10 Ways to Identify a Woman of Integrity

Psalm 15:2-5
Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right,
    speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
3 Those who refuse to gossip
    or harm their neighbors
    or speak evil of their friends.
4 Those who despise flagrant sinners,
    and honor the faithful followers of the Lord,
    and keep their promises even when it hurts.
5 Those who lend money without charging interest,
    and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.

Would you consider yourself to be a woman of integrity?  Until my recently, I would have answered yes without question.  

In my last post, I shared how my cell phone was stolen this past weekend.  (Update below.) It's easy to think I'm a woman of integrity because I don't steal cell phones.  But when I study God's Word - I see something a different standard.

In my quiet time, I'm studying David and the years prior to him becoming king.  The decisions David made during these lean, hard years, prepared him for the destiny God had for him.  David chose to make one good decision after another... after another.

But when I look at the integrity behind the decisions David made, I see how we must be careful of the so called "small areas" of life.   In God's eyes, these small areas are character defining.

Below are a few ways we can "tighten up."  They may sound harsh.  But until we call things WHAT THEY ARE, and see things the way God sees them, we'll continue to be deceived by our own self-righteousness.

• Do you have conviction?  When you read the news, do you have God's sense of right and wrong - standing firmly upon it?  (It's not always the popular viewpoint.)

• Do you base your moral compass on what everyone else says is right or wrong?  Or is your moral compass based upon God's standards?   

• Do you tell "white lies" telling yourself it's only a little lie so it really doesn't count?

• Do you do the right thing, all the time, even when no one is looking or when you'll not get any credit?

• Do you ever twist the facts so that it becomes the truth?  This way, you can have an appearance of being honest.

• Do you ever emotionally manipulate people to get what you want?  (intentionally or unintentionally)   Sometimes this is hard to see in ourselves.  But if we really want to be women of integrity, don't fight that small voice in your heart that may be revealing that you're a manipulator.  I speak from experience.

• Do you keep your word or because of the rushed world we live in, forget and fail to be a woman of your word?  Such examples could include: 

1. Telling someone you'll do something, and then fail to carry it out...   
2. Telling someone you'll pray, then forgetting...  
3. Telling someone you want to have lunch or coffee with them, never really intending to do it because of your busy schedule.

• Do you retaliate when someone betrays you unjustly?

• Do you approach your Christian service (or any for that matter) as an effort done at your convenience?  They're lucky to have you, right?   So you show up late; prepare the morning of or night before.

• Do you gossip about others but become very critical of others who may be gossiping about you?

Very convicting list.  I'm GUILTY of some of these.  Are you?

I've been hearing "tighten up," in my heart.  Jesus says in Luke 16:10, "If you are faithful in the little things, you will be faithful in large ones.  But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities..."

If this is a convicting post, be encouraged.  An honest self-assessment will ultimately bring freedom... Making you a woman of integrity, not only in the eyes of men, but most importantly, in the eyes of the ONE Who ultimately matters - The Lord God Almighty, Himself!

"Nothing is more pathetic than having a small character in a big assignment. Many of us don't want to give attention to our character; we just want the big assignment from God." 

- Henry Blackaby

UPDATE
Thank you for your prayers, I got my cell phone back!  The 19 year old kid made a small series of good decisions following his disastrous one.  I'm praying he's on his way to becoming a man of integrity.  Psalm 25:8, "He shows the proper path to those who go astray."   Glory to God!

The Link between Decisions and Integrity

Psalm 26:11
I live with integrity.  So redeem me and show me mercy.

This past weekend my cell phone was stolen from the hotel room my family and I were staying in. We had been on the beach and had decided to ride bikes to eat lunch.  So we went up to the room, got money, I plugged in my phone and then rode bikes to our lunch destination.

Upon my return an hour later,  the phone and the charger were gone.  We called the police. Ultimately, a 19 year old kid in housekeeping confessed.  He lost his job and was charged with larceny.

Ouch.

I can't help but wonder the trail of bad decisions that led up to the brazenness to callously steal.  But one thing is for sure:  one REALLY bad decision between 2:00 and 2:15pm on a random Saturday, changed the trajectory of this young man's life.

