A story of integrity

Pr. 11:3:  “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.”

The word that piqued my interest in this verse this morning was ‘guide.’  I find it interesting that the thing that will guide us is integrity.  It’s not just recommended or a good idea, integrity will guide us.

Have you ever thought about that before?  Have you ever thought, “If I want some guidance today, I will start with integrity!”?  I sure haven’t.

When we’re making plans and decisions; however, if you really think about it, integrity does determine which path we choose to take.

Ok, here’s an example:  There are days when I’d love to nothing but sit on the couch and read all day.  Seriously, all day.  My integrity; however, will not allow me to do that because I have responsibilities in my home.  My integrity drives me to keep up my end of things and do my work.  So, I take an allotted amount of time to read, and then I move on to my other tasks.

Let’s look at the other side of this verse:  the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.  We can probably all give examples of this.  Lying sets us up to be found out and to lose others’ trust.  Cheating and stealing can get us punished in all kinds of ways.  Constant excuses render us unreliable.  Unforgiveness and lack of mercy clothe us in bitterness and anger that affects all of our relationships.  A consistent track record of these kind of things causes our character, and sometimes our quality of life, to be destroyed.

2 Cor. 3:3 talks about being an epistle of Christ, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God.  Our lives are a story.  If we allow integrity and the Holy Spirit to guide us, then our story points to Christ and His love.  We don’t have to declare ourselves as good people, as honest and faithful, or even as Christians.  Our actions tell that story for us.

If perversity guides us, we are telling a much different story, and no matter what we think, that truth and destruction cannot be hidden.  It is there for all to see.

So today, we need to look to integrity to help us determine what choices we will make.  If integrity is our guide, our actions will reflect it.

Seek out that guide today,

jamie

 

Month of Prayer, Day 11

Lord, Your Word has indeed given me life.  Your Word is strength to my flesh and hope for my soul.  I comfort myself with Your Word.  I remember all You have done in the past, and then look with hope towards my own future.  I know that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that if You have done it before, You can certainly do it again.  Help me to remember that in the midst of my trials.

Your Word teaches me how to avoid being wicked and reveals the promises and assurances that come with righteousness.  Deliver me from wickedness, and direct my way aright, just as Your Word promises.  According to Your Word, let me flourish like foliage, and find favor, honor, and wisdom.  Help me to be a tree of life, winning souls, and revealing your love to those around me.

Lord, keep me from gossiping, greed, and cruelty.  Let my life point straight to You.

I thank You for the Word, that gives me hope and strength.  You not only made a way for our salvation through Your Son, but You gave us Your Word to guide our way.  What a great God You are!

I love you, Lord, and I give You all the praise and honor and glory.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Investing in eternal life

Pr. 11:4:  “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”

I just finished a book series that took place after an outbreak of a pandemic disease wiped out 80% of the world’s population.  Children were orphaned, farms were abandoned, industry and retail ceased.  Money could no longer buy a single thing on the earth.  Everyone was suddenly on equal grounds…all simply trying to survive.

This verse reminds me of that.  On the day the Lord returns, our riches, material possessions, status, and opulence won’t save us.  Only righteousness (living right with God) will deliver us from death.

The question begs to be asked of us all:  Are you investing more time into gaining or upkeep of riches that will not profit or into gaining or sustaining your relationship with God, which will quite literally save you from death?

As I think about the plans I’ve made for my day, with this verse in mind, I can see that my plans are a bit unbalanced.  Thankfully I still have time to readjust those plans before the day is up.  So do you.  🙂

Calibrating the scale,

jamie

The safety net of hope

Pr. 11:14:  “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

I’ve been reading some of Paul’s letters to different churches.  Being a travelling missionary, he couldn’t always be present at the churches, so he would write them letters of counsel.  I flipped through and realized how many of those churches I’ve been like over my lifetime.

I’ve been like the church in Thessalonica, young in the Lord, and excited to live for Him!

Oh, but then I’ve turned into the church of Galatia.  Deceived by false teaching, I would believe that in order to be accepted by God, I had to follow the law again.  I allowed guilt, pressure, comparison, or the example of some to lead my away from the salvation of Jesus Christ, and into the thinking that I am saved by my works…not by God’s grace.

Then, I would find my way back to God’s grace, understanding that salvation comes from Him alone, and I would find myself becoming more like the Ephesian church.  Maturing in my spirituality, truly trusting in God’s grace and His strength, walking in unity with my fellow believers, and growing in wisdom, I would be more whole.

After that season of beautiful growth, I would become like the church in Colosse.  I would get distracted from my spiritual growth, and instead, grow in immorality.

Then, after true repentance, I’d be back to baby steps, starting out like a new baby trying to get back to my Savior.  Feeling young and vulnerable again, I would once again be like the church in Thessalonica, excited to give my life to Christ again, and ready to begin taking care of my spiritual growth again.

