Thanks for the kind words. As christians we have the help of the "Holy Spirit" to help us bring to our heart, mind and soul the thoughts and actions needed to produce the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
There are special gifts of the Spirit given Ephesians 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
1 Corinthians 12: 4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
But one must be filled with the Holy Spirit to be able to maintain this. Belief in God opens the door for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Some people can not set aside their pride long enough to be able to admit that they need God to save them. Many people believe in the human will as the only thing they need to get by in life. Many times I have noticed that people who can not "let go and let Christ" change them is because they have problems with authority figures in their lives. Many can not relate to a Father figure that can possibly love them because of poor examples in their own lives.
I guess it was easier for me because I had a Father who made me feel I was the apple of his eye. How awesome of a feeling to know we are the apple of the eye of the creator of the whole universe and we can call Him Abba, Daddy or Papa. How close and personal is that?
Like all relationships the closeness factor also depends on me taking a step towards Him and not walking away as though He is not there. He is always there but we sometimes let the cares of this world keep us from feeling His presence.
Getting back to being filled with the Spirit. Sometimes christians who are distracted and not focused on our relationship with Christ will sometimes not be completely filled and we then lack in the fruit of the Spirit. How empty can we be and still be a Christian???? Hmmmmm, I will let you ponder that one.