Archive for the ‘Pride’ Category
The First Sin
The First Sin
The first sin was never forgiven.
It couldn’t be forgiven.
No repentance was ever made for the first sin.
The sinner was banished to eternity in hell.
Lucifer’s Sin Was Pride.
- There was no forgiveness available.
- He had sinned in Eternity.
- There could be no forgiveness in Eternity.
- No one had ever apologized in eternity before.
- No one had ever repented to God before.
- Forgiveness would only be found in the period known as Time.
- Mercy and Forgiveness were only introduced in Time.
The shedding of a lamb’s blood only brought about temporary forgiveness.
Calvary’s Lamb brought about permanent forgiveness of sin.
When Lucifer sinned in Eternity, he sinned without the hope of mercy and forgiveness.
- His sin wasn’t murder.
- His sin wasn’t immorality.
- He didn’t do physical harm to another angel.
His Sin Was His Own Lofty Opinion Of Himself
- His sin was pride.
- His sin was the first sin.
- His sin caused him to be banished forever.
Pride Is The Reason There Is A Hell.
God Has A Serious Problem With Pride.
He will not tolerate anyone bragging on themselves in His presence.
1 Cor. 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
Lucifer’s Heart Was Lifted Up.
Eze. 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Pride Made Lucifer say, “I Will”…
Isa. 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa. 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Isa. 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Ten Of God’s Reactions To Pride:
1. God Will Go To War Against Pride.
He Hates It That Much.
Jas. 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
- “Resisteth…” God prepares to war against the proud.
- God never said that about any other sin, only pride.
2. God Has Zero Tolerance For A Proud Heart
Psa. 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
3. The First Mentioned Of The Six Things God Hates
Prov. 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Prov. 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Prov. 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Prov. 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
4. Pride Is An Abomination, And Will Be Punished.
Prov. 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
5. God Calls Pride, a Sin.
Prov. 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
6. Proud People Are Trouble Makers.
Prov. 28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
7. God Warns Us: “Be Not Proud!”
Jer. 13:15 Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.
8. Pride Is A Sin Very Evident In The End-time.
Rom. 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
9. Those Who Teach False Doctrine Have Pride.
1 Tim. 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1 Tim. 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1 Tim. 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
10. Pride Will Destroy You.
Prov. 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
King Nebuchadnezzar… Ruled The Then Known World
Dan. 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
Pride Hardened His Mind
Somehow… God flipped a switch in his mind and before the day was over, he was on his knees in the pasture. He ate grass like a cow and liked it. He lived like an animal, without any ability to communicate with humans. His body was naked and his fingernails looked like bird claws.
Dan. 4:32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Dan. 4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
The Antidote For The Church Today.
2 Chron. 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Mottos To Live By:
Matt. 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
1 Pet. 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Prov. 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Prov. 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Do Not Let Pride Destroy What God Has Called You To Do!
Don’t Let The First Sin Become Your Last Sin.
She Put Her Gum In The Offering Plate!
She Put Her Gum In The Offering Plate!
Agnes was mad, she was really mad! She had long ago gotten past being upset. She was irritated by what was happening in her world. Her world was out of control. This was not the life she had planned for herself.
Her family was by far the richest in her hometown of Bolivar, Missouri. They owned the entire town. Well, at least most of it was theirs. Her maiden name of Burke was a name that was well-respected in Bolivar. It got respect because it carried most of the money.
Everything had been wonderful in her world up till now. Her husband Bill was not rich nor did he come from a moneyed family like hers, but he wasn’t afraid of hard work and was a good provider. They loved each other. They had recently moved to the Riverside, California area.
When Agnes found out that Bill had somehow wandered into one of those Pentecostal Holy Roller churches, she was mortified. They were good Baptist people from a long line of Baptists. This should not be happening.
When Bill came home from the little Pentecostal church, he was acting differently. He said he’d gotten the Holy Ghost and had talked in tongues.
Agnes was not happy and went through the roof. She argued. She ranted. She raved. This was unbelievable and totally unacceptable! She had to find a way to get Bill back on track and away from all of them low-class Holy Rollers.
She finally decided to go to the little church with Bill and see if she could fix the mess Bill had just gotten them into.
