Trying to act right?

People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed. (Proverbs 10:9)

Most of us really desire to have a walk of integrity - consistent, upright, and firmly grounded. What happens between desire and action is a mystery to many of us. We start so well, with all the right intentions in mind, but then somewhere in the middle, we just make wrong turns and get off-course. How do we become 'people with integrity'? When we ask this question, we are really asking how do we become 'whole'. We become 'whole' in the presence of Jesus - we remain 'whole' because we keep Jesus central in all our decisions.

As I did a bit of a deep dive into how we become people of integrity, I was amazed at how many self-help gurus have outlined the 'steps toward integrity'. All of these gurus completely leave Jesus out of the 'steps'. For example, in one article it tells us to 'try to keep our promises even if we need to make sacrifices to keep them'. Another tells us to 'discover our inner life', while someone else tells us to 'accept and listen to helpful criticism'. Sheesh! No wonder we are so confused about becoming people of integrity!

We don't find our 'integrity' in some 'set of steps'. We find it in Jesus. He is the only thing that completes us - makes us whole, consistent, and firmly grounded. When we struggle with right decisions, it is usually because we have moved Christ 'off-center' in our lives. When we really want to walk with integrity, we realize it is not found in 'doing', but in 'trusting'. We place our trust in the finished work of Christ, relying upon his wisdom and grace to help us take the necessary steps to 'be on course' all the time. That means we stop trying to help ourselves 'act right' and we allow him to create the conditions in our heart and mind that actually help us walk right. Just sayin!

The best proof

Dr. Joyce Brothers reminds us, "The best proof of love is trust." Let those words sink in just a bit - don't just skim over them. The best PROOF of LOVE is TRUST. Three very important words because love requires proof and the only proof that really matters is when you know you can count on the person you love. If we are to do more than just 'survive' in this world, we need to master this thing we call love. We take each other for granted - expecting so much from one another - not really appreciating the person behind the actions. Trust is based upon more than 'follow-through' - it is based upon the motivation of the heart (the spirit behind the actions). We can trust God because he did more than 'follow-through' on a couple of promises to us. He did more than just 'be there' in our lives. He showed us we could trust in him - he gave us the 'proof' of his love through his Son.

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes! (I Peter 4:7-11)

Love each other as though your life depended upon it. Do we invest that much of ourselves in the relationships we have been given? I am asking because I know I have been guilty over the years of 'being in relationship', but not really giving of myself in a way that cost me anything all that valuable. I was 'there', but I was not really invested. It takes a lot to invest in the life of another - sometimes more than we might be willing to give. One thing you might not have considers is that when you finally take the step to be a 'trustworthy' friend, the relationship changes. You are making an investment and that is going to change the whole tenor of the relationship. Your relationship will move from a purely superficial "let's have fun together" level into one that actually begins to 'cost' you a bit of yourself.

How is it we develop this kind of love? Some may tell us it requires us letting our guard down a bit so others can finally get close to us. Many will say relationships only work when both are equally committed. Others will suggest we need to invest time into the relationship. These are both good suggestions, but without trust, the relationship will go no further than a superficial level. Why? Trust is what holds us together when everything around us is trying to pull us apart. How is trust built? Most will point to the aspect of 'following-through' on your word, but it is way more than just doing what you promise to do. It might just be the aspects of grace we exhibit toward one another that really bespeak our trust. 

Grace overlooks more than small offenses - it works to restore the relationship quickly, so the rift grows no bigger over time. Whenever I repair a tear in fabric, I always go way beyond the beginning and end of the tear. Why? I know that ear made that portion of the fabric just a bit weaker, so I 'bolster' both ends of the tear to prevent it from tearing out again. In must the same way, we 'bolster' a rent in relationship with grace that perhaps goes beyond what looks like the immediate offense. We may use our words to draw us back together, but then we use our ongoing actions that go just a bit further, so the rift is repaired with greater integrity. It is that 'going beyond' the initial steps of grace that keep us together over the long haul. Just sayin!

The importance of the middle bricks

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the duplicity of the treacherous destroys them. (Proverbs 11:3)

Integrity is having agreement in all the areas of our lives. A hypocrite is one who is a different person behind the mask - they wear that mask and allow everyone to see on the what they want them to see on the outside. Their private lives are much different than their public lives. Whatever directs us on the inside is what is really what gives a man or woman integrity. We are building a life - whatever we put into it will eventually be visible on the outside. Every decision is a brick in that building - we can do right or wrong - each is a brick that adds to the 'integrity' of the building!

At some point, we make compromises. A good question to ask is, "What do your actions say about your integrity?" Our actions really say a lot about the 'bricks' that we put into the building of our lives. We make decisions all the time - some are wildly wrong and others are perfectly right. There are also those that are kind of 'in the middle' decisions - those are sometimes the hardest for us to realize there has been a lack of integrity in those decisions. At some point, those 'middle bricks' will be very important - what we do on the outside is always going to reflect what is happening on the inside.

