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Living with Integrity
I’ve been reading Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, and I’ll admit, sometimes the Old Testament can be hard to understand. God can seem harsh at times, but lately, as I dive in and ask the Holy Spirit for understanding through His incredible wisdom, I’m starting to see what God is really saying and how it applies to my life today. He’s been revealing areas in my life that I really need to work on. Understanding Malachi 2:1-8In this passage, God is speaking directly to the priests of Israel, rebuking them for their failure to honor Him. They had a sacred duty to lead and instruct people in His ways, but instead, they became corrupt, careless, and misleading. Verses 1-2 – A Warning to Those in Leadership“And now, you priests, this warning is for you. If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.” God isn’t just addressing the priests of Israel; He’s addressing anyone who holds influence. That includes me. Whether in my family, my workplace, my church, or my friendships, I have a responsibility to reflect God’s truth. But if I don’t take that responsibility seriously—if I’m careless with my actions and words—there are consequences. This makes me think and ask myself am I honoring God in how I live and speak? Or am I dishonoring Him by being careless with my leading, words and attitude? Verses 3-4 – Serious Consequences for Disobedience“Because of you, I will rebuke your descendants; I will smear on your faces the dung from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it. And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the Lord Almighty. This is strong language. God is saying that their corruption will not only affect them but will have consequences for those who come after them. That’s a sobering thought. As I reflected on this I asked myself how do my words and actions impact the people around me—especially those who look up to me? Am I setting an example that leads others to God, or am I making it harder for them to trust Him? Verses 5-7 – God’s Standard for Leadership“My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips; he walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.” This is what God originally intended for His priests—to lead with truth, integrity, and reverence for Him. But instead, they had become self-serving. This reminded me that God calls me to a higher standard, too. This verse challenges me personally: Am I standing in awe of God, or have I become too casual in my faith? Am I speaking truth, or do I sometimes let dishonesty or harshness take over? Am I someone who helps others grow closer to God, or am I leading them further away—maybe without even realizing it? Verse 8 – The Heart of the Problem“But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the Lord Almighty. God is telling the priests: You were supposed to guide people to Me, but instead, you’ve led them away. That’s a serious accusation. And while I may not be a priest, my words and actions still have influence. So I asked myself have my words, actions, and leading ever caused someone to stumble? Have I ever hurt someone with my direction, attitude or tone? Have I ever made it harder for someone to see Jesus because of how I acted? As I tied everything together I read this morning this passage is a wake-up call. God is serious about integrity, especially when it comes to how we lead others—whether through our words, actions, or influence. He’s not just speaking to priests; He’s speaking to anyone who claims to follow Him. For me, this passage highlights a few things: I need to take my words seriously. If I’m careless with how I speak—if I’m harsh, impatient, or unkind—it doesn’t just affect me. It can cause real harm. God calls me to a higher standard. I’m supposed to reflect His truth and love, not just in what I believe but in how I act. This is a warning, but also an invitation. God doesn’t call me out just to condemn me—He wants me to turn back to Him, to do better, to honor Him in how I speak and live.
God Sees You, Even When You Sneak Away
Scripture: Psalm 139:7-10“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.” Yesterday, as I was teaching Children’s Church, I had a special little guy in the room—my 3-year-old grandson. The class was held in a spacious gymnasium, filled with children ranging from 2 to 11 years old. As I began to teach the lesson, I couldn’t help but notice him inching toward the door, trying his best to sneak away. It was almost like he thought he could escape unnoticed, moving quietly and slowly. I couldn’t help but smile, assuming he was probably trying to find his way to his mom. I know from experience how challenging it can be to keep young children focused, especially in such a large space. So, I try to give them the freedom to move around if they need to. But what my grandson didn’t realize is that I had my eye on him the whole time, even as he tried to make his getaway. In that moment, I couldn’t help but think about how we sometimes behave with God. When we’re distracted or avoiding something, we may think we can slip away from His presence, that we can hide or escape without Him noticing. We might try to distance ourselves from Him in different ways, believing that He can’t see us or that we can get away unnoticed. But just as I was watching my grandson, God is always watching over us—His eyes are never off us. Psalm 139:7-10 serves as a powerful reminder that there is nowhere we can go where God isn’t already present. We can’t escape His love, His care, or His guidance. Even if we try to run or hide, He’s always right there with us, loving us and watching over us, even in the moments when we feel like sneaking away. What’s even more beautiful is that God doesn’t just watch over us; He gently calls us back, saying, ‘I see you—come back this way.’ He’s always ready to lead us back to where we need to be, if we’re willing to listen. No matter how far we think we’ve wandered, He’s never too far to reach us, always close enough to draw us back to Him. Are there areas in your life where you might be trying to “sneak away” from God’s presence? How can you be more aware of God’s constant presence and love, even in moments when you might want to run or hide? Take a moment today to reflect on the fact that God’s eyes are always on you, and His loving presence is with you wherever you go.
