Pam Farrel is on a mission to help people grow with God’s truth and godly wisdom. In this Character 
UPGRADE, she focuses on the priority of integrity.
“Sin leaves a wake,” Pam says. “Behind every selfish action is a sea of hurt and pain.”
My (Dawn's) husband used to say, "It's not a matter of whether we're selfish, but rather how selfish we are." Selfishness can erode the strongest marriage!
Pam continues . . .
Bill and I are known as relationship specialists; experts on love and romance. This means is we need to live out our love! We need to make every effort to get along, work through issues, and give plenty of mercy and grace to protect our marriage.
Because our love—and yours—is about living and leaving a family legacy.
Protect Love and Legacy: the Bible tells us this is a priority:
“Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump...” (1 Corinthians 5:6-7).
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
The “A Priority” is to guard our life and protect the gift of love God gave.
God will bless your choice to keep your vows:
“He who walks in integrity walks securely…” (Proverbs 10:9).
“He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity” (Proverbs 2:7).
“For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face” (Psalm 11:7).
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).
In my newest book, 7 Simple Skills for Every Woman: Success in Keeping It Together, I share that on my desk are several items to remind me that it pays to walk in integrity.
On my desk you’d find:
1. Photos of me with Bill as well as photos of our children, grandchildren, mentees, parents—all those whose lives I would undermine if I cheated on my vows.
2. A compass given to me by a wise mentor in leadership who said, “Let God’s voice be your compass”
3. All my Bibles. Looking at God’s Word all day, every day, reminds me to be in it—and to let it impact the way I live.
4. A barnacle attached to a stone as a reminder that a barnacle cannot live apart from the stone just as I cannot survive apart from Christ, the Rock of my Salvation.
5. A frame with verses about living with integrity visible on the front, and stories of the harmful wake others left when they wandered from Christ and His plan for committed love.
6. A heart paper weight to remind me to have a whole heart for God.
7. A figurine with an umbrella on it, reminding me that life is best when lived under what I call “God’s umbrella of blessing.”
“For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield” (Psalms 5:12).
8. A turtle, because if you see a turtle on a fence post you should ask, “How did that turtle get there?
Turtles can’t climb, so someone placed the turtle on high. In the same way, God gave each of us a legacy, a platform, so God can take us down a few notches—or elevate and bless us—depending on our choices.
“Be humble in the Lord’s presence, and he will honor you” (James 4:10).
Integrity may not be easy—but it can be SIMPLE. Guard your heart, your life, your love and your legacy.
What will you place on your desk to remind you that “those that honor God, God honors”? (1 Samuel 2:30)
Pam Farrel and her husband Bill, are international speakers and authors of 40 books including their two newest: 7 Simple Skills for Every Woman and 7 Simple
Skills for Every Man, each designed to help a person, using simple skills, to create a life that he/she will love to live, and a way to love those in his/her life. Find them at www.Love-Wise.com, where they are helping people in all their most vital relationships by intersecting God’s wisdom with people’s desire to be loving.
Graphic adapted, Image courtesy of usamedeniz at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.