In all of our relationships, the hardest part is truth. It’s easy to say things to flatter. But…
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just. Psalm 37:30

When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise. Proverbs 10:19

A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting
vapor and a deadly snare. Proverbs 21:6

He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
than he who has a flattering tongue. Proverbs 28:21
I am struggling through some hard issues  right now. Ministry is a difficult thing sometimes. We, those who teach and lead, should always share truth. We should always point people toward Jesus, love them as He does, and speak truth to their situation. I don’t believe in watering down God’s Word. I don’t believe that there is anything we face that God’s Word doesn’t speak to. It may not name our issue directly, but it gives us direction through applying truth taught throughout the Word.

I have always believed that even hard truth can be spoken in love. That means that in our relationships, if we have built them on a solid foundation of love, we can feel free to speak hard truth. So having said that…

We have to admit and turn from our sin. It has become so clear that hiding things doesn’t bring happiness or freedom. Whether it is sexual sin like we are dealing with in our Purity study right now or any other sin area, we can’t live like we don’t know or understand that we have to turn away. We can’t ignore the truth to fulfill sinful desires.

When we know what is right, to not do it is sin (James 4:17). It is also apathy and a lack of love for our Savior (John 14:15).

God is sanctifying us and we shouldn’t be resisting that. It isn’t a defeated feeling to me to know that I don’t measure up because I know that God doesn’t want to leave me that way! It is such a freeing thought  that God isn’t pleased with me where I am. He desires to bring me closer to Him and make me more like Him. Isn’t it AWESOME to know that our potential is beyond OUR comprehension?! But in order to change as He is leading, it takes dealing with hard truth. It takes someone loving us enough to confront us with that hard truth. It also takes us loving our friends enough to share those hard truths with them in love.

So, let’s be accountable TO each other and a source of accountability FOR each other!

Don’t ever mistake my heart! Ilove you enough to speak truth to you. I am willing to help you as you struggle with releasing these weaker areas to God. And I am willing to bear your load with you as you become stronger in the Lord. Would you do that for me? For your friends? For your family? For your church staff?

Many times we promise to pray for people.  Do we keep that promise?

There is nothing better than a praying friend. Do you realize how hard it is to pray for someone and stay mad at them?

Prayer is good for so many things. It is a lifeline to the creator of the universe. It allows us to communicate with Him, hear from Him, and maintain a close bond with our best friend!

It is a way to be help for others. We should never feel helpless in a situation when we can pray. I have heard the statement so many times that “I don’t know what I can do to help, but I can pray (or besides pray).” That is the one thing we should do even if physical help is possible.

It is a way to request healing from God. We know that He knows our situations and we know that He knows what is best, but He still is concerned for those that we are concerned for. He wants to know our heart and our hurts.

God is the answer to our prayers. The Word says the every good gift comes from the Father (James 1:17).

So remember today…as this is extremely fresh on my mind…that prayer is a great gift and first help you should give. Remain honorable in giving your word to pray!

Lord,

I thank you for those who are reading this. May we find strength in knowing that you care for every intimate area of our lives. Would you remind us today of your love toward us? Thank you for your hand of mercy, grace, and healing! May we each find strength in you today to serve you and those around us with the same unconditional love that you show us!

Amen!

I thought I might take today to honor many of my friends. I have so many that fit the description I am about to lay out…

- Worthy of my trust

- Trust me in return

- Have a love for my family

- Allow my family and I to be part of their lives

- Willing to be honest

- Protective of my feelings

- Take up the slack of my shortcomings, but challenge for improvement

- Sacrifice for others

- Challenge my decisions

- Celebrate great occurances together

- Proud for accomplishments and victories

- Helps shoulder the burden of others’ problems

- Willing to overlook bad days

- Sees the heart behind comments or actions

- Offers forgiveness with accountability

- KNOWS that different areas of life sometimes takes away friend moments

There are so many other words or phrases that describe my friends and their incredible qualities. I want to say thank you for loving my family and I. You are special.

