What's wrong with a little white lie????

We awoke to a layer of snow everywhere, now I am sitting here listening to it melt and run down the gutter...I pray my little plants are strong and hearty enough by now to weather the storms and keep on growing! Happy Day to all, my husband was called back to his job today so after 12 days of stressing I am thinking things might be looking up...yeehaw!!!!!

The skies are hazy today, we are playing pity pat when it comes to the weather, one day sunshine, warmth, shorts and flip flops the next... hazy, rainy, snowy, cold, sweats, and socks...I wish it would make up its mind and the barometric pressure would get on an even keel...my bones would surely appreciate it! No matter the weather the little birds come to feed each morning, there seem to be more and more coming each day...I love the fact that they know there is food for them here and that they are getting so comfortable on my porch that they do not even fly away when I walk out to sit and take in their beauty, they trust me finally...trust is a very difficult thing to earn by so many....I just thank God that my little feathered friends know that I am not here to hurt them, just to make sure they have feed and water and that this is a place that no harm will befall them! 

In prayer this morning I continued to pray for my sweet friends father who was doing some better when we chatted last evening, I prayed for my son~in~law who  stumbled and fell giving himself quiet a gash on his head Saturday night, I prayed for the many people who have come to me requesting special prayer for strength to overcome their illness' and disease, I prayed for those who have lost loved ones, who seem to be ambling through wondering how they will make it each day without them. I prayed for all of the babies being born that they will feel secure each and every day, that they will be given unconditional love, that they will be raised in a house where God's name is spoken often and that they will be educated and learn of Jesus Christ and all that he did for them. I lifted in prayer a young 8 year old boy so filled with anger and rage that his very own family fear that he might cause harm to someone, I asked God to lay his hands upon this young man, to calm the anger in his body and to give clarity in his way of thinking, to make a way for this young man to benefit from counseling and anger control classes, but most of all for him to understand the why there is anger in him and what he can do to get the beast under control so that he can have a calm and peace filled life. I prayed for each of you, that God will make provision in your life this very day, that he will allow you what is needed for you to have strength, will, and hope for only good things to come into your life, I prayed for all struggling financially, asking God to make a way for those passed due bills to be paid, to make a way for those repairs to be done, for anything that you are behind in today to be brought current so that the stress in your life will turn to calm. I asked God to bless each of us abundantly and to never turn away from us, I got on my knees and asked him to show me who is in the darkness this morning, to show me how I can shine his light and help anyone in need and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that before this day turns dark he will bless me with who is in need. Father God we pray for these mercies, graces, favors and blessings in the name of your son, our savior, Jesus Christ. Amen..

As I was in my chat mode this morning with God I asked him what would be the discussion of the day and I felt that he laid this upon my heart...

TRUST

It is a huge blessing for others to trust and believe in you, it is a huge honor to God for us to be trustworthy...What is trust? The dictionary definition is: Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

