Tag:

honesty

A Life of Integrity

by Lauren Koch May 18, 2022

written by Lauren Koch

Living a life of integrity is crucial to our walk with God. He sees and knows all things, yet we do not have to be afraid of His correction as we grow with Him. It is our responsibility to live honest lives, knowing that we are always secure in God, yet appropriately answering to and living in such a manner that pleases God.

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” (Proverbs 21:2-3)

Why Integrity Matters

God looks at the heart. He sees every motive, intention, and decision. As believers, we have a responsibility to the Holy Spirit to live in purity of mind, thought, and action. Our integrity is important to God. It shapes the future of our children’s children.

Proverbs has much to say about it:

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9)

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them” (Proverbs 11:3)

“The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!” (Proverbs 20:7)

What does an upright life look like?

An integrous life is one with nothing hidden–not from God, your spouse, or your close community. It lives fully seen, known, and accountable. More and more, we read stories of believers with platform and fame who have lived in sin or fallen away from the Lord altogether. All too often, this is a result of a lack of accountability. Living with integrity is knowing you don’t just answer to yourself, but to those God has placed around you, and ultimately Him.

If you can recall areas of your life that are hidden, ask the Holy Spirit today to empower you to share vulnerably with a trusted mentor or peer. refuse to partner with the lies of the accuser, telling you to stay hidden. You were made to be loved in the light and truth of God.

May 18, 2022 0 comments

Articles

Filipino Transport Driver Rewarded For Returning Bag With 1.2 Million Pesos To Tourist

by Christa September 8, 2020

written by Christa

Local authorities have awarded a transport driver in the Philippines for his honesty. Instead of taking it home, he reportedly returned a bag containing 1.2 million pesos to a Chinese tourist.

Transport driver

Benjie Ordanza lives in the slums of the Philippines. Working as a transport driver, he could barely meet the needs of his family. Nevertheless, Benjie held true to his integrity. Despite their circumstances, he never thought of keeping someone else’s money.

Benjie returned bag to Chinese tourist

In October 2019, the 42-years-old recalled his first reaction to Good News Pilipinas upon seeing the tourist’s left bag. “I was nervous. It’s the first time something like this happened. I was shaking. The first thought in my mind was how to return the bag since there was no address except for the one in China in the passport”

He then asked for help from his cousin who worked in the local government. With the help of the city officials and police, they were able to trace the Chinese tourist and got to return his bag.

However, the city mayor did not miss the opportunity to recognize Benjie and his goodwill. Mayor Isko Domagoso took to social media to commend Benjie. In his live video, he applauded Benjie and gave him a cash gift of P100,000 and promised him a permanent job. The city mayor said he hoped that Benjie would set an example for his fellow Filipinos.

Benjie was overwhelmed. “I can’t really put it into words. I hope I can be an inspiration,” he said.

Inspiration to men

Furthermore, the praise he received from his family outweighed the applause he received from the public. He said that they were all proud of him for doing what was right. “They did not consider it as loss,” he shared. “What I got was bigger than 1.2 million pesos because I now have a lifetime job.”

Benjie Ordanza

May Benjie’s life be an example that our situation does not define us. How we respond to the situation does ultimately define us. May Jesus’ character be reflected in us!

ALSO READ: Chance the Rapper Tells Ellen Jesus Is His Inspiration For Giving Back

September 8, 2020 0 comments

Articles

Reputation Check-up – What Do People Say About You?

by Ward Simpson July 20, 2019

written by Ward Simpson

As believers, we are called to have a good reputation. We don’t always start out with one but if we follow God’s guidance a good reputation is a natural result of serving God wholeheartedly as Ward Simpson explains.

“A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)

I found myself in court one day when I was just 19-years-old. The charge was “Reckless Driving!” There I was, standing before the judge when he asked the dreaded question… “How do you plead? Innocent or guilty? Well, what do I say? A guilty plea will surely come with consequences. An innocent plea will create the need for me to hire an attorney and argue the case. Or maybe, just maybe, an innocent plea will lead to a quick dismissal.

