What is Your Reputation?

Let this mind be in you, which

was also in Christ Jesus:

Who being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to b e

equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:5-7

Because of our moving as much as we have, when joining a new church, I often find that as we get acquainted, church members seem to want to tell us about others in the church we may not have met yet.  Most of the time, those people will be kind and even complimentary.  However, there are those quick to let us know what to look for in certain others such as:

*  "She is very wealthy and will be quick to let you know about it."

*  "Be careful what you tell her because it'll be around the church by Sunday."

*  "She is very pushy."

*  "If she doesn't get her way, everyone will pay for it."

*  "Watch out if she's in a bad mood."

*  "She's attractive on the outside BUT..."

Believe it or not, I have heard all of those things said about fellow church members.  When one is new to the church though, it's hard to put the comment about someone with their face.  No matter who you are, you can't help but be affected by those comments.  However, I guess it's all too common for folks to clue in the new person on the block.

When it comes to reputation though, the sad thing is that when we hear the word, we tend to immediately think of negative things.  The kindest person in your church has come to be known for that quality and when "kindness" is attached to her name, that's a part of her reputation.  Some things that I have heard on the more positive side are:

*  "There's not a mean bone in her body."

*  "She has a heart as big as her body."

*  "She would give you the shirt off of her back."

*  "It there's a job to be done, folks call on her."

*  "Don't gossip around her...she'll walk away."

*  "She has a beautiful singing voice."

The list could go on and on with both lists.  A person's reputation are those personal qualities a person is known by.  For most people who know us, when our name is mentioned, a picture will emerge in the mind of the listener.  Sometimes, a person's reputation is deliberately smeared and damaged by people for their own reasons and it's just not fair. 

There are some things my husband is known for by anyone who has done business with him.  I don't know that I can recall in 43 years of marriage when he has been late in paying a bill.  He has a system where he carefully tracks what has been mailed and what is next to be mailed.  Our credit rating is about as high as any one's can be.  If you want to rile Brian up, refer to him as a dead-beat.  I feel bad for a company that bills Brian for something that he paid off three weeks ago.  This is just an area of Brian's life where he is squeaky clean. 

Anyone who has dealt with Brian in business knows by now that he is a person of integrity.

In most cases, we establish our own reputation whether positive or negative.  For most people, they may not care if they are viewed as being honest or dishonest, hard working or lazy, loving or spiteful, generous or stingy.  In the long run for we Christians, our testimony for Christ may rest upon the reputation we have established for ourselves.

I have also known people who work very hard at establishing their reputation so that people will think the very best of them.  Reputations usually are revealed in a very natural way, simply revealing who we are.  We rarely sit down and take inventory of who and what we are in the eyes of others.  Outsiders may try to damage one's good reputation.  We may damage our own reputations.  The only real help available for a damaged reputation is in the damage control that only god can provide.

Let's remember that Jesus came from Heaven, a baby to a godly couple to be raised in the dust, dirt and nitty-gritty of this old world.  As He grew to manhood, any number of times, He could have pulled rank..."Don't you know I'm the Son of God...I'm special so treat me different from other people."   He could have come off as some kind of spoiled brat, after all, His Father was/is  THE God of the universe, owning the cattle on a thousand hills."  No, He didn't come to be known as we think of popularity.  In fact in His ministry, He downplayed His miracles.  He, at times, didn't even want His name used very much.  He was very low key when it came to flaunting who He was.

Jesus according to our verses in the beginning, came not wanting to make some huge name for Himself.  Even He said of Himself that He came to seek and save those who were lost.  He came with the attitude of being a servant, not to be served but to serve.  He was a  people person, looking out for the needs of others.  However, Jesus' reputation was pretty much known depending on who you talked to.  There were those who raved about Jesus...those he taught, fed and healed.  There was though an element who didn't have a good think to say about Him.  The religious muckity-mucks accused him of false claims, such as not keeping the law.

So what do we do.  We live like Jesus did.  Jesus just went about the business of loving and helping people.  From what we can tell, almost on a daily basis, he was ministering in the lives of others.  He kept in close contact with His Father...a Man of prayer.  He was in and taught the Scriptures.  He made the right kind of close friends but didn't shy away from the sinful ones who needed His help.  You see, as long as Jesus was doing what was right, His reputation would take care of itself.  He wasn't out to gain a doting following of groupies.

