WSR REPORT: STORMS RAGE

Good Morning Friends

I pray your weekend is off to a good start

I know these are challenging times,

However, it is so important to reign in our focus and fix our eyes on any positives

‘Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8

Therefore –

In an effort to do a small part in encouraging you my friends, over the next few weeks,

I will be sharing excerpts from my book ‘When Storms Rage’

I will be contextualizing those excerpts to focus directly on the current storm facing our nation and the globe.

This is not a marketing ploy – I receive nothing from sharing free excerpts from my book

Rather – I know that there are beneficial principles found in the Word of God,

                Principles which have helped me throughout my life,

                Principles which continue to help me through this current storm

In an attempt to encourage as many as possible,

these posts will also be shared on my WordPress site, ‘Fuerza’

Today – in our When Storms Rage [WSR] Report, we acknowledge, STORMS RAGE

However – even as the storms rage outwardly, they do not have to destroy us inwardly

Today – my prayer is that you would be encouraged in your soul,

That you would be kept safe from harm,

That you would be strengthened in your spirit.

God has supplied, in His Word, direction and instruction for us all –

He has supplied words of encouragement and hope to keep us through every storm

Despite what we are seeing – nationally and globally – there is hope

It is not a false hope – it is a real hope, a living hope

Jesus Christ is our Savior, our Strength, our Protection & Provision, our Living Hope

Even as I write this post –

I am sick with an upper respiratory infection, awaiting COVID-19 results

And, while I pray that the test comes back negative, I am prepared whatever the result

I am confident – no matter the storm

I know in Whom I have believed – I am confident in the One who I trust             

My trust and my hope is in the LORD God Almighty –

There is no better preparation than that ….

Be encouraged my friends –

Have a Blessed Day & Stay Safe

LOVE: IT IS NOT ...

Good Evening

I pray your week is off to a great start.

Only three more days until Valentine’s Day!!!

TODAY – we continue our discussion on LOVE;

However, we will not be focusing on the types of love and what love is;

We will be looking at what love is not

This segment in our journey is important. However, I feel I might lose a few of you.

I have struggled with whether to share this post but I must be transparent with my own failures.

Failure does not negate truth.

It may impact whether that truth is received by others – but it does not negate truth

Failure is not final. It can be utilized to create success in the lives of others

While you should learn from your own mistakes; you are miles ahead if you can learn from the mistakes of others

WITH THAT SAID – HERE IT GOES

Today is important because we will be focusing on the first of two areas I would like us to take a look at what love is not:

·         LOVE IS NOT ‘LUST’

·         LOVE IS NOT ‘LIKE’

LUST - 

We will begin with lust and follow up with like tomorrow.

LOVE IS NOT LUST & LUST IS NOT LOVE

The Cambridge dictionary defines lust as:

1. a very strong sexual desire: 2. a very powerful feeling of wanting something: 3. strong desire:

And one can lust for many things – for power, for influence, for finances.

However, for the sake of our discussion today, we will focus on the ‘very strong sexual desire’ definition. Lust is a strong desire to satisfy a fleshly hunger.

So, why is it important to understand that LOVE IS NOT LUST.

It is important because lust often gets confused with love. It is also important because it can fast-track a relationship when things should be moving  at a slower pace. And it is not just what you do physically, but what you fantasize about and what you speak about. Scripture notes that if you think lustfully, you have already committed adultery in your heart [Mt. 5:28]

I shared previously that I have not been on the dating or relationship scene for seventeen years. However – that does not mean that there has not been failure in this area. I have had conversations which would make some married people blush – conversations I am not proud of and which required me to turn [to repent] and to get back in the presence of God to get my priorities straight. I do not share this because it is comfortable or because it is anything to boast about. I share it in order to, prayerfully, help someone else avoid the same missteps and to help people understand that this is what can happen when proper boundaries are not maintained; when established boundaries are not tended to.

Is passionate conversation wrong?

No – not in and of it itself and within proper context.

The problem is when it is taken out of context and timing and rushed.

The Song of Solomon warns against arousing and awaking love [sexual desire] before it is time. [v 8:4] The Message Version of that same verse says: ‘Do not excite love, do not stir it up, until the time is ripe – and you are ready’.