A flood of thoughts went through my mind at rapid speed, I had to decide quickly. Here’s what happened next…

“GUILTY your honor” came out of my mouth!

I pleaded guilty to the gasps of those around me. Everyone expected me to plead innocent as “that was the thing to do.” A crafty attorney could have taken care of everything for me.

The penalty was severe! A six-month driver’s license suspension! What did I do? Why did I plead guilty? What was I thinking? I returned home really down. How would I survive without the ability to drive? I remember thinking what a dummy I was. What would my friends think? Surely this would make the newspapers the next day since our family was were well known and in a prominent position.

Sure enough, it made the paper and here is what they reported: Ward Simpson commended by the judge for his honesty! You see, what I haven’t told you up to now is that when I pleaded guilty the judge knew very well that I could have lied (I was guilty), I could have pleaded innocent thus avoiding the penalty.

What did the reporters report? Not my crime. Not my punishment. They reported my honesty! Wow! The next few days everyone made comments to me about my honesty. What a joy it was to be thought of as an honest person! I had never considered myself dishonest but to be called honest was a big deal for a young 19-year-old.

Since that day I have tried to live up to that reputation. Honesty is key to walking in freedom.

We all have our flaws and not perfect by any means. We are all going through life aiming to be the best person we can be but the question I ask myself. The question I ask you today – What do people say about you?

Here is a list of powerful qualities found in the book of Proverbs. I urge you to print this list out and place it in your Bible or stick it to your fridge to remind yourself continually: Give yourself a spiritual checkup!

How do develop a great reputation

The Godly Man / Woman found in the Book of Proverbs is:

kind and compassionate (12:10).
honest (29:24).
hard-working (12:11; 27:23-27).
truthful (12:17,19).
exercises self-control (12:15; 16:32).
has a gentle tongue (12:18; 15:1-2,4).
is generous (14:21; 28:27).
willing to be corrected and listens to counsel (12:15; 15:12,31-32; 28:13; 29:1).
a PERSON of integrity (19:1; 20:7).
is faithful and reliable (17:17; 29:3; contrast 25:19; 31:3).
forgiving (19:11).
willing to admit he/she is wrong (28:13).
is humble (15:25,33; 16:18-19; 18:12; 29:23).
not contentious, but a peacemaker (17:1; 18:1,19).
has control of his/her temper (14:29; 16:32; 17:27; 29:11).
is a person who avoids excesses (20:1; 23:20-21, 29-35; 31:3-9).
has a concern for others, especially the poor and the oppressed (29:7).
can keep a confidence (17:9; 26:20).
fears God and is obedient to His Word (13:13; 14:26; 16:20; 28:25; 31:30).
is not a jealous person (27:4).

July 20, 2019 0 comments

Articles

5 Tips I Wish Someone Had Given Me About Online Dating!

by Deborah Armin May 31, 2018

written by Deborah Armin

Everybody, well almost everybody wants to find lasting love, right? One of the ways we do it nowadays is online dating. We’d all like to meet someone the good old fashioned way but with life being busy and people moving around the goal posts have changed. Thankfully online dating has become far less of a taboo and more acceptable. And with so many Christian celebrities getting engaged of late, everybody’s love antenna is up.

So why is it so difficult to find someone?

The reasons are different for everyone but for me, it boils down to a few factors. I’m taller than average at 6’1, generating wildly different reactions best saved for a private conversation. Add the fact that I’m a ‘born again, Spirit-filled Christian’ who’s serious about my faith and the dating pool seems to have shrunk massively.

I can carry on with the things that I believe have affected my visibility online. I’m considered ‘old’ at 52. I’m divorced and for many Christian men they immediately steer clear for fear of ‘committing adultery’. But if they stick around long enough they soon discover that I was married and divorced before I got born again. I’m very honest about how old I am and how tall I am or what state my walk with the Lord is in. But is too much honesty too much? I’ve come across so many people who lie about their age or relationship with the Lord. Stick with honesty, it will save you in the end.

