Integrity
Author: Pat Aman

Please read the entire scriptures of Psalm 78 below the devotional.

What is Integrity?

Webster’s dictionary defines integrity this way, “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility, an unimpaired condition : soundness
the quality or state of being complete or undivided … the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.”he is known to be a man of integrity”…. the state of being whole and undivided….”upholding territorial integrity and national sovereignty” The condition of being unified, unimpaired, or sound in construction

We see in Psalm 78 speaks of God’s compassion. The compassion that He had for the Israelites as He walked them out of captivity in Egypt and through the desert to the promised land that He had set aside for them. The entire time they are complaining and forgetting about the miracles that He was doing to keep them alive. It is even this compassion that causes Him to turn away and allow them to once again go into captivity.

As I read this Psalm I my eyes focus on verse 72: “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”

‘Integrity of heart’… the heart is the source of integrity. We cannot buy it, we can not learn it, we can not create it. It is something that is within that only God can create.

It is said to have integrity to the extent that everything comes from a set of values. While those value-may change, it is their consistency with each other and with the person’s actions that determine the person’s integrity.

And we must remember, that we all are, ‘work in progress’.

David shepherded the Israelites “with integrity of heart”. Davids values never changed.

David did fall short in so many areas of his life, as we all do….

And we all fall short; and this is why we need for a Savior.

David has many shortcomings throughout his life, one thing stands firm. He had ‘integrity of heart’. His moral never changes. After the times that he falls, he sees the sins of his ways and comes back and to that steadfast in his heart.

Integrity is of the heart. We need to look deep within and pull out what God has created in each of us.

Integrity comes by spending time in the God’s Word, and time with Him, so that we will have a ‘firm adherence to a code’ as described by Webster. The only firm foundation is one created by God. All others are as shifting sand.

Psalm 78:1-72
“Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap. In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full. He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan: And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink. He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them. He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust. He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost. He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased. He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand. He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation. Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever. He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭78:1-72‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God bless each of you. I am now beginning to post brand new devotions. It seems that the Holy Spirit is leading me into a new way to share the writings of these devotions. I hope you are blessed by them, but mainly, I pray God will receive glory and honor.

Jesus Heals the Paralyzed Man
Author: Pat Aman 7/19/2018 copyright of Westbow/Thomas – Nelson

Today, as I read the scriptures below, I saw this clearly taking place. It made me wonder, if I had been there what would my heart have felt like? Would I be seeking Jesus as the four loyal friends, carrying their friend who was paralyzed? Then I asked myself the question, do I seek Jesus today as I should?

So, I asked you, would you have been like the people crowded into one room just to see and hear Jesus? But the greater question is, are you even trying to really get to know him now in your lives?

Mark 2: 1-12 “And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, why doth this man thus speaks blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, thy sins have forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, we never saw it on this fashion.”

I am going to stop here and give you a little history if that is okay?

….In studying the history of the life of Jesus, I read that the largest homes would fit about 50 people in them, if the people were standing really close together. People did not live in homes like ours, with a separate bedroom for each person. There were just one or two rooms where everything took place. So, let’s picture Jesus, packed into a very simple home that was full of people. People spilled out around the front door. They stood on their tiptoes, craning their necks to see Jesus; they leaned into the windows just to hear what Jesus had to say. These houses did not have roofs like the houses we build today. The roofs were made with branches that were laid across the ceiling beams. The branches were packed with mud that dried in the sun. They were sturdy enough to walk on but could be dug through. Often, there were outside staircases leading up to the rooftops….

Jesus entered Capernaum again, and I know he and his disciples must have been worn, tired and hungry. I am even sure that he knew there would be many people seeking him for healing and deliverance. And, some may have been seeking him to mock him. But, Jesus was on an assignment for his Father God.

I think that we ourselves forget that we are on assignment for our Father God in Heaven. He did not just send us to earth to walk around and do our own thing.

The scriptures tell us that when Jesus arrived at his destination, that the room was so full and crowded that not even one more person could enter. But, four of those who came were carrying a man who could not walk, and they were trying their best to find a way to get their friend to Jesus. They knew that just a touch of the master’s hand, was all their friend needed. But they could not get him close to Jesus because of the crowd. So they made a hole in the roof above Jesus. Then they lowered the man through it on a mat.