When you have integrity -nothing else matters. When you don't have integrity - nothing else matters. That may seem a little contradictory, but when we don't have it, we don't really care that we don't. When we do, nothing will get in the way of us maintaining that integrity. David prayed for God to search his heart (Psalm 139) because he knew his heart lied to him all the time - he knew his life might be a little 'compartmentalized' - with areas he kept to himself (his private life). Where we are the most defensive; don't want others to ask questions about; or are the most critical in others about - those are the areas where we likely have some issues with 'integrity bricks'.

Did you know it is harder to regain our reputation when our 'integrity bricks' have been laid through bad decisions in our lives than it was to actually lose that integrity? Integrity is easy to lose, but very, very hard to regain. Whenever there is any lack of integrity in our lives it as though we just 'know' others can see that lack. We do the best to 'white wash' over those 'middle brick' places, but we somehow 'know' those areas look a little different on the outside than the other areas of our lives where we have worked hard to have or maintain integrity. It is like a bad 'stucco' job! You know it is just a patched place.

It seems like a whole lot of effort gets put into the end or corner bricks - because they create the stable point by which the rest of the wall is built. We also pay a great deal of attention to those 'capper' bricks that even off the top row and give the illusion of perfect 'straightness' in the wall. But...the middle bricks matter significantly. If those are haphazardly laid, lacking 'integration' into the full structure of the wall with evenness and straightness, the wall will be flimsy and will eventually reveal the lack of integrity created by that haphazard building. Integrity is what we are on the 'inside' - not just what we reveal on the outside. The 'middle bricks' matter - don't allow compromise to create a mere illusion of integrity. Build your life with integrity through and through. Personal, spiritual, family, career, and social life - all integrated and all wholly focused on Jesus. Just sayin!

I spy with my little eye.....

If you have ever tried to judge the contents of a book simply by looking at the cover, you may have been somewhere into the first couple of chapters only to find what you thought the book may have been about turned out to be something totally not like expected!  You may have been very disappointed in your initial "assessment" of the book, even leaving it unread any further just because you weren't interested in it, or it was way too poor of a read. Once I get into the "heart" of the book, and I find what I hoped was contained there is missing, or falls short of what I expected, I usually abandon it, never to pick it up again. What I hoped was a "good read" leaves me a little disillusioned. Sometimes there are things in life that look like they will be a 'good thing', but once we find ourselves in the midst of them, they aren't exactly turning out the way we imagined!

Just as water mirrors your face, so your face mirrors your heart.  (Proverbs 27:19)

While each of us are definitely not "books", we do "reflect" a certain image or 'cover' to the world by how we conduct ourselves, dress, and what appears on our face. I am often called on the carpet because my face betrays my REAL feelings toward some decision or situation that is evolving. So many people today have become proficient in "putting on a happy face", but deep underneath, they seethe in anger, wallow in disappointment, or are bubbling at high heat with absolute discontent. I am a people-watcher and you can often observe me just watching others. I like to observe how they walk, what they do with their hands, how they posture, where they position themselves in a group, etc. It tells me a lot about that person, but it never tells me the whole story. In fact, to really get to know the individual, I need to study their eyes. Within their eyes, I can often see hurt, fear, folly, or any number of other emotional connections that give me some insight into the individual. That insight either entices me 'into' relationship with them, or it repels me. It isn't that I want to offend them, but it is like I get a short way into the book and find it doesn't 'match' what I hoped to find in the pages within!

Windows to our soul - eyes are windows - and it is quite true if you consider what the eyes 'betray' about an individual. They often betray our true response to a situation quicker than any other part of our being. They also act as the "gateway" by which a whole lot of stuff affects us! What we behold with our eyes often determines our response to the situation.
When I am tired, and maybe even a little beat down by life, my eyes are dull - they don't reflect much life or enthusiasm at that moment. When I am energized from within by the Holy Spirit that resides within, there is a vitality evident in my eyes, despite the physical fatigue my body may feel. I have seen men and women in their last days of struggle with terminal disease, bodies consumed with disease and pain, with eyes aglow with the joy of the Lord. If I only looked at the "cover" of their book, I'd see an entirely different story than what is really contained within the pages of their heart! We often discount a 'good read' by the cover!

We need to become proficient at "reading" what is reflected in the eyes. Even if someone has become proficient at wearing the "masks" of life, simply covering over what is affecting them at the moment, their eyes are visible through the mask! The eyes are a true reflection of what is happening deep within the heart - as we 'read' the eyes, we are gaining insight into the individual's heart. The heart is the seat of our emotions - emotions are affected by much and by their very existence, they motivate or hold us back. Learning to go beyond the "cover" story will allow us to minister to others in ways that only God can do. It will also allow them to minister to us when we aren't willing to put forth the 'true' picture of where we are at that moment in our own life's struggles. Just sayin!

Truly honorable

The man who tries to be good, loving, and kind finds life, righteousness, and honor. 

(Proverbs 21:21 TLB)

How does one live in a manner that expresses the goodness of God? This is probably one of the hardest questions for us to answer in life because goodness, true goodness, often evades the human mind and heart. "Good" expresses the meaning of moral excellence - virtue taken to the 'nth' degree. This is why it is sometimes hard for us to truly grasp this type of behavior - because it is motivated in a heart not corrupted in any manner by sin - or with a sin nature at the core of all its actions. Indeed, we need an exchanged heart, for ours is incapable of this type of 'moral excellence' or goodness.

