Pride

Have you ever avoided a place, a situation, a person because you were afraid they were going to judge you for something or think less of you?  I  have to say that I have never been one to avoid situations.  I have always faced it head on but with worry.  I sometimes find myself worrying about how I would handle the judgemental people in my life.

My dear friend, pride is the reason for the worry. We worry about what other people will say or think because we don't want them to see our weaknesses. It makes us very vulnerable.  Pride will keep us isolated and eventually destroy us. 

This is what God says about pride-"Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall." Proverbs 16:18.  Pride means we think too highly of ourselves.  God expects us to be humble.  He k ows we will stumble. He expects us to use our weaknesses for His glory.  How can we show His redemptive power if we don't demonstrate how we've been redeemed?!?

God allows us to have weaknesses.  He allows us to make mistakes.  He allows for the stumbling.  It's not because He wants us to be viewed as less of a person, dirty or weak.  He wants us to be viewed as worthy because of Him.  Clean because of Him. Strong because of His strength.

The people that stand in judgement, the ones that you avoid...they are full of pride.  They are afraid of their weaknesses.  They point our mistakes and judge you for your weaknesses because it makes them feel better about themselves.  As they point out your flaws, they somehow think they are covering their's.

God wants us to love one another in spite of our flaws.  He hates pride because pride is when you think that you are better than others.  We NONE deserve anything.  We are NONE better than one another.  God expects us to learn from our weaknesses and teach others from them.  If we hide behind pride, we aren't doing what we are meant to do.

I have had pride that has caused me to stumble but have found it so much easier to be open with my brokenness in order to help others.  No, I don't believe you should do a tell all announcement of all of your weaknesses and stumbles but let the Holy Spirit guide you to telling those that need to hear.  Let Him use you to help others.

They did me wrong

The other day I sat and listened as someone made the statement that they trust someone they met at a bar more than the church people. He continued saying that the church people let you down and do you wrong.  What I heard played games with my heart because he had a point. Not a happy one-but a point.

From the world's view the people of the world can be trusted more.  They appear unflawed and have it all together.  FROM A WORLDLY STAND POINT.  If we look at them with honest God vision, we can see the brokenness that they hide behind the  alcohol and wall of self-preservation.

Here's the thing...worldly people that are not living for God won't cause you the upset in your life that Christians will.  Oh wow...did I just say that?!? Satan doesn't mess with them. He already has them where he wants them.  He doesn't see them as a threat to his plans.  If they aren't following the will of God, they won't further the Kingdom of God. The problem is...Satan doesn't want us in fellowship with God or each other through Christ.

Satan's goal is to tear down the church.  I don't mean the building, I am talking about the unity within the marriage of people to God through fellowship.   Why do you think so many marriages are failing? Just like regular husband-wife marriage, God expects us to be unified in Him.  The church should share the same unification within God's will. 

Satan is a number one killer of marriages and relationships within the church.  He will deceive people into all kinds of sin causing a strain on God's family.  Satan doesn't worry about the people that he knows are not a threat.  Now I am not saying that if you hang out at a bar you aren't a child of God-what I am saying is that if you are expecting church family to be perfect like the people you see covering their problems with alcohol, well, they aren't.  

The good thing about church family, we can be real with each other.  We know that Satan is the enemy and not each other.  Satan hates that! When we show our imperfection, we can give God the glory for redemption. 

We all hate sin.  We all hate when we hurt each other. (At least we should if we truly are in God's family) God can use the bad that Satan intended for His good.  He can bring us closer through the power of Holy Spirit forgiveness.

It's amazing the bond that forms when you truly forgive a member of your holy family. And on the otherside, it's an amazing feeling when the one you've hurt forgives you.  I have been on both sides of this and I find it transforming.

On the flip side, I have also been one to hide behind alcohol.  I have found myself, in the past, consoling a bottle of wine or a friend drinking with me. When alcohol covers the pain, it just numbs it.  It doesn't resolve ANYTHING! 