My heart hurts him.  Though angry on Saturday, by Sunday morning, I was reading the Lord's prayer. Jesus tells us to ask for forgiveness of our sins, but to also forgive those who sin against us.

This young man sinned against me and my family.  He violated our safe space.  He stole something of great value ($900+).   Though insurance will cover some of it, I still have to pay the deductible.  I also now have to invest the TIME in replacement, etc.  (Time is something I seem to lack these days.) You know the drill.  Not fun.  Other than email, I'm officially off the grid for a week minimally.

Regardless, I choose to forgive this young man.  I want my sins forgiven, so I have no other choice, but to choose to forgive.  In this choice, I'm finding myself led to pray for him.  I'm praying he'll begin making good decisions.  That he'll become a man of integrity.

He did make the choice to confess - good decision!
He did make the choice to return the phone - another good decision!
He did not return the phone with the sim card in it.  The sim card is the computer of the phone. - Bad decision.

The police have given him 24 hours to return the sim card in order for additional charges not to be filed.

My prayer today is that the Lord will show the proper path to this one who has gone astray.  (Psalm 25:8)  Will you join me in praying?

It's easy for me to think I'm a woman of integrity because I don't steal cell phones, I haven't killed anyone and I do the right thing MOST of the time.

But when I study God's Word - I see something a little different.  This 19 year old kid and I have more in common than I'd like to think.   There's a link between the decisions we make (good or bad; big or small) and our integrity.

I want to be a woman of integrity.  Do you?

Next Post:  Identifying if we are Women of Integrity

Trusting God for Provision, Guest: Lindsey Wingo

Psalm 23:1 (NLV)

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need.” 

I remember my first lesson about God’s provision and blessing in my life. 

I was in elementary school and had gotten  from my grandmother for getting good grades on my report card. I already knew what I would purchase with my well-earned money, and I couldn’t wait to go shopping!   

Soon after receiving my reward, I attended a church service and my heart was pricked as I heard about a special love offering that would be taken up that night.  Even as a child, I felt the Holy Spirit tell me to give my $30 to the love offering.  I was torn because I really wanted to use it for myself. But I talked with my parents and decided to give my money to the love offering instead. 

A few weeks later, my mother shared my story with the women’s Bible study she led.   Soon after, I received an anonymous letter in the mail with $30 inside!  At a young age, God was teaching me the importance of obeying His Spirit’s promptings and watching as He poured out His blessings in return.

Now that I am older, and a mother myself,  I could list countless times when God provided for my specific needs in powerful and practical ways.   

My mom uses the illustration of holding everything we have with open palms. The Lord gives, and the Lord can take away. It all belongs to Him! With this perspective, I am able to truly live life “anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6). 

When He prompts me to give, I know it is more blessed to obey. As my husband and I practice tithing and giving to our local church, as well as other ministries God places on our hearts, I fully trust that He will be faithful to provide all of our needs. Ultimately, the greatest provision has already been made in Christ’s death and resurrection. That is truly all we really need, and it cannot be taken away from us if we belong to Him.

I have made the habit of writing in a journal each time the Lord meets specific needs in my life, answers prayers, and pours out His blessings in ways I haven’t even thought to ask! As my children grow, I will encourage them to do the same and will share some of the things written down in my own journals. Just as the Israelites were encouraged to pause and remember all that God had done for them and their ancestors, I want to be faithful to do the same for my own family. As we are faithful to obey, faithful to trust, faithful to remember, and faithful to pass it on to future generations, God receives the glory.

As my four-year-old quoted recently, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need” Psalm 23:1 (NLV). May we walk closely with our true Shepherd, ready to obey, fully trusting Him for our provision.

About Lindsey

Lindsey was the speaker at our March 2015 Luncheon

            

Lindsey Wingo is the Editor-in-chief and founder of the Missional Motherhood blog. She is the wife of Worship Pastor, Ryan Wingo and stay-at-home mother of two sweet girls, Ivey (4) and Ruthie (2), with a little boy on the way! 