The ladies looked horrible to her with their long hair, long dresses, and long sleeves. The women had their hair all done up. They looked old-fashioned and out of date. Agnes knew she would never fit into a church like this one. All of the women in the church dressed that way. Agnes refused to comply. She was determined to show her disdain for their manner of dress. She was determined to never be part of something so ridiculous.
She seldom missed a service, however. Her attendance was not because she was interested. She wasn’t. She despised everything about this new religion of Bills. Somehow, she had to get him away from this craziness.
To express her disdain for the ‘holiness’ dress code of the holy rollers, she wore things she knew they would disapprove of. She wore sleeveless dresses to church. She wore slacks. She even wore mini-skirts just to get a reaction from them.
She hated everything about these holy rollers. She criticized Bill’s involvement. She made his life a hell, at home.
At church, Agnes purposely didn’t smile much. She just sat there and chewed her gum. She always did. She knew that chewing gum in a church was considered disrespectful, but what did she care. When the offering was being received, Agnes would take her gum out and press it into the dollar bills in the plate.
She was pleased to watch the church secretary try to separate the gum from the paper dollars. It was one of the few things she enjoyed about going to this church.
Her husband Bill had laid on the floor, she found out, when he was praying to receive the ‘Holy Ghost,’ or whatever it was called. He evidently thrashed around quite a bit and rolled back and forth so much that the Pastor, Carl Ballestero, actually sat on him to hold him still so he could receive the Holy Ghost. How stupid, she thought. For six months now, Agnes had constantly shown her disdain and disrespect for the Pentecostals.
One night, a visitor came. The visitor was an old woman who had been in the original Azusa Street Mission. The presence of the Lord fell and people began to worship, but not Agnes. The old lady came to where Agnes was standing and even though she refused to pray, the old sister began to minister to her. In a few moments, she laid her hands on Agnes and prayed. God immediately filled her with the Holy Ghost.
She soon dropped to her knees, and then fell on the floor talking in tongues. She rolled. She rolled down the aisle. She rolled up under the piano and lay there for two hours, talking in tongues. She couldn’t stop.
Bill took his wife home drunk in the Holy Ghost that night. She went to sleep still talking in tongues. At 3 am, Agnes got out of bed and went next door to her neighbors, and beat on the door.
The neighbor lady said, ‘Agnes, what are you doing beating on my door at 3 am? Is something wrong? Do you need something?” All Agnes could do was speak in tongues. She gave up and went back to her house. She spoke in tongues for three days straight.
In time, God called Bill to preach the Gospel. A transformed Agnes and her husband, Bill (Wild Bill) Yandris, went to Merced, California and built a beautiful church to the glory of God. The Apostolic Tabernacle.

Bro. & Sis. Bill Yandris
The very godly Sister Agnes Yandris and her beloved Bill, have now both gone home to their glorious reward. Their children are carrying on this glorious message!
Your Performance Interview With God Is Coming!
Your Performance Interview With God Is Coming
What if God called you on the carpet? What if He asked you some personal questions about your conduct… spiritual and otherwise?
Employees of many companies are given performance interviews on a scheduled basis. Some of the questions asked by the interviewer are similar to some of those I once found at www.jobinterviewquestions.org.
Performance Interview Questions
- Tell me about your last position and what you did.
- Tell me about the last time you made a mistake and how you corrected it.
- If you don’t leave your current job, what will happen there? How far can you advance?
- Of all the work you have done, where have you been most successful?
- I see you were unemployed for a period of time. Tell me about it.
- Give me an example of when you’ve demonstrated your customer service skills.
- How do you define continuous improvement? What is the last new procedure you integrated into your job?
- What makes you stand out among your peers?
- What have you done to reduce your department’s operational costs or to save time?
- What would your current supervisors say makes you most valuable to them?
- If I asked your boss to evaluate your performance, what would he or she say?
- Have you held positions similar to this one? If so, tell me about them.
- What is the most important thing you learned at a previous job?
- What did/do you enjoy most/least about your last/present job?
- If there were two things you could have changed about that job, what would they be?
- How did your job change while you held it?
- What qualifications do you have that make you successful in this field?
- What have you learned from previous jobs?
- Describe a typical day at work.
- How have your previous positions prepared you for this one?
