My dad had a saying
“These kids are like mushrooms. They have been kept in the dark and fed bullshit.” I can’t argue with that when we see what is happening in society today. What we see happening on college campuses. The “no consequences” to bad behavior in our city schools. The silence from our pastors to speak with urgency on all the ways America is being pulled apart. It is sad to watch and my hope is that more people wake up and actually see the destruction attacking every aspect of Americans lives. Dad's wisdom given so many years ago rings true today. I know as a Marine, he would not be okay in the rewriting of history or the removal of the love and patriotism we all cherished in the freest country in the world. There are days I wish I could just chat with him about what we are witnessing today. I am sure he would send me to revisit the Book of Revelation and the end has already been written.
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8: 31-32).
My mom heals through music
With my mom still here, I spent some time honoring her on Mother’s day. We talked about memories, past haunts, and her future voice being recorded so that her life story can be written. Her wounds are deep and people have a tendency to try to pull her back into a past she doesn’t want to keep revisiting. We listened to one of her favorite songs. As sang parts of the song, she pointed out the parts that spoke to her the most. I can understand as I know you can that the healing comes when parts of our past we just do not need to see anymore. The truth of our past mistakes are there but the prayer is that God, help us to let go of the past and not let us see so we don’t stay in that shame or unforgiveness. Read through these words. The man who wrote and sang this song fell from grace in his life/ministry. But, if we believe in Jesus we know we are redeemed and the truth is that we are saved by grace.
Lord don't let me see the way I used to be
Remove the scars that follow the pain
Wounds of my shame, bind them up in Your great name
Cast them all in your forgetting sea
Take away all the strife that followed a wasted life
Tried to build on the dust of a foolish dream
Just an empty space of time
Somewhere in the corner of my mind
If all the world should recall, don't let me see
Truth matters in both what my mom and dad had to teach us throughout our lives. In my study this week I was listening to a speaker and she was talking about truth and lies in today’s society. She then spoke about some interesting points about truth and lies in the Bible. I like learning new things so I had to look up for myself what was the true importance of the words truth and lie in Hebrew. Here is what I learned:
Hebrew words for truth and falsehood/lie
-truth-3 letters in Hebrew-see the feet standing firm or strong base firmly on the ground
-falsehood/lie-3 letters in Hebrew-see no feet to stand on wobbly so cannot stay upright so not standing on firm ground
Hebrew word for truth:
The Hebrew word for truth, Emet (אמת), contains the first, middle and last letter of the alphabet. Indicating that truth encompasses all things, and endures from the beginning to the end.
Truth, certainty, honesty, faithfulness, sooth
אֶמֶת
Hebrew word for lie:
The Hebrew word for lie, שֶׁקֶר • (shéker), carries multiple related meanings - lie, false, null, nothing, for nothing, vain etc.
Lie, lying, false, falsehood, falsity, untruth
שֶׁקֶר
To help us see the critical nature of truth, Paul describes truth as the belt of the armor. The belt was critical for the warrior to be prepared to engage in battle. The belt is what held the tunic up and cinched everything into place. Truth performs this critical function.
For example, in the King James Version (KJV), the word "truth" is mentioned 224 times. In the New International Version (NIV), it is mentioned 233 times. And in the New Living Translation (NLT), it is mentioned 275 times.
Commandment 10: Don’t Bear False Witness
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16).
God hates lying
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him” haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6: 16-19).
The bottom line is that there are times to hold to truth and do not fear to speak in truth. We desperately need truth right now in our government, schools, communities, and in our own families. But, also there needs to be a balance that it may be true that you have been wronged by someone but grace means you do not keep dragging that person back down into pain and shame. Just as we need grace, so do those around you.
It is very difficult to give grace this year. I feel abused by this school year. It has been tough to stay in the midst of grace. It has been tough to be on the receiving end of someone’s rage that was not provoked by me. Then I am requested to reach out again and again. I still have to stay in truth, but soften the brutally honest part (I really want you to know I understand it's not easy by any means).
As we get closer to summer elections, my prayer is you are paying attention and getting involved as the future of our country is on a tipping point. Stay honest but be kind when you can. Keep the past in the past. See yourself through the eyes of Jesus who sees you as redeemed, loved, and an heir to His kingdom.
God Bless you,
dreamsdontfade.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwSJam37I_g