‘All things should be done decent and in order’ [I Cor. 14:40].

Yet, this is not always the case, especially when lust – instead of love – is the focus.

I have been in my current home for three years – however, I still call it my ‘new house’. And, of all the things I love about my home, one the items at the top of that list has to be the fireplace. In my old house, we had a wood burning fireplace and – most likely because I lacked the discipline to get the chimney swept regularly – I probably only used twice in the fourteen years that I lived there. However, my ‘new house’ – with its three stories – is a different story. I love my fireplace and use it often. And, because it is a gas fireplace, all I have to do is hit the switch on the wall and … FIRE!!!

It is beautiful! It creates a relaxing atmosphere, it provides warmth and it is pleasant to look at. The fire and flames are mesmerizing and they make for an absolutely wonderful experience … because they are properly contained within my fireplace behind a glass enclosure.

However – if you take that same fire and place it in the center of my living room – it becomes a destructive force with the potential to harm me, to compromise the safety of my loved ones, to destroy everything I have worked to achieve and potentially impact my future as well – all because the fire was taken out of its proper setting [the fireplace].

THIS IS HOW IT IS WITH LUST

There is nothing wrong with fire – with passion [and dare I say eroticism] – in its proper context; in its proper setting  which is a committed marriage relationship between husband and wife where each is respectful of the other. Anything outside of this, however, is like that fire if it were to be placed in the center of my living room. It is foolish, dangerous, destructive and has long-lasting consequences.

I remember one of the last Christmases that I spent in Boston, MA where I grew up. It was Christmas evening and the smell from the fireplace suddenly seemed especially strong. It was because there was more burning than the logs in the hearth. My brother’s room was on fire – his cat had knocked over a candle he left burning. We were all safe and the firefighters were able to contain that damage to his room and part of the attic space near his room. However, over a year later, you could still see traces of smoke damage from the fire. And I do not believe the cat ever got rid of the dark gray color that the smoke gave him. All because of one moment of carelessness.

Likewise – a fire of passion – ignited in the wrong context and allowed to burn recklessly is simply not wise. AND IT IS NOT LOVE.

It has far-reaching and damaging effects and should be avoided by all - single and married.

Remember – you do not have to make all your own mistakes; you can learn from the mistakes of others.

LOVE IS NOT LUST – AND – LUST IS NOT LOVE

It is not love toward the other person and it is not love toward self.

‘Do you not know that he who sins sexually sins against his own body?’ [I Cor. 6:18]

And, even if there is no physical contact – there can still be the establishment of unhealthy  emotional ties and debilitating strongholds in the life of the individual – areas where guilt and shame take control, where purpose is tainted and potential is thwarted; where reputations can be destroyed, hearts broken and dreams shattered

Remember that David’s sin began with a glance. In actuality, his sin began the day he decided to neglect his boundaries and borders. ‘At the time when kings go off to war’ [II Sam. 11:1] – David was AT HOME; somewhere he should not have been, with idle time on his hands, lounging on his rooftop and clearly without accountability to himself, his wife [wives] or anyone else.

Our executive pastor shared in his sermon yesterday, “My devotion determines the direction and destiny of my life.” So I ask, ‘What will you be devoted to? Lust or Love? The desires of the flesh or the purposes of God?

I share this not to bring condemnation upon anyone or to act like I have lived the perfect life. These are questions I had to ask when I saw myself veering off course. I share this to demonstrate how easy it is to get off track. It is also my hope that something shared here will help introduce freedom into the life of one in our reading community by sharing what not to do. If you are in a romantic relationship, hopefully what has been shared will provide some pointers to help secure the borders & boundaries. If you are still seeking a romantic relationship, perhaps something here [some added perspective] will help with avoiding dangerous pitfalls and confusing lust with love.

Even if you began in lust, you can still turn and finish in love.

If you are currently in a relationship which you thought was love – and are realizing it is actually rooted in lust, lacking boundaries, out its proper context and devoid of its God intended purpose – YOU CAN TURN

The enemy may not want you to forget; the world may not ever forgive;

BUT THE LORD – He says that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation; the old is passed away, behold all things are new [II Cor. 5:17]

His mercies are new every morning.

Praying You Have a Blessed Evening!

