Tag Archives: truth

Rest Assured

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It’s the first day of spring.

It doesn’t look like it.
It doesn’t feel like it.
But it’s the truth.
And I believe it.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1

Recently I was with a friend who expressed a concern. She was worried about her faith. Did she have enough? What if she didn’t? How would she know? What would happen if she came up short? From her perspective, it didn’t look like she had enough faith. And it didn’t feel like it.

We talked it over and I reminded her that it doesn’t take much. God is happy to work with a tiny amount of faith, even as small as a mustard seed. (Matthew 17:20) She was quiet for a few moments, then said, “Well, then……..I guess I’m ok.” Yes, my dear, you are ok.

We all need a little reassurance from time to time.
We’re in good company.

When God called Moses to deliver the Israelites from bondage in Egypt, Moses was a bundle of doubts and fears. “Who am I?” “What if…?” “Suppose…?” “Why? Why? Why?” He finished with, “Please send someone else.” (Exodus 3-5)

When God called Gideon to lead an army against his enemies, Gideon whined, “But, why…?” “But, how…?” “But…me?” Then he put God through a string of tests, just to be absolutely sure he heard from the Almighty correctly. (Judges 6)

Even John the Baptist had his doubts. John—who introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) John—the one who witnessed a voice from heaven declaring, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17) This same John sent a message to Jesus, “So, are you the one or should we look for someone else?” (Matt. 11:2)

These heroes of the faith needed assurance. They hadn’t gone off the rails or shipwrecked their long-held beliefs. They just needed to be reminded of truth they already knew down deep.

On those days when doubts and fears creep in,
turn to the Word of Truth.
And rest assured.

Today is the first day of spring.
It doesn’t look like it.
It doesn’t feel like it.
But it’s the truth.
And I believe it.

Reminder

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“Kindness without truth is not kind.
Truth without kindness is not true.”
Martin Schleske

Sometimes I tell people what they want to hear,
softly glossing over points of contention in order to keep the peace.

This is not being kind.

Sometimes I tell people what they don’t want to hear,
making my points with hard conviction even if it stirs up discord.

This is not being true.

“God wants us to grow up,
to know the whole truth and tell it in love.”
Ephesians 4:15

To Tell the Truth

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I’m mad.  I’m sad.  I’m mad and sad.

  All along I believed him.

But now it seems he wasn’t being truthful.

No, I’m not talking about PB.

He can’t lie to me.

PB confesses every time he sneaks a Big Mac.

I’m talking about RB.

#8.   2011 MVP.  Left fielder.  My favorite player.

Solomon was right:

“Truth lasts;  lies are here today, gone tomorrow.” (Proverbs 12:19)

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.  Lies, deception and cover ups are as old as the Garden of Eden.  The serpent convinced the newly created couple that God was actually the liar.  Even without television and internet and peer pressure, Eve fell for an untruth in paradise.  Before there was corrupt politics and shady business deals and magic potion salesmen, the first family unraveled because of fibs and fabrications.

Okay, I’m not mad anymore.  Just sad.

Sad because people with freakish talent still feel the need to up their performance in order to prove to the crowd that they are most valuable.

Sad to observe a world where we can convince our very own selves that a lie is the truth (or the truth is a lie) if we believe it long and hard enough.

Sad to know that a mom and dad suffer with every scathing comment, locker room buddies wrestle with bitterness, fickle fans find new favorites.

I must not forget that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God —

 most of our transgressions aren’t broadcast on ESPN.

“Surely You desire truth in the inner parts.” Psalm 51:6