to communicate that in spite of the historical facts, controversies and conflicts that surround December 25th, CHRIST must truly become YOUR reason for this season and all year round.

The world will continue to celebrate the sun god (in all of its many names and forms) as part of their annual winter solstice celebrations. WE must celebrate the Son of God and give a Godly RESPONSE to our non-believing family and friends, and to our Christian brothers and sisters who may not have this insight.

We're Building People.

Giving Is Already Our Lifestyle

Over the past few weeks we have been offering very important points for us to consider for making a Godly response to the pagan origins of December 25th. As Faith Leaders and Community Life Coaches, we have decided to provide practical answers and solutions for you and your family.

Here are three points we asked you to consider for responding to people who are caught in the midst of the December 25th controversy:

1.) Become all things to all men - 1 Corinthians 9:18-23

2.) Don’t cause your brother to stumble - 1 Corinthians 8:4-13, and

3.) Use the opportunity (holiday) to bless your enemies - Matthew 5:43-45

This time we are offering the fourth of five responses:

Response #4: Continue steadfast in the first-century church lifestyle of generosity - Acts 2: 40-47

In the early church, they developed a lifestyle of sharing with others and making intentional efforts to help those in need. This was not a practice that came out of pagan rituals or December 25th winter solstice customs. The church did this as part of the overflow of the life of Christ within them.

Never think of gift-giving and helping the needy as only a December 25th thing. It's simply a Godly response. This date just happens to be a great time to do what should come naturally for Believers all year.

Today, we are urgently trying to communicate that in spite of the negative history, controversies and conflicts that surround December 25th, Christ must truly become YOUR reason for this season and all year round.

The world will continue to celebrate the sun god (in all its many names and forms) as part of their annual winter solstice celebrations. WE must celebrate the Son of God and give a Godly RESPONSE to our non-believing family and friends, and to our Christian brothers and sisters who may not have this insight.

Many religious leaders are preaching strongly about the negative issues that surround December 25th. However, we believe that it is one thing to expose all the problems with this date, but it is another thing to actually offer a way for people to RESPOND in this season and bring Glory to God the Father.

Yes, we must speak the truth about December 25th, but what does it matter if we cannot present TRUTH in LOVE and take advantage of the opportunity to lead people to a genuine relationship with Father God through Christ?

Giving gifts and helping the needy is more than a December 25th thing; it's a Godly thing. God gave us the gift of His son. For God so loved the world that He gave..... 

We're Building People.

The Gift of Forgiveness

 

In the midst of global political and economic upheaval, people are struggling, trying to find a way to still celebrate the winter holiday season. The entire year has been challenging and even as it wraps up, it still shows no sign of letting up on the relentless assault on our lives.

For centuries, people of various faiths and religious beliefs have furiously battled over the appropriate way to deal with the winter holiday season. Even within Christianity there are debates about the way December 25th should be celebrated, or if  either Christmas or the winter solstice holiday customs should be celebrated at all.

In the first two blogs of this series, we started discussing the controversies surrounding various December 25th celebrations and traditions; and how we, as Believers, must stop merely REACTING to the negative origins of this date and begin making a wise RESPONSE to this season.

We are offering at least Five Godly Responses to December 25th.

So far we have presented two responses:
#1: Become All Things to All Men from 1 Corinthians 9:18-23 (NKJV)
#2: Don’t cause your brother to stumble from 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 (NKJV)

This week we’re offering response #3 - Use the opportunity (holiday) to love, bless, do good and pray for your enemies, cursers, haters and persecutors. 

Many people are giving in to the pressure to buy gifts and they’re going to run up huge credit card bills to do it. Recently, we saw a celebrity on a talk show and he said the only thing he asked his family and friends to give him was a gift that doesn’t cost any money. So he simply asked for a letter, a poem, a song, a phone call, etc. It is truly amazing how one of the richest people in America has a request for the most important things in life. Meanwhile, many of the poorest people in America will try to spend money.

We plan to enjoy the holiday by spending time with family. We are focusing on our relationships; even the relationships that are not doing so well. We encourage you to do the same.

In Matthew 5:43-45 (NKJV), Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

This may seem radical, but we believe that we can use this holiday season as an opportunity to bless those who are our enemies. Jesus actually tells us to bless those who curse us.

What a marvelous time to do something so completely unexpected that it truly personifies what it means to be a child of our Father in heaven. Just like HE provides sunshine and rain (and rain was a wonderful thing for their agriculturally-based society) to evil and good people, we can express His goodness and mercy in a tangible way as well.

For many of us, we don’t have to think too hard to come up with a name or two of people whom we could bless in this way. Many people will be scrambling through shopping malls trying to find the perfect gift for someone who is very special to them. But what if we include in our lists, a couple of people who don’t like us very much?

In these harsh economic times, millions of people don’t have very much money for purchasing gifts and December 25th has become more of a burden of obligation than a time of celebration. However, we encourage you to consider those who spitefully used you or even persecuted you. It might be something as simple as sending a Christmas card or extending an invitation to dinner.

One year the Holy Spirit showed me that I had buried unforgiveness regarding a childhood bully. Just mentioning his name brought up old feelings of anger and resentment. So the Lord impressed upon me to start the cleansing process by sending a Christmas card with a letter. It was to be the first step in blessing someone who persecuted me long ago.

What names and faces come into your thoughts as you consider this Godly response? Don’t hesitate. Take advantage of this holiday season to respond like a child of God. Give the gift of forgiveness.

We're Building People!