Wishing You Much Love …

LOVE: LOVES BOUNDARIES PT I

Happy Monday!

OK – so Monday is just about over

However, that is all the more reason to celebrate –

Those things you might have been worried about yesterday, or thought you could not face today ... they did not conquer you – you are still standing!

SO – yesterday I talked about how LOVE SELFLESSLY PROVIDES

Through that post we understand that this does not mean that one does not desire things for self. Instead, there are times when LOVE overrides those individual desires – in exchange for what is best for all

HOWEVER – I would like provide some additional context for our chat yesterday.

Unfortunately, as a human race, we can be extremists – in the worst way

This is why it is important to follow-up with today’s message so that we understand;

WHILE LOVE SELFLESSLY PROVIDES – TRUE LOVE ALSO LOVES BOUNDARIES

YESTERDAY – I talked about the selfless giving of my middle son.

However, that giving [particularly this past weekend] came with some much needed counsel

The giving was supplemented with much needed words of wisdom;

There were pointers given, to caution against being a doormat for others, to be better positioned for the future

Why? Because love is eternal – and being eternal, it cannot merely concern itself with today

There is an old saying,

‘Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day;

     Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime’

This is what boundaries do for us –  

They provide a framework today for success tomorrow;

Establishing solid and meaningful boundaries is an investment which yields tremendous dividends

My youngest son has been sharing in this process of love with boundaries

However – his is from a health standpoint. My eldest son has done the same in the past.

They are my accountability partners

And – with the recent passing of my cousin and health concerns with my mom, my youngest has become very intentional about helping me manage my health. He is demonstrating his love by enacting boundaries and helping me to establish my own. He checks to make sure I have taken my medication; he will not share foods with me that he feels will compromise my well-being; and he has formulated parts of a fitness regime and follows-up to ensure I am following it daily.

Why? Because LOVE LOVES BOUNDARIES

Love, true love recognizes the benefit of discipline

Yet, even that is not sufficient

That love – the love which loves boundaries – must be received and embraced

My middle son made an observation a couple of weeks ago;

He said, ‘It must be very difficult as a parent when you encounter situations where your children know better than you do.’ I responded that it is humbling. However, it the most blessed feeling to have one’s children surpass them in knowledge or wisdom.

Psalm 127:4 notes that ‘Children are a blessing from the LORD … Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.’

That is such a powerful image!

And isn’t that what every parent desires? For their children to aim higher and go farther.

NEVER LET PRIDE KEEP YOU FROM EMBRACING A LOVE WHICH LOVES AND ESTABLISHES BOUNDARIES - EVEN IF IT IS FROM YOUR OWN CHILDREN

Tomorrow, we will delve deeper into the benefits of boundaries and discipline in 

LOVE: LOVES BOUNDARIES PT II

Then, we will spend a few days talking about BROTHERLY/PHILEO LOVE

And, we will round it all out by moving into EROS LOVE –

We will stay there into next week and through Valentine’s Day

I am truly loving this LOVE JOURNEY

I hope you are as well

Praying You Have a Blessed Evening!

Wishing You Much Love …

‘Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence’ Proverbs 15:32

Wisdom ... From Unexpected Places

Good Afternoon!

I pray your week is off to a great start.

Today is a significant day for me. And, although I thought it would be bittersweet... it has proved to be more peace-filled and uneventful than I would have imagined. 

Today is my puppy’s birthday. He would have been 18-years old today. Hard to believe it has been four months since I had to say goodbye. He was truly my companion for seventeen years. He was my boy …

  

Therefore –

In honor of my pup, I have included links to posts which were inspired by him; posts where Chico helped me remember the need to push past personal limits and to keep the central thing THE central thing in life … being close to the Master. 

We can all use that reminder...

Especially with so many events which cause heaviness of heart. 

All too often - people miss the lesson for the teacher. Yet, the true seeker of wisdom gleans it wherever it may be found. They understand that God often takes the simple things to confound the wise.

Perhaps you’ll find some wisdom in these posts as well:

JOURNEY 201¦1 ‘Open Road’

Canine College I

Canine College II

Prayerfully it will provide some lightness for the end of your day.

And – if you are so inclined

Please take a moment to pray for this world of ours too ... and all in it.