5 Tips for online dating – lessons I’ve learned

If you’re serious about your faith stick to Christian dating sites, being unequally yoked is unbiblical and not easy.
If you’re in doubt about the person you’re communicating with get them to post a new photo with that day’s paper. It helps verify who you’re actually talking to rather than a scammer. Any honest person will happily do that.
Don’t ignore the red flags. I learned the hard way, I wanted a relationship and ignored the red flags to my detriment.
Meet in person in a safe place soon after starting to communicate. Nobody wants to communicate endlessly online, it will save a lot of heartaches later when you find out that person is not the one for you.
Be honest, use up to date photos. It’s only fair

Have fun out there folks, be kind and may the Lord grant you the desires of your heart, after all “He who finds a wife finds a good thing.”(Proverbs 18:22)

This article was written by UK author and speaker, Deborah Armin who is a graduate of the London School of Theology. Her book On My Way Home: One Woman’s Journey in Search of the Unknown God, is published by Authentic Media.

May 31, 2018 1 comment

Articles

‘What Does it Mean to Get Real?’ New Chat Show asks

by Deborah Armin May 21, 2018

written by Deborah Armin

Many Christians struggle with opening up about what’s really going on in their lives. Church culture can sometimes dictate how we relate to one another. Many times people hide their true feelings to avoid being seen as having lack of faith. However, we hope that’s all about to change with Let’s Get Real, the exclusive new series on GOD TV that airs on Mondays at 9.30 pm.

You can watch the first episode above, hosted by Sue Eldridge of Presence Ministries International, who opens up this new and exciting talk show with the question “What does getting real mean?” The panel joining Sue to discuss this issue are Alison Wilson; Chris Larkin; and Marj Rossol. Also, special guest, Nancy Goudie joins the panel to share her testimony of overcoming grief and talk about her Spiritual Health Weekends.

Keeping it real is an issue many of us grapple with, Sue shares her struggle with not being able to relate to the impossibly beautiful images of slim women in ministry. But the reality is many women suffer from weight issues, learning to accept you’re loved by God, whatever shape you’re in is liberating, as many on the panel have discovered.

Chris Larkin says it’s important to be yourself and not be intimidated. Marj Rossol shares how when she was younger she tried to be who she thought people wanted her to be. “It’s been a journey for me finding out who God says I am, I’m a work in progress and learning to accept you’re loved unconditionally is liberating.”

The women grapple with what it means to be real, given that within church there are unspoken rules about appearance and demeanor. Sue felt out of place, not wired like church expectations and ‘standing out like a sore thumb’ in her short skirt and black eyeliner! But she soon realized she didn’t fit into the world either, with her love of God.

Alison candidly shares about how her traumatic childhood meant being real in church was difficult especially after someone prayed for her with the unspoken expectation that everything would be better. “The next time they asked me, I felt obliged to say, ‘yeah, yeah I’m feeling loads better’.. when in fact I wasn’t. It only reinforced my sense of disassociation with my real self.”

Where do we get our sense of reality?

The ladies talk about where we get our sense of reality. For some, it’s from films, TV, books, or the people they’re surrounded by. Nowadays it’s also social media, the impossibly beautiful images posted by EVERYONE. So ‘Let’s Get Real’ dives in, taking off the masks and grappling with what it means to be authentic. This is a place where anything and everything can be talked about as we discover what it means to be true to oneself, in the hopes it will set others free.

Special guest Nancy Goudie shares her heart-wrenching journey of losing her husband and having to reconcile the loss with what she was believing for? “God, where are You in all this?” This was a question that ultimately led her to surrender and say “God, I’m gonna trust You through this”. Have you suffered an unexpected loss? Check out Nancy’s book ‘Our Greatest Adventure’. Nancy also organizes ‘Spiritual Health Weekends‘ in the UK, where you can go and get a spiritual as well as physical pampering session.