Just the way Paul counseled the churches through his letters and through the fellow believers he sent their way, I have been counseled along the way by mentors, teachers, Pastors, friends, and the Word of God throughout my inconsistent journey.

I am so thankful that the Lord never let me fall so far that I couldn’t find my way back to Him.  There was a safety that came from the many ‘counselors’ that navigated me through.  Be encouraged today, He can do the same for you.

Certainly I’m not done with my journey.  By God’s grace, I find myself currently in an Ephesian-like season, growing daily closer to Him.  Although it is my hope to remain in that place going forward, I understand that until I’m home in heaven, I will never have it all together.  That’s the beauty of forgiveness, mercy, grace, and renewal.

I encourage us today to be ‘counselors’ for others on their journey.  I pray we will be the instruments God can use to provide the safety they need to block their fall.  Let’s use Paul as our example and encourage those around us in the Lord.  He’s not finished with us yet!

Redeemed,

jamie

 

Growing up for a reason

“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.”  1 Cor. 3:1

Pr. 11:30 reminds us that, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.”  It is hard to win souls when we’re still babes in Christ.

Babies need almost constant attention.  When they’re not sleeping they need to be fed, held, cleaned, and kept safe.

There comes a time in our spiritual journey that we must make the decision to grow up.  We must begin feeding and caring for ourselves, not depending on others to provide us with everything.  We must learn to trust God to hold us and clean us up, not expecting others around us to be the ones who do so.

Of course, we all have moments when we need the love and care of those around us; however, when we find that we need that almost constantly it is an indication that perhaps we are still behaving as babes.

Jesus commissioned us to go into all the world preaching and baptizing.  Solomon reminded us that winning souls is the wise thing to do.  In order to do these things, we must have something to offer.

Babies are born helpless and have almost nothing to offer others.  They have to learn and grow so that they can begin contributing to the world around them.  Likewise, we must continue to grow in our trust in God and in our knowledge of Him so that we have something to offer those around us who are truly in need.

The best place to start is…drum roll, please…the Word.  When we begin feeding ourselves the Bread of Life each day, we are beginning to grow up and care for ourselves.

Once we get used to feeding ourselves, we can begin cleaning ourselves up through prayer.  Asking God for forgiveness and direction cleans us up and gives us wisdom for our next steps.  Thanking God for His blessings causes us to become grateful, which is a very grown up attribute.

With these skills, we will then find ourselves running to God to be held.  We will have grown in our understanding of who our Provider, Comforter, Helper, Deliverer, and Savior truly is.  We will know that when we need help the most, the safest, most dependable place to run is to the arms of our Father in heaven.

Armed with all this knowledge, we can then teach others that these same things are true.  We can point them to the same Father, who gives us the safety to be His baby, and the wisdom to grow into spiritual adults.

Growing up alongside you,

jamie

Doing good for your own soul

Pr. 11:17:  “The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.”

Well, I could walk around kicking puppies and stepping on people’s feet, but with an already fractured shin, I would not only hurt them, but further hinder my own recovery and possibly injure myself even more.  The same is true for any cruelty.

Showing mercy is like this heating pad on my knee…not only does it keep me from hurting others (since I’m sitting in one spot, minding my own shortcomings), but it brings warmth, comfort, and relief as my body is healing.

Just thinking out loud,

jamie

 

Continuing on “Trusting in the Provider”

Ever since I posted my blog this morning, my mind has been bombarded with this one central thought:

Replace ‘what if’ with ‘even if’

No need to worry, “What if everything breaks all at once?”  Instead, “Even if everything breaks all at once, God will provide.”

No need to worry, “What if someone gets sick?”  Instead, “Even if someone gets sick, God will provide.”

No need to worry, “What if we don’t have enough money to pay this bill?”  Instead, “Even if we don’t have enough money to pay this bill, God will provide.”

No need to worry, “What if we get into a wreck on our trip?”  Instead, “Even if there is a wreck, God will provide.”

No need to worry, “What if my child doesn’t get on the team or into that school?”  Instead, “Even if he or she doesn’t get in, God will provide.”

You get the point.  Anytime the words “what if” enter our minds, we can replace it with “even if,” and remember that God will always provide.  There is Nothing our God cannot do!

Just had to share,

jamie

Trusting in the Provider

Pr. 11:28:  “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.”

Once in a while my trust in the Lord’s provision is tested.  It is easy to say that we trust in the Lord when all is going well, when we have plenty of food in the cabinets, and our checking and savings accounts are in the black.

Have you ever noticed that when 1 appliance goes bad at your house another usually follows?  I’ve been noticing strange little happenings with some of our appliances, and even a strange noise in the car.  All this during the same time as we are purchasing Christmas presents and birthday presents/events for our daughter’s birthday, and I had to replace my broken phone.

