In these days of deligent spending, we all are concerned for the need to buy our necessities with proof of authenticity or truth about the product. Billy and I knew that this must apply to our spiritual and relational lives as well as our pocket books. We sought out teaching from John and Paula Sandford on "bitter roots", Jack Frost on transparent witnessing, and Neal Anderson on Victory over Darkness and Steps to Freedom. While these tools were great and really made a difference on our lives and ministry, we both would admit that as humans we don't recognize the
TRUTH without trusting someone close to us to help us examine our behaviors. In other words, do you (me) have friends that you trust to tell you the truth. After they have told you, are you willing to make the necessary changes or pray for changes to line up with God's truth.
I am still very dependent on friends to help me stay authentic. Carol prays with me everyday and helps me get through many days of anxiety with a sweet word from the Lord. She calls me to repent whenever I lose my peace. Leslie, Claudia, and Nicky all listen to me and give words of guidance as well as comfort. I believe we all deceive ourselves into thinking that most problems are created by someone or situation other than the almighty ME. People still tell me how much Billy's words of correction and wisdom helped them change. If you are a leader, teacher, husband, or wife I encourage you to step up, have courage and ask those around you if you need to change something that would bring more love to others. It's all about love---HIS and Yours.
Authenticity=Truth=Love (for you and others)
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I awoke from a dream about Jennifer's blog in which I was trying to remember what I'd read before going to bed. In the dream I was also thinking of what I could compose in response,when these words starting forming - so I got up to write:
Life is not only about right and wrong, but about trial and error. We learn from the trials we experience on this journey of life. The errors get corrected by living out the experiences of our lives in the context of community with family and friends and listening for the voice of God in the many ways He speaks into our hearts and lives.
Was I loving in that particular situation? Do I get to re-live that scene? No! But I am granted forgiveness and a new way to try again as I focus on God, my Redeemer, and not on my sinful self. I beg and plead - seeking His way, His love to make it my way. I am tken to the foot of the cross on Calvary where redemption and transformation stand tall and high in a dark sky until a time to come when my rocky hard heart is broken and rolled away and there begins a stream of such a profusion of light to shine forth and show the way to a Kingdom come for me - for you - for all.
Come - King of Light - shine on the trials and errors of my life to make all things right.
These revelatory writings came the same night Jennifer wrote this on her blog.
Authentic - genuine, real, reliable, trustworthy, true, actual
Our lives become or are made authentic through God's directives - some we hear, some we ignore. But the relaity comes when fruit is born in us to be given and shared to a hungry and broken world.
Authenticity is God's reality in us to be lived out in love and gratitude: the desire being to draw all heart to His and His kingdom ways.
Darkness cannot abide where authenticity resides.
Authenticity flows from the hearts of those whos seek and love God.
There are no boundaries where there is authenticity.
True love flows where there is authenticity.
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