As an honest ‘real’ kinda gal I find this series a refreshing look at what it means to be real. It takes on the airbrushed perfect images we so often see in the media, or the platitudes spoken in church settings. This has sometimes caused me grief because my honesty went against the unspoken rule of “keep it to yourself’, don’t show them how you really feel, they can’t handle it.” This series promises to allow those of us with less than perfect bodies and lives a freedom we haven’t experienced before, so let’s get real, ladies!

May 21, 2018 2 comments

Articles Faith

God’s apps for your life

by Dr Michael Layne February 16, 2018

written by Dr Michael Layne

I don’t really feel all that old but I do remember when technology moved us away from a dial phone to a push button phone. And then a little over ten years ago I actually purchased my first cell phone. This was cool. I could now get rid of the “beeper” and have instant contact with whomever.

The first time I heard of a “cell phone” was in the mid-1980’s while living in Dallas, Texas. One of the local building contractors was telling some us about this new way to communicate and we didn’t need to look for change for a payphone. WOW! What could this be? You may remember the earlier cell phones. A bulky bag that was a bit on the heavy side.

Who knew that we would have the “flip phone” because of a TV show called Star Trek? Well, they say a cell phone gets better with every app (that’s application for those of us who struggle with abbreviations).

What if there was a suite of Apps for an upgraded YOU? It is available. Applications like Love, Joy, Peace, and Self-control. It is God’s will for all of us to become better people. How do we do this? A simple faith in God. One does not need a theological degree to figure it out but one does need a willingness to surrender to God’s love.

“For God so loved the WORLD (that’s us) that he gave his ONLY begotten son (Jesus Christ) that whosoever (us) believes in HIM shall not perish but have everlasting life.” From the Bible, St. John 3:16 Of all the Apps God has available to us, this is the most precious of all….LOVE. God really does love you. Some have had bad experiences with church. I am sorry for that experience, but as long as we have people there will be those negatives to cope with.

If you have been injured by someone in the church I urge you to find someone to talk to about your relationship with God and if you have had some life issues that have driven you away from the church or, if you have never been to church but feel a relationship with God is important, call someone who will have a listening ear. When you are talking with someone about your issue please allow the listener an opportunity to talk and share any information including the opportunity to refer you to someone who may be better suited to help you.

Now, to those of you who have a relationship with the Lord here’s some pointers to help those who will ask questions:

LISTEN: A wonderful gift to exhibit is to listen to what one has to say. If a person has been spiritually abused they are tender and really need to know the person they are talking to can be trusted and will listen without being judgemental. It’s important to not “preach” but listen and pray with the person. This exemplifies LOVE.
CONFIDENTIALITY: If you can’t hold confidence, refer them on to someone who can. The last thing anyone needs is for their confidence to be betrayed. This rule isn’t only for the clergy but also applies to any layperson who is hearing the problems of a hurting individual. Every one of us needs a “father confessor” whether we are Protestant or Catholic. We need a listening ear that will hear our problems and as the scripture says, James 5:16 – “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
HONESTY: If you don’t have answers, say so. Be upfront and honest. Over the years of my ministry, I have referred people to others for further help. There is no room for proving how good we are as a counselor if indeed we aren’t. That can be dangerous for all involved.
REFER: You may have interaction with someone who is difficult. Do your best to help, with the realization there are those who have so much anger they will not listen to what anyone has to say. IF you are able to get through to the person that they need to contact someone else, do so. Keep a list of names and phone numbers handy for a ready reference of the clergy, professional counselors, abuse and victim hotlines, suicide hotline and any other resource you feel would be helpful.

Exemplify our Lord’s love and concern for others. This App called LOVE is so needed, so necessary and it will stretch us as we encounter those who are struggling, whether they are family members, neighbor, friend or a total stranger. Download God’s APP for a better you.

Oh, God’s word, the Bible, is the best software for your life.

Dr Michael Layne

This article was written by Dr Michael Layne who serves as an Archbishop in the Lutheran Orthodox Church and is pastor of FaithPoints Lutheran Church in Greensburg, IN.

February 16, 2018 0 comments