Tag: pride

Healing, Hurt in Church

The Know it Alls Need to Shut Up

Can I tell you I don’t have it all figured out yet? Can I tell you I am still learning? And maybe, just maybe, I don’t want to enter some people’s drama.  Is that bad? Idk. Guess I’m just spunky today…

 

Have you ever met a Know it All? Someone who just loves to get in your face and tell you what you need to do with your life.  Lots of time they use the Spirit of Religion to do it too. Yeah, you better do this or do that or you won’t get into Heaven. Like they are Jesus or something. I think they believe they are the ones holding the keys to the gates and they get to decide who gets in. We have it all wrong in their eyes, and they are the only ones who have it right. So you better sit down and take notes or something.

 

I used to be a people pleaser.  I used to go to every single event at Church. All so people would see that I was committed to God, that I cared, and that I mattered. I did it for the wrong reasons.  And I trusted everyone with everything.  Not the wisest idea. Can I say that there are some very sick people who go to church – I know I was one of them! I learned with experience who I can trust and who likes to gossip.  Who builds people up and who tears them down. All by keeping my mouth shut and watching and asking God for direction.  Test the spirits right?

 

 

Today I give myself permission not to attend every event,and  not to trust every single person who walks through the door – even if they have the ‘title” thing going on. I will not be ashamed either.  It is my choice.  You can’t shame me into going, or doing – guilt is not a motivator, just as fear is not a motivator.  Just because someone has a ‘title’ doesn’t mean they are trustworthy. Lots of people like to abuse power.

 

I am so weary of the ‘know-it-alls’ who pretend to have everything all figured out. Their pride and arrogance is annoying.  And their need to be right ALL of the time.  Know what I want to tell them? “Don’t take yourself so seriously!” and “I  don’t really care if you think you are always right and we are always wrong. It’s not a contest.”

 

I know a guy who will interrupt Bible Study, interrupt Worship,  interrupt the Sermon, etc.  It gets annoying.  Like he is Mr. Know-it-All.  Yes, he has been told to shut up. But what do you do when they don’t listen?  I won’t even go to midweek service – I tried once and confronted him on his attitude. Know what he did? Stormed out like a little girl. Yeah. A two year old temper tantrum in a 50 year old man.  All because I said I did not agree with him.  I really don’t need any more drama, I have teenagers, lol!

 

What do you do when you don’t agree with someone?

Do you keep quiet?

Do you say something?

How do you handle the Know-it-alls?

 

I know it is because of his insecurity. Feels like he has to prove himself and his beliefs to everyone he meets.  Maybe I’m just a troublemaker, idk.  I mean, after service he makes it a point to corner other women, regardless of their age, and cram his beliefs down their throat.  And he will sit there and argue with them. Like it is a contest and only He gets to win.  I look for it every Sunday. And know what I do? I go interrupt him.  Is that bad? I hate seeing him prey on the elderly women, or the ones that are hurting.  I mean really.  Yes, he is married. But he disrespects her too.  Just feeling frustrated I guess. I know, forgive him, pray for him. Yeah, I am. But how do you get him to shut up?

 

 

Hurt in Church, Spirituality

Can You Put Down Your Stick?

Seriously. Can you put down your stick? I am so tired of people finding fault with each other. Who gave any of us the right to be each other’s Holy Spirit anyway?  You can do the right thing with the wrong spirit you know. And it will NOT be received.

We are not stupid. We feel that condemnation in your spirit. We feel that “holier than thou” attitude, even before you say a word. What happened to humility? What happened to grace and love? If you don’t put down that accusing finger your nose will grow as long as Pinocchio’s. Seriously. Let it go. You are not my Holy Spirit. If you want to be helpful to me, then pray for me. I need it. I admit I am not perfect. I do not do everything right. So put down that finger, and pray already.  And you might want to look in the mirror…that plank you see in me is reflecting from you…

Do Not Judge
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. (Matthew 7:1-6 NKJV)

 

 

Spirituality, Uncategorized, Videos

8 Downfalls of Pride

There will always be “kings” on the throne who want your worship.  Who want your approval, your support, your adoration for them and their ideas. But just because they are sitting on their own throne, doesn’t mean that we are to blindly follow.   I am learning that there will be times when I will have a choice, to bow or not to bow.  And it might mean going to the fire!

“Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.

But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].” (Psalm 1:1-3 AMP)

I read this Psalm last night and it hit me like a ton of bricks.  Not saying something, sitting idle, resting and relaxing without standing up for something is not right.  The silence of Adam – he was there too when Eve ate that apple – but he sat silently and watched, and did nothing.

From: bibleyp.com

The Downfalls of Pride

  1. Pride builds a mighty high throne to sit upon.
  2. Pride worships what it has made, claiming  ‘ownership’ of something that God has done. Not every “king” is “King”.   And it’s a long way down.

