Lies

Is it alright to tell just a little lie?

I have spent a lot off my life lying to myself and others. It started out small, but the lies grew bigger and bigger. When I was married my wife would ask me why I smelled like smoke and instead of being honest, I lied to avoid the consequences of my actions. I was smoking and I lied about it to her. That one lie grew and grew to other areas in my life. It was far from OK. I hid the truth and for that I thought I could hide more truths by doing the one thing that seemed to be so easy to do, because once you start it isn't easy to stop.
When I say is it OK to lie, the answer is NO. Some will say well I tell partial truths, but that is still hiding the actual truth, that is still lying. We can't be deceived and listen to the world say it is alright to do, it isn't ok to lie, it isn't ok to tell just half the truth, because you are still lying. 1/2 does not make it any better then a whole lie, it doesn't make it safe, because it is still a lie. I can justify a 1/2 truth or a lie, but still it is wrong and in the end the lies will come out. They will consume you and when you can't tell the difference between the truth and a lie, it may be to late.

Truth will set you free. The more you hide from the truth, the more the lies will consume you, the more the 1/2 truths will eat you alive. Don't justify the lies, don't hide from the fact that you are lying, be honest and start with seeing the truth that you seek. One can not find the truth, if one lives in lies.
Today take a moment to think. Are you living in the truth or are you living in a lie? Do you know what truth is? Isn't it time that we start being honest, not with just people around us, our wives, husbands, kids, family, friends, coworkers and so on, but start getting honest with yourself. Change starts with you, it start by believing that it is possible.

Do not be afraid of the first step. Try truth and honesty for a change, it is time.

Friendship

Recently I have been thinking about "Friendships". Friends come and go, some good friends and some well alright friends. I was wondering what makes a friendship solid and good, verses just a passing leaf blowing in the wind. They come and go out of my life just like a leaf falling from a tree. I don't really know the answer about friendships, but I have had many that would seem to last through the test of time, but then I find myself without. The definition of a friend taken from the Webster dictionary is this: a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.

I think in order to get a true comparison from what the world calls a friend to what a friend should be, I need to include some verses in the bible.

Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Proverbs 27:9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

I guess what I am trying to get at with all of this, is don't have a friendship just go one way. Encourage just as your friends encourage you. Don't be afraid to reach into there lives just as they reach into yours. I believe a lot of people have forgotten what friendship truly is. If you are in a relationship, your best friend is the person you are with. If you are not in a relationship, don't expect someone who is married to be your best friend, because there wives or husbands need to come first. Men, if you are married, don't look to women to be your friends, it is a dangerous road, be careful. Women the same goes for you, keep men at a distance. It is easy when we focus to much on the opposite sex as a friendship, we lose track of who our spouse, significant other is. Walk carefully with friendship. 

If you are single, be careful and watch that your friends do not bring you down, but lift you up, that they encourage you, that they are your strength when you are weak, do not be afraid of friends, but be afraid of the negative influences in your life. I have found it is better to be without, then with someone that will bring you to ruin. Walk carefully and be cautious of your friends. 

When we take a bad path, our friends should help lead us back to the truth, not encourage us to walk further down that path. A true friend will encourage you, will love you know matter what, will be a friend and encourage you even in the darkest of times. Don't forget friendship goes both ways, but don't encourage a friendship that will lead you to ruin. 

Have a good day.

Problems

I find it so easy to focus just on my problems. When I start thinking about what I don't have, I tend to want it more. Or if I think about the issues in my life they grow bigger and bigger. Just like the story, the more I feed in to the problems the bigger they get. Instead of trying to change my prospective. Isn't it time to change from looking at the problems and start seeing the good that we have. Be thankful in the small things and watch what happens. Test it for yourself, stop seeing all the problems in your relationship and start being thankful for what you have. Take a chance to see for yourself. Start with one step at a time, the more you stop focusing on the problem, the quicker the answer will come. Don't let the problems win, start seeing the solutions.

Being Watchful

I find it so easy to get lost in my own thoughts that I miss what is going on around me. I don't really watch TV per say, I do watch shows, but I have been avoiding the news, because of so many reasons. I have removed myself from most mainstream media, because I don't need that kind of influence in my life (a choice I have made). I am not saying you have to make that choice, because what is right for others, I have found is not necessarily right for me.

Why I bring up this topic is something that has happened in my personal life. My son was making a hand motion that he picked up at school and when he would make the hand motion he would say 36. Well, I was not to sure what it meant, but I had an uneasy feeling about it in my spirit. I looked into it and found that the number 36 is another sign of the devil. I asked him why he was using that number, but he was unable to tell me, because he was just copying other kids. I spoke to him about the meaning and how using it was not permitted in my house from that point on. The more I looked into it, the more I have found about about the number, what was once the OK sign for us, is now being used as a devil sign as well. The hand forms the first 6 and then there are 2 to follow. It is interesting how the fads of what Hollywood does gets into our houses. Our kids use them with no idea of what the meaning behind them are and we allow it because we do not do the research to find out what they may mean.

This is a cry out to you parents. Don't be afraid to ask the questions of why your kids are doing things. Don't be afraid to talk to them about the hard topics, even the devil. The negative effects that it has on them and even you is undeniable. It is time to address them, don't let the devil make his way into your home.

It is time to be aware of what is happening around us. Don't become closed off and miss the little things that may be caused to destroy your family. Take heed of the warnings and be watchful, mindful and be educated on the saying, the hand motions and be mindful not to allow them in your home.

Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

1 Peter 5:8 "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

Don't be afraid to ask questions of others, of your kids, seek the truth and the truth will set you free.

