Flattery

A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. Proverbs 29:5

Last night I was watching the movie version of Pilgrim's Progress with my husband. One small part stuck with me after. It was when Christian and Hopeful met Flatterer. What left an impression on me in the allegory was that this character was not some smooth talking turkey. Oh no, that would have been easy to spot. The character actually looked similar to the "Shining one" (another character in the movie) and seem to give the 2 pilgrims 'information' they needed, seemingly leading their tired souls to an easier path. Believe me if you have been a Christian for any amount of time, you have those days when you need some good, encouraging words and it seems like the devil knows just the right 'brother' or 'sister' to send to you despite the warnings God sends, and just before the true refresher. If you are weary enough you may fall for flattery and inevitably be caught in a net. I can recall going through a terrible lonely period in my life years ago and I mentioned my feelings to my husband on a Friday. Come Monday morning I had a visitor in my office, saying the things I needed to hear someone say. Fortunately for me after speaking to my husband I had taken my complaint to the One, the only One who could truly understand what was going on inside of me. (Let's face it, unless our husbands, boyfriends, wives, best friends, pet rabbit etc. are psychiatrists, they may not have the answers we need all the time especially when the issue stems from something going on inside). So anyway, I had one of my break down, I'm undone prayer sessions and then listened for some word. The answer was simply 'eagles fly alone, God was trying to teach me something and I had to go through that time of what felt like isolation'. I can't recall how it came. Sometimes I hear a message by someone or recall something or happen to hear a song and within the words I get the notion that it's the answer to my prayer.

Back to the Monday morning. I sat there just listening wondering if maybe this person was the "friend" God was sending me, in spite of the answer I thought I got. I admit I was desperate and wavering, thank God for grace. However, as the conversation continued the Holy Spirit started putting up red flags. I wish every Christian could come to that place that their discernment is so exercised that even when they are weary and prone to fall, the Spirit can still grab their attention.
Have you ever been flattered in a way that you just wanted to soak it all in, just for a moment? Life had hit a rough spot and you know, it just seemed like a word in due season???? Then here is something for you to chew on till I get back.....A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruing Proverbs 26: 28

By the way the illustration in the movie led to the pilgrims being caught in a net. It was timely for me because on that same Sunday I was almost blindsided by another flatterer....

Before honor comes humility

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

I saw a sad sight today and my heart is so heavy I must write about it. I was driving along with my mom and kids and we passed a man walking at the side of the road. I thought to myself, "he looks vaguely familliar". As if reading my thoughts (or realising that I didn't wave to the individual) my mom informed me of who it was and proceeded to tell me a shocking sad story. Indeed I didn't recognise him fully because he was a shell of himself. He had a congenial personality, rather cocky and bold. When he entered a room he had a presence. The person I saw was bent, distraught, distinct opposite from what I knew not so long ago. He was riding high but life pulled the rug out. I came home and rendered a heartfelt prayer for this man. I wish I could tell Him to lift up his head. Look to the creator. Turn over the hurt, the pain, the anger and recieve what no man could give.

On Sunday evening my family's bible study was based on King Nebuccadnezzar's downfall that God sent because of his pride (Daniel 4). For this week we were to remember to give God thanks for every accomplishment and ascribe the glory to Him instead of taking credit. It sure helped me remember who is truly in control. Our own pride can bring us down. Unfortunately it's hard for us to acknowlledge muchless see that we are prideful in anyway. God is so good that even if we are brought down by pride, the reverse is also true,  humility could lead to honor.
Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. Proverbs 18:12

Father, please help your children to hate pride and walk in true humility. Not self debasement that is based on pretense or just trying to prove to other people that we are humble, but the acknowledgment that although we are children of the Most High, you are the one in total control and any great thing we accomplish is for your glory. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Rise above the hypocrites

The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous would be delivered.  Proverbs 11:9 NIV

Have you ever met a hypocrite????? Too much to count huh? Even in the church? Sad but true and they usually command a position of notariety. Think I've cross the line in saying that, weeeell check out this verse where Jesus himself was addressing religious leaders of his day. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2015:7-%209&version=NIV and check this long passage on Jesus calling the leaders hypocrites to their faces over and over again http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2023:13-33&version=NIV Now please don't go trying to call people hypocites, we must be wise to know when to confront and when not to. The point I'm trying to make is that hypocrisy is alive and well in our churches and it has hurt many of the sheep. I know it has hurt me. It's a horrible thing when someone flatters you to your face and then verbally eats you raw behind your back. The lesson I've learnt.....forgive, yes confront if you feel God leading you to that, but forgive. Guess what God hates hypocrisy and He will avenge you. Also get it in your head that 'flattering lips work ruin'. Know when someone is just buttering you up and don't make them your confidant because they fan your ego. Don't become buddy, buddy with an hypocrite 'lest you learn their ways' or people start assuming you are two peas in a pod.......you know what I mean.

Up and down kind of day

Well it seems like my words are being tested, but I'm thankful for that. You cannot expect promotion without being tested. So I've been having some days that left up to my old ways, would leave me down and disgruntled. I just keep fighting against going under. You see, I have come to realise that even my attitude in the midst of a painful ordeal, is a choice. I sure have had some days of pain lately. I'm not sure what was happening to my body but I was going through some unexplainable excrutiating pain. They have been washed out through prayer. I say washed out because after praying about the pains, I felt the urge to start drinking 4 cups of water before breakfast in the morning (I could only manage 3 though and I mean the average sized glass). It worked!!!! It worked well, for not only has the pains all but disappear (I still sometimes get a dull sensation) but the water has been behaving like a laxative (nuff said).

It reminds me of the washing of the 'water of the word'. Feeling spiritual pains anyone. Try drinking in an increased amount of the word. Get yourself all cleaned out.

Consider this

Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and He shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. Deuteronomy 28 : 47- 48


I have read the Bible from cover to cover several times, but I perceive I could never read it without something new jumping out at me. This verse actually shook me up while reading the book, Created To Be His Help Meet, by Debbie Pearl. As you can guess I had been seeking ways to improve myself in my marriage. The verse resonated the critical need for me to serve the Lord not just with lamenting and being busy doing good things, that wore me out into a sour puss but God wanted joy. He wanted me to be glad, He wanted me to consider the things He had given to me. How easy it is to consider the things we don't have and belly ache about if we had such and such or if this hadn't happen, yackity yak, rather than being vocally thankful for what we do have. Honestly, I was such a hard nut to crack that I have read the book over and over before actually implementing the suggestions and seeing results far above my expectations. But this is about the verse. Did you notice what the LORD himself did to His children who were not serving Him with joyfulness and gladness of heart for the things He had given??? He turned them over to serve their enemies. Today we don't have enemies like the Hittites and all the other ite's but what about the bad neighborites; hostile co-workerites; sickness-ites ..... you get the picture. I think we need to Selah. Yeah, let us pause and think about that.