In my integrity You uphold me

and set me in Your presence forever.

Psalm 42:12

In my integrity… which according to the Encarta English Dictionary means:

• the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards
• completeness—the state of being complete or undivided
• wholeness—the state of being sound or undamaged
• And some of the synonymns are:
  • honesty, truthfulness, honor, uprightness

In my integrity…do I possess and steadfastly adhere to God’s true and high moral principles and standards? At home? In my closest relationships? In my work relationships? With strangers? In my car? When I’m all by myself?

In my integrity…am I one person—undivided and without duplicity or hypocrisy? At home? In my closest relationships? In my work relationships? With strangers? In my car? When I’m all by myself?

In my integrity…am I sound and reliable, pure and safe in, and to, myself and towards others? At home? In my closest relationships? In my work relationships? With strangers? In my car? When I’m all by myself?

My own answers to those questions is: I want to be. That is my heart’s desire…but, no, I am not a person of integrity every moment of every day in every thought, in every word and in every action—with every person or when alone.

I cannot do this by myself. I need God!

And!  Praise be to God…who desires to uphold me and shape me by the power of His Spirit so that my nature will be more and more transformed into the likeness of God’s own nature which is of Purest Integrity, Oneness, Wholeness, Truth, Love and Strength.

My integrity is based on letting God do His transforming work in me…over and over again…willingly and humbly. 

The joy is being in God’s presence right now through His Spirit and His Word…and knowing that one day, when I am in the full presence of my Lord—seeing Him face to face, I will finally be a person of integral integrity because of His love!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

I don’t often think of God getting weary. But He does…of our sins…and of our words that don’t line up with His truth.

God is NEVER weakened by anything. But God does get tired of us continuing in our self-focused, prideful ways and creating God in our own image! Rather than accepting God’s revelation of Himself as the truth.

You have wearied the LORD with your words.

“How have we wearied him?” you ask.

By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD,

and he is pleased with them”

or

“Where is the God of justice?”

Neither of these thinking patterns line up with God’s truth. And not only do they weary God, but they are eternally, deadly lies for us.

Evil is NEVER good in the eyes of the LORD. Yes, God is loving and merciful. But sin is sin and it is deadly and destructive. God is NEVER pleased with sin…nor with an unrepentant sinner that has somehow bought into the lie: that because God is so loving, kind and forgiving there can not possibly be any eternal judgment against sin…and the lie: that God is too loving to have anyone go to hell. This thinking, this lie, leads to the absolute denial of the necessity for Jesus Christ to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and for us to receive the gift of eternal life with God. 

God’s truth: God loves us so much, beyond what we can even begin to imagine, that God gave His Holy Son Jesus take the death punishment we deserved for our sins. God’s Truth: this outrageous, passionate, sacrificial love of God is the true measure of His love us—not excusing or pretending that the evil of sin is not deadly and destructive to every single one of us.

Questioning God’s justice—which is His very nature—is questioning God’s sovereignty, God’s power and God’s goodness. The lie: If God were just then…evil wouldn’t happen in this world…evil and greedy people wouldn’t seem to win so much of the time…evil wouldn’t be done to hurt or kill the innocent…children wouldn’t get sick and die…there would be no tragedies…there would be no suffering if God were really just, sovereign, powerful and good. This lie denies the responsibility of the people who choose to hurt others spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially. This lie denies that we are living in a world that itself bears the brokenness caused by our sin—and in this broken world, accidents do happen, innocents are hurt and killed, sickness and tragedies come.

God’s truth: God is just, sovereign, powerful and good. God sees all and knows all—and rightly judges all circumstances, people and our motives. God’s truth: God is always in control…even as we live in a world that often seems out of control because of the pain we people cause each other. God’s truth: God has an eternal perspective and an eternal purpose that is always just even if we cannot see it or understand it while on this side of heaven.  God’s truth: God has never left us alone. Even in our deepest hurt or most shocking tragedy…God is with us. God’s truth: God has always invited us into His love, into His care, into following His just and loving ways. God has empowered us with the freedom of choice over our own actions so that we may reveal and live out God’s just, loving, right and good ways. 