With all of that, it would appear that Jesus' reputation was a sterling one.  No...even the Perfect One in some circles spoke ill of Him, accusing, pointing out what they saw to be His faults.  May I say that the same will happen to us.  Jesus said that if He was persecuted, what makes us think we, His followers won't be.  No matter how pristeenly you and I try to live, there will be the accusers ready to tear us down for their own recreation if nothing else.

Let's determine to not be out to make for ourselves some show off kind of reputation, so that people in general will feel we are something wonderful.  Let's dump the prideful attitudes and take on the mind of Christ and the role of servanthood as well.  Let's leave our reputation with Him with the caution that we live a clean, circumspect life that will please our Lord.

Dear Lord...I want to much to be more like You.  I know I can only do that in Your Holy Spirit power so please empower me to live my life for You and others.  Help me to be alert to protect the good reputations of others, never tearing down Christian brothers and sisters.  May I not be busy about building a hyped-up reputation for myself but to bring glory to You in all I do.  I love you.....Amen.

For Such a Time as This

...and who knoweth whether thou art

come to the kingdom for such a

time as this?

Esther 4:14

Esther had won the beauty contest, but she could never know what God had in store for her. One day she was going about her daily routine, a young woman who had been adopted by her older cousin Mordecai. Adoption was the usual thing for extended family members to do when the parents of a child died. Esther was ordered to appear at the palace where the king would later select a new queen from all the young woman of Babylon who had been brought to the palace. Esther must have had physical features much like other young Babylonian women because the king would not have knowingly chosen a Jewess as queen. Esther won the title as queen of the land. Mordecai made the trip to the palace and positioned himself near the main entrance to the palace where he could keep track of Esther.

Through a series of events, evil Haman, a close cohort of the king plotted and planned for the Jews of the land to be annihilated. To this point, Mordecai had instructed Esther to not make known that she was a Jew as he was fearful for her life. However, things changed and an appearance before the king by Esther was necessary here she announced who she really was. In the end, we know that the kind loved Esther so much that a way was made for the Jews to protect themselves, evil Haman was executed and Esther was exalted.

Esther's story is a very real one. It isn't a fairy tale but a true life experience of one young woman who never thought she would one day experience all she did. Your and my story is just as real as Esther’s story. Her true and inspiring story is found in Old Testament Scripture, but our stories are just as important as hers even though ours may not be quite as dramatic.

Do you, like me, ever wonder why you were born into the family you were born into or the hometown we lived in? What about historical time...I always wanted to be an indian princess, living in a tepee out on the prairie somewhere. That was going on during my junior high days. I read every western book our Central School library owned. Although a Christian then, I really didn't understand how God's providence worked in my life. In high school and college, I began to grasp the concept that God was working behind the scenes in my life and that His ways and means held great mystery and yes, often great surprises.

I must tell you that at this present day, I find myself in another “time as this.” We moved here to this wonderful, little mountain town in June 2011. It had been a dream of ours to make this move and felt a perfect peace in coming here. We had originally planned to move in September of 2011 but through a series of circumstances, the move was moved up to that June. My Sunday school class still marvels at this move. If we had come in September, I would not have been their Sunday school teacher or church pianist. All of those offices are filled in August so I would have missed out. They think that “fluke” was pretty cool, despite my trying to tell them that with God there are no flukes. However, little did I know that within a year, our pastor would retire which left a few things he had kindly done in the way of secretarial tasks that now needed someone else to step in to do...enter, stage right...Glendarae. When we made our move, there is no way I could have known the ways I would be called upon to serve the Lord here.

I have thought of historical people who themselves stepped into responsibilities that God had planned for them: George Washington, Corrie ten Boom, Jonathan Edwards, Oswald Chambers, Ronald Reagan and the list could go on and on. They stepped into their own time, just living life as they thought it should be lived with little fanfare. Perhaps some knew they held the destiny of their times in their hands but most were common people doing what they felt God wanted them to do in a very routine way.

No matter how common you and I are, God has you and me where we are “for such a time as this.” If you are presently raising children in your home, you have no idea how your children might one day change the events and times of where they live. That daughter may be the wife of a Billy Graham, or a teacher/missionary in a distant land. Right now, you wipe noses and clean up spilled cereal and wonder if this phase of life will ever end. Believe me, it will but God's will for that child will remain the same through every phase of growing up and you will be the main person in that child's life who loved, trained and yes prayed that child into his or her own “time as this.”

