Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Well, all is sunshiny and calm before the storm which is to come tomorrow. Hard to believe today, though.
Did you all happen to see the full moon yesterday and today? The sky has been so clear the past two mornings, that the moon is shining brightly high in the southwest. Gorgeous!
I was able to take a walk Saturday morning, before the heat set in, and still cannot figure out why the young Mama gator went to all the trouble to build a high nest to lay her eggs in, so far from the water. I haven't seen her, yet, but she may be hidden. I continued on out to big Mama's nest and spoke to her, as she waits patiently for the grunts coming from hatching eggs. They may hatch the end of this month, if that is about 65 days. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How does God respond to my commitment to integrity?
Psalm 18:20-25 The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he compensated me because of my innocence. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil. For all his laws are constantly before me; I have never abandoned his principles. I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin. The Lord rewarded me for doing right, because of the innocence of my hands in his sight. To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.
The psalmist claims a high level of personal integrity that makes some of us uncomfortable. It makes sense, however, when we realize that he isn't boasting in his accomplishment but thanking God for giving him the power and direction to live according to God's ways. This passage offers the same promise to us: God will empower our obedience.
1 Peter 2:19 Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world.
Our integrity may not bring immediate rewards, but we are certain that it will one day be recognized.
What are the benefits of integrity?
Proverbs 11:3,5 Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty...The godly are directed by their honesty, the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.
Integrity keeps us from the trap of dishonesty and the destruction that can result.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
