What are you waiting for?  I have asked myself that question many times this summer.  Not that there has been much down time....no it has been very busy.  But there is a nagging in my soul....there is more.  As I prayed over this,  I felt impressed by the Holy Spirit to step out in expectation....not for vacations or prosperity...... not for success or honor........ not for anything but more of God.  "Lord, give me ears to hear...and opportunity....to cast my line.......put me in the game.....and get me off the shore."  

“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.

Psalm 39:6-8

Righteousness and Holiness....Two Different Things

Righteousness is only ours through faith in the substitionary work of Yeshua (Jesus) on the cross....but holiness (set apartness) is ours by obedience.  God said "Be ye holy as I am holy".  God is different.  We are to be different!  Obeying God's laws will definitely make you different.  If you choose to live a holy life you will quickly find out how uncomfortable your differentness is to others.  This does not make you better....we are all sinners saved by grace.  We all get our righteousness by faith.  But holiness.....now that is a conscience choice about how we live made many times throughout every day.  What are you willing to change or do to be holy today?  Don't avoid holiness because your salvation is not dependent upon it......Jesus said "if you love Me you will keep My commandments".  Do you love Him today,  will you chose to be set apart to holiness.....to be His in every way.  Shalom......may peace, joy, and holiness be yours today.

Tell the Truth

Tell yourself the truth.  Someone preached a sermon about this to me recently and it has deeply impacted my life.  Now I don't think of myself as a deceiver.....but after much contemplation I came to the disturbing conclusion that I am honest without exception .......except when it comes to myself.  That's right, I lie to myself daily.  Mostly about relatively unimportant things like how hard I am working on my diet or how hard I am working to get the bedroom remodel done.  But there are some more important ones too.  The object of the lie is important,  but less important than the willingness to live in less than the truth.  I want to look into a clear mirror not a cloudy one,  to see a true reflection.  We are told to live in the light......lies can't live in the light....and neither can we to the extent we lie.  Without getting to philosophical.....just tell yourself the truth.....and deal with whatever it is.  You might have to adjust something in your schedule....or change a habit......or repent....but tell yourself the truth.  Chances are you are the only one believing your lies anyway.