Fearless Integrity

The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
Proverbs 10:9

The roadside billboard asked, “Are you a person of integrity? God.”
Harold was troubled by the question. He had just left a business meeting and had to admit he had hedged his bets. He hadn’t exactly lied, but he had not shared some important information that could have benefited the committee. He believed he might be able to benefit by withholding this information.
The next two hundred miles were spent seeking God’s resolution to the issue. Returning to his office, he called the committee via teleconference and advised them of the information. He went on to explain he would understand if they backed out on the deal due to his deceit. To his surprise, the group knew of the information themselves and had to admit to their own duplicity in the matter. Asking forgiveness, they committed to complete disclosure in the future. Their openness marked the beginning of tremendous growth for each of them, spiritually and in their business.

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God wants us to reflect His Son’s attributes. Deceit is inconsistent with integrity. The handing over of integrity began in the garden, and the process continues today. Satan still whispers in our ear, “What they don’t know won’t hurt them. You deserve an edge. Keep quiet.” His attempt to persuade us to listen to his lies reveals that his character never changes. He only wants to steal and kill and destroy us.
God’s character never changes either. Holiness won’t allow Him to lie or hedge his bets. Only His kids have that ability. It remains our choice whether we seek an edge in the world or choose to bring all temptation, and therefore the outcome of our lives, to God’s care.
He commanded us to be honest and forthright. Whether we’ve been dishonest in the past or not, He asks us to become men and women of fearless integrity.

Prayer

“You see everything we do, Lord. But because others don’t, it’s easy to be less than honest in our dealings. Help us desire to be men and women of integrity. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Sewing Good Seeds

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

I watched as my son-in-law, Corey, and my son, Eric, walked my parent's rural property with my granddaughter, Jozlyn, following Easter dinner. The 62 degree day was a welcomed change from the grip of a winter that had been both cold and snowy, and up until three weeks ago seemed it would never release it's death-grip.

Watching succeeding generations follow in our footsteps brought a smile to my face. We had invested both time and love in our children, praying they would become good examples for their peers, and role models for their children. They had, indeed, become individuals of integrity and wisdom.

I watched as Corey swept brush out of Jozlyn's way with his foot, mindful that her little feet and legs might easily became entangled in the prickly weeds of winter. My smile widened as the height of imitation played out before me.

Like a track sprinter backing into the starting blocks, seventeen-month-old Jozlyn, bent down, placed her hands on her daddy's shoe, and with one foot, shoved at the weeds she had just witnessed Daddy brush out of the way. Stretching her little body, Jozlyn continued pushing at the one single weed that refused to yield.

“Keep pushing, Little J,” Daddy encouraged.

Resetting herself, she stretched as far as her little body could reach. The defiant weed moved! She stood, looking up...

“That's my big girl!” came the response she had worked so hard for.

And with that, they continued their stroll.

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What do we look like to our children? What do their innocent little eyes see when we're not paying attention? Do we want them to imitate those actions? Do we exhibit good moral character, or inadvertently teach them things we'd rather they not witness?

In the same way today's text suggests that parents teach their children the right way to live so they won't forget went they get older, our actions can just as easily give them a heritage of destruction to fall back on.

Everything we do and every step we take is an example of how we view life, and what we are teaching the next generation to emulate.

It requires mindful investment to raise good kids, intentionally showing them how to be honest and trustworthy. We will reap what we have sown.

What kind of adults do you want your to children to become?

Prayer

“Help me be the right example for my children and the world, Lord. Amen.”   