  3. Pride blinds people to love.

  4. Pride demands that others do or don’t do something.

  5. Pride demands worship.

  6. Pride accuses others. There will always be those who gossip to the ‘king’ about what you are doing or not doing. Just waiting to crucify you for something  with  bad attitudes driven by fear and jealousy.
  7. Pride belittles others.  There is an ‘air of superiority’ or ‘better than thou’ attitude that comes with pride.
  8. Pride kills the Spirit.

The False God Made of GolD

King Nebuchadnezzar made an object of gold which looked like a god. It was fifteen times taller than a man, and as wide as three long steps. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the land of Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar called together all the captains, leaders, rulers, wise men, money-keepers, judges, and law-keepers of Babylon’s lands. He called them to come to the first showing of the object that he had set up. So all the captains, leaders, rulers, wise men, money-keepers, judges, and law-keepers of Babylon’s lands were gathered together for the special time of setting apart this object Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood in front of it.

Then the man who spread news for the king said in a loud voice, “This is what you must do, O people of every nation and language:  When you hear the sound of the horns and harps, and all kinds of music, you are to get down on your knees and worship the object of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not get down and worship will be thrown at once into the big and hot fire.”

Then all the people heard the sound of the horns and harps and all kinds of music. All the people of every nation and language got down and worshiped the object of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.”  (Daniel 3:1-6 NLV)

So, what do you do when you run flat smack into the Pride Monster?  

Time to make a choice – stand up for what is right, or just go along with the crowd.  

Daniel and his friends made a choice…

 

(Image Source: bibleyp.com )

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Daily Post, Spirituality, Uncategorized, Videos

The ME Culture

Daily Prompt: Simply the Best

NASA is building a new Voyager spacecraft that will carry the best of modern human culture. What belongs onboard?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us CULTURE.

From; http://www.gpccolorado.com

I think it goes something like, “In the beginning GOD created the Heavens and the Earth.  And He made them Man and Woman – IN his IMAGE, and it was GOOD!”

So my question is – why do we try so hard to make up our own image?

Why do we ‘try to find ourselves’?

Why do we spend all those years trying to deal with OUR feelings?

Why does it matter?

Who does GOD say I am?

How does HE feel about me?

Don’t His feelings about me matter more than my feelings about me?

Ouch!

I have to admit, I have been rather selfish in this department.  I know I got that from the “World System’ of doing things – thinking it was all about ME. Really?

Hey I  got my iPad, iPhone, iPod, iHome, and my iMovie for my iLife  “i” everything these days – hmmmm…

I am kind of glad God is renewing my mind in this area.  I am weary of trying to figure ME out.  When it’s not even about ME – it’s about HIM.  And until I  get rid of this PRIDE thing, He is waiting…

P.S. For one of the BEST posts I have read about PRIDE head over to

DEEP AND WONDERFUL THOUGHTS

A Clean House: An Allegory of How God Changes us from the Inside Out

Dear Lord,

Forgive us, for putting ourselves up on that pedestal and worshipping our own thoughts and feelings. Forgive us for being prideful.  Thank you Holy Spirit for bringing this to our attention, we confess our idolatry.  Let us cast down our vain imaginations, and our graven images of ourselves.  Let us not rely on ourselves, but upon YOU Lord, for you have made us in Your image.  And what You make is good.  Let us stop magnifying our feelings, hurts, sorrows, shortcomings and ourselves – it is not about us, it’s about YOU, in Jesus Name.

This is what HE did – for us…

“Lay Down My Life”

By Sidewalk Prophets

All your pain
Will be made mine
All your troubles
The tears you cry
Give it up
All that binds
I will place it on my shoulders
And up this hill I’ll climb
Father, give me strength
I know there is no other way
I lay down my life for you
This is the moment when all will be made new
I know that you don’t understand
But this is part of a greater plan
So I lay down my life for you
This is love
That had to bleed
To bring you mercy
To set you free
You are mine
I am yours
And I will wear your burdens
Just like this crown of thorns
I will take your place
I know there is no other way
I lay down my life for you
This is the moment when all will be made new
I know that you don’t understand
But this is part of a greater plan
And I lay down my life for you
Give me all your pride
Give me all your fears
Give me all your secrets
Give me all your tears
Give me all you doubt
Give me all your shame
Watch them wash away
Watch them wash away
Give me all your pride
Give me all your fears
Give me all your secrets
Give me all your tears
Give me all you doubt
Give me all your shame
Watch them wash away
In Jesus’ name
I lay down my life for you
This is the moment when all will be made new
I know that you don’t understand
But this is part of a greater plan
And I lay down my life for you
Though I know that you don’t understand
These scars are part of a greater plan
And I lay down my life for you
Arms stretched out
Upon this tree
To show true love
To set you free

Photo Credit: usfspdistancelearning.wordpress.com  and  www.gpccolorado.com