A loving and kind disposition is what stems from this goodness of heart. Honestly, if we struggle at times to act in a way that expresses the love of Christ, it is probably that we haven't connected in some time with the heart of Christ! We need more time getting to know him, being renewed by his Spirit, and taking in little bits and pieces of his person into us so that we are molded and fashioned by that character into morally strong and confident beings.

Life, righteousness, and honor - the three byproducts of seeking this moral goodness in every fiber of our being. Life comes because we are disconnected from a decaying life source and reconnected to the source of eternal and vibrant life. Righteousness because we begin to see the sin nature stripped away until what is left is right and true. We see an exchange of what appealed to our sinful desires - because our desires begin to change the more we find ourselves spending time with Jesus.

Honor seems oddly placed in this list of character traits because we often see this as belonging to God himself and not us. Did you realize the primary definition of honor is honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs or actions? In other words, get the mind and heart of Christ into the fibers of your being and what emerges is a total "connection" between our actions and that heart of Christ. There is a congruity of character! One that is worthy of being called "honorable". Just sayin!

Know vs. Show

No one really knows the day or the hour of their final breath, although some may sense it as quite near, while others fight for every last breath as though it were something they might control. As time winds down for some and time begins for others, the world continues the constant buzz of life's circle. Some believe there is no end to their life, with perpetual opportunity to return in some other form in a life hereafter, while others hypothesize there is nothing beyond that last breath. I will always believe there is life after death - not in "some other form" such as returning as a goat or coming back as some famous person - but in union with the Most High God - ever present with him into and throughout all of eternity. If that makes me a little flaky to some, I shall not apologize. If that makes me a little too "holy" for some, I also shall not apologize. As much as it matters where I am headed once this is all over, I want to be assured I am living this life I have been given in the best manner possible. I don't want to miss a beat, nor do I want regret at the end of my life for not having done more of something that mattered, or having had opportunity to forgive and did not. How we live today determines a great deal about how we will face that last breath on this earth - with joyful anticipation of the hereafter, or sorrowful regret at the missed opportunities!

Jesus leads us into a place of radical grace where we are able to celebrate the hope of experiencing God’s glory.  And that’s not all. We also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer we develop endurance, which shapes our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God’s goodness. And hope will never fail to satisfy our deepest need because the Holy Spirit that was given to us has flooded our hearts with God’s love. (Romans 5:2-5 VOICE)

Charles Spurgeon is quoted as saying, "A good character is the best tombstone. Those who love you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not marble."  There is much truth in what he says - the best character, lived out in our everyday life, is the greatest honor we can achieve in this lifetime. We are not the name carved on the stone as much as we are the "dash" between the years! That dash can represent all manner of "living", but those who will be remembered well will have lived in such a way their real memory lives on in the hearts of those they have touched by their kindness, integrity, and love. It may seem a somber thought for consideration today, but it is a worthwhile one, nonetheless. We make the day today, not in our tomorrows. We are given today - we are never assured of tomorrow.

One thing is for certain in this life - bad stuff will happen.  Some of it will happen to us, while other stuff will happen without us even being aware - maybe even because of us! It is not that we escape the bad stuff, but that we shine with the character of Jesus as we go through it. It is how we respond in the midst of the rough seasons that often is the tell-all of our real character - what is at the core of our being. Do we pout and sulk in our disappointments? This might just reveal how much we were putting our trust in something quite untrustworthy in the first place. It could also reveal just how much we counted on getting our own way in the matter. Do we get angry or anxious when things "interrupt" our plans? We all plan - even those who don't think they do. Some "plan" to do nothing - that is still a plan! How we face those plans gone awry often reveals a great deal about our inner character, doesn't it?

Lincoln said it wasn't adversity that tested a man's true character as much as it were to give that same man power - power being the ultimate test of one's character. This is so often the truth - for power and position can be the undoing of many a good man or woman - often without them even noticing how much it has changed them. This is why those who find themselves suddenly in the view of public fame face a myriad of criticism - with those who look upon that individual's actions with an eye focused on finding some "fault" in their actions - some disconnect between what they say they stand for and what they reveal in their actions. I think this is why scripture warns against desiring to be a teacher of the Word - because the scrutiny of one's character is ever present. This is also why I will be the first to tell you that I am far from perfect, struggle with exactly the same things you do, and find myself sometimes quite far from the mark I was aiming at hitting! 

I am as human as the next person, but because of Jesus in my life, I trust in his grace to bring me through to where I should be and not where it was I was headed!  Sometimes my "show" doesn't always match my "know" - if you know what I mean - but I am confident Christ will bring me to the place these both align in my life. I also am confident he will do the same for each of you as you place your trust in him to help your show match what it is you know to be true, right, and just in every action you take today. Just sayin!

Not always willing to make the journey?