We have lived so many places and made so many great friends. Being apart and sometimes out of touch doesn’t lessen the connection and love we have for you all!

I pray that I have been these a friend with these qualities and more for each of you. Thank you for sharing life with me!

Paul wrote in Philippians 2:19-23, about sending Timothy to the church at Philippi. He stated that he had no one else of a kindred spirit that was worthy of their trust that he could send to them.

I pray that someone today could speak of you in this way. That you are truly a kindred spirit to them and proven trustworthy! May God remind us that relationships are based on love and service to each other!

I love you, my friends! God bless you today!

Wow! Isn’t it strange – the two-faced politics that are just accepted here in the US? (Now before you go thinking Presidential, I’m not even going there. Anyone with a desire to see this country become what it was founded to be can see that this administration has no clue. There are bad policies and mishandled situations in every administration, but really…)

Anyway, I’m talking specifically about the ad that Focus on the Family is buying time during the Super Bowl to air. It is an ad that is reported to speak against abortion buy showing a different choice made by a well-known person. It features Tim Tebow and his mother, and focuses on her decision to give birth to Tim even though she was very sick and encouraged to end the pregnancy.

The thing that blows my mind is that organizations, such as the National Organization for Women and Women’s Media Center, who say they are for “CHOICE”, are the protesters. They are protesting this ad because it offers a different CHOICE than abortion. They are for CHOICE as long as it is the choice they want women to make. They are so afraid that the other choice, the better choice, will be enough to destroy their foothold.

They even take shots at CBS. They are softly threatening that airing this would put them at odds with powerful groups and advertisers. They especially take shots at Focus on the Family. Check out this quote from the story…
“By offering one of the most coveted advertising spots of the year to an anti-equality, anti-choice, homophobic organization, CBS is aligning itself with a political stance that will damage its reputation, alienate viewers, and discourage consumers from supporting its shows and advertisers,” stated a letter from the women’s group.Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2010/01/26/2010-01-26_womens_groups_protest_tim_tebows_prolife_super_bowl_ad_for_focus_on_the_family.html#ixzz0djRkvi8P
I just don’t know what I expected from people who have no foundation for the “values” they support and live by. Without a firm foundation of biblical principals, this is exactly what I should expect to see. What a messed up world we live in!

We must stand up for Godly principles or we will continue down this path of losing both our humanity and our concern for others.

Check out the following scriptures…

Psalm 139:13-18

1 Cor. 3:11

1 Cor. 13:4-13

“For the Lord is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.”

Psalm 84:11
He is all we need! He is the light for our path and makes a way for the things we need. He is also our protection. He desires to be both our sun and shield. He gives us grace by loving us when we deserve nothing and makes something great of our lives! He is the loving Father who showers His children with all He has because He loves them and they return His love through obedience.

To me, He is amazing. His love is truly boundless. He still uses me and blesses me when I’m not be consistent with my obedience to Him. I try, and still fail. Or more often, I don’t even try. I chase my own desires and walk my own path. He never leaves. Reminding me all along that He is there. Pointing out His mercy and grace all along until I finally look past myself to see Him. Isn’t it strange how our desires can block the view of such a big, mighty, awesome, and loving God? He is to me…my constant source of unconditional love.

So tell me, what does He mean to you? Use the comment box to share what God means to you and what He has done in your life…

1 Thessalonians 4:1-4
“Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,”
We are challenged to live above reproach. To live in a way that is “holy and honorable”.

This isn’t an easy task. It does require great effort on our part, but there is something even more important than just our great effort…it requires our surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord. That begins a process of sanctification (to make holy or purify). God immediately forgives and begins to live in us and guide us when we surrender to Him. But being who He has made us to be does require our choice to follow Him. So remaining pure is our responsibility through His power. It can’t be done without Him and we won’t continue to grow without our effort.

Surrender and be strong today. Putting forth your best effort alongside His unfathomable power is an unstoppable combination!

Live for Him and love Him today!