We may have a background responsibility at church that few know about but God knows and the small things we do are building blocks for something bigger in the life of our church. Our part may be small and unnoticed, but we are in place for “such a time as this.” This is one thing that's going to make Heaven so much fun. God will one day reveal the impact of the small and maybe bigger things we did here that counted big time in His plan. I am convinced that the lone church nursery worker who maybe rocks that one baby during a church service that she would love to attend, has no idea what her investment of time and love will mean down the road in the life of that now baby. Her reward in Heaven may be greater than that famous lady who travels, speaking to hundreds and thousands of ladies for it will rest in one's motive and dedication to their individual tasks.

I am convinced that there is a piece of Esther in all of us. We may not be queens in a palace. Perhaps we are housewives or that single lady in her apartment. We may not wear the very finest of expensive attire. Maybe I'm writing to a reader who has a very small wardrobe with no funds to do any better. We may not wear crowns on our heads or be attended by servants who bow before us. You see, all of that was well and good for Esther. God had her in place for the task that needed to be done.

If you and I think back, we can probably remember when God had us in a certain place and time to do a specific task. It may not have been a big or noticeable task but God knew of it's importance. Maybe someone else could have done the job better than you or me but He had us in place to do it for His own reasons. I am convinced as we plod through life day by day that we loose sight of God's purpose in each of our days. We look at others and see how their lives seem to be filled with excitement and achievement and want that for ourselves. However, there are probably folks looking at you and me wishing they could be doing what we are doing.

Esther was in place to save her people. When she first entered the king's palace to be evaluated, she had no idea the real reason as to why she was there, but God did. In those days, women were used for very little, had no rights. They were expected to just accomplish the usual womanly things. Who could have known how all of this would work out for her and her cousin, Mordecai. You see, when we determine to be God's women, it can affect everyone around us, especially loved ones. As you and I sit in our “castles”, may we be aware that God has put us where we are for these specific moments. We may not understand a lot about God's plan right now, but He does. God intends to accomplish His plan through those of us willing to be who we are, and where we are...”for such a time as this.”

Dear Father, I feel so unworthy yet so grateful that You have chosen me to be a part of Your grand plan. I'm not worthy of Your consideration but so grateful that You have placed me where You have for “such a time as this.” Keep me alert to those ways You want to use me and may I have a willing heart to accomplish all You intend even though it may appear to be very daily and perhaps at times even boring. May I find excitement in every day of life knowing You will direct my every step. I love you, Father. Amen.

The Blessings of Adoption

For ye have not received the spirit of

bondage again to fear; but ye have

received the spirit of adoption,

whereby we cry,

Abba, Father.

Romans 8:15

Jennie Elaina Lanoue was born Monday night, November 6, 1972 around 10:00 PM. Brian and I knew we were going to be adopting a baby and we didn't care if the baby was a girl or boy. This was a private adoption arranged through our pastor and all of the legalities handled by a well respected lawyer in our community. I got the call on the Tuesday morning that our baby girl had been born and that we would probably receive her sometime on Thursday of that week. We were as excited as we could possibly be.

Jennie was in our home for close to a month when our lawyer called and said that we would need to appear in court in Chicago, Illinois in order to get legal custody of Jennie. This had to be done to insure her legal safety until her adoption would be final in June of 1973. So in mid-December we prepared for our court date. I dressed her in her prettiest dress, wrapping her up in two or three blankets against the bitter Chicago winter weather. Upon arriving at the court house, our lawyer first led us to the County Sheriff's department where Jennie had to be served with a summons....yep, not us...Jennie. I was required to lay her on a tall counter and then Brian and I had to step back some measured distance away from her. The lawyer stood at the counter with Jennie. A lady with a summons in hand approached Jennie first wrapping her little right hand fingers around the summons. She then rubbed Jennie's head with the summons and then wrapped her little left hand fingers around the summons. Jennie was sleeping, oblivious to this ridiculous procedure.

We then went to the courtroom where sat the most grandfatherly judge I had ever seen. We stood before him with me holding Jennie, her little face nuzzled into my neck as she continued to sleep on my left shoulder. The judge chit-chatted with us for a brief time and then gave us our responsibilities as adoptive parents and I'll never forget those instructions.

He told us that the state had firm expectations of adoptive parents and Jennie had certain rights as our soon-to-be-daughter. Jennie had a right to expect to:

• bear our family name
• be loved unconditionally
• have all physical needs met
• be appropriately educated
• have all medical care provided
• be protected and safe from danger
• share in any inheritance of our estate
• have parents that would never give her back or give up on her.