C.S. Lewis said, "Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching."  As a child, I am not proud to admit it, but I did things "behind my parents' backs" that I would never have done if they were watching. I kind of followed those around me who were using a little more colorful language than my parents would allow, or I treated others in a way which made absolutely no sense simply because others were treating them that way first.  As kids, we do some of these things thinking our actions will never be discovered. The problem with that belief is that NOTHING we do is ever totally and completely "secret". Someone is always watching. Someone will always hear.  Someone will always see. That someone?  God!  

The path of integrity is always safe, but a person who follows a crooked way will be exposed. (Proverbs 10:9 VOICE)

My parents always tried to teach me the lesson to live "in private" as I would want others to see me "in public".  In the mind of a child, that didn't always make sense because we didn't equate our actions as having any "lasting effect" or "discoverability".  As an adult, if we are still living thinking our actions will have no "lasting effect", we are what some might refer to as "deceived".  No action, in private or in public, is without "effect" on others - nothing simply effects us and us alone.  Maybe one of the frequently recited sayings of my parents will ring true in your memory, as well:  "Lies snowball, so always tell the truth."  What my parents were trying to teach is this lesson of living with enough integrity to not cover up my sin with another sinful deed.  In other words, don't use one lie to cover over another because before long, it will be hard to keep the lies straight!

It is a lesson I tried to pass on to my children.  I think I taught it this way:  Always live in such a way that when anyone wants to accuse you of misdeeds, others won't believe it.  I called it "living above suspicion".  Just be the kind of person who has so much integrity about them that others could not possibly doubt your integrity. It isn't easy living this way - because we all want to have those moments in time when we "detach" from we know is right and do what "feels good".  Like when we unload a barrel of attitude on some unsuspecting stranger just because the frustrations of the day have been bearing down on us and then walk away thinking no one will ever know how unkind and foolish we just acted.  For just a moment, that release of all that pressure that had been building through the day felt "good", but it left a sour taste in your mouth, didn't it?  If you have ever found yourself going back to apologize, you know what it is to live a life of integrity!  "In the moment" it felt "good", but in the after period, it kind of ate at your conscience. Why?  You know you didn't reveal the intensity of God's love and grace which you count on so deeply in your own life to that individual.

Sometimes integrity is "making things right" when you have done things you don't necessarily think anyone else will "discover". There have been times when I have put something in my cart at the store, only to decide about 15 aisles later that I don't want it because I came across something else I wanted more.  What I choose to do with that item at that moment is often a revelation of my integrity.  I could just put it on a shelf somewhere, or I could walk it back all those 15 aisles.  At the end of a truly hard day, how would you handle it?  I have learned something about my integrity when I am tired - I don't always make the journey!  Does living with integrity mean I always have to walk back those 15 aisles? No, but it does mean I give the clerk the item I no longer wanted and ask for it to be "re-stocked".  I imagine they kind of appreciate not having to "find" that item 15 aisles over and the next customer who needs it appreciates it being on the right place on the shelf when they are looking for it!  

When we are fatigued, frustrated, at the end of our rope - integrity is often revealed in the little things we do and say.  It may not always seem like it, but those exchanges and decision-points matter. If we can realize the "weakest" moments in our day are also the moments when we can compromise the "easiest", we make a huge step toward building in some "safeguards" to insure we aren't stepping into choices which will compromise our integrity. It might not always be the easiest to "make the journey" when we are just not feeling up to it, but there is usually a point at which we can admit our weakness and maintain our integrity.  Just sayin!

Heartbeat increases with elevation

When you trust someone, you are relying upon their integrity, strength, and ability.  When you depend on someone, you are relying upon that person for whatever support you need.  Dependence is based upon trust - without trust, you don't feel confident your dependence is rightly placed.  So, wherever we place our trust, we will place our dependence.  This is important for us to realize because I think we might just place our trust in things and individuals who are less than reliable - even if that "someone" is the one we seem to look at in the mirror most frequently!  

Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. Don’t trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the Lord and stay away from evil. If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body. (Proverbs 3:5-8 ERV)

Our passage assures us of the outcomes of rightly placed trust.  When trust is squarely placed in the one who is totally reliable - whose integrity cannot vary, nor commitment falter - there is no need to question our dependence upon that individual either.  Our trust must be squarely in the Lord - anything less will present us with lapses in integrity, strength, and ability.  The idea of dependence may come as a little bit of a struggle for some who want to live live "independent" of anyone else's control or without reliance upon anyone for something in their lives.  When we have grown up disappointed by those we have put our trust in, I can understand how we might develop this sense of "counting on no one"!

The problem with thinking about our dependence upon God in the same we think about our dependence upon an individual here on this earth is this whole idea of fallibility.  Humans are fallible - God is not.  Dependence in something other than God will definitely bring less than accurate and reliable results. Having looked high and low in the scriptures and walking this life out with Jesus right next to me for over 45 years now, I am confident when I say this - no one measures up to the reliability I need in my life like he does!

The instruction to us is twofold:  1) Put your trust in the right place; and 2) Lean into him as you make your daily decisions and go about your daily business.  We make "religion" all about the church attendance, rule-keeping, and the like.  God's plan was never in the rules, but in the relationship.  This is why he brings us to the place of trust - for relationship begins with trust.  When we are open enough to let another get close the inner "us", we begin to develop a "synthesizing" of characteristics until we begin to almost sense what the other will do.

God's instructions are plain to those who will walk close enough to let him inside their protected inner man - because his heartbeat will give a rhythm to our steps.  I don't think about the beating of my own heart until I feel it pounding in my chest from the effort of heavy exertion.  I am traveling this week, enjoying the great outdoors, and hiking trails in enjoyment of what God has created.  As I stand high upon the mountain top and look down into those valleys below, my heartbeat is a little more rapid than usual.  I am at about 7000-9000 feet above sea level and when you live at sea level, this change in altitude does a number on your body!  So, my heart is working to keep up with the exertion it is being placed under.  

The truth is, sometimes I feel the intensity of "heartbeat" when I am changing my position where it comes to living a little more closely to the "altitude" God wants me to be at in this life here on this earth.  It isn't about my physical location, but the elevation of heart and spirit he wants to create within me.  As I draw closer to him, I find my dependence upon him becomes a little easier - because I see he has nothing but good intention toward me.  From the moment he provided breath for my body, to the second he breathed his Spirit into my sinful soul, he has been intent on helping me to develop a deeply-seated trust in his "good will" toward me.  The same is true for each of you - humans having disappointed you with their lack of integrity - he beckons to you to trust his. You can draw near into the security of his care, not worrying what he will do with your heart, for he has created that heart and he knows each and every beat of it like it was his own.  Just sayin!

Mixed signals

Our cravings reveal much about the condition of our hearts.  The more we "crave" for the things we know won't do us much good, or perhaps even do us some harm, the more we can count on the fact we are a little further away from God's heart than we may want to be.  Our cravings are kind of like a "barometer" for our soul - we can often see how our mind, will and emotions are guiding us into some "stormy" weather!  Craving is a form of "begging" - we want something so badly our mind and emotions are playing on our will to get us to fulfill whatever it is we are craving so desperately for.

God won’t starve an honest soul, but he frustrates the appetites of the wicked. Blessings accrue on a good and honest life, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.  A good and honest life is a blessed memorial; a wicked life leaves a rotten stench.  (Proverbs 10:3, 6-7 MSG)

Most of us with the privilege of actually being able to access the internet by means of our smartphones, tablets, PCs, or other electronic device are not very familiar with what "starvation" entails in the sense of our physical bodies.  In fact, we have probably lived pretty blessed lives - with most of us never missing a meal without purposeful intent.  Yet, I imagine there may be some who read these words who have experienced the deep, agonizing hunger of physical body due to the inability to procure food on occasion.  The concept of starvation can go way beyond the hunger pangs of our stomachs. There is something we can learn from our physical hunger and how our bodies respond to it, though.

God made us to have physical hunger.  We also have emotional hunger and this is often expressed in our desires.  We yearn or desire certain things within relationship, as a matter of accomplishment, or by some means of praise or recognition which will satisfy these emotional needs.  On the other hand, when these emotional needs are not met, we look to fulfill them perhaps in ways not particularly honoring of our own worth or of the will of God for our lives.  One of the things we need to see is how God made our bodies to respond to physical hunger and how this can apply to the other types of hunger we may struggle with from an emotional standpoint.

Did you know that you have a small center in your brain which actually controls your physical hunger.  Those pangs in your stomach are a result of the signals traveling from stomach to brain, sending signals into your "mental thought" which make you aware it is time to eat a meal.  This "signaling" effect will only go on for so long.  Ignore it long enough, and it goes away.  It isn't that the hunger doesn't exist any longer, it is that you are not as aware of it - it doesn't nag at you.  Now, in any area of our lives where we struggle to keep certain desires (hunger) under control, I wonder what might just happen if we ignore the constant "signals" for a while?  Perhaps the hunger for what we shouldn't really have, or for that which will only bring us emotional upheaval will become duller and duller until we no longer are being nagged by it!

In these three verses, God focuses on the "good life" - the life of honor. Honesty is another term for a trustworthy life.  What is being said is that the life which has learned to hold emotions "in balance" - not allowing one or another of those emotions to get us all out of balance - will find a special place of blessing.  Honest lives are those which have integrity (sincerity) built into them - you can trust what "signals" are being sent and responded to. There is nothing more frustrating to us than always receiving "mixed" signals and then having to sort them out to figure out which one to respond to.  It is like the moments when I want a snack, think about the apple sitting right in front of me, but remember the roll of Sweet Tarts in the drawer!  Mixed signals need a place to be sorted out - so God made us with minds which can use the faculties of reasoning and sound judgment.

When our reasoning and judgment may not be in balance with God's plan because they are being influenced by the constant "nagging" of some emotional "signal" we are being bombarded with, we often make bad decisions.  The end results is a lot of guilt, a sense of having failed again, and a general feeling that we will never get this right.  Perhaps what we need to do is ask God to help us develop the ability to ignore the signals long enough to let the nagging subside.  I wonder what might just happen if we were to pray this prayer and then let God turn our mind from its focus on those "signals" toward him for a while.  I bet we might just find those "signals" get shut down in the light of his presence!  Just sayin!