Let’s each choose to get to know God’s Word of Truth…instead of wearying God with our own words!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

A lot of people—both men and women—wear crosses around their necks. Some of these crosses are simple, some ornate, some delicate, some heavy, some hold deep, sentimental meaning. But all of them, whether intentionally done by the wearer or not, point to the place of sacrifice where our Lord Jesus wore and bore the weight of our sins—so that we may be forgiven and have eternal life.

Others will have Scripture verses written out in their homes, on stationery, on screen-savers, on bumper stickers and even on candy-wrappers.

This is all good…and can absolutely be ways to live as God’s child and witness to others. But! We must be sure that our actions, our very lives, are what truly wear and write out our testimony to our Holy God. 

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them around you neck,

write them on your heart.

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:3-4

What are you wearing and writing for the LORD? Let God’s love and faithfulness be what people see and read in you…and receive from you!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

A voice of one calling:

“In the desert prepare the way for the LORD;

make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be raised up,

every mountain and hill made low;

the rough ground shall become level,

the rugged places a plain.

And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,

and all mankind will together see it.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 40:3-5

Have you had someone call to you, talk with you, lovingly share the Word of the LORD with you? Share the Word of the LORD’s power to transform your life?

Have you listened? 

Have you taken God’s Word into your desert—where you need to let the LORD’s truth renew your mind and refresh your spirit?

Have you taken God’s Word into your wilderness—where you still tend to wander and rebel?

Have you taken God’s Word into your valleys of loneliness, rejection, disappointment, hurt and sadness so that God’s Spirit may lift you up with His unfailing love, perfect hope and eternal presence?

Have you taken God’s Word into your mountains and hills of what seem like insurmountable obstacles: being able to forgive that hateful person, healing from an addiction, being set free from victimhoom and self-inflicted failure, being filled with peace in the midst of turmoil and chaos in your family or at work?

Have you taken God’s Word into your own rugged and rough places that are filled with pride, prejudice, judgment, selfishness, lust and lying—so that God may transform you, refine you, smooth you, balance you and make you safe and level ground for other people to be around?

Let us Listen. Let us allow the Word of the LORD to enter fully into our lives. And together we will see the glory of our LORD Jesus Christ revealed before us…and in us!  

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Now this is what the LORD Almighty says:

Give careful thought to your ways. Haggai 1:5 and 7

The LORD’s speaks these same words twice within just a very short passage of Scripture. So, I’m thinking God wants us to pay attention to what He is saying.

And here the LORD is telling us to pay attention…be aware of…”give careful thought” to what we are doing.

These words of God’s challenge and encouragement, correction and direction were given to His people who, after years of exile, had been allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. And the people did indeed start their God given purposeful project. After two years of committed work the foundation of the new temple was completed. And there was great celebration.

But, then, the work on the temple just stopped. People got busy with their own lives, their own homes, their own schedules, their own priorities…their own ways. Even that soon after all they had suffered as a people because of disobedience…even that soon after God had made a way for them to come back to their homeland.

How quckly—if I am not careful—do I get back into my own ways of doing things…into my own patterns of behaviors that ignore God and, even, outrightly disobey Him? How easy is it for me to just focus on myself and what I want—if I do not consciously take the time to think about the fact that my entire life belongs to God?

It is out of God’s love for us that He calls us to “Give careful thought to your ways.”  As we recognize our tendencies to go our own ways…we may, with God’s ever willing heart to help us and lead us, return to doing things God’s ways.

And God’s ways are always for our best. Think about that! Carefully!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Think of some of the most amazing events and experiences that you have ever been privileged enough to witness. Maybe you witnessed sincere and deep lasting love between a husband and wife. Maybe the birth of a precious child…or a sick loved one getting well…or going home to be with Jesus. Maybe the beauty of the mountains…or oceans…or rivers…or endless, open fields…or canyons…or a sunrise…or a sunset. Maybe you witnessed (at last!) the winning of a championship game by your favorite team. Maybe you winessed and experienced a really great meal…with a really great friend.

From the life-changing to the life-gratifying, we are privileged to be witnesses to many amazing events and experiences over the course of our lifetime.

Our LORD calls us to witness something far more amazing than anything else we could ever imagine: the LORD Himself!

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD,

“and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may

know and believe me and understand that I am he.

Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.

I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.”