Have a Blessed Evening!

IN THE MIDST ...

Good Morning!

I hope you had a fantastic day yesterday. Mine – well it was eventful. Days like that, I miss my puppy. Hard to believe it has been three months since I had to say goodbye. He was such a good boy … seventeen years of memories. But, I digress. That is not why I am writing this morning.

On Sunday I shared a post about a line being drawn in the sand.

This is a season of restoration, a reclaiming of all that has been stolen.

However – even as I think about all of the miracles of God that are unfolding,

I feel a need to revisit this subject of generational attacks and the intentions behind them

While it is important to know what the enemy is doing, and who the enemy is using

It is equally important to understand WHY the enemy is doing what he is doing

IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL

UNDERSTAND THERE IS A REASON WHY THE ENEMY IS FIGHTING SO HARD –

Against financial resources

Against harmonious relationships

Against spiritual strength and development

AND HERE IS THE REASON –

He desires to thwart the plans of God

IN MY FAMILY – 

There is an exceptional blessing and giftedness in the area of CREATIVITY

EVERY FAMILY HAS SOMETHING – Ours is creativity

When I look within my home

There is an artist, a musician, a photographer & dancer, and a writer

When I look at my extended family

There are screenwriters, fashion designers, interior decorators, and interior designers

There are bakers, chefs, artist, writers, poets, musicians, entrepreneurs, and carpenters

All CREATIVE

All created to be WORLD CHANGERS

All stemming from a rich history of faith

Many families have ‘that relative’ – the one that is well known in the community

Sometimes it is for something positive

Yet – often it is for something that the family would love to forget:

The town drunkard, busy body or hot head

Well – our family had ‘that relative’ too

Ours was a positive relative nicknamed by the community as ‘Praying George’

Imagine being so consistent and effective in prayer that it become your unofficial title?

That legacy of prayer continued with my praying grandmother,

A fervent link to and dependence upon the Creator,

Which I believe fuels the Creativity in this family

THIS IS WHY THE ENEMY FIGHTS –

HE DESIRES NOTHING MORE THAN TO KEEP INDIVIDUALS FROM THEIR DESTINY

AND TO KEEP AS MANY AS POSSIBLE FROM BEING RECONCILED TO THE LORD

He knows that if he can steal enough stuff and keep you distracted long enough

You will never realize the potential God has placed in you

You will never ascend to the heights where God purposed for you to rule and reign

You will never be free from the frustration of knowing you were created for greatness but never quite walking in the fullness of that knowing and that giftedness

When my youngest son [the photographer & dancer] was very young, he had a stubbornness about him that was unimaginable. He was [and is] one of the most headstrong people I know.

For years I wrestled with him

We would have battles of wills

And, I would pray without ceasing

But then I heard the voice of the LORD one day – as clear as if it were audible

THIS IS WHAT HE SAID:

STOP PRAYING AGAINST THAT TRAIT

I GAVE HIM THAT SPIRIT OF DETERMINATION

IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE PRAYED AGAINST – 

IT NEEDS TO BE HARNESSED AND TRAINED

BECAUSE ONCE HE WANTS WHAT I WANT – HE WILL BE UNSTOPPABLE

Crazy how the enemy will get you working against your own gifts –

While working to get you to misunderstand and under-appreciate the gifts in others

I believe that is why he has attacked my family with such a fierceness

He knows that we as a family are stronger together –

So he aims to divide and conquer

REST ASSURED – 

'No weapon formed against you shall prosper…’ Isaiah 54:17

TODAY – 

'Take some time to celebrate the gifts the LORD has given you … and in those around you

IMAGINE – 

What this world will look like with all of the creativity and resources engaged for the purposes of the Kingdom of GOD

STAY VIGILANT, KNOWING – 

‘The enemy prowls about seeking whom he may devour’ I Peter 5:8

BE CONFIDENT, KNOWING – 

‘The eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth looking for opportunities to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him’ II Chronicles 16:9

Praying You Have a Blessed Day!

Zenobia

pray

pray …

 

Pray ... even when you cannot find the words to say

In my post 'He speaks 'cry'...'  I wrote:

Indeed, He knows the meaning of every tear, every sob and every sigh. And when I weep, shedding more tears [than] can be counted (by me), crying what becomes a flowing stream or river, He sees each individual tear and can tell what each one represents. Then He responds.