Are you a trustworthy person, can people take what you say and know that it will be done? Can people look to you for truth and know that you will always be true and never lie? Back in the days before I really knew Christ and accepted him into my heart, the days of drinking and being wild, I am ashamed to say that I took the trust I had to give, away from most everyone I knew, I, most of the time, did not know the difference between the truth and a lie, I did and said whatever would benefit myself and did not care if it hurt others...Before I knew Christ personally I did not care for much of anything or anyone in my life. I was only in it for myself! It has taken me years to regain the trust of others, it has taken a lot of heartache and pain to be trusted again, I have had to be shut out, pushed down, and condemned, I have had to hear ugly truths about myself, I have had to look in the mirror and see the ugly person I was, I had to take off all the hide behind masks so that I could attack the real me with honesty and get back in the footsteps of Christ...TRUTH is the greatest of all virtues a person can hang on to, it is the hardest to maintain, and the most rewarding to possess. Why??? I think when you are truthful, even if it stings for a bit, You are honoring God...remember "thou shalt not lie" is one of the big 10...I do not think God would have chosen that one to be up there if he did not wish for us to live by it....As I said it has taken me years to regain the trust that I destroyed and I have found that the truth really does set one free....Don't hold on to lies, don't let lies determine who you are, don't be in the mindset that you have to remember what you told to who...if you life a lie free life, you don't have to worry about being found out....once you get used to it, telling the truth is much easier than telling a lie. I am not saying to go out and tell people in a rude way that they don't look good today...there is tacky truth and there is tactful truth...ALWAYS be tactful, don't go around hurting other peoples feelings but do tell the truth in all things. I tell people all of the time that if they do not want to hear the truth.....don't ask me! If you ask me do these pants make my bum look big, if they do, I will tell you so, I would not say...."oh my goodness your bum looks huge" I would say "you know, I think a different style might be more flattering on you" If someone asks me "do you like my hair this way" If it was not a good style for them I would say.." the other style you had was more flattering for your facial shape, but if you like it that is all that matters" These are ways of being honest but giving positive reinforcement in doing so. My mode of thinking these days is...before I speak....is it truthful, is it honest??? If it is not...I don't say it! Don't go down the road I was on so many years ago, don't hurt others just to get your way, don't promise things you cannot give, don't give hope when you know there is none for you to give. Don't HURT others with your lies....it is a hideous injustice to hurt others to make yourself feel better. If you are in it to win it, take responsibility for your downfalls, don't place blame on others, don't deny that you were wrong, don't try to shame someone to make your shame look better. If you did it ....own it....be responsible for you actions!!!

If you are known for being a person who is not truthful, don't expect that just because you are changing this today that people will automatically begin to believe you,,,one simple lie can change the entire motion of your world, but it might take a hundred or more truths to change it back...Be willing to be truthful always, be willing to make this change not just for today...make sure you are being dedicated and changing for a lifetime. Don't get angry if the ones who do not trust you don't open up and begin believing again...YOU have done this to yourself and it will take time for others to believe in you...IT IS SO WORTH IT THOUGH...it feels really good to be honest and true, if you have fallen into the "lie" lifestyle....why not let today be the first day of your true and honest self????

 What the Bible Says About... Honesty and Truth

What is honesty and why is it so important? What's wrong with a little white lie? The Bible actually has a lot to say about honesty, as God has called Christian teens to be honest people. Even little white lies to protect someone's feelings can compromise your faith. Remember that speaking and living the truth help those around us come to the Truth.

Answer:

God, Honesty, and Truth

Christ said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If Christ is Truth, then it follows that lying is moving away from Christ. Being honest is about following in God's footsteps, for He cannot lie. If the Christian teen's goal is to become more God-like and God-centered, then honesty needs to be a focus.

Hebrews 6:18 - "So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie." (NLT)

Reveals Our Character

Honesty is a direct reflection of your inner character. Your actions are a reflection on your faith, and reflecting the truth in your actions is a part of being a good witness. Learning how to be more honest will also help you keep a clear conscious.

Character plays a big role in where you go in your life. Honesty is considered a characteristic employers and college interviewers look for in candidates. When you are faithful and honest, it shows.

Luke 16:10 - "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." (NIV)

1 Timothy 1:19 - "Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked." (NLT)

Proverbs 12:5 - "The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful." (NIV)

God's Desire

While your honesty level is a reflection of your character, it is also a way to show your faith. In the Bible, God made honesty one of his commandments. Since God cannot lie, He sets the example for all of His people. It is God's desire that we follow that example in all that we do.

Exodus 20:16 - "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." (NIV)

Proverbs 16:11 - "The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness." (NLT)

Psalm 119:160 - "The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever." (NLT)

Keeping Your Faith Strong

Being honest is not always easy. As Christians we know how easy it is to fall into sin. Therefore, you need to work at being truthful, and it is work. The world does not give us easy situations, and sometimes we need to really work to keep our eyes on God in order to find the answers. Being honest can sometimes hurt, but knowing that you are following what God wants for you will make you more faithful in the end.

Honesty is also not just how you speak to others, but also how you speak to yourself. While humility and modesty is a good thing, being too harsh on yourself is not being truthful. Also, thinking too highly of yourself is a sin. Thus, it is important for you to find a balance of knowing your blessings and shortcomings so you can continue to grow.

Proverbs 11:3 - "Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people." (NLT)

Romans 12:3 - "Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us." (NLT)