Hey! You there?

There are definitely times in life when we just don't think God is moving fast enough, or maybe even that he is not near enough when we really need him. I don't think this is an uncommon phenomena for believers.  We struggle with "feeling" the closeness of God, not because he isn't here, but because we don't "sense" him the way we anticipated him "acting" or "responding" on our behalf.  We don't think he is moving at the speed we need him to, feeling like the things of life are just encroaching on us at a pace he is not keeping up with.  It is almost like we find ourselves crying out, "Hey!  Are you even listening right now?  It is me!  I am standing in need of some help right now!" We don't "feel" God - so we think he is really not listening or at a minimum, he is not paying close attention.  We sometimes sense this the most when we find ourselves faced by things way outside of our control - even when WE were the ones to get us into the muddle in the first place!  Our prayer in those moments would be more productive if it was stated as, "God, will you please set me straight?  Correct me where I went wrong, and help me get my focus right again."

God, come close. Come quickly!  Open your ears—it’s my voice you’re hearing!  Treat my prayer as sweet incense rising; my raised hands are my evening prayers.  Post a guard at my mouth, God, set a watch at the door of my lips.  Don’t let me so much as dream of evil or thoughtlessly fall into bad company.  And these people who only do wrong—don’t let them lure me with their sweet talk!  May the Just One set me straight, may the Kind One correct me, don’t let sin anoint my head.  I’m praying hard against their evil ways! But God, dear Lord, I only have eyes for you.  Since I’ve run for dear life to you, take good care of me.  (Psalm 141:1-5; 8-9 MSG)

It should come as no surprise to anyone that we often turn to God as the source of the issue rather than seeing the issue as one we might just have created ourselves.  I think there are some things we might just learn about how it is our psalmist turned things around in this prayer to God.  Yes, he begins with the "Hey!  Have you turned a deaf ear to me?" kind of prayer. The psalmist even goes so far as to remind God who it is that is calling out - as though God could forget even one of his creation!  But...in short order, he turns his prayer around to really ask God for what he knows will be his defense in the midst of the battle he is experiencing.  It isn't in "sensing" God, but in reminding God how much he counts on him to provide his protection and watchfulness over his life.  Truth is, we all need to remind ourselves God hasn't abandoned his "post" over our lives - we just don't see him like we expected.

This might not seem like much at first, but our psalmist then turns his prayers around to what it is he sense HE needs in that moment.  I don't think he would have done that if he didn't think God was watching, hearing, and ready to act on his behalf!  So, our psalmist never lost confidence, even when he didn't immediately see evidence, or "sense" the presence of God.  Too many times, we count on the presence of God giving us the "goose-bump" experience, discounting his presence when we don't get that immediate "chill" up our spine.  God doesn't abandon his post - his watchfulness is NOT dependent on our ability to see or sense his presence.  In the military, we learned some things which appear as one thing often are quite another.  This is the purpose of camouflage.  I am not suggesting God camouflages himself, but we cannot expect him to always "appear" or "act" just like he acted before.  He will become what we need, when we experience the need, but it may be a different facet of his character we see with each new situation in which we seek his help.

Our psalmist also gives us some insight into how it is we "stand ready" when we don't see God's immediate intervention into our circumstances.  In the military, we also learned we might just have to respond in a moment's notice, so we did certain things to be "ready" when the call came to respond.  We posted guards to assist in relaying the message of readiness.  Our psalmist asks God to assist him to be ready by posting a guard over his mouth.  Now, at first this may not seem very significant, but think about all the Bible has to say about our words and you might begin to see why he prays this way. When our words are "free-flowing", we often complain way too much, say things we will later regret, commit to things we had no intention of committing to, and just don't know when to quit.  Since our words can open the door to so much "wrong" activity in our lives, I think it is important to ask God to post that guard!  In fact, when we are quiet long enough, we often get a clearer sense of what God is doing and how it is we are to interact with his plans!

The idea of only having eyes for one is also an important part of this prayer. Too many influences make demands on our lives - some of which are just not right for us at all.  The eyes behold much - knowing what is to be responded to and when is often a matter of "seeing" clearly.  I have to wear glasses, something I have needed to do since I was in fifth grade.  Without my glasses, I can see, but the image of what I see is kind of blurred.  I could get by without them, but I would miss out on so much if I did.  I wouldn't dare drive without them, nor do something as dangerous as working with a table saw.  I might just lose more than I bargained for in the process!  Focus is important - something my eyes have an inability to do without the correction of the lenses in my glasses.  The right lenses actually produce a great deal of clarity for me.  Guess what?  The right "focus" in our lives will produce as much clarity, if not more!  Only having eyes for one - God himself - keeps us from being lured into relationship with anything which might take away from our lives in any respect.  Someone once asked me what I was looking for in a husband if I were to remarry again.  It was easy for me to answer - for the primary desire of my heart is for that person to desire God more than he does me!  

