Safe

There once was a safe and the contents inside were riddled with dust and debris.

The girl of whom these contents belonged kept them there for no one to see.

The combination of this safe was only known by one other, the  Heart Warrior was He.

Being kind and gentle-hearted, He always asked the girl’s permission, despite His authority.

She would place things inside when she feared they might be crushed, trampled, or destroyed.

She feared disapproval if she let Him inside;  she was just paranoid.

The world had hurt this delicate girl with cold, brutal lies and dastardly stings.

He  wished to be allowed inside so that He could take care of her hidden things.

She did let Him in, one warm August morn’, setting her free from condemnation and shame.

He came inside and those contents within were now safe with Him and He took on the blame.

She grew to trust the Heart Warrior more and grabbed His hand, showing Him things she had buried to hide.

Those graves that she uncovered revealed secrets never before told, she felt safe as He stood by her side.

The Overachiever

Have you ever heard someone use the term “overachiever” to describe someone in a derogatory way? This needs to be remedied because the connotation of overachievement should not be negative.

1 Overachieve v.– To perform better or achieve more success than expected.

Overachievement is simply raising the standards. Achieving more than and performing better than average or expected. Christians should aim to be called overachievers. Why?

1. Mediocrity and complacency does nothing for the kingdom.

The lukewarm ones are spit out of God’s mouth.

Revelations 3:16- So then because thou art lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

2. Lowering standards does not benefit anyone and is not Biblical.

God wants us to have life and have it abundantly!

3. Those that put others down for “being an overachiever” are most likely insecure about not achieving.

See Colossians 3:17

1 The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Peace in Him

Too much noise

Too much noise

The music blaring

The voices raised

The tones shrilling

The tension thick

All this noise just makes me sick!

I just want peace

I just want calm

Will it cease?

I’m held in His palm

He lifts me up

Above the storm

I cling to Him

He is the norm

I bury my face in His strong arm

When I’m with Him there is no harm

When the tumult and chaos seem to win

I know that I can find peace in Him

Challenge

Hello there heartwarriors! I challenge you this week to read the book of 1 John with me.

When Dreams Shatter

Dreams can seem like mirrors at times.

You see yourself in them.

They are fragile.

Dreams can shatter.

The important thing to remember is that you are not your dream.

Wouldn’t it be ridiculous if everytime a mirror shattered a person shattered with it?

Dreams like mirrors can be pieced back together.

The dream may not look the same, but don’t just trash it all together.

Give Him all the pieces of your dreams, your heart, and your life.

photo courtesy of http://bronwynm.co.za

Fear

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond
measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves,
who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented, and fabulous? Actually,
who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve
the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t
feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within
us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated
from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
– Marianne Williamson

Courage is not without fear; it is the conquering of that fear.

Success cannot be known without risking failure, but it is never achieved if fear is allowed to prevail.

Failure

Is a failure the one that fails?

In a sense… Yes.

A failure is one that fails, but only if they allow that failure to define them and don’t overcome it.

Those that persevere and don’t give up will see their wildest dreams imagined.

Perserverance

No one ever gained anything by giving up.

Keep going.

FINISH!

Fire

Burns

        Purifies

Cleanses                                                Glows

Welds                                     Melts

Refines                                        Reduces

Destroys

Consumes                    Grows                                     Prepares

Lying condoned?

Lying Rambo Bear

NOTE: Click the blue links to read the scriptures

It is no surprise that such things as dishonesty, trickery, and half-truths can be found in our fallen world. The question is not whether lying is present. It is clear that the answer to that is an obvious “YES!”

I guess the question is “When is lying acceptable?”

Read the question below and choose the best answer:

Lying is acceptable…

A. when the situation involves reputation.

B. when the circumstance requires concealment.

C. when the individual desires advancement.

D. when protecting another from imminent danger.

E. never.

The best answer might come as a surprise; the only time lying is acceptable unto God is never!

There have been many people who justify lying because of the story of Rahab. If one looks to the New Testament and sees the depiction of Rahab in Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25, there is no praise of her lying mentioned. The reason she is commended is because of her obedience, faith, and repentance from a life of sin. She is recognized for her faith and her service to God through obedience; her action of lying is not condoned.

Rahab was a pagan prostitute and the theme seen is not that lying is condoned, but rather that obedience and faith are honorable and remain honorable regardless of one’s sinful, defective character.

Lying is not simply saying something that isn’t true; it is also making a situation or circumstance appear a certain way. Actors and those in theatre know this best. They are very good at twisting and manipulating a circumstance so as to make it appear a certain way to the audience. The only problem is that when it comes to a person’s daily life, it is not justified to do the same.

Twisting a situation, or telling a story that never happened, just won’t cut it with God. I know of individuals who will tell a story to another that never occurred in order that the message they are trying to convey will be delivered so that the recipient will be able to relate.

It is easier to lie than tell the truth. Take for example, Tucker who told a false testimony to a body of believers in order for them to be able to feel like they could connect. Fabricating a history of participating in underage-drinking and wild parties, Tucker reached his goal of convincing his audience that he has, indubitably, been changed by Christ. The problem is that Tucker never did any of those things and simply said that he did in order to spruce up his otherwise uneventful testimony.

The ends do not justify the means. Lying is not condoned by God.

Exodus 20:16; Leviticus 19:11; Proverbs 6: 16-19; Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9; Revelations 21:8

We lie to present ourselves in ways that give off a desired appearance. Whether we want to appear wise, diligent, transparent, smart, trustworthy or appear to posses any other trait, lying is not going to help.

You can seemingly be the most hard-working, diligent, trustworthy, smart, transparent, good-hearted person alive, but if it isn’t based on Truth, the false traits will be exposed and the real character will be unearthed. Even if no one on planet Earth will ever know, God does.

Lies can be so rehearsed and incorporated into our daily lives that they almost seem like truth, deceiving ourselves.

Repenting of lying is one of the hardest things to do because it requires the fear of God to be greater than the fear of man. It requires one to be abased and admit that the lying is indeed sin. Repenting of lying involves making a conscious effort to stop dishonesty, falsehood, and half-truths, replacing such things with Truth and integrity.

If you’re caught in a circumstance where lying’s involved, I challenge you to write down the truth and write down the lie. Write down the lies and concealed things and make it your goal to speak the truth, no matter how hard it may be.

Doing the right thing is painful, but worth it. Don’t believe me? Christ died a painful death on the cross. His obedience to God was the right thing. Christ did not suffer without reward; He has the name above all names, is king above all kings, and it is by HIS NAME that all are saved. No matter how things appear, doing the right thing has the greatest reward. Tell the truth, be honest, and choose God over man and the things of this world.