There is a beautiful quote by Marcus Arelius that says, “To offend a strong man, tell him a lie. To offend a weak man, tell him the truth.”
So many people in this world are okay with less than truth. They can be inundated with lies and never be distracted. They can receive half truths and simply run with it and retell the story. And when truth actually confronts them, it is like a slap in the face, and they become offended.
As this becomes more and more prevalent in our modern society, you can watch a whole culture become divided and polarized, as fallacy makes a home like locusts and devours the innocent, while truth reigns in the hearts of a few, and a great chasm opens between them.
May we all examine our hearts today and determine which side of the canyon we belong.
For weak men will rise to power when weaker men rebel against truth and seek their own desires, demanding falsehood as the accepted edicts.
How you respond when you hear the truth exposes your strength of character. How you retell a lie displays to the world the depth of who you are. Even how you respond to this quote can determine your success or failure.
Strong men will be relegated to the haunted ghosts of yesterday as the masses embrace falsehoods as their standard.
But wisdom cries out to be heard. Truth never changes simply because someone silences it.
Rest assured, Truth will reign in the afterlife, and all will weep who did not heed the call.
Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet. She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors: “To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you fools, be of an understanding heart. Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips willcome right things; For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.
Sometimes, we step into the dark; so, we can find our way into the light. It’s not that the dark was where we wanted to be; yet, because of the dark, the light was easier to see. And the light was more welcoming when we saw that we were surrounded by the dark.
When we’ve emerged from the dark, often we find a new person has come forth as well. The old is gone; sometimes, never to be seen again. And a new awareness, a fresh vision, and a whole different perspective has been born.
Not because we planned it this way, but when you’ve gone into the deep and survived, it changes you. You discover who you really are and who you are not.
And you realize who He is, and how much He loves you. You acknowledge how much you need Him and how with Him, you’ll never again be alone.
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
If we are to call ourselves Christians, then we automatically have to be becoming something that in the past, we were not. If we aren’t, then why claim to be a Christian?
Anything you read about Christ will show you that He constantly brought the questions of change to the heart and mind of everyone He met. It don’t matter if it was the woman at the well or the blind man on the roadside. He didn’t encounter people to help them remain the way they came.
So, why would we ever placate to those who want to proclaim Christianity; yet, they demand to remain in their sin? Why would we accept the pressure of rewriting Scripture to help someone feel better about their sinful lifestyle? Why would we try to stretch theology like a pretzel to create a narrative that is too far away from Truth simply to show someone we “love” him or her because otherwise our disagreement is received as hate speech?
My following of Christ created within me a desire to seek His Truth and to become more like Him, not more like myself or this world. If I desire to remain the same or to be more like this world, then, why don’t I just do it? Why would I ever demand someone else to change their belief system to accommodate mine?
If we want to be more Christlike, then, let’s do just that. If we want to be more like the world, then there is no one, including God making us to do otherwise. (He never makes us serve Him, change for Him, or live for Him. He only invites us to because His ways are better.)
So, if we are to claim ourselves to be Christians, then let us live as one. One described by Christ Himself and those who followed Him and who wrote about Him…
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
1 John 2:3-6
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Then, they want to rage when you speak anything other than with what they agree…
As believers in Christ:
Let us never remain silent when a life is at stake.
Let us never speak quietly among friends when the person in danger cannot hear our warning.
Let us never turn a blind eye when a child of innocence is in peril.
Let us never nod and turn our back to the helpless being attacked.
May we stand firm for Truth.
May we stand tall for Integrity.
May we stand solid in convictions.
May we stand unwavering in the face of persecution.
Our fight for Truth, freedom, and the preservation of everything good may not always be popular.
But let us never give in, never give up and never walk away from the fight of faith to which He has called us.
Lives are on the line and precious souls can be lost when we do.
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
I watched this trailer today, coupled with this new song titled, “I Will.” It’s so moving and truthfully, convicting, and began a series of questions within my heart and mind…
Often as Christians, we sing songs like this with bold, declarative statements of Christiansese: “I will,” “I surrender all,” “Tear Off the Roof (to get to You),” and “Champion;” yet, I then see the conflicts within the Christian culture, and I wonder are we really ready to give our all? Are we truly at the place where we’d do all it takes to be in His presence and to share the gospel to save a life, even if it cost us our own?