As a truly new creation in Christ, I have completely stopped drinking.  I do not judge or condemn you if you drink or hang out with the bar goers but I will say this...God is a healer of all broken.  He doesn't numb the pain, He heals it.  Heals!!!  The family of God is a support system for God.  They aren't perfect and most don't claim to be.  That's a big difference between trusting the world and trusting God. God can use our broken and flaws.  The world covers their's in a hope that you will only see perfection.  Yes, there are "church-goers" that hide behind walls in an attempt to cover their imperfections.   But...when the walls cone down its AMAZING!!!!

First, the people that cover their pain and broken with alcohol are running from their problems not to God.
 

It's True...smiling makes a difference

I have been reading a book titled "Created to Be His Help Meet".  In that book there is a section about how people, husband's specifically, find you more attractive when you are smiling and joyful. I found it very interesting, as I grow closer with God and have a strong desire to be the best wife EVER.

The book gives an example of an ugly hillbilly women to prove the point.  The writer says that the ugly hillbilly women is always smiling and being happy with customers of a store where she works.  She noticed that the women was always surrounded by multiple people that enjoyed her company.  The customers were attracted to her joy.  The writer's husband even called the woman cute. Her joy made her cute.

One day, the writer and her husband saw the same woman in the grocery store yelling at her kids.  She had, apparently, what I call mean mommy face. The writer's husband said that he had never seen that woman before. The writer explained that it was the "cute" woman from the store. Ha!

Well, last night my husband and I were watching "Along came a Spider".  Monica Potter is one of the main characters.  I commented that she was very pretty and had a cuteness about her.  She was a US Secret Service Agent.  She had a joyful innocence about her.  It made her glow.

Spoiler alert, the Monica Potter character becomes the bad guy at the end of the movie. I remember commenting to Paul that she was not pretty anymore.  I could jot find beauty in her.  When she became a bad, nasty, evil person, I couldn't find beauty in her. The writer's point was made.  I had never even thought of it. 

I guess my reason for all of this is to say this...glow with joy-put on a smile.  God would rather see you smile and be joyful.  Your husband, your friends, your enemies, all find you more attractive when you show joy.  You are loved and cared for by the Almighty.  What's not to be joyful about!?!

What's Different???

The other morning I was discussing with my husband that I would try and do better about being home more for dinner during the week.  Right now I have dinner at a girlfriend's house on Tuesdays and at church on Wednesdays.  It leaves him to arrange his own meals or I make and leave him something to eat alone at home two nights a week.  I find it a bit rude and selfish of me as a wife. 

As we were discussing it, he insists that I continue with my 2 dinners out a week.  He said to me, "It is apparently good for you."  When I asked him to explain what he meant,  he went on to say that I am more relaxed and laid back these days.  He finds that I am happier. Hahahahaha

After hearing what he had to say, I explained to him that it's not my time away from him, my time at church or time with friends...it's my time with Jesus that has changed me.
I continued to tell him how I have grown into a closer relationship with Christ and make more time for Him.  I have given the Lord all the "yuck" from my life and treat Him like He is the Everything that He is.

For much of my life I have tried to handle things on my own and kept God on a shelf for the big emergencies.  I called on Him when I needed Him and prayed to Him like He was just a God who lives in Heaven.  The Lord is NOT JUST AN ANYTHING!!!! The Lord is THE EVERYTHING!!!!

Once I stepped into the realization that He IS, I looked at Him as the "I AM."  I need a friend, God says "I Am." I need a husband, God says, "I Am." I need a father, a teacher, a doctor, a brother, a breath of fresh air, a provider, a counselor, a mighty shoulder to cry on...God says, "I AM."
(Tears want to flow with joy just thinking about this.)

Once you accept, believe and claim the idea-the truth-that God IS-life becomes so easy and free for abundantly peaceful living.  The friends and church are all good things provided by God to bring us happiness but God, ALONE, is enough. He has made me a different person. 