Bullied

Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men of violence … they make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s.
Psalm 140:1, 2

Carl wet his pants in the third grade. The teacher wouldn’t let him out of class. Her rule was, “You go before or after, not during classes.” Seated right behind Carl that day was the class bully. Bully’s harassment of Carl began that day. He never let up, always calling him derogatory names.
After years of Bully’s abuse, Carl became aware of two things: he was afraid to stand up for himself, and nobody else was going to do it for him. He lived in constant fear of his next encounter with Bully.
Carl never forgot those years and became an angry man because of those unresolved wounds, venting his anger in ways that caused additional pain for himself and those he loved. He developed a quick temper and frequently spoke in clipped sentences to let people know they were an annoyance.
God tried to help Carl, but Carl was angry at God for allowing Bully to do the things he had done. For all intents and purposes, Carl appeared to be an upstanding, confident man. In silence, Carl’s private wound continued to ache; he refused to talk about it.

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Carl isn’t alone. Many of us walk around with deep, secret wounds inflicted by the bullies of the world, hoping no one will ever find out. Satan wants us, like Carl, to remain silent, for in the silence there is no healing.
God wants those who have known bullies to come to Him for healing. He alone can take away the pain. He alone can speak His truth into the wounds of our heart. God is heartbroken over the bullies of the world because they abuse free will.
Free will means that God could not stop Bully from doing what he did anymore than He would stop us from committing the sin in our lives. To do so would mean we had no free will. But God is there in our pain, asking us to let Him heal our wounds. Free will is ours in this matter also.

Prayer

“Come and set me free from this pain, Lord. Speak Your truth to my heart. Bring healing to my soul. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Comfort Zone

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be kept safe.
Proverbs 29:25

David received a call from a friend who was offering free tickets to the political event of the year. His first impression was negative; he disliked political socials.
After a moment of discussion with his wife, they accepted the generous offer. David and Gwen were determined to see what God would lead them into at this event.
In black tie and evening gown, they walked into the ballroom. Finding a table amidst the hundreds of people was uncomfortable for David. Surveying the room, they found a relatively vacant table occupied only by a retired pastor and his wife. The couple introduced themselves and was seated.
They were joined at the table by a county commissioner and his wife, as well as one of the wealthiest men in town. As the evening progressed, David and Gwen spoke openly with everyone at the table but had extended conversations with the wealthy businessman. David exchanged business cards with the man as the evening ended, expecting this might be his last contact with the man. David was surprised and delighted to receive a phone call from him the next day. Over time, God built a strong relationship between these men, allowing one to share his faith and the other to share his wisdom.

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God will never ask us to go somewhere and do something He’s not willing to equip us for. Had this couple decided to yield to the negative inclination of the initial contact, they would have missed out on a relationship that enriched their lives. They were not looking for what this rich man’s wealth could do for them. They were looking to see where God could use them to deepen this man’s relationship with God.
Fear of power and even money can keep us from experiencing unique relationships with some of God’s most creative individuals. When we open up to possibilities and expand our horizons mentally, God will expand them literally.

Prayer

“I’m uncomfortable in some situations, Lord. Help me put that fear to rest. Teach me to bring my fear to You, where it belongs, in Your hands. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Not on Our Own

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
Romans 3:22

As they reached the trendy restaurant, the couple noticed the scruffy-looking teenager soliciting passersby on the corner. Panhandlers were a city staple. “Got a couple bucks, mister?” came his routine greeting. “What are you doing out here, young man? And where are your parents?” the woman asked, the mother inside her rising up.
“Whadda ya care, lady?” came his defensive response. “I got no parents. I take care a’ myself. You got any cash or not?”
“Have you eaten, son?” spoke the man, kindly. “We would be honored if you would join us for dinner.”
Unsure why, he accepted their offer.
Having settled the matter, they headed into the restaurant with the young man in tow. When the maitre d’ saw them, a quick, disapproving manner assumed his countenance. It was his way of trying to discourage them from bringing street trash into his establishment. This was an establishment they frequented. So letting the maitre d’ know that the young man would be joining them, they were grudgingly seated at their usual table. The young man couldn’t believe what he’d just witnessed, someone taking a stand for him in the presence of resistance.