Am I giving my best?
Malachi 1:6-8″A son honors his father, and a servant his master.If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty… “When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty. I have always tried to understand why God gives us stories of old from the Bible and does it apply to my life today? What is He trying to teach me? How does an ancient message fit into my modern world? This morning, as I read Malachi 1, God gently challenged my heart: Am I truly giving Him my best? The Israelites in Malachi’s time had fallen into a dangerous habit—offering God sacrifices that were sick, lame, or left over. They wouldn’t dare give such gifts to their leaders, yet they gave them to God without a second thought. It made me think—how often do I approach God with half-hearted devotion? Do I give Him my first and best, or just what’s convenient? I feel many times I give him my leftover time, energy, and passion. See God is not asking for perfection from me, but He is asking for sincerity and honor. Just as I wouldn’t show up to an important meeting unprepared, I shouldn’t come before God with a careless heart. Yet in the midst of His correction, God reminds us of something powerful—His love never changes. Before addressing Israel’s failures, He first tells them, “I have loved you” (Malachi 1:2). His love isn’t based on my performance; it’s a constant, unshakable truth. That love calls me higher—not out of obligation, but out of thankfulness and gratitude. Today, as I examine my heart. I am want to give God my best in worship, in prayer, in my daily life? Not to earn His love, but because He deserves it. I don’t want to offer Him leftovers—I want to give Him my first and my best. My prayer to God today: Father, forgive me for the times I have given You less than my best. I don’t want to worship You out of routine or convenience, but out of love and reverence. Help me to honor You in all that I do and to put You first in my life. Thank You In what areas of my life have I been giving God my “leftovers”? How can I intentionally honor God with my time, energy, and devotion today? Let’s choose to give God our best—not out of duty,but out of love. He is worthy!
Clothed in Grace
https://faithfulforager.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Clothed-in-Grace.mp4 This morning, as I read through Genesis 46, I came across verse 22: “But to Benjamin he gave five changes of clothes and three hundred pieces of silver.” (Genesis 45:22) As I reflected on these words, I couldn’t help but wonder about the significance of these particular gifts. Why five garments and 300 pieces of silver? What do they symbolize, and does it relate to me today? The number five in Scripture symbolizes grace, favor, and God’s abundant provision. As I reflected on these words, I couldn’t help but wonder about the significance of these particular gifts. Why five garments and 300 pieces of silver? What do they symbolize, and does it relate to me today? When Joseph gives Benjamin five garments, it’s not just a gift—it represents God’s overflowing grace and provision. Garments, representing status, show how Joseph meets a need and symbolizes God’s abundant love. This reminded me that, just as Joseph blesses Benjamin, God clothes us in righteousness—not because we’ve earned it, but because of His love. Righteousness here means being made right with God, a new identity given through grace. It’s not something we achieve on our own, but a gift from God. The number three hundred also carries significant meaning, recalling how 300 men, chosen by God, defeated the Midianites through divine intervention. Joseph’s gift of 300 pieces of silver to Benjamin symbolizes God’s restoration—what was lost is now freely given, just as God’s provision and restoration come through His power, not ours. God’s grace is freely given, just as Joseph gave generously. I’m invited to receive it with gratitude, knowing that I’m made right with God and surrounded by His provision. As I reflect on Joseph’s gifts to Benjamin, l am reminded of the boundless grace and provision God offers to each of us. Just as Joseph blessed his brother, God continually blesses us with righteousness, restoration, and favor, not because of what we’ve done, but because of His incredible love. May we embrace His gifts with gratitude and trust, knowing that His grace is always more than enough.