Just as he finished giving us the list, he paused and looked at Jennie as she slept on my shoulder. He spoke to Jennie which was about as odd as having a summons rubbed on her head. He said, “Well Jennie, this looks like good folks who want you to be their little girl. What do you think about that?” It shocked us all that as he finished the question, she stirred and gave out one of those contented baby sighs that could be clearly heard by anyone even near to where the judge was sitting. He smiled and said, “That's good enough for me.”

We didn't have to go back to court in June as the lawyer just had to go to finalize things. A caseworker came from the state for a couple of home visits but for the most part, things went well.

Forgive if I have belabored this personal saga but every time I read Romans 8:15 I think of those days of an earthly adoption. I think of those instructions the judge gave us regarding our responsibilities as new parents of this precious baby girl.

Paul says that you and I have received the spirit of adoption. We're a part of God's family. He has chosen to be my Heavenly Father. I had more to do with this remarkable relationship than Jennie had to do with her adoption. She really didn't have any say but I wanted to be God's child. Because of being adopted into God's family through the sacrifice of Jesus that made my adoption possible, I have the right to call God “Abba Father.” Our children have had a lot of friends through the years, but let me tell you that there were only three children I knew who had the right to call Brian and me “Dad” and “Mom.” Jennie, our adopted baby had that right with all of the privileges that came with it. Our other two children had the same right because of their natural birth into our family.

I am reminded of those things the judge reminded us of regarding our parental responsibilities and how wonderful to see that my adoptive Heavenly Father has and continues to provide those very same things in my life such as:

• I have the privilege of bearing His name...Christian
• God, my Father has provided for my physical and medical needs
• He has protected me, shielding me from danger, rendering overall care
• He loves me unconditionally.
• He has educated me, not in the things of the world as much as in the things of His Word...those things needful in being His child
• Through Him I will have an inheritance I don't even know much about. I know I'll receive a new house in a new city, with rewards and the riches of God as He sees fit.
• God has never given me back to the world. He has kept me despite the ways I have disappointed Him. He's never given up on me. He's always held out high hope that I could really count for Him.
  
  I don't have adoption papers from God like we have had on Jennie. But He has sealed me with His Holy Spirit. Our relationship is a done deal, no giving up. I am His and He is mine...no turning back...no turning back.
  
  

P.S.: Love you Jennie from that first day you were handed to us to this very day. It's funny that we've never really used the word “adoption” around our house. It's never been an issue. There were times out in public when you and Beverly were much younger that people would comment on how much the two of you looked alike.  It got to where you two would look at each other  and smile a knowing smile.  We are so proud of you as you love and serve the Lord.

Thank you Father...for drawing me to Yourself. I'm grateful for the example You have set for all parents. Through You, we know who and what we are supposed to be as parents to the children You have blessed us with. Thank You for standing by during times of my joy and my every need. May I seek to please You in all I do. May I enjoy thoroughly this wonderful relationship I have with You. Thank You for Your Son Jesus and for Your Holy Spirit. I love You. Amen.

Love That Fruit!!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

faith, meekness, temperance:

against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

For a time, our family lived in the same town as my Daddy's parents. I loved spending time with Grandma Benbrook. I was probably around 5 years of age when she passed away, and her death was a real loss to me. She always had fun things we could do together when I went to her house. We would pick veggies from the garden together and would also gather eggs from the hen house. Across the street in a vacant lot, there were raspberry bushes where we would pick berries for her to bake cobblers. There was also a cherry tree in her backyard and when in season, lots of cherries were used in pies and jellies. (In her 50's, Grandma climbed up into her cherry tree and fell to the ground breaking a hip. Two years ago I found myself up one of our trees trimming branches and thought of her and smiled.) All of these fruits are of course great to the taste and tummy along with other fruit favorites I could mention.

Scripture speaks of fruit also, one of the main places being Galatians 5:22-23. The fruits mentioned in these verses aren't fruits that can be made into pies, cobblers, fruit salads or juices. These fruits can't be picked off of bushes, from trees or off the ground. They can't be eaten and enjoyed physically. The blending of the various elements that make up spiritual fruit can be evidenced in the lives of born again believers. These elements are not even considered individual fruits because they are referred to as being the FRUIT minus an S on the end. This spiritual fruit is not fruit that can be purchased or picked. This fruit becomes a part of you and me through a relationship with Jesus Christ. There are no shortcuts, this fruit is never on sale. These are qualities that should be more and more evident in our lives as our relationship with the Lord grows.

