(unmarked journal entry)

honest simplicity. our lives, our attitudes, our motives must all reflect this basic honesty. honesty with God and with ourselves, too. honesty with our friends, neighbors and enemies, too…that’s what counts. a life of devotion is honest, not chock full of devices for getting praise and honor from men.

our goals in life are to honor God, and to point people toward Him so that He gets all the attention and glory.

we are the stagehands, He is the star.

if we are constantly trying to get our egos stroked and gathering praise from people, then it’s no wonder when nothing lasts from those efforts. God’s fame is what matters, not mine. God getting credit is what counts, not my personal recognition. following God means He gets first billing and all credit for good reviews and the receipts from the box office.

He must become greater, we must become less. if honesty and humility are really at work in my life, He should always get credit, glory and praise. i am just an extra or a stagehand, never getting to step into the spotlight, or even seeking it…

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how often do we seek our own pleasures in life without considering what image we are portraying? how often do we involve ourselves in the world’s celebrations, when we shouldn’t even give them a second thought? how can the life we live in Christ Jesus have anything to do with the moral detriment of the world around us? we cannot help to be in the world, but as we know that doesn’t mean we have to be of the world.

i was watching the tony’s last night because some members of my extended family wanted to…and i thought i’d be okay with it. but when it became a cavalcade of transvestites and homosexual attitudes and humor, i just had to walk away. i couldn’t relate with those attitudes, and they honestly were repulsive to me. i have friends who are homosexual, and i still love them like a friend. i have no issue spending time or talking with them. they know i do not agree with their lifestyle choices, but i have not blacklisted them from my life. but the celebration and showing off of poor choices of any kind are in bad taste.

we must seek honest simplicity in our lives, and that means everything from our entertainment options to our choices of clothing. any and all aspects of our life must reflect the attitudes of God, and honor Him. spending time reveling in sinful behaviors are not God honoring, and they do not help us grow deeper with Him. we need to simply ask “is this activity God honoring?” and be honest with ourselves. if it meshes with Scripture…then great! if not, we need to seek another path that does.

it’s as simple as that…

life is choice.

choices have consequences.

choose wisely.