If I’m honest, I’ve struggled with this question numerous times; so, I’m not pointing the finger as if I’m ready and you’re not. But that doesn’t void the validity of the question. My personal struggle and prayer that I’d be ready doesn’t nullify the urgency that we all should be searching our hearts for this answer.
There will come a day soon when the liberties we now enjoy may not be so welcomed. There will come a day, maybe not as far off as we might think, that grabbing a Bible, going to church, or freely sharing the gospel with someone on the street corner might not be overlooked by those who can arrest us, charge us, and take our very lives.
And we need to be prepared NOW for that probability. We need to be searching our hearts NOW. We need to be allowing God to refine us of the self preservation in which we live and drawing us closer to Him to become the soldiers of the cross whom we claim to be in this present day, rather than live under the pretenses that we might be that person.
If we don’t prepare now, we will never become tomorrow what we aren’t becoming today.
So, let me end with these heart checks. It’s not for me to know, but I’d love to know maybe you struggle with these honest questions, too.
Yet, if for nothing more, my prayer is these questions will awaken your soul to any slothfulness that might hiding in the recesses of your heart. My prayer is these might cause us all to do a deep heart evaluation and “report for duty,” if you will, to a King who is coming to take His children home and Who has commissioned us to win the lost because He desires to take more than just you and me…
When’s the last time you invited someone to your church? And they came?
When’s the last time you shared your faith with someone who doesn’t know Him?
When’s the last time you prayed the “sinner’s prayer” with someone and watched God transform their life?
When’s the last time you discipled a new convert? And stuck with him/her through the highs and lows of their faith)?
When’s the last time you saw someone veer from the Truth, and you confronted them with that truth?
When’s the last time you saw someone living in sin, and you confronted them of the wrong and the dangers of it to help them see the Truth?
…and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:47
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added tothem. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
What brings you joy? I’m not talking about the happy go lucky, goofy smile you plaster on while your heart is shattered. I’m not talking about the stoic half grin you portray as darkness closes in. I’m talking about the deep down, overwhelming joy that overflows into that guttural laugh that can’t be quenched. I’m talking about the pure “spring in your step” that only gets lighter when the rain begins to fall.
That kind of joy is everlasting. That kind of joy isn’t man made. That kind of joy can’t come from any other source but in the depths of your soul where faith is born. That kind of joy can only come from the One who created you, loves you, died for you and longs to redeem you and take you to eternity one day. That kind of joy is worth everything you’ve got.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Creating an emergency preparedness plan will be determined by which emergency it might be.
Is it flood, fire, water spout? Is it earthquake, tornado, or tsunami?
If you’re rising high to avoid the flood plains, the tornado is going to call your name. If you’re digging under to avoid the quake, the tsunami might find its way through the tunnel. If spreading waves to avoid the flames, the water spout might feel too comfortable to join.
Emergency Preparedness Plans must be in tact for all disasters; yet, one plan is often over looked and forgotten.
What about your heart? Does your heart have an emergency preparedness plan?
This one isn’t really complicated. It doesn’t take a lot of time nor do you have to buy a thing.
Just have a little talk with Jesus. Tell Him all about your troubles. Repent of your sins, and believe.
That’s it. It’s that easy.
And you’ll be prepared for life.
You’ll be ready for anything they might come!
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?
I suppose I work to not have to unplug, as I set up disciplines ahead of time to keep that from happening. Now, I’m certainly not perfect, and there have been many times that I’ve had to purposefully unplug from electronics because it all just got too much. But those particular times taught me so much and have helped me to develop routines that shield me better from having to “make myself unplug.”
The disciplines that help me to live a life of unplugging would be not letting that so I’ll media, texting or internet browsing be the first thing I grab ahold of in the mornings or the last thing I am consumed with before I sleep. I’d like to say that about the phone itself, but the only reason I do have it in hand at these times is I’m opening up my Bible app to read Scriptures to begin and end my day with the right frame of mind.
