Liar, Liar (John 8:44b)
Dear Members of the Our Savior Lutheran Church Email Prayer Chain,

Liar, Liar

He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. --John 8:44b

“Out of all the voices calling out to me, I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.” Casting Crowns, “The Voice of Truth”

Have you ever been lied to? Betrayal is a pretty awful experience – it shakes our confidence and damages our ability to trust. But, while most of us are quick to feel disgust at the harm done by a blatant lie, if you’re anything like me, you fall prey to subtle lies on a regular basis. These lies may not necessarily come from overtly malicious sources but from the well-meaning yet flawed thinking of a friend, the hurtful perception of a parent, a distorted reality promoted by a marketing campaign, or even our own faulty thinking. Let me share a few examples of lies that have come to my attention one way or another:

“You’re not worth anything.”

“You’re not competent – you’ll never make it on your own.”

“You’ll never be really happy. God blesses others, but not you.”

“God can’t love you. Your sin is too great.”

“Your gifts and talents are too insignificant for God to use.”

Pretty awful? While I’d never say such terrible things to another person, at some of life’s toughest moments, lies like these have masqueraded as truth and threatened to crowd out healthy thinking and good judgment.

As people seeking to follow Christ we need to be particularly sensitive to lies that may have seeped into our beliefs or thought processes. Not only can they send us down the wrong paths in life, but they can greatly hinder our walk with the Lord. In the opening verse, Christ reveals there is one who delights in deception and falsehood, who works hard to keep people spinning their wheels with false beliefs and fears. He is Satan, or as Christ refers to him here, the “father of lies.” Deception is his “native language” and his lies prevent you and me from hearing the truth Christ wishes to speak to us.

So how do we discern the voice of truth? How do we know God’s voice from the thousands of other voices that bombard us day in and day out? I believe the answer is rather simple (it seems the truth usually is rather simple): Measure your thoughts against God’s revealed truth in the Word.

I’ve found that when I begin acting or thinking in a questionable manner, if I take a step back from the situation and dismantle my thought process in the light of God’s Word, the lie is often exposed rather quickly. If my thoughts remain muddy, I am learning to be patient, pray, seek wise counsel, and continue to immerse myself in the teachings of Christ. One truth we can all count on is that God never abandons those who seek Him.

REFLECTION

Search your life for beliefs or behaviors that are not rooted in God’s truth. Identify scripture verses that speak to that particular issue.

PRAYER REQUESTS -- Week of June 7, 2009

* Indicates a new or updated prayer request.

If you have an update on any of the people listed below please contact me so that we can present accurate information and give thanks to God for answers to our prayers.

FOR THOSE WHO LOOK TO THE LORD FOR HEALING

*Sara Biladeau  Recovering from an appendectomy
*Brian Koch       Recovering from sinus surgery
*Jean Albers      [Sister-in-law of Velma Claus] recovering from hip replacement surgery on Monday
Melissa Nelson  Recovering from knee replacement surgery
Christian Mehl   [Son of Dave and Diane Mehl] newly diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and will be undergoing intense treatment
Katie Whitsett    [Daughter of the Whitsett’s] recovering from a viral infection which attacked her nervous system
Bill GriffinSuffering from an infected foot that is not healing
Frank Walker     Returned to Oaklawn for care and is making slow progress
Thomas Davidson         [14 y.o. neighbor of the Coleman’s] at St. Judes Hospital, undergoing surgery and chemotherapy for a malignant melanoma on his arm
Becky Carroll     [friend of Doris Deuth] diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy and recovery will take time
Barbara Robertson       [Mother of Debbi Novak] recovering from heart attack and biopsy, in Virginia
Alice Nickel        [Mother of Paul Nickel] recovering from corneal transplant surgery
Jim Trotter          [Father of Aaron Trotter] underwent stent placement and is upcoming heart surgery.
Mark Lohmeyer [Son of Kyle and Lois Lohmeyer] recovering from surgery on broken wrist  
Susan Creel Taggart    [Friend of Paul Nickel] recovering from spinal surgery
Charles Boehnlein        [Father of Kim Rye] dealing with health concerns
Austin Speaker [Grandson of Billie and Harvey Detroy] recovering from hip surgery after an accident
Phyllis Kenrieck [Aunt of Mark Whitsett] hospitalized in critical condition with health concerns
Bob Wolke         [Brother of Pat Otten] suffering from severe pain
Gravatte Family [Friends of the Lindgren’s] health, family, and life concerns
Ty Hassler, Jr.    [Friend of the Lindgren’s] health and life concerns
Orval Bestian     [Brother of Shirley Atkins] heart problems
Matt Lowe          [Friend of Karyn Ranzau] critical condition after a surgery
Kay Mitchell       [Friend of Barbe Lamkin] major health concerns
Kim Hunter         [Friend of Pat Kuecker] 37 yr. old suffering from multiple health concerns
Karen Jackson  [Friend of Melissa Nelson] waiting for a transplant
Mary McKenzie [Friend of the Kaulitz Family] small child with a heart defect

FOR NEW LIFE

*Aaden William Brieschke, new grandson of Cindy and Marty Brieschke, baby and mother doing well

FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM CANCER

Lorna Benkendorf, Ruth Smith, Phil Sanders, Laura Webster, Lu Aiella, Jim Bush, Kay Mitchell, Leona Walker, Pam Russo, Brock Douglas, Bill Berger, Ray Witte, Joan Beck, Judy O’Neil, Kim Phillips, Karen Gardner, Roger, Sue Sexton, Jana Maher, Warren Mounts, Joe Howley, Judi Rice, Linda Dixon, Jack Quinlan, Mark Hayden, Joanne Leeming, Venessa Brady, Joey Eckler, Jim Siegfried, Karen Netherton, Brenda Rogers

FOR THOSE SUFFERING CHRONIC ILLNESS

Ben Hutto, Daniel Shorter, Bob Farley, Christopher, Lance Muessle, Erin Brady Worsham, Nick Zimmer, Reinhart

FOR THOSE CONFINED AT HOME, A NURSING HOME OR REHABILITATION CENTER

Mary Rose Crask, Jim Ashley, Ricky Hayes, Inge Kaulitz, Lydia Eggers, Mim Hawkinson, Nancy Heiden, Erna Kelley, Myrtle Wiggins, Glenna Goepfert, Elvera Weltzin, Jerry and Marge Tauscher, Isabella Tappendorf, Virginia Alexander, Helen, John Smith, Dennis Krause

FOR THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY

Jason, Chris and Kim Wolter, Matt Fitzgibbon, Zachary Holland, Joshua Burkett, Roy Oberhaus, Don Wheeler, Lori Alix, James Marshburn, Tony Crespo, Donnie Tyler, Matthew Kuecker, Zachary Holland, Michael Alexander, Jeffrey Davis 

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.--Hebrews 13:20-21 

In Christ,
Paul Nickel
Director of Christian Education
Our Savior Lutheran Church
 

Copyright 2006-2010, Our Savior Lutheran Church