These different virtues that make up the fruit of the Spirit can be narrowed down into three areas that might give us some perspective.

Christian virtues: love, joy, peace

These virtues are available to us upon salvation. We are told in Scripture that love is of God, and that we have joy unspeakable and full of glory. Jesus said He gives us peace and not the peace the world has to offer. These three elements of the fruit of the Spirit are foundational for all other spiritual assets God wants to grow in our lives.

Social virtues: longsuffering, gentleness, goodness

This will be obvious in our relationships with others. How patient am I with others and is there a tenderness or gentleness in my life as I relate with others. Do people in general see goodness in my life that can be viewed in my own good behavior or in how I treat others in a goodly manner.

Personal virtues: faith, meekness, temperance

In this area we find virtues that are very personal. Only I know what the faith level is in my own life. Only I know if there is true meekness in my life or if I am putting on a show before others. I have to live day by day knowing my level of personal self control. These elements may come through in one way or another to others but only I really know where I am in these three areas.

All of these virtues make up the Fruit of the (Holy) Spirit. Let's not forget where this fruit comes from. These are not viable spiritual virtues in the life of the unsaved. However, I hurry to say and to some shame that we may know unsaved people who seem to have some of these virtues in their lives more than do some Christians. However, the virtues of the unsaved may look good for a time, but are as phony as decorator fruit in a bowl on a dining room table. It is mostly for show.

These virtues that make up our Fruit of the Spirit should serve for you and me as a check list. At no time am I where I want to be in all of these areas of my spiritual walk. Where I am lacking, I need to make those things a matter of prayer to be strengthened so that I will be a greater witness and influence for Christ.

Let me digress and leave you with a wonderful fruit salad recipe that is so refreshing in these summer days. It is easy with several elements, but that makes up a:

FRUIT (no S) SALAD

Ingredients:

2 lg cans chunk pineapple

4 small cans mandarin oranges (drained)

1 jar maraschino cherries (drained & rinsed)

3 bananas

Instant vanilla pudding (1 lg or 2 small pkgs.)

Mix pudding in pineapple juice

Add all fruits and mix well

Slice bananas and add just before serving

You may add or subtract as much fruit as you like

depending on your personal likes.

Some people add 1 cup of whole pecans.

In these summer days may we enjoy the physical fruits of the season. At the same time, may we evaluate where we are in our relationship with the Holy Spirit as He desires to work in and through us. Remember that He will always point us to Jesus, who is the epitome of each virtue found in the Fruit of the Spirit.

Dear Father...Thank You for equipping me in my spiritual walk with You. Thank for Jesus dying for me and for You sending Your Holy Spirit after You returned to Heaven. I am so blessed but I know I am also responsible to You for living a fruitful life that is honoring to You. Strengthen me in my walk as I want to be authentic in my witness for You. I love You. Amen

Evil vs Righteousness

Be not overcome of evil,

but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12: 21

When in grade school and somewhat during my junior high days, owning a stack of comic books was a hobby many friends and I shared. We traded comic books almost on a weekly basis. Comic books usually sold for 5 cents where I lived but the thicker Classic comic books sold for a dime. I could trade a comic book that was in good shape evenly for one in the same condition from a friend. If the cover had come off of any comic books, you only got one comic book in good shape for two that were torn up. One of my friends loved all of the romance comic books so my mom wouldn't let me trade with her.

I loved the cowboy comic books as well as some of the super hero ones. May I tell you that in everyone of those comic books I read as a young girl, all carried the same theme....right always triumphed over wrong. You always knew who the good guys were and not just because they wore a white hat. For pity sake, even Mighty Mouse knew the importance of doing what was right, of telling the truth and of being a good citizen. Even in comic books, children were taught good manners, strong ethics and genuine concern for others.

Pick up a comic book today and you will find that the covers are enough to strike panic in anyone. Characters are grotesque in appearance, have little in the way of good character traits and turn young people to the dark side.

Where did it all begin? The most horrible sin of all time is found in Genesis 3. That's where evil really began on the earth. Eve looked, listened and yielded at the very suggestions of the devil in serpent form. She and Adam set everyone else up for a life of sin and all involved with it. Evil has steam rolled itself down through the years to where we are at this moment.

We live in a day where evil seems to run free. Unfortunately, we often find evil in places that surprise us. As a former social worker with foster children, I never got used to their stories of hurt and abuse. Of all places, these things happened to these children, it happened a lot in their own homes, where a child should feel loved and safe. Their abuse occurred during family reunions, when visiting a relatives home or worse yet on the part of a parent. Their stories would stand your hair on end. Where once the home was the epitome of love and safety, that very often isn't the case anymore.