No matter if you consider yourself “a religious person” or not, reading Scripture can bring encouragement, strength, clarity and peace. Making a habit of reading Scripture brings these things into your heart and mind on a consistent basis, and as you repeat this over and over, it becomes part of your lifestyle. A lifestyle of reading Scriptures can surely change you from the inside out.
Now, let me give just a bit of clarity here. Some read scriptures, and you never really see a change in the way they talk or the way they live. And this would be because they never apply what they read to their lives. That’s no different than if you’re learning the English language by reading a textbook, and you never take what you’re reading and apply it to your language. This is what I call having head knowledge but no heart knowledge.
However, if you’ll read those scriptures and apply them, you’ll be amazed at what a transformed human you can become! When you let those Scriptures permeate the depths of your heart, and you begin to live out what you’re reading, you’ll not only be the one impacted, but those around you will also begin seeing a difference, and you’ll have the opportunity to help them change as well.
Another key discipline for my life of being unplugged is “being present where you are.” Too many people live their lives missing what is right there in front of them because they are constantly looking toward their tomorrows or always dwelling on their past. You’ll miss the beautiful people and endless possibilities if you don’t live presently where you are. I love the quote, “Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliott. I don’t know anything about that man, but he his statement hold so much truth.
And this doesn’t mean you never assess your past or plan for your future. These things are important and a must if you are to go forward in life. But if you’re not present in today, you can very well miss the healing of a past wouldn’t, neglect to see a promise for tomorrow, and become blind to the beautiful miracles of relationships traveling along either you.
I have several key disciplines, but I’ll only choose three today to save boredom of a too lengthy post… so, the last discipline world be to be intentional in whatever I’m doing or wherever I’m going or with whomever I’m with. I can defiantly attest that I’ve not mastered this nor even achieved it well from time to time. However, I am intentionally engaging everyday to get better at it. When I’m with someone, I try to be intentional with what I say, how I act, why I respond a certain way. When I’m carrying out a task I work hard to be intentional in its completion not just to finish it but to complete it with a spirit of excellence. And when I’m out in nature, taking a drive, or simply walking down the hall to another coworkers’ office, I attempt to be more intentional than I was “the last time.”
I don’t want to look at a waterfall the same way I have every time and risk the chance of growing bored with my awesome Creator’s creation. I don’t want to drive along some of the same backroads and grow apathetic to the beauty that surrounds me simply because “I’ve been there before.” And I never ever want to take for granted someone who has been in my life for a day or a decade because after all, we’re none guaranteed the next breath, and everyone has value, and I want me last effect to be an admirable, memorable one.
And when I’ve failed at these disciplines, and I’ve blogged too long, typed too long on social media with old and new friends, or simply scrolled the internet too long with mind numbing scrolling powers, I shake my head, repent of my apathy, and out that electronic device. I step outside into the bright sunshine and go find a more productive way to spend my hours.
I encourage anyone who might be reading this to do the same. Set the electronics aside, step outside and breathe the fresh air. Do what my husband and I call, “getting off the pavement”: go somewhere where there’s trees, waterfalls, dessert valleys, rolling hills, the ocean tide, or majestic mountains. Move beyond your day to day routines and experience something more. Grab that hand of someone you love and look deep into their eyes and remember why you fell in love the first time. Wrap your arms around your child, grandchild or even a parent or grandparent, and remind them of your love and your desire to be present in their todays and their tomorrows.
You’ll be so thankful that you did!
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
My journey didn’t stop with mere time travel or writing; it led me to become one of the most sought-after empaths, a soulful psychic who reads the hidden depths of the human spirit. I’ve been blessed—or perhaps burdened—with an ability that allows me to feel the emotions of people from every corner of time.
I am a licensed psychologist based in Greece. My love for housekeeping has inspired me to create this blog about home management and family relationships. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!
Dedicated to movie nerdom, nostalgia, and escape. In the late 90s, I worked at Blockbuster Video where they let me take home two free movies a day. I caught up on the classics and reviewed theatrical releases for Denver 'burbs newspapers and magazines. Today, while raising two young, beautiful daughters with my amazing wife, I look forward to anything rated R and not Bluey. Comments and dialogue encouraged!
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