When we have been trained all our lives through certain stimuli, it is very difficult to think something differently even when truth corrects erroneous thinking.
This is the reason people are so often resistant to change or correction.
When a child has been trained all his life that he is special and superior to others, it is nearly impossible to get them to listen when there is correction or rebuke needed.
Just as a child who has been trained all their life by continual demeaning, there is difficulty seeing themselves in truth as a person with abilities and accomplishments.
The more children are trained to think of themselves as special above others the less likely they are to succeed in life. Their elevated view of their own importance will always lead them to believe they should have the top position in a company even though they have done nothing to demonstrate their abilities.
We have done the children of this country a disservice by praising them ad nauseam. Far too many parents think they are "encouraging" their children with excessive praise. I witnessed an older child showing his own disgust when his parent was praising him for tying his shoes when he had been doing it for several years. Even the children begin to disrespect a parent when they are what I call "sickly sweet."
The demeaned and mocked child grows up to believe they can do nothing right. Anything they attempt to accomplish is met with thoughts of futility, "I could never do that."
Encouragement has more to do with "that's right go that way", not "oh what a great person you are for choosing the right way." One ought to be able to feel good about their accomplishments without someone gooing all over them until the honey drips to the point of making them nauseated.
A simple, "thank you for doing that" is enough and not over and over for the same task that should be routine without mention.
The two extremes, over praising or over devaluing are both unacceptable with children and even adults.
Romans 12:1-2 "1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God."
Someone who needs continual praise to keep going will not be someone who can serve Christ when there is persecution. We ought to show gratitude to others for their work, but excessive praise is a hindrance. Someone who is kept down continually through unnecessary criticism will automatically expect to fail.
Both the praised one and the demeaned one must admit their problem and resolve to overcome it through prayer and acknowledgment of reality. The lies that were placed in their heads by narcissists must be overcome with the truth of the Word of God.
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
When we realize we are nothing special, none of us, then is when we can place our trust in Christ, allowing Him to work through us.
Colossians 3:16
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Notice the focus is not self in the above verses! The focus is Christ. When we compare ourselves to Christ instead of others, we will not be so proud of ourselves.
Romans 15:1-11
"We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, ..."
Our encouragement and joy comes from Christ not our own way.
2 Corinthians 10:12 "For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding."
The less we focus on self the more we grow in wisdom.
Someone once said this:
"One of the elements of holiness is the absence of self awareness. "
The more we are aware of Christ the less we are aware of self.
Friday, March 8, 2019
What is right?
Do you always do what others expect of you? Or do you do what is right no matter what anyone else thinks? Something to ponder.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
"RAGINGLY INSANE" Times We Live In
God calls our time in history now "RAGINGLY INSANE"
A Christian sister did a study of the word "Perilous" in the 2 Timothy 3:1-5 passage. It makes a lot of sense for our time. The word means "ragingly insane."
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 This know also, that in the last days PERILOUS (ragingly insane) times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Perilous times: Ragingly insane times!
Does this sound like what we are going through right now?! Times in which very few people understand the depth of wickedness in the sin of our day.
When we speak the things of the Lord we can see the anger in the eyes of those who love to think of themselves as gods.
Those who are "Christians" often act indifferent to the Word of God, even avoiding enthusiastic believers who base all they do on the Word of God.
People who love the Lord are faced with indifference and rage regularly now. Families are split against each other and broken into bits over nothing more than a desire to maintain superiority and dominance.
Self is on the throne instead of Christ in their lives. These are truly "ragingly insane" times we are living in.
No wonder God gave us hope through the knowledge of the rapture of the church. So many unsaved people are hopeless, lacking joy and miserable. However the born again believer is full of joy and expectancy as we watch these prophetic times unfold.
God is still on the throne, He still loves us and is coming back for us.
Hallelujah!
A Christian sister did a study of the word "Perilous" in the 2 Timothy 3:1-5 passage. It makes a lot of sense for our time. The word means "ragingly insane."
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 This know also, that in the last days PERILOUS (ragingly insane) times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Perilous times: Ragingly insane times!
Does this sound like what we are going through right now?! Times in which very few people understand the depth of wickedness in the sin of our day.
When we speak the things of the Lord we can see the anger in the eyes of those who love to think of themselves as gods.
Those who are "Christians" often act indifferent to the Word of God, even avoiding enthusiastic believers who base all they do on the Word of God.
People who love the Lord are faced with indifference and rage regularly now. Families are split against each other and broken into bits over nothing more than a desire to maintain superiority and dominance.
Self is on the throne instead of Christ in their lives. These are truly "ragingly insane" times we are living in.
No wonder God gave us hope through the knowledge of the rapture of the church. So many unsaved people are hopeless, lacking joy and miserable. However the born again believer is full of joy and expectancy as we watch these prophetic times unfold.
God is still on the throne, He still loves us and is coming back for us.
Hallelujah!
Christ Walks Through With Us
I wrote this to a Sister in the Lord as she shared some health difficulties. I know that everything we go through has a purpose and when we come through it we are stronger than we were before.
James 1:2-8
"2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
It is not necessarily the healing we always pray for even though that is our first response. It is the strengthening of our character, wisdom and holiness that we seek.
I have had a lot of pain and a lot of surgeries over the years. It seems I become a little less agitated by it with each new thing. LOL!!!
When I am not having pain I rejoice because it feels so good.
Don't know what the next thing is, always hope there are no more.
I remember the days as a child when I fell off my bike or dropped a whole crate of berries I had picked while falling in the dirt. I actually laughed and cried at the same time. I did the same thing just recently when I slipped on some spilled gasoline while I was filling the lawn mower.
Then I found out I had cracked ribs and a small fracture in my foot. I felt silly to have had the accident. I have had two cesarean sections up and down, a hysterechtomy, tonsils removed as a child, gall bladder removed, mashed disk surgery on my neck, severe headaches that caused throwing up for three days, several of those, yep I am very familiar with pain.
I always cry out to God on those terrible headaches. I have asked for God to heal me or take me home. They are like labor pains in my head, only those who have had them can understand it.
Its alright to cry, its alright to tell the truth about our feelings, it gets everything out in the open to be dealt with, Job did it, it brought healing to him to express what was inside. But then we don't remain there, we move on to emotional healing through trusting in Christ as He goes through with us.
I bragged for years that I never had a broken bone, until last summer when I had those pratfalls. I guess God got tired of my bragging about that. I don't brag about anything anymore. LOL
God knows I have had a lot to learn!!!
Hallelujah!!!
James 1:2-8
"2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
It is not necessarily the healing we always pray for even though that is our first response. It is the strengthening of our character, wisdom and holiness that we seek.
I have had a lot of pain and a lot of surgeries over the years. It seems I become a little less agitated by it with each new thing. LOL!!!
When I am not having pain I rejoice because it feels so good.
Don't know what the next thing is, always hope there are no more.
I remember the days as a child when I fell off my bike or dropped a whole crate of berries I had picked while falling in the dirt. I actually laughed and cried at the same time. I did the same thing just recently when I slipped on some spilled gasoline while I was filling the lawn mower.
Then I found out I had cracked ribs and a small fracture in my foot. I felt silly to have had the accident. I have had two cesarean sections up and down, a hysterechtomy, tonsils removed as a child, gall bladder removed, mashed disk surgery on my neck, severe headaches that caused throwing up for three days, several of those, yep I am very familiar with pain.
I always cry out to God on those terrible headaches. I have asked for God to heal me or take me home. They are like labor pains in my head, only those who have had them can understand it.
Its alright to cry, its alright to tell the truth about our feelings, it gets everything out in the open to be dealt with, Job did it, it brought healing to him to express what was inside. But then we don't remain there, we move on to emotional healing through trusting in Christ as He goes through with us.
I bragged for years that I never had a broken bone, until last summer when I had those pratfalls. I guess God got tired of my bragging about that. I don't brag about anything anymore. LOL
God knows I have had a lot to learn!!!
Hallelujah!!!
Humility is "Power Under Control"
All those things and people we fear, are not very scary when Christ lives in us. He is far more powerful than any one or anything.
Even if we are not bailed out of our difficult situations we can still live holy, joyful and free within ourselves.
All our trials do not come to harm us but to hone us into the person Christ wants us to be.
James 1:12
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
Romans 12:12
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
James 1:2-7 "2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Follow the Link to hear more:
Even if we are not bailed out of our difficult situations we can still live holy, joyful and free within ourselves.
All our trials do not come to harm us but to hone us into the person Christ wants us to be.
James 1:12
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
Romans 12:12
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
James 1:2-7 "2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Follow the Link to hear more:
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
He Holds Our Hand Always
I am so glad that the Lord does not let go of our hand just because we don't measure up yet, or because we fell when we felt weak. We are like little children, we forget to keep holding His hand, but He never forgets us!!!!!
Deuteronomy 31:8
"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
When a brother or sister messes up a little, the last thing they need if for the self righteous ones to come along and give them another kick in the gut.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
"9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.
10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."
There can only be this depth of companionship and care when there is no pride involved.
Hallelujah!!!
Deuteronomy 31:8
"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
When a brother or sister messes up a little, the last thing they need if for the self righteous ones to come along and give them another kick in the gut.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
"9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.
10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."
There can only be this depth of companionship and care when there is no pride involved.
Hallelujah!!!
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