The idea for Missional Motherhood was birthed in her heart after attending KGM's 1st Annual Women’s Conference from which she left with a renewed desire to intentionally pass on the truth of God’s Word to her children, training them up to send them out.  It is her prayer and vision that Missional Motherhood would unite mothers from around the globe with the common purpose of raising up a mighty generation of Christ-followers in an increasingly dark world. Lindsey has a passion for women’s ministry and is a firm believer in the power of true sisterhood in Christ!   She can also be found writing letters to her girls on her personal blog, “Dear Daughters.”

5 Ways to Find Courage to Deal with Giant-Sized Problems

1 Samuel 17:32
"Don't worry about this Philistine," David told Saul.  "I'll go fight him."

"Don't be ridiculous!" Saul replied.  "There's no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win!  You're only a boy, and he's been man of war since his youth."

How in the world did David find the courage to fight a giant? 

We know the end of the story: without fear, David defeats the giant with a sling and a few stones. Everyone else cowered in fear.

Last week, I wrote about how David's perspective differed from the other soldiers.  No doubt, perspective was a key component to slaying Goliath.  If you missed it, read it here.

So back to my original question:  How did David find the courage to fight a tormenting, taunting giant? 



I'm convinced David's courage came from remembering how God had helped him in the past.

David was a shepherd boy who took care of his father's sheep and goats.  When a BEAR or LION tried to steal them, David went after the lion and the bear!   (Can you imagine?  I think I would have cut my losses.)

But not David.  David went after these ferocious animals with such a fearless vengeance, knowing God would be faithful, yet again, to deliver him from the claws of the bear... and the lion.  (See 1 Sam. 17:34-37)   David KNEW if God had helped him in those situations, CERTAINLY He would be faithful when faced with the mere hands of a pagan Philistine.

The same is true with us when faced with our giant-sized problems... WE MUST REMEMBER what God has done for us and how He has helped us in the past.

Personally, when I think back over the past year... even the last six months, I'm in awe at the giant-sized problems God has walked me through. There were days, weeks, and months that were really, hard.  But in every circumstance, God took me by the hand, directed me with His Word and walked me safely through to the other side.

As I face my current giant-sized problem, why would I fear?  Why should you fear?    As you think about the giants you are currently facing:

1. Remember  all God has walked you through or what He has done in answer to prayer.  It could have been 20 years ago, 2 years ago or just 20 days ago...
2. Thank Him again for His intervention during those difficult seasons.
3. Trust Him  and begin thanking Him for His intervention now.
4. Cooperate with  Him to guide you through.  (See Psalm 25:4-5; Psalm 27:11; Psalm 32:8-9)
5. Allow Him to use the current giant to strengthen your faith walk, drawing you ever closer to Jesus.

I love what our May luncheon speaker, Kim Powell, said about the giants or hard things that come into her life.


She aggressively speaks out loud to her giant, "I'm gonna strap a harness on you and make you draw me closer to Jesus.  I'm not afraid of you."

I love it!

She can aggressively approach her giants because she, like David,  REMEMBERS all God has done for her in the past and with bone-deep resolve trusts Him to deal with this next giant, drawing her ever closer to Jesus.

As we apply the principles found in God's Word, we too can count on God to do the same for us when faced with giant-sized problems.

Facing the Giants that Overwhelm You

1 Samuel 17:25, 26
"...have you seen the giant?" the men asked. 
David asked the soldiers standing nearby... "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?"

In my quiet time, I recently came to the account of David and Goliath.   The timing is perfect.  God is teaching me afresh how to face the "giants" that threaten to send me into a state of overwhelmed paralysis.

Giants or impossible situations will often seek to:

• intimidate us  
• torment us or
• scare us into a paralysis of fearful non-movement - much like Goliath did to Israel's army.  

The giant's we face can often be so overwhelming, we do nothing.  However, David's perspective has challenged the way I'm approaching the giants in my life.
  