Faithful Love
I have to share something that really touched my heart this morning while I was reading Genesis 39. I came across the verse where it says that God showed Joseph His faithful love, and it stopped me in my tracks. It made me want to dig deeper into what faithful love really means—what it meant for Joseph, and what it means for me right now. Genesis 39:21 says, “But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him His faithful love.” That phrase, faithful love, comes from the Hebrew word חֶסֶד (chesed)—a love that is unwavering, loyal, merciful, and kind. A love that doesn’t waver based on circumstances. But what really got me was this—God’s love for Joseph wasn’t proven by taking him out of the prison. It was proven by being with him in it. Joseph wasn’t alone. Even in the middle of his suffering, God was showing him kindness, favor, and purpose. And that made me pause and ask myself: How often do I look at my own circumstances and wonder where God is? It’s so easy to doubt His love when things feel hard, when life doesn’t go the way I hoped. But this verse reminds me that I can’t measure God’s faithfulness by what I’m going through in the moment. Just because I don’t see the full picture yet doesn’t mean He isn’t working. I know that when I face difficulties, my first instinct is often to focus on the struggle rather than trusting that God is working behind the scenes. But Joseph’s story reminds me of something powerful—what the enemy meant for harm, God turned for good (Genesis 50:20). The prison wasn’t the end of Joseph’s story. It was actually the very thing that positioned him for the palace. And I believe the same is true for you and me. No matter what we’re walking through, God’s chesed—His faithful love—never leaves us. He is with us, He is for us, and even in the hardest, most confusing moments, He is working things together for something greater than we can see right now. So today, I’m holding onto this truth: His love is present. His plan is unfolding. And no matter what the enemy tries to use for harm, God will turn it for good. I have a video i made to share as well. https://faithfulforager.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Faithful-Love.mp4
What If?
For several weeks, I have been in a season of “busy”. Distracted. In my heart, I know that I “should” be writing, encouraging, sharing but I have “put it off”. There are what seem to be endless tasks: mowing the yard, weeding the garden, sowing seeds and reaping the harvests, running errands, fixing meals, doing laundry. The list goes on and on. But, I am without excuse. I let the “urgent get in the way of the important”. I let the enemy get me off course with endless distractions. Today, I have stopped. I hit the pause button and just took time to “be” with God. I took a minute to “be still”, to listen. What is the most important thing in my life? It is my relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Truly, He is my Rock and my Salvation. He is the hope for this world. Today, I share the words that were dropped into my heart; the poem entitled “What If?” What if Jesus came back today What would He find? Are my eyes open or are they blind? Is my lamp burning bright? Or is it dim; hidden, out of sight? Am I seeking Him; reading his WORD? Or do I think the Bible is ancient, irrelevant, absurd? Am I discerning the “signs of the times”? Or do I go about my day without reason or rhyme? Am i living for Jesus with boldness and courage; doing His will? Or am I drowning in fear; grabbing a pill? Is this earth my home? Or is my citizenship in heaven where I long to roam? Is my faith growing; do I really believe? Or do I just want to ignore the TRUTH, turn a blind eye; be relieved? Tough questions we must evaluate. For the path to heaven is narrow; the way to Hell wide is the gate. NOW is the time to accept salvation; the gift from our LORD. His WORD, the Bible, is sharper than a two edge sword. It is time to invite Jesus in. He will cleanse and forgive ALL you sin. He is the ONLY way! He is the ticked to heaven this day! But His love, he will never force. He extends an invitation, but does not coerce. The choice to follow, obey, is yours alone. He has a “still small voice”, not a megaphone. He is calling. Be still. Listen. Hear. He longs to give you new life; remove all doubt and fear. It is as easy as A, B, C: Admit that you are a sinner. Believe that Jesus is LORD. Call upon His name. Pray. One. Two. Three. Jesus, I come to you today, broken. I am a sinner. I cannot live this life on my own. I need You. I need You to save me. I believe that You came into this world to die for my sins. You rose from the dead so that I could have life. I ask that You come into my heart, cleanse me of all sin. Be LORD of my life. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen