Integrity, Innocent, Cross-Examine! Oh My!

     When I read a story I often put myself in the story...I don't know if that's normal or right or even if anyone else does it, but it is how I do it! "It's how I roll!"
     So this morning I was reading Psalm 26 and had to do a lot of confessing and repenting as I read and prayed it from my own position. The scripture starts with "Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity"....can you honestly claim "integrity"? I realized that I can not, I have not always walked in integrity....sometimes my integrity has been compromised! I believe integrity is like purity, either it is or it is not...there is no middle ground!
     Integrity means "the quality of being honest and having strong moral principals" and "the state of being whole and undivided". The first part I am good with, but to be transparent (a good goal!), I have been known to not be "wholly honest", sometimes I have stretched the truth or as some would say "a little white lie". However I don't believe a "little white lie" fits into a person of integrity's life.
     In reading and feeling the conviction of the fact that I have not always been 100 percent honest I had to confess before I could read more...that was just the first verse! So I prayed, "Lord, You know sometimes I have not been completely honest. I'm sorry for my dishonesty and then trying to act like I'm a person of integrity! Please forgive me and wash me clean! I will do better, I will not say or do anything that is not honest and true." (In our world that will be tough! Many people will label me a "hater" for not accepting the diversity of things that I don't believe are right. It doesn't mean I have to get on a soap box on Facebook, or anything that extreme, but it does mean when faced with a situation I don't believe is right I can't just go along with it to make everyone happy.)
     The second part of the FIRST verse says "I have trusted in the Lord without wavering"....ok, let's see if that's true? Have I ever worried or let myself be stressed? Well, yes, I have! Then there is the answer for that! I have not trusted without wavering or why would I fear or why would I be stressed? Or for that matter have I ever grumbled about a situation? A long line at the store! a red light!..high prices!..paying bills!...nothing to wear! car's not running...not enough money, not enough time...I guess you can tell I have heard grumbling?
     Back to God in prayer..Father I am sorry for the times I have NOT trusted unwaveringly! Please strengthen my trust, help me remember that I am in Your hands.
     Finally made it through the first verse. Now verse 2! "Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me"...wait a second! Father please don't put me on trial! I know I fall short in many areas! Please clean me, strengthen me, show me where You want me to grow and change! And I already lay it all before You because nothing is hidden from You, I only hide things from myself! I'm sorry and I already know I carry guilt for not being everything that You want me to be! Please forgive me! "Test my motives and my heart", Okay, let me confess first that I know my motives can be self-serving, sometimes I can be like Peter when he is quick to defend You and eager to follow Your instructions but when it comes to my own well being I react to keep it intact! I'm sorry Lord!
     Psalm 26 has already given me so much to face, confess and pray about in the first two verses!  I'll try to deal with verse 3 and 4 in the blog later! However I do well with verse 3! "For I am always aware of Your unfailing love"! Thank You Father!

The Heavens Tell!

This always amazes me! Can you imagine, the "heavens are telling"!? The heavens are delivering a message to us! 

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. Psalms 19:1-2

 

You Don't Have To Do It Alone

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Philippians 2:13

Complete

     Holy Spirit, Thank You that You have come to teach and lead me into a deeper, more complete relationship with the full Trinity Who is my Creator.~
     I don't understand it all, but I know that the Trinity is God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.
      The part I don't understand is why we focus on just one part of the Trinity and ignore or neglect the other two.
     I know that Yahweh the Father is the Great Creator and
     that Jesus the Son is my Saviour, Redeemer and King
     and that the Holy Spirit came to Teach, Correct, Comfort,
     Encourage and bring us into a deeper reality of relationship with      Father and to Glorify Jesus more completely.

     How can we limit our worship or focus to only One part of the Trinity? It takes all Three to be complete...

Chase God

This is something on my heart for this season. God's word over and over tells us to look to Him for all things, but we continually look to people.

     I guess it's a habit we start as babies looking for milk and a diaper change...and yes our physical needs are important too, but I think when we look to be happy or satisfied by our relationships with people we are setting our selves up for failure.

     How many times do young women think if they could just find the right guy then they are set for "Happily Ever After"? Or guys think if they find a woman "just like mom"(used to be the song or saying?), then they are set...and I remember one more, behind every successful man is a good woman...while there is truth in being "equally yoked", our relationship with our Heavenly Father really is a lot more relevant to our happiness, success or satisfaction. And what about the complicated relationships of parents and children...if I only had a  baby, or if we could just have children, or if my children would just listen to me, or if my parents would only love me or show their love or approve of me or my choices?

     Why do we continually look for acceptance, approval and love from each other? This flesh is only temporary, but God and His love are eternal! Quit chasing people and their approval and rest in His love...if you don't know how, ask Him to teach you, to show you the way, He will guide you beside the quiet waters, He will restore your soul, He will guide you in paths that are right....chase God and you will find Him.~

Psalm 23:1-3

No Other gods

God said to have no other gods before Him. Do you think that might even apply to yourself?

Exodus 20:3

Our Vision

To Demonstrate, Cultivate and to Disciple a lifestyle of passionate engaging with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit in accordance with Scripture. Setting the captives free and ushering them into a living, loving relationship with Yahweh.