What Narcissists Want To Escape, But Can't

Foolish People Only Love Themselves

Foolish people must continually attempt to upset us so they can feel justified in hating us because of the guilt they feel for their own rude and mean behavior. If they can make us seem like the problem they can relieve their guilt.

When fools cannot manage to upset us they hide from us and begin their gossip campaign to cause others to treat us disrespectfully. They are never content for us to be at peace, the drama never stops and is perpetuated over the silliest matters. Those who believe the fools and jump on the band wagon of contempt toward the target of the fool are themselves guilty and also must be avoided.

Proverbs 1:22-23 "22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools' hate knowledge? 23 If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.…"

If a fool can manage to remove our support system they will have a better chance of keeping their target in a state of frustration diminishing their peace and joy.

What the fool does not understand is that they can remove the support system of a believer except they can never remove Christ Who is our defender. We are never without help, love, kindness, peace, joy, and hope because of Christ Who lives in us.

Proverbs 14:6

A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

The fools want others to believe they are wise but wisdom eludes them because their bent is in appearances only and not substance. They are not at all concerned about what God thinks, they are only anxious about what other people think of them.

Proverbs 14:6

"A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning."

Proverbs 22:3

"The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences."

God reminds us of these things so that we will avoid those who bring trouble to the souls of those who wish to walk with Christ.

Proverbs 26:12

"Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."

Proverbs 29:9

"If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution."

It is not possible to reason with the prideful, they will fight against you just because of their hatred and jealousy toward you, not because you said or did anything wrong.

I praise God continually for the wisdom in His Word that shows us how to walk and who to avoid. We who love Christ are continually self-reflecting because of Him. We want our walk to be authentic and clean.

Titus 3:10 "Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them".

When we have determined with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit that someone walks in rebellion and loves conflict for its own sake, we are commanded to avoid such people.

2 Timothy 3 describes these people and tells us to avoid them.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 "1But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, 4traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!"

In these last days, many people will be like this and yes, even in church gatherings. God clearly states that we are to get away from them. They will cause trouble between brothers and sisters and worse between husbands and wives. The goal of the devil is to use them to destroy all relationships and often over nothing important.

These people often have a high opinion of themselves thinking they are superior and knowledgeable, their knowledge is not wisdom, it is only facts that lead to pride.

God said; "Knowledge makes one conceited, but love edifies people." 1 Corinthians 8:1b

We know when someone is a loving person living in the power of the Holy Spirit and when someone is playing religion to elevate self. The more discerning we become the easier it is to see the difference.

Pretenders will bring down anyone in their path who does not elevate them. Authentically born-again believers love the principles of Christ, love discussing Him and love others who love Him too.

John 13:35

"35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”

John 13:34-35

"34 I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”

We know when someone loves Christ and us, it will be obvious to all who walk with Christ.

Traditions of Men Ruin Our Walk with Christ

I was told by my mother-in-law years ago that my husband and I were going to hell because we left the Catholic church. I told her I felt bad for her that she was worried for us, but told her that we didn't leave Christ, we became closer to Him and that He lives in us. She cried because she knew she could not change our minds. She rejected Christ and clung to Mary to the very end of her life as did one of my husband's brothers before he died.

In these times God clearly showed us that the "Protestant" church is very much like the Catholic in its doctrine and don't even realize it. They eliminated the statues but still placed their trust in a hierarchy of sorts rather more than in Christ.

The statues are gone, the rosary is gone, and the canned prayers dictated by a priest are gone, but the mentality that a man leads remains dominant in the "Protestant" church system.

It has become ritual to attend a large church building with worship teams who lead instead of the Holy Spirit. Where the songs are dictated by those in charge of choosing songs, prayers are said by one man up front and not by the Holy Spirit within the gathering, as each one is participating as led by the Holy Spirit.

Sitting in the pews doing whatever the man up front tells them to do and believing everything he says is cultic and the pew sitters don't realize it. They give up their autonomy in the Lord to follow a man.

The modern church does not know how to worship and pray day to day at home. When the virus hit many people were upset that they could no longer meet in those buildings and were lost without their "pastor." This was because they didn't understand that the church are the people and can worship and pray anywhere at any time. We need not adhere to man's traditions according to day or place.

The traditions of men are so strong those who have been following them all their lives experience false guilt when they do something different. This is why it is essential that each of us ask God for truth and be willing to set aside all the wrong things we were taught by men, so that we can obey God.

Believe me!!!! It is far less stressful to follow Christ than the burdens men place on one another that are not even Biblical.

Romans 14:4-6 "…4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.…"

Man's way is full of rules God never made, ideas God never taught and pressure from one another God never intended. Man thinks they can do it better than God, the very reason they make their own rules that God never commanded.

May each one reading this ask God to show them the truth so that they can have the freedom, peace, and joy of God's way.

1 John 5:2-4

"2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."

The Small Things Mean a Lot: The Clinging Cross

I don't know why but the Lord led me to share something with my Facebook friends. This little story demonstrates the love that believers share with one another, just the little things that edify and bless one another.

A friend makes wood objects and is good at it. He and his wife blessed me with a "Clinging Cross", made out of wood from a tree that grows on the east coast.

This wooden object is a bent cross made for our fingers to cling to it in a certain way that feels very comfortable, sort of the same idea as a "worry stone" that one strokes to relax.

I was so blessed by their thoughtfulness that I sent them a thank you letter with fullness of heart. Here is the short letter, I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you so much for the lovely gift of the "Clinging Cross." I have to tell you a little story about myself that makes this gift seem more special than you think.

As a small child, I had the habit of wrapping my fingers around the satin on the blanket in my crib. I was in that crib until I was six years old.

Because my family was poor my brothers and I shared the same room. One day my parents decided to take away the crib and give me a regular twin bed.

I was sad to see my crib go because it was my safe place. Over the years I maintained that good feel of the cold satin between my fingers, to this day I still do that.

This "clinging cross" will be so much fun as I sit a lot waiting for the approval of the heart doctor so I can be seen. God sends me little encouragments like this and you have no idea how good it feels. May the Lord bless you for your kindness to me. Much love, Gwen

It isn't so much the gift as it was the love with which it was given. This kindness will carry me through for a long time as I wait, and wait and wait. Thankfully, time passes quickly these days the older I become, so I am confident that a year from now I will look back as see how everything culminated and resolved.

John 15:12-13. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.”

Hallelujah!!!!!

Labels are not Needed, Actions and Attitudes are Enough

We have no need to label anyone as narcissistic, all we have to do is evaluate how they treat us and others and that will determine what we do.

If a "friend or "relative" consistently devalues you, disrespects you, dismisses you as insignificant, lies to us consistently, if they are doing things to hurt you and feel nothing about that or claim they didn't do it, and finally if their values do not align with our own then this person is not a friend.

When we evaluate a relationship based on our desired path for life and our "friend or family" continually negates it, demeans it or attempts to sabotage it, then we must build a boundary to keep them at bay.

Those who are continually defending themselves and will never admit to flaws and who resist correction will be contentious people. Kind and loving people will admit things which is why they grow emotionally and spiritually mature.

Titus 3:9

"9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are useless and worthless."

1 Corinthians 3:3

"3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people?"

Philippians 2:14-15 " 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world…"

2 Timothy 2:14

"14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly exhort them in the presence of God not to dispute about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the listeners."

If a "friend or family member" gossips about us, makes unfounded judgments based on that gossip, or repeats things to others about us that are none of their business, then the boundary wall must go up.

Trusting Christ Means not Trusting in Self

Those who have difficulty facing their own flaws are those who depend on themselves for perfection and not God.

Being Heavenly Minded is a Good Thing

I never liked that phrase "some people are too heavenly-minded to be any earthly good", it mocked those who wanted to walk closely with Christ and it placed friendliness above evangelism.

We are not called to be "earthly good" we are called to preach the gospel so that the unsaved will be spared hell and will love Jesus Christ.

Sadly, so many mantras that sounded nice were propagated in these last days to avoid embarrassing themselves by speaking the name of Jesus Christ.

One missionary told me they made a practice of minimizing the word of God for the sake of unity. Sadly this is the caliber of missionaries I have seen down through the years. They actually thought "being friendly" was the gospel even if they never mentioned the name of Jesus Christ.

There is another very foolish saying I have heard that goes something like this; "“Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words” is a phrase often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi.

The Bible clearly tells us to "preach the gospel." If we are not preaching we are not bringing the gospel.

Romans 10:17

"17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

2 Timothy 4:2

"2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine."

Francis of Assisi was a Catholic monk, following a false religion, why would we listen to him? Why do Christians quote someone who was not born-again? The answer is clear, most people who say they are Christians are afraid to offend the lost with the gospel because then perhaps those who are lost will not like them.

John 12:42-43 "42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. 43 FOR THEY LOVED PRAISE FROM MEN , MORE THAN PRAISE FROM GOD."

,

If someone is afraid to speak the gospel to the lost perhaps their unsaved friends are more important to them than Christ. And, how is it possible to love an unsaved friend knowing they will go to hell if they do not trust in Christ?

I encounter more "Christians" who are offended by those who speak God's principles from His word than they are by their unsaved friends who reject Christ. When we love someone, we want them to be saved and enjoy Christ as we enjoy Him.

It is likely that we see Christians acting timid about sharing the gospel because most are not saved themselves and are offended when anyone preaches at them. We are less likely to be offended by preaching if we love to share the gospel ourselves.

May believers love the Lord so much and His Principles that we cannot hold back when we are led by the Holy Spirit.

John 16:13-14 "13However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"

1 Corinthians 8:1-2 "1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.…"

When man speaks from is own heart he will be glorified, but

when the Holy Spirit speaks Christ will be glorified. It is Christ we should seek to glorify not self!