"What happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direction energies wisely." (Galatians 5:23, from The Message)

I love this time of year—my backyard garden comes alive. Right now, I have asparagus growing, the herb garden is flourishing, forget-me-nots are shyly invading. But most spectacular are the irises, their blooms a pale but royal purple. Those irises come back year after year, spreading further unless I divide them. Their spiky leaves are dramatic; the stalks that hold the blossoms are easily four feet tall. They just appear—a gift. They are exuberant.

The verse above, a translation of the well-known "fruit of the spirit" verse in Galatians, highlights the fact that when we live God's way, he shifts things in our soul. He gives us gifts that will change our attitudes and, as a result, our actions.

We can't force things to grow, either in gardens or souls. But this time of year, when you see growth around you, doesn't it stir up in you a desire to grow? If we spend time with God, he'll begin to change us. We'll want to live his way, not out of legalism but out of love.

I want to live with an exuberance about life, balanced with serenity. How do we get there? I think a good place to start is simply to think about your life story. When did you experience joy in the past? What brings you joy now? Perhaps a great spiritual practice would be to allow yourself to do things that bring you pure joy—even if they don't seem very "spiritual."

Here's what I wrote about this in my book, Listen: Finding God in the Story of Your Life:

My son recently made a birthday card for a friend. "In joy your birthday," he wrote at the top, and drew a picture of a cake with candles, guarded by a Lego Bionicle warrior. He, of course, meant "enjoy" but really, he may have been on to something. If you enjoy something, you're "in joy." Right?

What puts you "in joy"? Do you ever experience joy? Did you experience it as a kid or a young person? How about lately? The things that bring you joy, that you love, will tell you about yourself, about your story. Looking at what brings you joy is a good first step toward listening to your life. By noticing what brings you joy, you get a picture of the unique way that God created you.

A lot of people I talk to seem to think that the fun stuff of life and the God stuff are in two different little compartments. This is dangerous thinking, because if that's true, why would anyone want to live a life of faith for very long? The things that bring you joy—real joy—are gifts from God. God has been involved in the story of your life since the beginning, whether you noticed or acknowledged that or not. So if you notice—Where have I felt joy? What things do I love?—you can notice God. Because those things are gifts from God; they are things to pay attention to because God speaks through them. (from Listen: Finding God in the Story of Your Life. Jossey-Bass, 2006. Reprinted with permission.)

As summer approaches, take some time to do things that bring you joy. You may want to do this with the children you minister to—take them to a park to play kickball or have a water balloon fight. Or, enjoy some "non-serving time" with the team you usually serve with—perhaps a backyard barbeque. You may want to enjoy some time to yourself.

The Bible says, "God loves a cheerful giver." As a leader and minister to children, you are a giver. You can't fake the cheerful part—at least not for very long. Find authentic joy by simply spending some time thinking about what brings you joy, and then doing those things. Cultivate exuberance and serenity. "In joy" your summer!

Recommended resources:

For more about spiritual growth, spiritual practices and cultivating the fruit of the spirit, read The Garden of the Soul by Keri Wyatt Kent, (InverVasity Press, 2002.), or Naked Fruit by Elisa Morgan (Revell, 2004).

If you need to spend time just being with God, I highly recommend Jane Rubietta's new book Resting Place: A Personal Guide to Spiritual Retreats. This beautifully written book invites us to make time to get away and rest with Jesus. Seeing this book made me hungry to get away again, not just to be alone, but to try some of the spiritual practices that each chapter offers.

To read a full review of Jane's book and also check out Keri's monthly e-mail publication, Connecting, click here: (insert this link: http://www.historyswomen.com/kwkent/May9.htm).

Keri Wyatt Kent is an author, speaker, and children's ministry volunteer. Learn more at www.keriwyattkent.com.

Copyright ©2006 Keri Wyatt Kent.

Read more from 'For Your Soul'

Words Kids Need to Hear To Help Them Be Who God Made Them to Be by David Staal If you could choose just seven statements to share with children, what would they be? Each chapter in this compelling book focuses on a single statement elementary-age kids need to hear from parents, children's workers, and other close adults. These seven statements are simple to share, yet guaranteed to profoundly impact children. They are: I believe in you. You can count on me. I treasure you. I'm sorry, please forgive me. Because. No. I love you. will educate, equip, and motivate parents and children's ministry teams to carefully choose words that building up kids' hearts, to say them frequently, and to do so in creative ways. What children hear from trusted adults significantly influences their self-image, their current relationships, and future relationships—including that all-important relationship with God.