We cannot always "sense" God's presence with us, or see him in the midst of our muddle, but we can get some things straight in our own lives which will help us to "stand ready" and not give into the outward pressures coming against us.  When the sense of his presence escapes us, what we most often need is to just what our psalmist prayed.  Just sayin!

Integrity and intensity - the "I" list

Two words come to mind when I think of our "I" List of character traits God would like for us to possess:  Integrity and Intensity.  At first, these two seem to stand alone, but I think you will come to see how they are uniquely interwoven traits which actually compliment each other.  As you can see from our passage below, Paul begins with "Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it."  Now, consider our two traits - he asks for us to have some intensity (fervor) in how we love (from the center of who we are), but he also expects us to have integrity in our love as he asks us to be real in our love (don't fake it).  They are indeed integral to each other.  

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.   Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder.  (Romans 12:9-12 MSG)

At first, we may only think of integrity as honesty - some adherence to a moral code within.  I believe there is a little more to integrity than meets the eye.  In the most literal sense, integrity is a state of wholeness - speaking to the "entirety" of something.  When Paul asks us to love this way, he is asking us to make our expression (action) of love complete - thorough, lacking nothing, completely undiminished in any way.  It also carries the idea of being unimpaired - nothing stands in its way of expression.  

We may think of intensity as something which burns hot - has some gusto to it.  You wouldn't be far off if you went with this definition, but there is just a little more I think we need to see.  It is a focusing of energies - so what is produced is more powerful than when energies are unfocused.  It includes the idea of height and depth - for something with intensity is sharpest when it is focused.  For example, take a regular light bulb and put it in a lamp.  The light gives a glow to the room.  Now, put a spotlight bulb in the same socket and what happens?  There is light for the whole room, but the intensity of light is in the direct line of the "focused" light of the bulb.  What makes the bulbs different?  They add a "mirror" effect to the spotlight bulb to get the light to focus in a direct path.  So, for our purposes today, begin to think of intensity as being focused, intent, and directed.

As we glimpse the instructions Paul lays out for us, we can begin to see how each of these must have both character traits in order to be fully met. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good.  He reminds us of the importance of focus - running from evil, turning toward what is good.  He also reminds of the integrity we must maintain in doing this - it is as though our entire life depended upon this action.  Indeed it does - for what we run toward determines the outcome of our pursuit; how we run toward it determines how quickly we will attain our pursuit.  Are you getting how these two traits are related?  

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame.  This is probably the hardest part of this passage.  We all burn out at some time or another, in one pursuit or another.  Why?  Well, maybe the pursuit was not right for us at the time - we were simply running after, focusing our energies toward, without thought of whether it was the right thing for us, the right timing, or with the right intent.  When we do this, we find ourselves kind of running on a hamster wheel - just spinning and spinning, but not really getting anywhere.  There is nothing more exhausting than just spinning your wheels.  So, how do we avoid burn-out?  In the first place, burn-out is never God's fault - it is ours.  We didn't keep the right focus.  So, being vigilant to consistently evaluate our focus is paramount to avoiding burn-out.  When a pilot is going from point A to point B, his eyes are on the gauges - not just the wings of the plane.  He could focus intently on the wings, but it he never notices he is nearly out of fuel, he will find those wings do him little good as he is plummeting toward earth!  The gauges show him his air speed, the fuel remaining, the altitude he maintains, etc.  We have some similar "gauges" in our lives we'd do well to watch with diligence!

What gauges do we have?  There are all kinds, but here are just a few.  We have the gauge of our time - what are we giving our time toward?  Most of us "spend" our time - God's method of operating is to "give" our time.  We have the gauge of our emotions - when we find ourselves getting a little frazzled or fraying around the edges, it may just be time to pull back a little.  We have the gauge of our inner spirit - giving us a little "check" here and there to remind us our "prayer" gauge is a little low.  We need to make connection with the one who refuels us - so when our prayer gauge sends off a warning light, we likely need to get connected again!  These are just some examples of what we have been given as gauges.  You will likely think of others.  Let God show you those which often "scream" their warnings in your life the loudest.  When you identify them, begin to see how they relate to your focus and your intent.  Remember the light bulb?  They both serve the purpose of casting light into the room.  Each has an effect - but only one does it with intensity.  The gauges can help us to focus so our intensity allows for a brilliant display of God's light from within.  Just sayin!

You ready for the first step?

There is a posture to worship we often do not consider, but as the holiday season is fast upon us, I'd like us to take a moment or two to just stop and reflect on the purpose and position of worship.  The psalms are great "stopping spots" for discovering words of encouragement, utterances of praise, and moments to just "rest" in adoration of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  This morning, let's consider the words of Psalm 95.  It begins with "Come, let’s shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us!
Let’s march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns!"  Then it goes on to proclaim the "why" of worship.  It is always good to know the "why" behind our actions, isn't it?  

So come, let us worship: bow before him, on your knees before God, who made us!  Oh yes, he’s our God, and we’re the people he pastures, the flock he feeds.  (Psalm 95:6-7 MSG)  

The why?  "Because God is the best..." (vs. 3)  Jehovah, the unchanging one, is the best!  The one true God, creator of all things, the one who holds all things in the palm of his hand, and by whom all things are held together - he is the BEST.  When our psalmist uses this word, I think he means the most desirable!  There is nothing and no one else which can satisfy our deepest longings like he can.  As a matter of fact, no one knows our deepest longings quite like he does!  