When you feel all alone

I needed to hear this song today, it was nice to come a crossed it. Things happen for a reason, whether we know what they are today, or we will know at another point, but I am thankful they do happen.

"Light Up The Sky"

When I'm feeling all alone 

With so far to go 

The signs are no where on this road 

Guiding me home 

When the night is closing in 

Is falling on my skin 

Oh God will You come close? 

[Chorus]

Light light light up the sky 

You light up the sky to show me You are with me 

I I I can't deny 

No I can't deny that You are right here with me 

You've opened my eyes 

So I can see You all around me 

Light light light up the sky 

You light up the sky to show me 

That You are with me 

When stars are hiding in the clouds 

I don't feel them shining 

When I can't see You beyond my doubt 

The silver lining 

When I've almost reached the end 

Like a flood You're rushing in 

Your love is rushing in 

[Chorus]

So I run straight into Your arms 

You're the bright and morning sun 

To show Your love there's nothing You won't do 

[Chorus]

That You are with me 

That You are with me

What Faith Can Do - Kutless

"What Faith Can Do"

Everybody falls sometimes

Gotta find the strength to rise

From the ashes

And make a new beginning

Anyone can feel the ache

You think it's more than you can take

But you're stronger

Stronger than you know

Don't you give up now

The sun will soon be shining

You gotta face the clouds

To find the silver lining

I've seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn't ever end

Even when the sky is falling

I've seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That's what faith can do

It doesn't matter what you've heard

Impossible is not a word

It's just a reason

For someone not to try

Everybody's scared to death

When they decide to take that step

Out on the water

It'll be alright

Life is so much more

Than what your eyes are seeing

You will find your way

If you keep believing

I've seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn't ever end

Even when the sky is falling

I've seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That's what faith can do

Overcome the odds

You don't have a chance

(That's what faith can do)

When the world says you can't

It'll tell you that you can

I've seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn't ever end

Even when the sky is falling

And I've seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That's what faith can do

That's what faith can do

Even if you fall sometimes

You will have the strength to rise

That small seed grows to be the following, starts small and...

Give it a try, what do you have to lose?

The Truth

In my life I have been lost, but then I was found. I was blind by my own wants and desires, but then when those wants and desires came to pass, I found that I was blinded even more, because they did not give me what I had yearned for and then I wanted more. The more I wanted the more I found that I lacked and the cycle continued. It was when I realized that I was blind by myself, that I had to seek the truth and only the truth could set me free.

The truth for some of us may be hard to find among the crazy life we lead. I lost it all to see the truth and then the truth set me free. Yes, I have my struggles, but I also know the truth. If you want to know the truth, you must be willing to lose yourself in order to find what you so long to have. It is when we are able to surrender what you want, in order to seek the truth.

John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.:"

What do you think that means for us? Do you want to find the truth, you must first lose yourself for God in order to find the truth that you seek. Are you willing to do that?

Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

How does one deny themselves, it is when you surrender what you want and give yourself to God. Is it time to deny your wants and give them to Him? It is a daily choice, not just one in every ones lifetime, it is every single day. Moment by moment.

Out of Words

Can you believe it, I am out of words. I am lacking the ability to say anything positive or negative for that matter. I have been told by someone that reads this (not my mother) that they actually enjoy what I have written. It was an encouragement to hear that. I had wondered if anyone other then my mother has or is reading this. I am encouraged that there are others. Thank you Mom, I do appreciate you very much for reading what I am writing, it is a blessing to have people in our lives that encourage us, stand with us and that are there for us.

This evening as I look back on the years past, I realize that I have had many people come into my life during this time. Yes, some have gone either by my choice or there's, but the ones that stay with me it is a blessing knowing I have friends. Friends come and go, but true friends last a lifetime. It is a blessing knowing that there are true friends that are there to support me and help me. Thank you all for your encouragement and your support. This time has not been easy for me, but in the difficulties it has been an incredible lesson and I am thankful for the lessons I have learned. They continue to ground me in my faith, in my beliefs and in who I am becoming. I want to fit in and in doing so, it is easy to let the outside influences effect my life, but it is when that starts to happen that you have to be aware and do something about it. See life is a choice, how we live it is a choice, it is our choice, when we let the outside come in and disrupt what God is doing in our life, then we must take a stand. Letting things go is not taking a stand, it is when we are able to stand that we will grow stronger. When we just sircome (I don't know how to spell that word) to the winds of others, we don't grow and learn, we tend to tumble and break. It is time to stand strong, to make the hard choices and to get rid of the negatives in our life.

I can make a choice to live as I have lived before, but in that where will that take me? I have been down to the roads of destruction and it isn't pretty. I have to say I would rather be alone then walk those roads again. I know that it may sound crazy, but the life I once led only filled me with wanting something to fill me more. Have you ever noticed that, if you follow the path that is easiest you tend to want more and more. It is the path that is harder, that you tend to be filled with the knowledge and hard times. I guess that is the whole point to what I am trying to say. If you want easy you will continue to want and your way will seem endless and without meaning, but if you want to be filled, chose the harder path for it will lead you down a path that will fill you with life, hope, joy, peace and even in the hard it will be better then wanting something more fulfilling.

Does that make sense? Am I crazy, it is time to stand. Don't let the winds of time take you down paths that will lead to destruction, it is time to take a 180 and turn away from them. Walk free for there is only freedom in being free. Easy may seem fun for a time, but it will turn to pain and hurt. Then getting away from it, will only cause more pain then you may understand. Take a stand, turn from the path to destruction and see there is hope.