Isaiah 43:10-11

To be the LORD’s chosen witness is our LORD’s loving invitation to each of us to know and believe God and understand that the LORD alone is God…and the LORD alone is is our Savior. 

We could witness nothing—we could be nothing—more life-changing or life-gratifying than to be God’s chosen witness! 

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

David proclaimed it:

I love you, O LORD, my strength. Psalm 18:1

Jesus had to ask Peter three times.

“Do you love me?”

 Peter answered, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.

John 21:17

Loving our LORD, really loving our LORD, makes all the difference in everything we do…in every way we do it.

Does my life proclaim my love for my LORD? Or is it just a footnote among many other references and influences for my life?

Does my LORD Jesus know that I love Him? Like I want my husband, children and friends to know that I love them…and make an effort to live in a way that lets them know how much I love them? Do I love Jesus intensely, intentionally and passionately?

Yes, I do…though not at all perfectly by any stretch of the imagination—that perfect love for my LORD will finally, fully be known and expressed when there is absolutely no more sin in my life at all. And that will be in Heaven.

 But Yes, I do love my LORD…because He first loved me…and made a difference in everything…in every way in my life.

And our LORD’s love is able to make a difference in everyone’s life…every where. God already loves us. Do we love Him? God wants to know.

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane 

I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.

My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name forever.

Psalm 34:1-3

David was one happy psalmist when he wrote these words!  God had once again answered David’s prayers for deliverance from his enemies. And David was filled with overwhelming joy and thanksgiving for God’s goodness and salvation!

David was extolling the LORD! What’s that?? Extol is not a word I often use in my daily vocabulary. I understand the sense of it, and I like the sound of it. Extol is kind of fun to say.

I went to the dictionary just to get a more precise definition. Extol: to praise somebody or something with great enthusiasm and admiration!

Yep. I had the right understanding of the word. Now, it’s time to make sure I’m doing it! Make sure I’m extolling my LORD…praising my LORD…boasting IN my LORD…glorifying my LORD…exalting His name forever!

So let’s—EXTOL AWAY—when it comes to our Holy, Loving LORD!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.

Jeremiah 17:7

This verse is so bottom-line basic to our faith. We are called to place our heart and mind’s trust fully in the LORD as our God, as our Savior, our Strength, our Hope, our Peace, our Life. 

When we allow ourselves to really trust God like that—taking God at His Word—believing that God is who God is, we are empowered with a strong and peace-filled confidence that does not necessarily match the reality or even seem possible in consideration of the circumstances and the challenges that come into our lives.

Our confidence is not to be based on ourselves. Our confidence is not to be found in our strength, or health, or intellect, or bank-account, or talents, or education, or our positions in our jobs or society. 

All of these change. None of these will make any eternal difference for our lives.

But God never changes.  And God alone makes all the difference—now and for all eternity. The confidence that comes from our God is unchanging and unshakable. Because God is.

May each of us choose—in every circumstance and challenge of our lives—the blessing that comes from unchanging, unshakable confidence in the LORD alone. 

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48

I don’t know if Judas understood the full consequences of his betrayal of Jesus. Or that his greeting–this simple cultural greeting of the day, of their Middle-Eastern world–would be forever marred by this horrendous act of betrayal.

But it did make me start to question where and how easily do I betray my intimate relationship with Jesus as my Lord through my simple, everyday, thoughts, words and behaviors.

Do I betray my Lord in the way I use, and value, my time? In my rushing and busyness? How easily, how often, do I betray Jesus by rushing through my day, giving Him just a fleeting moment of my day, of my work, of my fully-focused attention?

Do I betray Jesus in my thoughts, words and actions? Where and how do I dishonor and betray my Lord’s love and sacrifice when I think, speak and act in prideful and self-centered ways (even if no one else ever sees them)?  

Do I betray Jesus in my relationships? Do I demand my own way? Do I forgive others? Or do I betray the cost of my own forgiveness given through the blood of Jesus by holding onto bitterness and resentment for the wrongs done to me? Do I love—sincerely, intentionally, actively, continually—those who I claim are precious people and top priorities in my life?

How simply I, too, can betray the love and Lordship of Jesus. And I know the consequences of those simple betrayals. They cost Him His life.

May we each be more thankful for, more aware of and more yielded to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in each of our moments, our thoughts, our words and our actions.

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane