{{Today is Friday!!! It is the day I link with Lisa Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. Here is how it works…. One word prompt. Five minutes. No editing. Lots of women. We all write on the same word.})
And today’s word is …. Hands.
For the last few days, I have found myself questioning – questioning my parenting. Questioning the things which were important to me, that I clung to no matter what was happening in life.
Things like truth & character & integrity & morals & wisdom.
I have always tried to take the high road even when it has seemed to lead no where.
And I taught my children to do the same.
Yet life has been hard. Difficult. Throwing unexpected curve balls.
Have I been wise and right to remind them to continue to live with character and integrity in spite of the odds seeming to go against them?
How do you hold onto integrity when it seems like those with none always seem to get it all?
Have I failed to not instilling in them to be more aggressive, more conniving, to plot more? Should I have taught them it’s a dog eat dog world and be certain to be the stronger dog?
As I have sat wrestling these questions in the still of the night, it is then I remember ….
Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
Only those whose hands and heart are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.
They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.
Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.
(Psalm 24: 3-6, NLT)
You desire a people with pure hearts and hands who commit themselves fully to the Lord and the evidence is seen in their strength of character, transparency, and selflessness.
O Lord, help me, help them, to desire hands that are pure. May we uphold truth and stand for just ways. May our lives testify of You Who deposits character and integrity and ethics into Your people.
May we remember it is only then that we may stand in Your presence.
Only those whose hands and heart are pure.
(photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net/stockimages)
Today I am joining with … Five Minute Friday and Friendship Fri. and Everyday Jesus and Fellowship Fri. and Essential Fri. and Faith Filled Fri. and Heart-Filled Fri. and Fri. Flash Blog .
I saw your post at the linkup and it was first on my list…after my shower, lol. This was great, Joanne. Even though it does seem like the connivers get all the breaks, I will take a steady walk with God any day over getting ahead. Like you, I may not understand all of His ways but I know I can trust Him!
Absolutely, Nannette, we follow the One we know we can trust.
We live in a world where sociopaths – those with a disorder in which they lack empathy, shame or conscience – tend to be very “successful”. They are not bogged down by caring or kindness so are free to rise and stomp all over others on the way up. What does that say about our world that someone like this has what it takes to succeed?
As a mom, I relate to what you say here so well. Teaching our children to be in the world and not of it is important (take care of themselves, pay the bills). However,the greatest success is to come to saving knowledge of Christ – He will take care of everything else. I see so many parents only caring about the physical needs of children. But our kids need physical + emotional + spiritual care in equal servings. It sounds like you’ve done a great job!
I so appreciate your thoughts, Laura. May we be faithful to Him in raising up children with integrity & character, who will honor Him.
Hi Joanne! I think you have been a wonderful mother. It sounds like you had your priorities in the right place. Even King David wondered why the cheaters prospered in his Psalms. That’s been going on for years.
People with faith fly in the face of a culture of ‘me’ and getting ahead at any cost. We need more mom’s like you to show children there is a better way. You did that! And it’s not easy either.
Blessings on your weekend!
Ceil
Ceil, I so appreciate your thoughts. It is so very true – this has been a problem for as long as time. May I keep my eyes on Him & keep on. Blessings!
Goodness finds goodness, even in this sometimes evil world. Keep doing what you are doing. Visiting from FMF.
Such a beautifully truthful post. I particularly enjoyed your sweet prayer for the desire for our hands to be pure. It sounds to me like you are doing a great job seeking the Lord in your parenting. Keep up the great work!
Thank you, Julie. We as parents need to maintain our focus if we are going to show our children the way. He gives us the grace to endure. Blessings!
Hi there dear Joanne! Love the NLT translation of the verse you posted– really makes me think, you know? I so enjoy getting to know your heart when you share over at #EverydayJesus. Thanks for participating and supporting. Blessings!
Parenting is essential. My teaching tends to focus on fathering, for obvious reasons, but a righteous mother is certainly a treasure (Proverbs 31). Blessings on you and your group.
I appreciate your thoughts. Truth right there –> “Parenting is essential.” May we be faithful, as fathers & mothers, to do the essential. Grateful you shared!
Thank you for making yourself vulnerable to share this heartfelt reminder with us—pure hands & pure hearts please the Lord. Thanks for visiting me at Doorkeeper. Blessings!
Joanne, I always blessed when I read your heart poured out on your writing. God bless you my friend!
Thank you so much, Helen. I am grateful for the gift of your friendship which was such a lovely benefit from joining Hello Mornings! Truly!