In reading 1 Samuel 17, the men from Israel's army describe Goliath as a giant.   But all David saw was a pagan Philistine defying the armies of the living God.  It's as if David and  men saw two totally different things.  While the men saw a giant, David saw a mortal man defying his big, awesome God.

What a difference the right perspective makes when we see how big God is.  In this season of life, what giants are trying to intimidate you into paralysis?

• Inability to pay the bills giant?
• Health issue giant?
• Impossible marriage giant?
• Inability to have a baby giant?
• Prodigal child giant?
• Forgiveness of what may seem unforgivable giant?
• Work issue deadlines that loom like a giant?

David has inspired me to approach my impossible or giant-sized problems with a different mindset. I've intentionally begun to study (yet again), how BIG God is.   When we study and meditate on how big God is, our giants will loose their power over our emotions and thinking. 

Just as David was a child of God, when we are child of God, we have:

• The Maker, Creator of the Universe on our side - (Romans 8:28)
• The Source of wisdom ready to help us.   (James 1:5 and 1 Cor 1:30)
• The Director ready to guide -  if we'll listen.  (Psalm 32;8)
• The God Who says, "Do not be afraid" comforting us.   (2 Timothy 1:7)
• The God Who says, "I will supply all your needs," encouraging us.  (Phil 4:19)
• The God Who says, "I will give you rest," recharging us.  (Matt. 11:28-30)
• The God Who says, "All things are possible with Me," filling us with faith.  (Luke 18:27)

 So whatever giant you may be facing...  Don't tell God how big your giant is... Tell your giant how BIG your God is.

Yes, say it out loud when fear tries to paralyze you; pray it; believe it and trust God to act on your behalf when facing your giants.

Next Post:  Finding the courage to act on what we believe -

Does America want God's Blessing?

Psalm 33:12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord...

In 1776 at our nation's founding, I believe we were a nation whose God was the Lord.  Look no further than the history books, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.  In fact, the basic premise of many of our laws were founded upon the principles of Christianity.

For example:

The inscription on the top of the Liberty Bell is a Bible verse: Leviticus 25:10 which says, “Proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof.”  (I just love that!)



The final paragraph of the Declaration of Independence says, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”



However in 2015, I'm not sure we can say that as a nation, our God is the Lord.  Therefore, I sadly do not think the promise of blessing applies to us anymore.

With increasing measure, (seemingly getting worse and worse) God and prayer is pushed:

• out of town meetings; 
• out of schools; 
• out of the public forum and certainly 
• out of politics all in the name of tolerance and political correctness.

Yet we want the blessings of God, whoever "God" may be to you.

But let's face it, in politics, media and pop culture as a whole, God's name is politically incorrect. (Unless of course, you're using it in vain.  Then it's okay.)

And the Bible?  You're looked upon as a kook if you take it seriously.  (Trust me, I know this upfront and personal:)

And the name, Jesus?  The Name given to men by which they must be saved...(Acts 4:12)  The Name that is the only way to the Father... (John 14:6).   Mention His name and watch how quickly the "you offended me" police will attempt to shame you into silence.

What about our moral compass?  The theme of this generation is "to live as we see fit."  (Judges 21:25)  And to say any behavior is wrong, we are quickly labeled intolerant and judgmental.

What about our friendship with Israel?  The Bible is clear, those who bless Israel will themselves be blessed.  (Genesis 12:3)  Our friendship with Israel is at an all time low since it's re-founding in 1948. (Very sad to me.  I personally think Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister is one of the most courageous men on the planet considering what his job requires each day.)

Following the 9/11 attacks, I heard Anne Lotz in an interview on CBS This Morning say,  "God is a Gentleman.  He never insists on being where He's not wanted.  However at the same time, He also removes His hand of protection and blessing."  (paraphrase)

Does America really want God's blessing?  The Bible is clear, blessings from the Creator will come when we make Him and only Him, our God.

Be the agent of change in your corner of the world.  

It starts with one... in your family, in your circle of friends, in your workplace; in your neighborhood, in your community.

May your faith walk multiply, so that one day our nation's God will again be the Lord God Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in it.