I feel like Psalm 23 sums it all up.  The 23rd Psalm is full of promises I live by.  Most people think of that passage of scripture as the beautiful serenity scripture read at a funeral.  Lol.  I live in it, claiming it for life. The Lord promises so much in those 6 verses.  He promises He will provide ALL I need, peace, strength, comfort, anointing and on and on. 

With scripture like the 23rd Psalm, why wouldn't I live in peace and in a place of easy going and relax? I have to wonder why I haven't claimed this before.  Why have I tried to conquer the world on my own when the One who created it all has said that He will do it for me. 

I pray that you fully surrender all to God so that you can experience the peace of living in Him. You will be a changed person with a changed outlook on life. I guarantee!!!!

Don't Rely on Egypt!

This morning the scripture I read was from Isaiah 31.  I read the entire chapter but verses 1 through 3 spoke deeply to my heart. They say, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and who depend on horses! They trust in the abundance of chariots and in the large number of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel and they do not seek the Lord ’s help. But He also is wise and brings disaster. He does not go back on what He says; He will rise up against the house of wicked men and against the allies of evildoers. Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the Lord raises His hand to strike, the helper will stumble and the one who is helped will fall; both will perish together."

Throughout my marriage I have always looked to my husband for things I've needed.  Protection, food, money, enjoyment, emotional support, so on and so forth.  My husband has done the best he can to provide. I would say he did a pretty good job until we lived through a four month separation. 

During the four months, he still offered some financial support but the rest...that was for me to find on my own. Right?!? God says otherwise.   In fact, I believe that the separation was part of a weaning process for me.  God was trying to teach me to lean on Him for everything, not a human. 

God says that if we ask, He will give us what we need.  In the verses from Isaiah, God is making it clear that reaching for help from the wrong places will only bring us harm.  Humans can abandon us. God wants us to depend on Him for everything.  After all, He created us and everything else on the earth. I am pretty sure He knows what we need and when we need it.

Please don't misunderstand me.  My husband has always provided for me when I was living with him and when things were good by the grace and goodness of God's provision.  BUT...when I wanted to continue depending on him through the bad, God said to me that HE is my Provider.

God will teach us lessons and use bad situations to draw us closer to Him.  I feel, strongly, that part of the circumstance that I lived was to teach me to depend on God and not humans.  As much as I love my husband and know that he does the best he can to provide, I know that there is someone who provides better, without a separation period. 

God has blessed me with a forgiving and strong man for a husband.  I am grateful for that for sure.  I am grateful that God is molding and making him too.  We grow as we become grateful for things that we have always just taken for granted.  We grow as we realize that God is the Provider of EVERYTHING! Jehovah Jireh!  We grow when we give credit where credit is due. 

Don't be an Enabler

Have you ever had a friend or known someone that takes advantage of  kindness and continuously asks for things instead of trying to take care of themselves?  There are people that feel entitled to certain things.  They feel that, because they were a victim of circumstances, the world owes them.  I see this as a real problem with the younger generation today but it is true with older adults too.

Through Jesus we can't afford to lives as victims.  We must live knowing that we are victors.  Jesus saved us from our past or can save us if we give it to Him.  Whatever it is-past abuse- medical conditions-WHATEVER.  God has plans for each of us and living as a victim, waiting for handouts is not it.  (If I have offended you, please accept my apology and keep reading)

God wants us to help either other but being an enabler to the lazy and the ones living in fear of their past or as a victim, God speaks against it. In  2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 says, "For we hear that there are some among you who walk irresponsibly, not working at all, but interfering with the work of others.  Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ that quietly working, they may eat their own food."

I find myself feeling sorry for people that don't have what they need.  Why?  God provides what we need.  Most of the time the people I find myself helping are people who are perfectly capable of working and earning their own way but choose not to.  God expects us to help those who can't help themselves.  He clearly speaks about helping those thoughout His Word. 

Laziness is a sin that has consequences.  I don't have very good boundaries in place for dealing with this because I do have a heart that wants to help.  BUT-it kind of goes back to the saying about-give a man a fish and he can eat for a day or teach a man to fish and he can eat for a lifetime. (I may not have that exact but you get the point.)