In our day we see evil reigning supreme in our government. Many leaders are liars and they don't even attempt to cover up their lying. Many look straight into a TV monitor and on nationwide news will look into a camera and lie through their teeth. I'm not talking about any particular branch of government as it's a problem in all areas. Are there some good guys in government...of course there are. There are Christians in Congress who meet weekly in engaging Bible study sessions. We live in a day though where right is compromised and explained away. The guys in the black hats seem to have everything going for them even though they often sound like senseless idiots. They are lifted up as being brilliant, honest people to be respected.

Evil often runs rampant in a church. I've seen all the bumper stickers that reflect on hypocrites in churches. It's true...churches are full of hypocrites. No church is perfect. If I were to find a perfect church and join it, I would mess it up. We all bring our baggage into the church we attend. That's where we can be rid of our old baggage and start out fresh. However, there are folks in churches who don't recognize their own manipulating ways. Those folks tend to be those who are in church purely for the social experience. They will step on any Christian to get to the next rung on the ladder of leadership or popularity. They have to have their way and will do any unscrupulous thing to get to the top. They will gossip, push and shove people into getting their own way and will even lie and cheat to get where they want to be. Don't ask them to attend Sunday school or any evening services. Give them room to do their thing and they are happy. You will rarely see them with a Bible in hand. It's frustrating for those trying to do right, trying to live as would please the Lord. So it appears at times that evil is the winner.

SOOOOO....

You and I have these times. As Christians, we love Jesus, the very personification of goodness and perfection. I am jealous for Him Who gave so much. Jesus holds the upper hand whether it looks like it in our day or not. Whatever the evil we see, wherever it is, what can you and I do about it...what is to be our response?

First of all, we are not called to lay down and play dead. I've heard Christians suggest that to speak up against the evil around us is not our job. I will add to that statement that one of the reasons our country is in the shape it is in is because of the silence of Christians who refuse to take a stand against the evil of our day. For some Christians, that would be a hard thing to do anyway because so much of Christianity in our country has been assimilated into the culture of the present. You and I must have a deep sense of what is righteous so that we recognize evil by contrast the minute we are in the presence of it. As citizens, we are to vote. A non-voter has no right to complain about anything the government does or doesn't do. We are also called to pray for our leaders. We are to stand for right as God presents those opportunities to us. That stand may be just one on one with another person. A stand we take will rarely take place on the capitol steps.

Secondly, be strong spiritually. I know I seem to belabor these things but we are not going to be strong in the Lord if we are never in His Word or in prayer. We are further strengthened as we meet to worship with other Christians and actively serve the Lord as He leads. Be alert spiritually to the wiles of the devil. We cannot have the attitude that we are untouchable by Satan. Just as we speak in a prideful way of sins we would never commit, we set ourselves up as a target. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8

Next, you and I ought to walk in righteousness. We should be careful about casting stones at other people we might disagree with. If someone we respect lies about something, what right do we have to criticize her if we have spent the day lying whether it is about how we're feeling or if we like what she is wearing. Righteousness should begin at home, with us as individuals. We never want to be justifiably tagged as one of those hypocrites. When speaking of righteousness, we are talking about simply doing what is right.

Last but certainly not least, we have to have control of our own thinking. When presented with evil people or circumstances, we must get control of our own thought life. We choose what we think about and this is an area where Satan wants to get victory over us as well.

Philippians 4:8 tells us: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” We're not given a choice here. We are told to think on certain things. Scripture would never command us to do something that is impossible to do.

Satan knows our negative thinking can pull us down to the point that we lose hope. Psalm 39:7 says: “Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.” You see, we quickly find out in the down times where we've placed our hope. So often we hope in the things and relationships of the world whether we're aware of it or not. Each day I can visit God's Word and have my hope renewed and reinforced. His Word never fails or wavers. This helps me refocus...taking my eyes and thoughts off of the undeserving and looking to the Love of my life. After all, we know the end of the story. We know who wins in the end and that's where we pin our hope. Let's keep looking up...not around and about.

Dear Jesus, never let me forget that You are the Victor. I want Your power in my life to combat any evil I am confronted with. Help me to be salt and light in a world where You have placed me. May I always seek to do what is right. Thank You for all of Your goodness in my life. I love You. Amen