The how?  We "come", "bow down", assuming a humble posture, "on our knees" before him.  Now, "posture" tells us much about a man's heart and mind condition, does it not?  Ever encounter someone in the throws of depression?  What is their "posture" like?  Head down, shoulders slumped, every movement seemingly a great effort, shuffling gait - not to mention the posture of their facial expressions and the lack of clarity in their eyes!  These are "tell-tale" signs - posture.  On the other hand, come across the one who has just come from a deep, intimate experience with God and you will see an entirely different posture.  Head high, joyful steps, exuberance in actions, and facial expressions reflecting the presence of the Almighty.  

In assuming a "posture" of worship, the first step is to just show up!  David says, "So come".  The first step out of our "funk" is often the hardest, but it is in "showing up" that we are in a position of having the weight of this world lifted from our already too burdened hearts!  Sometimes the hardest step is the most needed step!  David would not tell us to "come" if there was not a pull to "stay away".  It is only in approaching God's presence that healing can begin.  Distance is our adversary.  Closeness is our salvation.  Just sayin!

David does not leave us there - in fact, he tells us to "bow down".  First, we show up - we take steps toward God - then we remove the masks.  When we bow down, isn't this what we are doing?  There is an old word we seldom use anymore, but it speaks volumes - "prostate".  It means to "lay flat" - in other words, we are to put down the things we hide behind and get real with God.  This is where we get the term to "humble oneself".  It is a position of being stripped down and bare.  In the presence of a doctor, you remove your clothes in order to be examined, don't you?  In the presence of your God, should you expect any less?  It may not be a literal removal of clothing, but I believe God expects us to "get real" with him in worship.

The result?  We are fed!  As the sheep of his pasture, our needs are attended to in worship.  We follow, he leads.  We take in what he provides, leaving all other sources of "fulfillment" behind.  Worship is first and foremost about God.  What we bring to him is nothing more than ourselves.  As scarred, beaten up, and wounded as we are.  Yet, in this honest presentation of ourselves before him, in honor of his position as the one who holds all things in the palm of his hand (including us), we bow down.  In submissive honesty, we get real with God - he connecting with each beat of our heart and feeling each breath of our nostrils.  Sweetly caressed in his presence, it is only natural for the "creation" to begin to raise the voice in praise to the "Creator".  

Maybe we just need a good dose of worship during these days preceding Christmas celebrations.  God calls us to "come" - are you willing to take the first step?

Joy in the following

¹ Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.
 ² Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.
 ³ They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.
 ⁴ You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully.
 ⁵ Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!
 ⁶ Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.
 ⁷ As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!
 ⁸ I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!

(Psalm 119:1-8)

A man or woman of integrity follows hard after the commands of God - searches with all their heart and obeys with a willing submission.  To follow implies that we look toward a leader.  One who follows has the vantage point of seeing the one who has set the course before them.  The follower falls into step with the leader and anticipates every movement of that leader.  For this reason, it is important to have the correct leader before us.  

Searching really describes the anticipation of satisfaction - we move toward something because we believe the attainment of that goal will meet a need or satisfy a craving.  A man or woman of integrity follows with an intensity in their search - there is no half-hearted pursuit here, but a full-on eagerness that is spurred on by renewed expectation.  In the pursuit of God, there is a laying down of what we feel is our right in order to fall into step with God.

Look at the list of character traits that David describes about the man or woman of integrity - no compromise with evil, stays on course, carefully obeys God's commands.  There is no settling for the first thing that presents itself - instead, there is a desire to wait for God's timing and his purpose.  In fact, there is also a desire to live by the standards outlined by God as our leader - not desiring to change the standards to fit the moment.  When we have a reliable guide (leader), it is easier to stay on course.

In turn, the man or woman of integrity reflects the one they are following.  This is a principle of leadership - those that follow somehow reflect the character of the one they are following.  This is because the follower is continually comparing his/her life with the standard of the leader and then adjusting to meet that standard.  We reflect what we most often behold.  The outcome is that we become examples of Christ on this earth.  When there is obedience to principles that are "sure", peace is produced.  Principles that are consistent and trustworthy are easy to follow - there is a certainty in them that makes the next step we take reliable.

Three things I leave you with today:

1. Integrity is to be desired - comes by following hard.  We have to stay on course and keep the right standard before us.  If we live with a sense of careful focus in our lives, we are able to avoid compromise and will reap the fruit of thankfulness and peace.
2. Intensity is suggested as the means of attaining this peace.  It is hard work to follow Jesus.  We have to pay attention - and that is hard.  We will never be aware of evil, of opportunity to compromise the standard held out before us, if we are not attentive to the one leading.
3. Intimacy is promised to those who walk in integrity.  When we are aware of the one leading, open to his leading, the outcome should be that we live right.  In turn, we learn to "relate" to those around us in a manner that always honors.  Our heart needs will be met, as well as those we relate to.

Happy is the man...