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There are those who frown on persons who are unable to pull themselves out of the mire under their own power.
Where would we be if God had left us to pull ourselves out of our own sin? Without Jesus going to the cross, we would be damned for eternity. We could not, regardless of the length of time given, manage to do something we are incapable of.
Sometimes people need help. Salvation seeks out the surrendered, those who are aware of their inability to defend themselves before a righteous God. The maitre d’ has as much right to it as the orphan. If we assign salvation to those who look worthy, we will miss opportunities to show others the door to salvation in Jesus Christ.

Prayer

“I really don’t know whose heart You’re working on at any given moment, Lord. Help me understand that none are worthy, but all may come. Lead me to someone in need of Your love. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Not Crushed, Not Abandoned

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned.
2 Corinthians 4:8, 9

Unable to find the restaurant they were seeking, they settled on this steakhouse. Their waitress was very personable and pleasant. She was a Hurricane Katrina transplant, now living thirty miles inland. She hoped to get home to the coast in the next couple months.
They asked her about how life had changed. She was quick to share how her former employer had provided a fifteen-thousand-dollar debit card to help with temporary relocation.
She spoke about how normal things had seemed the day the storm hit and how much her life had changed since. She and her sister had gone to Florida to ride it out. They had taken nothing with them, expecting to return home in the morning. They returned to the neighborhood ten days later to find the house gone. There was nothing left but the cement slab with the ceramic tile still in place. Yet she quickly downplayed their loss, citing how others had lost their lives.
When she finished, the group asked if they could pray with her. As they held hands and prayed, tears fell. The waitress felt God’s embrace that night; she felt loved.

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Eighteen months after the storm, it was the first time anyone had offered to pray for her. One act of love can bring the beginning of healing. They had reached out to the waitress in sensitivity and obedience. God uses us when we are available and obedient. If we are willing to step out for the cause of Christ, He will teach us great and wonderful things. This small act of compassion produced several testimonies for the future. When we follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, we discover the outcome is God’s goal, not our comfort. Mostly, we find that others are hungry for spiritual nourishment. Taking time to ask your waiter or waitress if he or she has a prayer need may be the first step to healing. God whispers in our ear, “Tell them I care.”

Prayer

“Show me the opportunities where a prayer can make a difference in someone’s life, Lord. Then give me the courage and strength to pray with them. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Hopelessly Lost

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

They had been lost in the mountains of western Colorado for two days and were at the end of their rations. They had filled their canteens that afternoon beside a beautiful waterfall, the beauty secondary to their mounting concern, and continued on downstream, hoping to intersect a trailhead. It had only led them deeper into the wilderness. It had begun when they had taken a footpath not marked on their topo map. It had looked like a well-used trail. Two miles farther along and several hundred feet lower in elevation, it had played out, becoming a dimly discernable animal trail. Not wishing to double back, creating extra climbing, they had followed the side hill direction the trail had been taking, sure they would find a way out.
Night found them camped beside a small creek just above a deep gorge. Matters were compounded by the fact that they had no compass; each had thought the other had brought one. They had also failed to complete a prehike checklist. Three days later, haggard and hungry, their S.O.S. was spotted by search and rescue eight miles from any trail that would have led to civilization.

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Not taking a compass into the wilderness is a sure way of getting lost. Even novice outdoorsmen know it’s one of the first laws of hiking. To break that rule is to invite unnecessary exposure to the elements and possible death.
As Christians, we should carry our compasses wherever we go. In it, Jesus reveals the way home. Without it, we can become hopelessly lost, unsure of where to go and what to do. Not knowing the Way, we will die a spiritual death. It’s up to us to explore between the covers of the Bible, reading God’s instructions for the situations we find ourselves in. With the help of other, more seasoned students of Scripture, we can gain hope and knowledge that will keep us on the right path.

Prayer

“Creator of the universe, thank You for providing the map I need to navigate rough terrain. Please guide me through Your kingdom. Keep me from unnecessary exposure to the evil elements in this world. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”