Investigate for Truth

Proverbs 18:17 (TLB) says, “ Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight.” 

Have you noticed how things are changing around us? People seem angry. They’ve become very vocal about anything and everything. They jump to conclusions without any investigation. They may even begin defending one side without hearing the other side. I think our culture has been wildly forged by social media where we quickly jump to conclusions and judgments. We hear one side of the story without ever asking questions or checking the facts with the other people involved. 

We need to use wisdom, don’t we? These are some questions we can ask or things we can tell ourselves in these situations:

1. Holy Spirit, lead me to the truth. 

2. Is the person telling me this reliable?

3. I need to control my emotions until I know the truth. 

4. What IS the truth?

5. Have I heard the other side of the story?

6. Do I really want the truth..or to just give my opinion?

7. Does this even involve me? Why HAVE I been involved? Am I part of the problem or part of the solution?  If not, this doesn’t concern me. 

We definitely need to spend time in prayer and allow God to check our emotions, motives, and heart. One thing we should never do is gossip—even as a prayer request. That only compounds the problem and makes us complicit in any half-truths. God told us through James, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”  James 1:19

Let’s investigate for truth.  

Bob

Today is my big brother’s 69th birthday.  His name is Bob.  Some of you may know him as Bobby (he tried to change that in high school). He died of cancer 7 years ago. (Wow!)

There’s not a girl in the world who had a better big brother than me.  Bob became my protector when I was two.  We’d gone to spend the night with our grandparents and I got homesick and began crying—wanting to go home.  My granddad threatened to spank me and Bob came and sat beside me and put his arm around me. Something was cemented in our relationship that day. He was my hero…and that never changed.  

Bob sold the Grit newspaper door-to-door when he was about 6 or 7.  He’d take me along as we’d walk for blocks and collect a nickel at those doors.  That was his first job.  He always had a few extra coins when we’d walk to “the little store” to buy candy. When he was nine, he began a newspaper route.  By the time he was twelve, he’d saved enough money to buy our family a stereo—one of those that came in a cabinet like a piece of furniture.  We played records almost every night!

A friend and I got in an argument over whose older brother was the toughest. (I knew mine was)  We went and got our brothers (who were the same age) and they fought it out.  Mine won. Mom babysat our cousins one summer and we would walk to the library at least once a week—across a field of weeds and stickers—in our flip-flops. Of course, we went barefoot most of the time, so I always forget my shoes.  Bob would invariably give me a piggy back ride across that field.  

As Bob got older, he worked at Heard & Jones Pharmacy. He was always bringing gifts home for us.  He bought my first set of electric curlers when they first hit the market! After that job, he went to work for I.W. Tinney Lumber Co. That job set his career in motion. Bob became a builder—actually, a craftsman.  

My big brother was my confidante.  He listened to all of my dating woes. We even went on a few double-dates. He was also my warning signal.  He put his foot down a couple of times and told me I couldn’t date a certain guy—they were no good. Once a guy took me to a bar on a date and I asked him if we could go somewhere else.  I was afraid if Bob heard about it, I’d never get to date again!

As Bob was dying, he wouldn’t allow me to see him because of the spreading cancer.  So we began exchanging emails. I treasure those emails. I thanked him for being such a good big brother.  He was actually my first picture of Jesus—the big brother who rescues us.  His reply?  “ Thank you so much for the compliments but I think you must have me confused with someone else because I CERTAINLY don't walk on water.”

A good big brother…the BEST!

God, would you give Bob a hug from me today and tell him, “Happy Birthday!”?

Move from this Mountain

God told Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai, “You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It is time to break camp and move on.”

At which mountain are you camped? It may not be a literal, physical mountain—but it could be a place. Or it may be an emotional, mental, or spiritual mountain. It may be something someone said to you—or how they wronged you. Have you camped there and not moved?

God went on to tell them that he’d given them the  land before them. It was the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was about to fulfill THE GREAT PROMISE. Were there giants ahead?  Yes. But God promised to deliver the land to his people. In fact, he told them not to be afraid!  It was time to break camp and GO!!

Break camp. Break the ties holding you back. Put out the fires. Turn your back on the old way of life and set your face toward the promise of God.  Go.in.and.possess.the.promise. FEARLESSLY! It’s yours!  He’s given it to you. He’s promised. And it’s fruitful.  

GO! You’ve stayed at this mountain long enough.  

Your Boundaries

“And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands and territories.”  Acts 17:26

Did you know that God has not only numbered every day of your life…but he’s also established the boundaries of  where you’ll live?  Have you ever wondered why you’re drawn to the mountains or the sea?  Or have you driven through a place and wondered how in the world people could live there? I believe God puts places in your heart. 

Or you may be just as surprised as me to end up in a place you least expected! But then can’t imagine missing the experience!  God put you there.  It is  part of the boundaries he gave you. I think he even delights to expand our boundaries!

Jesus, the Interceder

Last night, I was broken.  God had put his finger on a sin in my life. I don’t want to be that way. And I was weeping with repentance, grief, and frustration with myself.  And I cried out, “JESUS!!!  Pray for me!!!”  

“My little children (believers, dear ones), I am writing you these things so that you will not sin and violate God’s law. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father: Jesus Christ the righteous [the upright, the just One, who conforms to the Father’s will in every way—purpose, thought, and action].”  I John 2:1 AMP

I was instantly reminded of this verse. And then a sweet memory flooded my mind.  A woman (who is at home with Jesus now) who dealt with the same issue as me—but was filled with grace.  That memory washed over me like liquid honey.  

Instantly, I knew.  I knew the way out…the way to overcome. 

Thank you, Jesus!   Thank you for interceding for me last night.  Thank you for the light for my path.

Looking Ahead

God had just told the Israelites that, because of their disobedience and complaining hearts, they were going to have to wander in the wilderness for 40 years and that everyone older than 20 would die there.  

But in his next breath, he told Moses, “ Say to the Israelites, When you come into the land where you are to live, which I am giving you…” (Numbers 15:2)

God didn’t dwell on the disobedience and punishment of the Israelites.  He corrected them and pointed them towards the future.  He wanted them to LOOK AHEAD! And the best way to do that was to give them instructions for their future.  

What a great example for us—and for us as parents.  Satan wants us to think it’s all over when we mess up. God wants us to know there’s a future to fulfill in front of us. 

Keep walking…keep obeying and pleasing God.  

Keep looking ahead!!

Face Your Giants

How tall were the giants of Anak?  We don’t know for sure…the Bible doesn’t say.  But when the 12 spies came back with their report for Moses & Aaron, 10 of them told them they couldn’t possess the land because of these giants!  Only Caleb & Joshua were ready to take the land!  Caleb said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”  Because the other 10 spies created a panic of doubt and fear and faithlessness, God took their lives.  The people were forced to wander the wilderness for 40 years and every person over 20 years of age died.  

It’s so easy to sit back and say, “Why didn’t they BELIEVE?  They’d seen God perform miracle after miracle. 

But how many giants have stopped you lately?  I’ll name a few of my own: bad news, cultural tolerance, rejection, and expectations.  I didn’t have to think back very far—those giants have stopped me from possessing God’s promises in the last few months!  Our giants may look different than those of Anak, but they present themselves in a huge way—stopping us in our tracks!!

I’m tired of being intimidated by these giants (which are really demonic thoughts)!  I’m ready to walk in faith and believe God for his promises!!   Who’s in?