97% Truthful

A little bending of the truth here and a little hiding of there isn't wrong, is it? A few little white lies here and some complete fabrications there won't hurt anyone will they? It's so sad to realize that honesty, integrity, truthfulness and accuracy of facts are not very common. We not only live in a culture where lying and dishonesty take place, but where it's encouraged and seen as being right to do when necessary, especially to protect self. If only we'd take heed to Proverbs 19:5 which says, "A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape." As I meditate on this warning, why would I let anything that's not 100% truth come out of my mouth? Great question! Sometimes lying, deceiving and not being completely truthful can get us out of a jam, eliminate consequences or sway someone to take your side in some matter, but is it really worth it? I'm a firm believer in the truth. The truth will always win out. When lying and falsehood are part of who you are, at times it can be difficult to separate the truth from lies or reality from make believe. Living life above board where truth, accuracy and honesty are the norm, will bring a liberty and freedom that some only dream of having. The challenge for today is to be completely honest in everything you say and do. No lies, exaggerations, deception, hiding some of the truth, falsehood, or misleadings. I know this may seem like a challenge, but allow verses like Proverbs 19:5 stir us to live this way :)

Walking Through Challenges

Life has its challenges. Life can sometimes throw you curveballs that were unforeseen and not planned for. Unfortunately too many give up, or at least contemplate giving up. Challenges are just as much a part of life as are victories. Life will always contain both victories and challenges. But as we know, it's easy to walk through a victory, yet walking through a challenge may require more from us. Perhaps your challenge involves a relationship, finances, job, family or something else. Regardless, it can sometimes take everything we have just to make it through the day. One thing I've found is that whatever my challenge, God's with me as I go through it. He leads me, guides me, strengthens me, uplifts me, encourages me and sometimes even carries me. My focus must be on Him as I walk it out. I may not have answers or solutions, but He does. Your challenge may be much bigger than you, but it's never too big for God. In times of challenge will you trust Him and follow His leading? Letting someone else take the lead through a challenge takes a lot, but if we'd only see His love for us as we walk through our challenge. His love for us is immense and powerful. I can't help but be encouraged by the promises found in Psalm 34:6-7, "This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them." As I walk through challenges in life, I can do it with confidence knowing that God is with me :)
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Who Are You In Private?

A quote we often hear goes along the lines of, "Who you are in private is the real you." I believe this couldn't be more true. We can be easily fooled into thinking who someone is in public is how they are all the time. I think everyone would agree that people can be very different in private, when noone else is around, than the person they are in front of others. As I think about this I can't help but ask the question, "Why?" Some of the most incredible people I know are the same person, whether surrounded by others, a few, or even noone. But this can be such a challenge. I think not wanting others to see who we really are is a big part of the problem. We can be afraid of what they'll think, say or see. The best example I have to follow with this is that of Jesus. He wasn't two different people depending on who was around Him. Whether it was a multitude, a solitary person, or noone, He was consistent. He didn't need the approval of others, His goal was to please His Father. It allowed who He really was to always be who was seen. Today, when noone else is around or looking, will I be the same person as if I'm surrounded by others? That's my goal :)

The Fear of Human Opinions Disables...

Criticism is everywhere and will always be. Sometimes criticism can be helpful, but too often it's not. I've come to the conclusion that people are going to criticize you when you do the right thing and people will criticize you when you don't. So that puts us in a difficult spot, right? I don't think so. One of the most liberating things I've learned is that when I do things, my focus shouldn't be to please people. The Message Bible says it perfectly in Proverbs 29:25, "The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. If the fear of human opinion is my focus, I'll always be fighting a losing battle. But when pleasing the Lord becomes my focus, and not people, I've found I have great liberty and satisfaction. Even though people will continue to criticize me when I make choices that are right, it really doesn't bother me anymore. If what I'm doing clearly lines up with the Bible then I'm good with that. There are many people who do the right thing and are then criticized for it, but they'll tell you that they'd do it all over again because it was the right thing to do. I see many examples of people in the Bible who made choices that were right, even though publicly unpopular, because they knew who they were aiming to please. Can you imagine if people did this? Decisions not being based on the popular opinion or fear of man, but on what was obedient to the Bible and pleasing to the Lord. Today you may have some difficult decisions or choices to make. Let them be based on the Bible and move forward, regardless of what others may think or the criticism you'll recieve. Don't forget, people are going to criticize you regardless. As Seth Godin said, "Criticism will come to those who stand out."

Keeping the Main Things the Main Things

Have you ever noticed how easy it can be to focus on things that shouldn't be your main focus? Busyness, pressure and stress is everywhere. The pulls, demands and expectations of life can be overwhelming at times. But when you really think about it, what are the main things that should have our focus? The Bible gives us a very clear answer in Mark 12:30-31, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these."If this is the main thing according to the Bible, then it's my responsibility to make it the main thing in my life. Loving God and loving people! I like the ring to it. Now I can take my list of 101 very important priorities and focus on these two. I love simplicity and these verses help me to make life simple. Loving God and loving people allows me to evaluate where I put my time, money, virtue and everything else. You may ask me, "Lee, what are your priorities?" And my answer is simple, "To love God and to love people." :)

We've Got It All Wrong...

The motto of our culture is "Take care of yourself." We're encouraged to make every decision based on how it will affect or benefit self. How we look, act, what we say and what we have can always have a self-focus. But when this mindset is compared to the Bible, there's a stark contradiction. John 3:30 lays it out pretty plain and simple, leaving no room for ambiguity or gray areas when it says, "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." It's too easy to forget sometimes that life isn't about us becoming greater and greater. No, it's quite the contrary. It's about us becoming less and less and allowing Jesus to become more and more. This passage can be applied to any area of life, if we'll let it. Realize that today isn't about you! (I'm preaching to the choir now)! In my life today I'm going to make sure that it's not about me, but is all about Him :)

Relationship Not Religion

Something I find myself talking with people about on a regular basis is the difference between religion and Christianity. I find that many people don't realize that they are very different. When they find out I'm a pastor, they often begin seeing me as religious, which couldn't be farther from the truth. Carl Lentz, a pastor in New York City says it well when he says, "Religion is something you do because you have to. Relationship is something you choose to do because you want to." Christianity is about having a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. I don't do it because I have to or am being forced to. I choose to have a relationship with Him because I desire to and choose to. Religion is often about lots of do and don'ts. Relationship is all about love. When I chose to serve Jesus in 1989, I didn't join a religion or become religious, I chose to become a follower of Jesus Christ and begin a personal relationship with Him. From that day I haven't looked back...Jesus is my best friend and wouldn't change it for the world.