I admit that I occasionally get nervous.  Noticing a strange noise in my car last night, I felt worry creeping over me.  ‘What if’ started running through my brain.  What if the car needs repaired?  What if we get it repaired and the dishwasher quits working?  What if we do both and then someone needs to go to the doctor?  While we have money budgeted for each of these instances, I could see the funds dwindling slowly away in my mind.  My heart began to beat quickly.

Then, I heard the Word of God in my mind.  “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”  Ps.37:4  “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  Mt. 6:33  “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  Ph. 4:19

Does it even matter how much is in my checking account if I have the Lord?  No!  I could have $.50 or $50,000 and it wouldn’t make any difference in how God could provide for me.  God isn’t tethered by limits as we are.  If I am trusting in riches or lack there of, then certainly I will fall.  Money is not the answer.  My God shall supply my needs.

I remember a time when I truly had no money for food.  I was a faithful tither, and I sought the Lord, and a co-worker randomly put a box of food in my car, complete with Christmas candy his mom had made.  🙂  Yum!  God provided.  Need met.

Just a few weeks ago I asked the Lord to provide some hand-me-downs for my daughter so I wouldn’t have to buy her any pants.  I was suddenly reminded of some pants that a friend had given me about 4 years ago.  They were way too big at the time, so I had stored them in my attic and forgotten about them.  God brought them to my mind and I rejoiced and praised Him.  They fit her perfectly!  Need met.

Remembering the Lord’s promises and the faithfulness I have witnessed, I am reminded that my trust is in the Lord, the Provider, and I feel the blooms of joy and peace opening up within me.  If it’s God in whom we are trusting, our provision will always be at hand.

Thanking Him,

jamie

Our great reward awaits!

Pr. 11:23: “The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.”

This morning I was reading in Matthew 25 about the nations being judged.  There will be a day when we will be gathered before the throne of Jesus and judged.

To those sheep who have loved their neighbor as themselves, they will be told, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

To those goats who have not loved their neighbor as themselves, they will be told, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Jesus says, “for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”  Then the righteous asked when they did these things, and this was His answer:  “Inasmuch as you did it to the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”  The goats were reminded that they did not do those things.

When you are caring for people in the name of Jesus, you can look forward to a great reward.  When you ignore or disregard the needs of others, you can expect wrath.

Jesus says that whoever believes on His name shall be saved.  He tells us in Matthew that He also expects us to keep His command of loving our neighbors as ourselves.  When we show love to those around us, we are showing love to Him.

Let’s let the devil and his angels face the everlasting fire on their own.  Looking forward to your great reward, take time to reach out and care for someone today.  Whatever you do to those around you, you are doing to your Savior and King.  You will be rewarded fully with eternal life in the kingdom prepared just for you.

Anticipating,

jamie

Can you hold your peace?

Pr. 11:12:  “He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his peace.”

Understanding comes from knowledge of the Holy One.  If Christ rules in our hearts, we have an understanding that those without Him do not possess.  That understanding gives us the power, courage, strength, and direction to not only hold our peace, but to love one another.

Jesus did not come into this world to condemn the world, but to save it.  Why then, do we condemn and despise one another?

Often, we probably find ourselves despising or nit-picking those closest to us.  We must stop that, and offering grace, hold our peace.  Of those who are truly against us, Jesus says, “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.”  Mt. 5:44.  This charge from Jesus goes directly against what our culture tells us to do.  Our culture tells us to fight back at all times, stand up for ourselves, fight for justice, and never back down.

What else does Jesus say?  “Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.  And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”  Mt. 5:39-21.  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”  Mt. 5:9.  “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.”  Mt. 7:12.  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”  Luke 10:27.

I could go on and on.  Jesus had a lot to say about this subject.  We are taught to let our light shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.  Unlike our culture’s ideas, which encourage us to glorify ourselves, backing down, making peace, and loving our neighbor glorifies the Lord.  Trusting in God means we take Him at His word when He says “Do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.  Therefore, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Ro. 13:19-21

There are battles that should be fought.  We are taught to defend the defenseless, the orphaned, the widows.  We are taught to stand up for the Lord and for our salvation.  We are entrusted by God to care for our and protect our families.  However, if we watch the life of Jesus, we can see the example of One who truly gave place to love, compassion, forgiveness, and mercy.  Even though He had many opportunities and reason enough, He did not avenge Himself.  He understands all we go through, and can offer help in our time of need.

Ro. 13:10 says, “Love does no harm to a neighbor.”  Let’s offer our neighbors a harmless environment today, whether that be the ones living within the walls of our home, the ones down the street, the ones at work, or the ones across the map.  Don’t be devoid of wisdom, but with understanding of the Holy One, trust that He will do what He said.

Fondly,

jamie