 

The LORD hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17

 

Pray without ceasing …

I Thessalonians 5:17

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

 

And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. I John 5:14

 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

 

Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3

 

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13

Sanctus Real - Pray

Enjoying the Journey!

Enjoying the Journey!

Well, it is New Year’s Eve and, as the year draws to a close, I have thought about what message I wanted to post. I could recount all the ‘highs & lows’ or any one of the variety of lists that exist for 2012:

·         Top Artists

·         Top Songs

·         Memorable Events

 Yet the overwhelming thought that comes to mind as I sit here this morning is – THANKFUL!

I am thankful and enjoying the journey …

 finding joy in the journey,

Now, don’t misunderstand me –

The journey has not been perfect (not by any stretch of the imagination) but it has been memorable in that I know that God has been with me every step of the way. Whether those steps were literal in the miles I’ve had to walk every morning to get work or whether they were more symbolic in the steps I have taken to hope again and to envision a reality different than the one I am currently experiencing, there has been this Presence, His Presence, that of my LORD and King.

He has gone before me, walked beside me, watched my back and carried me when necessary. And every step has carried life-lessons. It is amazing the things you think you know until you walk through some additional situations and circumstances that highlight just how much there is still to master.

                                                                                               

This year –

I have gained an even greater appreciation for friends and family and even casual acquaintances.

And, if I had to focus on three crucial areas, these would be them:

LAUGHING

I have probably laughed more this year than I have in recent years – whether it’s joking with someone at work, listening to my children talk, spending time with friend or even in the middle of praise and worship, I have been touched in ways that can only be expressed with a hearty chuckle or a nose-crinkling snicker. There have been instances where I have gotten a complete abdominal workout just spending an evening with my best friend having coffee. I’ve shed more tears this year from laughing than I have from crying – a nice and welcome change. And my encouragement to others is this: Learn to laugh so hard it hurts! There are enough challenging situations in life … find a way to laugh at, at least a couple of them.

CARING

For all the joys – there have probably been just as many instances where my heart has ached for others, as if I had experienced their storm myself. I have had a friend diagnosed with cancer and another (like the little sister I never had) who died because of cancer. My heart has grieved as I have watched friends and acquaintances lose their homes. I have prayed for those who experienced great personal loss due to storms. And my heart has grieved for those who have lost loved ones as a result of senseless violence. More and more, I have found myself thinking about, praying for and crying for others. Long after the headlines have left the newspapers or nightly news, there are still people trying to pick up the pieces of their shattered hearts – people in need of a little bit of compassion. But … compassion requires selfless observation and an investment of time.

One of the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry was that He frequently allowed what we would consider interruptions but that were a common part of His ministry. It is amazing how many opportunities we have daily to bring comfort and even freedom to others if we will look beyond ourselves. From Thanksgiving to Christmas this year, I experienced 30-days of unexpected blessings. Yet, the greatest of those unexpected blessings were the days that I was able to be an unexpected blessing, by listening to a co-worker, being there for a friend or being an agent of peace in the midst of troubling situations. The encouragement: Keep it simple by … Loving God & Loving People. And know that whether it is a call, a note, a smile or a hug … a little bit of caring goes a very long way.

LOVING

This one goes hand-in-hand with the caring & compassionate heart. However, it is deeper in that it goes beyond the common concern for a fellow man and focuses on the more unconditional aspects of love. This is where close friends and family come into play. I have placed a much higher premium on my relationships than I do on my comfort levels, my feelings or my pride. It sounds like a simple thing, I know. However, you and I both know that there are countless people who have let a friendship or even family relationship go to the wayside because of a refusal to forgive – because someone would rather hold on to an offense rather than grab hold of a loved one and say, ‘Let’s work this out’. Most people are not even willing to apologize for the things they have done wrong, let alone offer an apology when they feel as though they are the one that has been wronged. Yet, the ability to love and forgive is crucial to having sustained friendships.  Employers, friends, children, siblings, spouses and parents will not always do what you desire, yet this is admonishment remains: ‘above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.’ (I Peter 4:8)

Every relationship brings with it the risk of being hurt but it also brings with it opportunities for us to demonstrate just how much of the love Christ is in us – and how desperately we desire to share it with others. ‘Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.’ (Philippians 2:3-4) This is what Christ modeled for us.