These men had heard though out the city about Jesus healing people all over Galilee. They were sure that Jesus could heal their friend. When they could not get into the door, they decided nothing was going to stop them. They climbed up onto the roof, carrying their friend. They begin to dig with their bare hands right through that dried mud roof.

I wonder what the people in the room begin to think, when they noticed what was going on above them? Were they scared? Did they think it maybe robbers or soldiers?

I do not think if mattered to Jesus. I am sure he knew what was happening, and he continued to minister, until the man was laying on his mat before Jesus. Then Jesus said to the man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.

Now, I want you to understand this, Jesus first words were “son, your sins are forgiven.” See, Jesus saw a need much greater than his paralyzed legs. He saw the man’s sinful heart.

James 5: 13-16 say, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall have forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availed much.

Is it not amazing that Jesus wants to heal our sickness, but, he is more concern with our spiritual needs? He wants to heal our heart. He knows that once our heart is healed, everything else will fall into place.

Its Party Time
Author: Pat Aman

Does Your Life as a Christian make you feel like dancing?

It should.
Being a Christian should be joyous.

Revelation 2:4 (KJV)
4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Revelation 2:4 (The Message) “But you walked away from your first love – why? What’s going on with you, anyway?”

(**Mike Yaconelli once observed, “It doesn’t take much to make most of us realize that we have become too serious, too tense, too stressful. The result is that we have forgotten how to live life…What happened to the gleam in our eye? What happened to that joyful, crazy, spontaneous, fun-loving spirit we once had? The childlikeness in all of us gets snuffed out over the years…the sign that Jesus is in our hearts, the evidence of the truth of the Gospel is that we still have a light on in our souls.”**)

How can someone walk away from their first love, lose that gleam in their eye?

Could I walk away from my husband Joe of 41 years? No, of course not.
By all accounts, my love for him is not same as that June day in 1977 when I walked down the aisle at our wedding. Since then we have had two daughters, careers, personal successes and tragedies and a growing walk with the Lord. If nothing else, today my love for him is stronger and more intimate than in those precious and heady days as newlyweds.

Yet as I claim a stronger relationship with the Lord during this time, I honestly know that I have sometimes been living in Ephesus when it comes to my walk with God.

Just as human relationships have plateaus, I must confess that I have not always sought out the depth of God, pursuing the love and fellowship I knew in my early days as a believer. At times, I lost my way.

So, what is going on: I have walked away from my first love and forgotten how to live life, at times?

I will also say, If I was not saved and walked into some of the churches today, I would never get saved. Why? Because even our churches have walked away from their first love. They are all doing their own things. Not the God things. Priorities have been misplaced in our personal lives as well as 75% of our churches today.

Now please understand, I am not talking about all churches….You have been to those churches I know… And remember, the church is not a building…The church are the people in the building…

Regaining the life I seek with Him, returning to a childlikeness, requires intimacy. I know full well the intimacy I seek with Him will benefit from improved spiritual disciplines (such as more time in His Word and in prayer). But I cannot rely on these activities alone, otherwise I have fallen under the Law and am practicing faith by works.

Relationships grow out of intention and communication as well as in following through with responsibilities. Any life with Him begins and ends with making God the priority, not just one of many pressing concerns in my everyday living.

Living this life means adopting a willingness to live His life, not my own. Returning to my first love means saying “no” to all the competing interests and consistently putting the needs of my Beloved before my own.

My marriage is no different and it suffers when attention and intention give way to selfish living. When my priorities are restored, the joy returns to the relationship.

It is the same with our relationship with God. When it is not where it needs to be, and when attention and intention gives way to selfish living, our intimacy with God gives way to hurt, grief, sickness. Why? Because we have left God out and let the devil sneak in.

I find hope and direction in Yaconelli’s concluding thought:

(**“Christians are not just people who live godly lives; we are people who know how to live, period. Christians are not just examples of moral purity, we are also people filled with the everyday challenges and joys of life. Christians not only know how to practice piety, we also know how to party. I believe it’s time for the party to begin.”**)

With the reminder of from Ephesus and hopefully a gleam in my eye, I know it is party time! We need to let the world know that we as Christians are happy and not just a long face, sad, bunch of people just attending a building one to three times a weeks just because of it being a habit.

Jesus love to laugh as well as share the truth of His Father God to the world.

God inviting you to s great party, a banquet….

Are you ready?