Gradyman
12-01-2006, 08:34 AM
Preface to new readers:
I was thinking the other day that a place of "refreshing" could be posted so that in your own place, wherever you are in life, you could perhaps gain some insight...if these words speak life to you then great...if not so be it, no problem. I'm not looking to debate or "clean you up", that's not my job or my intentions here. I just figure that I have a relationship with God, "a good medicine", that has brought me peace, restoration & helped me through some very difficult times in my life...times that many people have never "survived". I'm more then willing to share my testimony with any of you one on one in the privacy of a phone call...
800-466-5933 is my toll free number at my office.
This board & the people on it have become a special place for me, because of many reasons...hence I care and want to share...be blessed.
One element of human behavior & Christian character that the church and watching world hunger for are Christians with true integrity. Integrity is the “place” one lives from. Integrity is about living from the inside out, instead of the outside in. Living from the inside out is as Jesus said, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matt. 15:11) In the verses preceding that Jesus says to the religious people of the day “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you saying” These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me…” Integrity is a matter of the heart and the question is who or what has our heart? Increasing our level of integrity has everything to do with how God really sees us & our relationship with Him…there is nothing hid from His sight, including the thoughts and intents of our heart. Remember God is good and God is love, He wants the best for us; He’s not looming over us like “big brother, eye in the sky” waiting to pounce on us with punishment. As Christians He sees us, all our weaknesses & strengths, through the atoning death of Jesus Christ. As we possess a repentant heart it’s His atoning death and the power of the Holy Spirit that bring about growth in our personal integrity & character. We must possess a heart like King David in Psalm 139 when he said “Search me O God, and know my heart…see if there is any wicked ways in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”. That atoning death, that “graces to grow”, empowers us to become new men, it is not a license to remain lazy or weak or immoral. Grace is the vehicle that empowers us to receive Gods correction, carry out His instruction and build integrity. Think about the decisions we make when “no one” is watching, when there’s no fear of being caught, when the “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” mentality surrounds us. What comes out of our heart in word & deed? We as Christians must decide to commit to do what pleases God in every area of our life, no matter how small the issue. In that commitment of our will to align with His we find Him waiting to encourage and lead as a Father would His child. He is ready to give us all we need to be more like His Son who is complete in every way. Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines integrity as “firm adherence to a code of …values…an unimpaired condition, the quality or state of being completed or undivided.” A person who “sells” his integrity discards the unifying principle of his life and becomes a person in the process of disintegration. Some years ago a professor at Vanderbilt University taught the importance of integrity even in the “little things”. Madison Serratt, a teacher in mathematics, customarily gave a little speech before every exam…”Today I am giving two exams; one in trigonometry and the other in honesty. I hope you will pass them both. If you must fail one, fail trigonometry. There are many good people in the world who can’t pass trig, but there are no good people in the world who can not pass honesty". Let’s start living from the inside out! Have a great week.
I was thinking the other day that a place of "refreshing" could be posted so that in your own place, wherever you are in life, you could perhaps gain some insight...if these words speak life to you then great...if not so be it, no problem. I'm not looking to debate or "clean you up", that's not my job or my intentions here. I just figure that I have a relationship with God, "a good medicine", that has brought me peace, restoration & helped me through some very difficult times in my life...times that many people have never "survived". I'm more then willing to share my testimony with any of you one on one in the privacy of a phone call...
800-466-5933 is my toll free number at my office.
This board & the people on it have become a special place for me, because of many reasons...hence I care and want to share...be blessed.
One element of human behavior & Christian character that the church and watching world hunger for are Christians with true integrity. Integrity is the “place” one lives from. Integrity is about living from the inside out, instead of the outside in. Living from the inside out is as Jesus said, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matt. 15:11) In the verses preceding that Jesus says to the religious people of the day “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you saying” These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me…” Integrity is a matter of the heart and the question is who or what has our heart? Increasing our level of integrity has everything to do with how God really sees us & our relationship with Him…there is nothing hid from His sight, including the thoughts and intents of our heart. Remember God is good and God is love, He wants the best for us; He’s not looming over us like “big brother, eye in the sky” waiting to pounce on us with punishment. As Christians He sees us, all our weaknesses & strengths, through the atoning death of Jesus Christ. As we possess a repentant heart it’s His atoning death and the power of the Holy Spirit that bring about growth in our personal integrity & character. We must possess a heart like King David in Psalm 139 when he said “Search me O God, and know my heart…see if there is any wicked ways in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”. That atoning death, that “graces to grow”, empowers us to become new men, it is not a license to remain lazy or weak or immoral. Grace is the vehicle that empowers us to receive Gods correction, carry out His instruction and build integrity. Think about the decisions we make when “no one” is watching, when there’s no fear of being caught, when the “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” mentality surrounds us. What comes out of our heart in word & deed? We as Christians must decide to commit to do what pleases God in every area of our life, no matter how small the issue. In that commitment of our will to align with His we find Him waiting to encourage and lead as a Father would His child. He is ready to give us all we need to be more like His Son who is complete in every way. Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines integrity as “firm adherence to a code of …values…an unimpaired condition, the quality or state of being completed or undivided.” A person who “sells” his integrity discards the unifying principle of his life and becomes a person in the process of disintegration. Some years ago a professor at Vanderbilt University taught the importance of integrity even in the “little things”. Madison Serratt, a teacher in mathematics, customarily gave a little speech before every exam…”Today I am giving two exams; one in trigonometry and the other in honesty. I hope you will pass them both. If you must fail one, fail trigonometry. There are many good people in the world who can’t pass trig, but there are no good people in the world who can not pass honesty". Let’s start living from the inside out! Have a great week.