With all of this being said, I am not telling you that you shouldn't help those in need.  I am saying that God wants us to have the wisdom to discern between  those that truly need help and those who are lazy and not doing what God intended with their lives.  Don't be an enabler to those who are living a life of sin by taking advantage of kindest and generosity. 

On the other side of this...if you are the one taking advantage...don't be surprised when you find yourself in a place of abandonment.  God may take away those who enable in order to show tough love. Don't see it as a negative but as a learning experience.  God gives us brains, strength and other provisions in order for us to live in His will.  He never intended for us to waste all of this and live off of the world around us.  He wants us to trust, solely, on Him.  He will give us what we need to do what we have to to provide our own way.

I am speaking from a place of Holy Spirit guidance.  This is a topic that I have been praying about and asking for guidance on.  I know this is a sensitive subject to those of you that struggle to find the strength to press forward into self-reliance. I pray that you will dig deep and find courage to pick yourself up and do what God wants you to. 

If you find that you are an enabler-like myself-find other ways to help the "victim".  Help them write a resume for a job, help them on the job hunt, teach them to read or right or whatever they need.  Give them valuable help that will last a lifetime.  Teach them to take care of themselves by not teaching them to completely rely on others. 
Trust me...you will do them a greater favor.
Remember to keep living them and being kind even if you stop being an enabler.  Don't treat them like enemies even when they get mad at you for not enabling.
"Yet don’t treat him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother."
2 Thessalonians 3:15 HCSB

Exiles will be Rescued

I know that my last blog was about exiles being rescued but for some reason the Lord has brought me back to this thought. 

Have you ever felt exiled?  From a  relationship, a place, a status?  Do you feel that way now?  Sometimes people can be cruel and turn you away because of something THEY find as a fault in you.  Maybe they kick you out of relationship with them or out of their house or even try to take the "status" away from you.  Let's say they mark you as dirty and unworthy because of something you said or did. 

Who gives them authority to exile you? No one.  As humans we judge and set standards, failing to remember that we are none good.  Only God is good.  So we tend to exile others from certain places in relationship, status or even physical place.  I have been just as guilty of this as anyone.  I'm ashamed to say. 

God tells us not to worry about these things.  The only One that has complete authority over all is God.  People can exile us but God will rescue us when and if He sees fit.  Micah 4:10 says, "You will soon be sent in exile to distant Babylon. But the Lord will rescue you there; he will redeem you from the grip of your enemies."

Humans may put us in a place of "exile" based on their judgements and criticisms but God redeemed us through Jesus Christ. Is that not the most awesome thing ever?!?! If we are in relationship with Christ, we can't ever be exiled from His Kingdom.  He promised us this.  We are made worthy, no matter what we do or say, if we have accepted Christ as our Savior. 

Man may try to bring you down.  Opinions and criticisms, judgements and nasty, may make you feel exiled from society or your family but God says there is no need to worry.  When we trust Him, God provides rescue and safety.  He makes us worthy and brings us out of exile. 

Truth is...I would much rather be in right standing with God than worry about what anyone on earth says or thinks.  If you are feeling exiled or unloved, know that God loves you no matter what another person says or feels.  If we depended on the people in our lives to approve and accept us to get into Heaven, wouldn't we just be in so much trouble!?!  Praise God for His grace, mercy and unfailing love.

Love the people in your life despite how they feel.  Thank God for them and watch how things change.  People that live in darkness or ones that aren't where they should be in relationship with Christ, point fingers and exile others as a reflection of how dirty they feel themselves.  Remember who God expects you to be and that the evil, cruel things that others do to you are a flaw in THEIR character, not yours.  Pray for them and ask God to give them forgiveness and acceptance.  Let God take control.  He WILL rescue you.  He may decide that you are better off being exiled from the relationship or place or status that you have been exiled from. 

I don't know about you, but because God made all of us, I trust they He knows what's best for us.  Just a thought-not that of the "random thought" kind-a real love, a real thought for being in Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit.