I am a liar

Wow,I said it.I am a liar.How can this be?I am a child of God so how can I tell a lie?Every time I say that I am fine when I am not,I am lying. Does that mean I am a bad person? No it doesn’t,but I am not being honest.It would be better for me to say I don’t feel like talking or I have been better. This way I am being honest with out having to lie.

This does not mean that I pretend that I don’t have any problems or that I am not hurting.I do need to have someone I trust that I can talk to. A person who can help me with my struggle whatever it may be. A person who will listen and be honest with me. Someone who is kind but will not be what I like to call a ‘Yes man ‘. I do not need a person who will agree with me if I am in the wrong.A real friend who cares about more than my feelings. They want what is best for me,and will tell me the truth even when they know I may not like what they have to say.

The truth can be painful and difficult to speak but if we lie we are only hiding in the dark. You can not see the way out in the dark. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Light. If I want to get better I need to be honest and tell the truth.

Bending/Your Will or God’s Will

God is who he is. The Great I Am. He does not change, His Word does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The only bending He does is to bend down to pick us up. He does not break His commands nor does He change them. The ones who try to change what God has commanded is the enemy and man. We say it is okay to do things that His Word says is wrong because He understands what we are going through and that we don’t have a choice. He forgives us and we are under His grace. We try to bend His Word to fit how we want to live, when we should be allowing His Word to transform us to His will.

Something to think about.

Take a moment and think about the serpent and Eve. Do he strange out lie to her or did he bend the truth to deceive her,that eating the fruit would not harm her? Now what things do we as Christian’s do that bend His truth, believing that we are doing something good and that we are not hurting anyone?

Kay Warren Choose Joy Day 14

Paul’s story

 

 

 

They Came Back!

In two of my previous post ‘Giving Thanks December 27, 2016 – Thankful That God Is Always There’, and ‘God Speaks To Me’ I wrote about the doves in the tree out my back door. The first I was only able to capture a photo of just one of the doves, and in the second three doves allowed me to take their photo.

I have seen a single dove and occasionally a pair while sitting on my porch but no more than that until this last week. The first day I had stepped out my back door to take the trash out I had wished that I had my camera on me but was able to quietly go back in my apartment and get my camera. When I came back out they were still in the tree until I stepped off my porch and all but one flew away.

Then on another day the tree was filled with these doves again. This time 3 remained and though the sky is gray and the branches were making it difficult to photograph them the stayed until I was able to take their picture.

Now a third day and they are back! This time not one dove flew away until I was able to photograph them. Yes once again the day is gray but these beautiful doves bring God’s beauty and hope into my life. Filling my heart with joy and peace knowing He is speaking to me of His great love and how this love is growing in me everyday.

Genesis 22:17  indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.

 Genesis 1:28  God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

2 Timothy 2:2  The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Jeremiah 30:19  ‘From them will proceed thanksgiving And the voice of those who celebrate; And I will multiply them and they will not be diminished; I will also honor them and they will not be insignificant.

 

Need A Hero?

Look around the world today and you know there is no way we are going to make it without a hero. We have all the fictional heroes that you can imagine. Marvel and DC comics, and mythology has given us a long list to choose from. Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Wonderwoman, Supergirl, Thor, and Hercules to name a few.

The problem with all of these characters is they can’t save you. They are not real. They are creations of someone imagination. We all see the need for help, and the danger and violence that consumes this world.Unfortunately most of us do not see the True Hero. The One and Only Savior Jesus Christ. It is sad, that many would rather believe in a work of fiction than a real living God. We live in a fallen and broken world created by our sin then we turn in anger and blame the One who loves us so much He sent His Son to pay the price of our wrong doings, our sins. There is only One true God and there is only One way to the Father. Jesus is the real hero and He is coming back! Get ready because you won’t know the time, but you don’t want to be like the lazy virgins who missed the Groom. Don’t turn to the world for your help. Hold out for the One Who gave His life for you.

John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Isaiah 43:11 – I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no Savior.

1 Timothy 2:5 – For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

 

 

Seeing What You Want To See

If you want to see the beauty that is around you, you will see beauty. If you want to see the ugliness of this world you will see ugly. Yet if you really want to see the truth, then you will see both. This world around you has both love and hate, beauty and ugliness. Yet this world is temporary, and for those of us who have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are pilgrims only traveling through it.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV) ¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Psalm 146:8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises up those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous;

Acts 26:18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Art by Julie Sheppard

2 Corinthians 3:16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Art by Julie Sheppard

I have always been drawn to eyes, both in people and in art. I have learned two people even when looking at the same thing see differently. We see what we are looking for, even when we are not sure what it is that we want. Broken, hurt, and angry people will more likely see darkness and devastation. The ones who only see roses and rainbows can be the ones who cannot handle the pain of this world and they choose to deny the ugliness but only fool themselves. Then there are those whose eyes have been open. They have suffered, and been hurt and abused. They have had great loss in their life but through the brokenness of their life they found the Truth in Jesus. He gives us the ability to see the truth and to beauty even in a broken world.

She Keeps Going Back A Dream

People often ask why a woman returns to her abuser. She gets free only to return. I can probably list more than a dozen reasons. Yet It is not her reasons that I am writing today. I was recently told of a dream a friend had.

They had dreamed that he and his wife were trying to help a woman get free from an abusive husband. Yet no matter how many times they got her away she would run back to him. They finally got her free from him. Then he came after her in their home. He broke in through a window carrying a gun. My friend had his gun but only had one bullet. He shot the guy but it did not kill him.

I cannot remember if there was more to the dream but I had an interpretation. The woman in this dream is like the bride of Christ. Yet she married the false Christ. Even though she loves Jesus she was deceived and you could say that she married His evil twin. Just like a woman trapped in an abusive relationship that she doesn’t know how to truly be free returns only to get beaten more. She has been brainwashed into feeling that she is nothing and deserves the treatment she receives. So she returns. She is afraid and fears that she will die on her own with nothing so she returns. Even when she is free from him she has chains that bind her that no one else can see. Fear, shame, guilt, feeling worthless, hopeless, and the list goes on. Each a link to her captivity.

The one bullet is the Word of Christ Jesus. Why did it not kill the abusive husband? This husband is the false Christ and his time of causing terror and harm has not yet come, but it is coming. Satan knows his time is short so those he cannot destroy he tries to mislead. He is doing everything he can to destroy the Bride before the True Groom returns. Yet like a woman who has been abused she needs people to bring her the healing that only comes from Jesus.Then the truth of Jesus will set her free. Jesus came to set the captives free and who He sets free is free indeed. I may not have the power on my own to deliver another from harm but Jesus in me if I submit to His will and make myself available to be used by Him can help others flee from harm and get to safety.

2 Peter 2:22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 24:5 For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Before I heard this dream I had not thought of comparing an abusive relationship with the church and Satan.Yet now I see that it has its parallels. A woman abused to often will return to abuser even if it ends in death and unfortunately I see many in the church are doing the same thing spiritually. I only pray that we wake up before it is too late.

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love does not…#4

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV) ⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

1 Corinthians 13:4 (GNT) ⁴ Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud;

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV) ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NASB) ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,

Parade (noun) 5. An ostentatious show; an exhibition: make a parade of one’s talents.

(verb) 4. To behave so as to attract attention; show off.

11. (tr)to exhibit or flaunt: he was parading his medals.

Ostentatious (ˌɒstɛnˈteɪʃəs) adj

Characterized by pretentious, showy, or vulgar display

1. Characterized bypretentious show in an attempt to impress others.
2. Intended toattract notice: ostentatious charity.

Conceited (kənˈsiːtɪd) adj1. Having a high or exaggerated opinion of oneself or one’s accomplishments

conceited – characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance; “a conceited fool”; “an attitude of self-conceited arrogance”; “an egotistical disregard of others”;”so swollen by victory that he was unfit for normal duty”; “growing ever more swollen-headed and arbitrary”; “vain about her clothes” self-conceited, swollen, swollen-headed, vain, egotistic, egotistical proud – feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride; “proud parents”; “proud of his accomplishments”; “a proud moment”; “proud to serve his country”; “a proud name”; “proud princes”

Conceited  adjective self-important, vain, arrogant, stuck up (informal), cocky, narcissistic, puffed up, egotistical,overweening, immodest, vainglorious, swollen-headed, bigheaded (informal), full of yourself, too big for your bootsor breeches I thought him conceited and arrogant.
modest, humble, unassuming, self-effacing

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Conceited adjective

1. Thinkingtoo highly of oneself:   egoistic, egoistical, egotistic, egotistical, narcissistic, vain, vainglorious.

Informal: bigheaded, stuck-up, swellheaded.

2. Undulypreoccupied with one’s own appearance:

narcissistic, vain.

Boast  (bəʊst) vb 

1. (intr;sometimes foll by of or about) to speak in exaggerated or excessively proud terms of one’s possessions,skills, or superior qualities; brag
2. (tr)to possess (something to be proud of): the city boasts a fine cathedral.

n3. a bragging statement 4. a possession, attribute, attainment, etc, that is or may be bragged about

Synonyms: boast¹, brag, crow², vaunt
These verbs all mean to speak with pride, often excessive pride, about oneself or something related to oneself. Boastis the most general: “We confide [that is, have confidence] in our strength, without boasting of it; we respect that ofothers, without fearing it” (Thomas Jefferson).
Brag implies exaggerated claims and often an air of insolent superiority: He bragged about his grades. Crow stressesexultation and often loud rejoicing: No candidate should crow until the votes have been counted. Vaunt suggestsostentatiousness and lofty extravagance of expression: “He did not vaunt of his new dignity, but I understood he washighly pleased with it” (James Boswell).

Brag  (bræɡ) vb, brags, bragging or bragged

to speak of (one’s own achievements, possessions, etc) arrogantly and boastfully

n 1. boastful talk or behavior, or an instance of this 2. something boasted of: his brag was his new car.

3. abraggart; boaster

ar·ro·gant   (ăr′ə-gənt) adj.

1. Havingor displaying a sense of overbearing self-worth or self-importance. 2. Marked by or arising from a feeling or assumption of one’s superiority toward others: an arrogant contempt for theweak.

[Middle English arrogaunt, from Old French, from Latin arrogāns, arrogant-, present participle of arrogāre, toarrogate; see arrogate.]

ar′ro·gant·ly adv. Synonyms: arrogant, haughty, disdainful, supercilious
These adjectives mean characterized by an inflated ego and disdain for what one considers inferior. One who isarrogant is overbearingly proud and demands excessive power or consideration: an arrogant and pompous professor,unpopular with students and colleagues alike. Haughty suggests superiority, as by reason of high status: “Her laughwas satirical, and so was the habitual expression of her arched and haughty lip” (Charlotte Brontë).
Disdainful emphasizes scorn or contempt: “Nor [let] grandeur hear with a disdainful smile, / The short and simpleannals of the poor” (Thomas Gray).
Supercilious implies haughty disdain and aloofness: “Failure would confirm the critics who called him supercilious forfollowing his own methods and not theirs” (Neal Bascomb).

Proud  (praʊd) adj

1. (follby: of, an infinitive, or a clause) pleased or satisfied, as with oneself, one’s possessions, achievements, etc,or with another person, his or her achievements, qualities, etc
2. feelinghonoured or gratified by or as if by some distinction
3. havingan inordinately high opinion of oneself; arrogant or haughty

Definitions from  http://www.thefreedictionary.com

Why are so many definitions included with this lesson? They are listed for clarity. So you can see and understand what these words mean in their context. Taking a shovel and digging in deep. Getting to the core and getting past the surface. The word Love has been used so carelessly and without meaning, I want to get to the truth about love. People say they love chocolate, hamburgers, cake, etc… in the same manner as they say I love you. They have become empty and meaningless words. We confuse love with lust and passion. Why do we use the word lovers for the people we have had sex with? This makes me think of Tina Turner’s song, ‘What’s love got to do with it’. What does love have to do with sex, or any materialistic, physical thing? Nothing. To be honest most of us don’t even love ourselves and do not even realize this. Yet the love God has for us, and gave to us through His Son Jesus is true and filled with life, joy, hope, and truth. Yet how do we learn to understand this kind of love? We dive into His Word. Jesus is the Word made flesh. In this lesson I used parallel versions and definitions(more definitions can be found at http://www.thefreedictionary.com)  to learn what was really being said in this verse and the two last words of this verse(more actually if you look at the different versions) parade itself/ puffed up: conceited or proud; boast/proud: brag/arrogant. These are things that love is not. It is not about itself or what it can get. It is a real, living, and growing life that gives more than it seeks for itself. I have learned one thing about myself, and that is that I have so much to learn about love and I do not think I am alone. I hope you want to learn too.

Is love about what you want or can get?

Have you ever behaved in a rude or arrogant matter?

Have you sought attention because of a need to feel loved?

Do you have moments where you behave like you are better than those around you?

Do you ever think your sin is not as bad as another?

 

1 Corinthians 13 has been a lifeline for me for the last five years. It has helped me learn how to deal with tragedies and loss without turning headlong into a self destructive lifestyle. Understanding, that because terrible things have happened, that this does not mean that He does not love me. He knows and feels my pain. I have also learned that if someone hurts me, I do not have to hurt them back, and this does not make me a doormat. I continue to desire to learn and understand what His love is so that I can share this love with others. This is lesson 4 and more will come. I hope and pray that you will share what you know about love and any insights you can give to helps us all grow in His love.

Truth (Do you really want it?) by Julie Sheppard

     People claim to be seeking the truth, but most of what we hear is lies. Yes they sound good, and it may even be what we wanted to hear, but is it true? Do we actually desire to know the truth or just what makes us feel good? News stories once had to be factual, and they were accountable for reporting the truth. Today if you read a news article or watch the news does not mean it is true. At least half if not more of what you read on the internet is not true. Our opinions have become fact( at least that is what we want to believe), which does not make it true. We even have a term to make lies sound nice; they are called ‘white lies’.

      In the movie “A Few Good Men” Jack Nicholson’s character states “You can’t handle the truth!” I hate to say this, but it looks like the world fits this statement. We do not want the truth, and I believe this is one of many reasons the world rejects Jesus. He is the Truth. No lie or deceit is found in Christ. (1 Peter 2:21-23 21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;…)

To be truthful we must be accountable. Let’s face it, we live in a world where we would rather blame someone else for our actions than be accountable for what we do. A few years back I took a course titled ‘Life’s healing Choices’ and one of the things I learned about, was being accountable for my actions. This did not mean that I had not suffered, been abused and a list of other things that were done to me was not wrong. What it meant was there were things that I did in response that furthered the damage done, and to find healing from these things I had to recognize that I had done my fair share of things that were wrong. I had to be honest with myself. Yes, the truth hurts, but it also brings healing to a wounded heart.

     With truth we learn trust. Trust is a necessity in a healthy relationship. We have a God who wants a relationship with us and He is worthy of our trust. He sent His Son Jesus to pay for our sins. He does not want to condemn us for our actions as sinful as they may be but forgive us. This truth is something I cannot deny. Yet I struggle with trust even in my relationship with Him. Not because of Him but because of all of the lies I have lived with. The ones spoken to me, about me, and that I have spoken. I have been deceived but I have also been deceptive. Thank God, He forgave me and because of His love I have changed and continue to change into the woman He created me to be. There is a song from the 80’s titled ‘I’ve never been to me’ and one verse stays, ‘That is truth that is love’. I like that because Jesus is Truth, and He is Love. I want the truth that can only be found in Him to be what lives in me. It may hurt at times, but I would rather suffer some pain for a moment than ever live with out Him.

 

I did a search to see how many times the word ‘truth’ is mentioned in the Bible and the answer I found was 224 times in the King James Version. I am not going to list all of them but here are some from that list. Please let me know which ones speak to you or add a comment with a scripture not on this list that you like.

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. KJV

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV

John 8:32

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. KJV

Romans 1:18

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; KJV

John 16:13

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. KJV

John 8:44

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. KJV

John 17:17

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. KJV

2 John 1:2

For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us forever. KJV

John 4:23-24

23 but the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.KJV

James 1:22

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. KJV

John 15:26

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: KJV

1 John 1:8

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. KJV

Ephesians 4:15

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: KJV

1 Timothy 3:15

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. KJV

3 John 1:3

For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

Vows and Promises (keeping your word) Deuteronomy 23:21-23

We need to take care what we speak. Especially when we make a vow. When promising anything to God or in His name we have made a covenant which we should take care to never break. In society today people enter into marriage making vows they do not expect to keep. They even sign Prenuptial Agreements before saying there ‘I do’s’ meaning that they are really saying I don’t. What they are really saying is, ‘I promise to be with you as long as I feel like you are doing what I want you to do, but the second you make one mistake I am out of here.’  People are known not to keep their word. They may think they mean what they say at the time they say they will do something, but the moment an excuse comes they use that excuse to get out of what they said. Justifying to themselves a reason to break their word, without feeling accountable for breaking their promise. Unfortunately people tend to do the same thing with their relationship with Jesus. They make a commitment to Him and then break it when things get too hard. Then we say I believe in God, but then we do not obey His word. (James 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! / Mark 1:23-24 While Jesus was in the synagogue, a man was there that had an evil spirit {from the devil} inside him. The man shouted, “Jesus of Nazareth! What do you want with us? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are—God’s Holy One!” (ERV)) Our word becomes empty without worth when we can not be trusted to keep our word.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23  “When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the LORD your God will surely require it of you. “However, if you refrain from vowing, it would not be sin in you. “You shall be careful to perform what goes out from your lips, just as you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God, what you have promised.

Thankfully God is not like man. When God makes a promise He keeps it! You can trust God will do what He says He will do.

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? 

God is faithful and His word is truth. People will fail you. They will lie to you. They will walk out on you. This list goes on, but trust in God and he will never leave or forsake you. He is always with you if you let Him in to your heart and to your life. That is why marriage is so important to Him. He calls the church His Bride. We are His church not a building, but you and me became His Bride the moment we confessed Jesus as our Savior and repented of our sins. He is the faithful husband. Unfortunately even when we accept Jesus into our lives we become unfaithful like Hosea’s wife Gomer. We look at the world and get distracted. Then once we are distracted we get off course and walk away from the One who is faithful to the one who deceives. Thankfully God is faithful and forgiving. He shows us mercy and love no matter how many times we break His heart. (‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ John 3:16)

So be careful about making promises or vows. This is not only for marriage vows, but if you say you are going to do something do it. Don’t make excuses when you don’t, but be accountable when you do break your word. Maybe if we dealt more with the consequence of our broken word, we would be less likely to make promises we don’t intend to keep.