My prayer this morning, is that whatever you have experienced this year, that you will be able to find some joy woven in between the fabric of all those situations and circumstances. I pray that you too have walked away with some areas of focus, ones that are personal to you and the things that you experience. Take the opportunity to recycle the less positive moments – making sure that the pain endured is not wasted but that it becomes something positive – offering hope, encouragement and freedom to someone walking through a similar situation. And by all means, celebrate the joyful moments!

I mean, if you have to go through life anyway … you might as well go through joyfully.

It’s been a great year!

I have enjoyed sharing the joys, the pains, the challenges, the blessings and the growth opportunities.

It’s a pleasure to share my life…

May God bless your life, exceedingly and abundantly!

juggling act...

An acquaintance of mine asked a great question several days ago: 'To anyone who has had a "mentor" in their life....What is the most important thing that he or she taught you?"

She probably doesn't realize it but she unofficially mentors many and does it in the best way by asking questions that make people think. Her question certainly made me think as I reflected on a lesson my former manager/mentor taught me some time ago. The year was 2003 and I had just been promoted to unit manager. He was my boss when I was a supervisor and assumed the role of mentor once I transitioned into the new job. His words of wisdom?

'You are now at a place where you have a great deal of responsibility, 'many balls in the air'. Understand that eventually, one will drop .... MAKE SURE IT'S NOT THE GLASS ONE!

I thought he was teaching me a business principle. Turns out he was teaching me a life principle. And, through all of the ups and downs and twists and turns, the balancing and juggling act called life - there are several balls which indeed have dropped ... all except the glass one. 

That glass ball, well, it represents my faith in God and commitment to His principles. I have learned that many things can drop: some will bounce so that you can grab hold of them again and some will fall and roll away. Yet this one ball has remained.

Don't allow its description to fool you. While it is the glass ball, it is by no means fragile. Yet it is of ultimate importance, which is why it cannot be dropped. It is foundational and can redeem any of the other balls of life which may get away from you.

How important is faith? Important enough for Jesus to tell Peter, 'I have prayed for you that your faith would not fail ...' (Lk. 22:32) And I believe He has prayed that same prayer for many of us. If we can hold onto faith, it will take care of all the other 'balls'. Seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness, all other things shall be added as well. (Mt. 6:33)

Therefore,

'Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering ...'

Hebrews 10:23

Let us cling unswervingly to this one thing, 'faith': in God, through Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Afterall, it is certainly much easier to hold onto one ball than it is to juggle fifty.

In this life, with all that we must manage, at least one ball will inevitably drop ... Make Sure It's Not the Glass One!  

choose truth ...

There is a saying in the Word,

‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’ (Jn. 8:32).

However, my experience in life has been that the truth will make one mad long before it sets them free. Perhaps it is the fallen nature of man, but many people seem to prefer a lie over the truth any day.

• Do you think this is a good idea?
• How does this outfit look on me?
• Do you think I’ve gained weight?

Sadly, there are far too many instances where people will seek out the 'honest' opinion of another when what they truly desire is just for someone to agree with their viewpoint or with the decision that they have already settled upon in their mind. But why embrace a lie? What good could that possibly bring about? The answer is ‘none’.

So why do so many people do it?

The ego is an incredible and terrible thing and the pride of life is a burden around one's neck. It causes people to refuse to admit that they were wrong, restrains one from apologizing and prompts one to launch an unrelenting defense as to why their wrong perception is right, even as truth stands in their face and rings in their ears.

This is not a new phenomenon. From the beginning of time, men have possessed a bend toward embracing lies over truth.  Romans 1:25 notes, ‘For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.’

Unfortunately, as often as many will say that they hunger for truth, all too often they truly prefer a lie. Yet there is nothing shrouded in darkness which will not be brought to the light. And light is always better. The lie might spare your emotions and make you feel good temporarily, but its end is destruction. The truth, however, may injure your feelings and pride in the short term, but is always beneficial and life giving in the long run.

So, when given the choice, between the truth and the lie … choose truth.