- What parts of your job do you consider most important?
- What job tasks do you feel most successful doing?
- What special skills or knowledge have you gained to help in this job?
- Describe an important project you worked on.
- You have a lot of experience. Why would you want this job?
- What do you consider your greatest strength?
- What is your most significant professional accomplishment?
- What was the last job-related book you read?
- What was your favorite job? Why?
As 2017 comes to a close, so does another year of living for the Lord. If He were to ask us about our performance in His Kingdom this year, how would we do? Could we answer His questions easily? Would our heads have to drop after the Lord asked us a direct question? Here is a list of possible questions He might ask:
The Lord’s 2017 Performance Interview Questions
- What if He asked about the Spirit and Attitude we manifested this year?
- What if the Lord asked us about our obedience or our Submission?
- If the question of Soul-Winning came up, how would we score?
- If questions about our involvement in Worship were asked, what would the answer be?
- What would happen if the Lord asked us about our Prayer Life in 2017?
- Would the answer be favorable to you if there were questions about paying your Tithes
- and giving in Offerings?
- Faithfulness in church attendance is sure to be asked. How would you do on that one?
- Surely, a question about any unwillingness to Forgive will be asked.
- Would He ask about the display of the Lusts of our Flesh?
- Would Jealousy or Envy be mentioned?
- A lack of Brotherly Love, or not Preferring One Another, will not sit well with Him.
- What if the Lord asked us about our lack of Sacrifice in service, or in giving?
- Would any questions about our involvement in Gossip put us in a bad light?
- What if the subject of Tale Bearing came up?
- If we were asked about Criticizing our Pastor, what would the answer be?
- Surely the Lord will act questions about our showing any signs of Loving Pleasure More
- Than The Things Of God.
- What is He asked us about our Love of the World?
- Do you think He might ask us why we had a problem with Holiness?
- Would there be any questions about Loving Our Neighbor?
- What if He asked us if we Love Him with All Of Our Heart, Our Soul, And Our Might, And
- Our Strength?
I pray that you do well in your Interview with the Lord. (He already knows the answers, before He asks.)
If you’ll pardon me, for a while… I think I’ll have a talk with Him right now. I need to before He talks to me later!
There is coming a Day when we shall all stand before Him, as we are judged. That Interview will be both an Entrance Interview for some, and an Exit Interview for others!
Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
(May your Performance Interview of 2017 end with Joy, and not with Grief!)
Join me in pledging to do better and do more for Him in 2018! May we all hear Him say in that day, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
You Look Beautiful!
You Look Beautiful!
Those words are welcome to most ears. But, if you are like me, don’t hold your breath waiting for someone to say it. It is a very nice compliment but it is not always believable. We may not feel very beautiful at that moment, but the sentiment is always enjoyed.
We humans call a lot of things beautiful. But, we must be pretty shallow to throw the term around so easily. We look at:
- People
- An old 57 Chevy
- Sunsets
- Puppies
- Grandma’s old china
- A poem
- Every bride
- An eight point buck
- Red cowgirl boots
- Every selfie on Facebook
…And say the word, beautiful.
Men say those words to and about women. Sometimes women even say them to other women. Before the words are said, a quick examination of the recipient’s hair, face, smile, attitude, body and clothes is given before offering such a compliment.
The Even Bible Mentions A Few Beautiful Women
- Sarah was “a fair woman to look upon,”
- Lot’s daughters Jemima, Kezia and Karenhappuch were called the fairest in the land.
- Rachel, Jacob’s beloved was the first woman called beautiful in the Bible.
Beauty Products
According to jezebel.com over $38,600,000,000 is spent annually on cosmetics. (They also give a breakdown about the amounts of money that men and women spend each year and their low degree of happiness as a result.) It seems that most people are willing to spend a lot of money to have someone call them beautiful.
http://jezebel.com/5931654/americans-spend-billions-on-beauty-products-and-are-still-pretty-unhappy/
Why Not Choose To Have God Call You Beautiful?
Wouldn’t it be the ultimate compliment if God looked at us and said, “You look beautiful”?
What some folks think looks beautiful isn’t beautiful to God at all. He even uses the word abomination. For example, a woman wearing a man’s apparel doesn’t look beautiful to The Lord.
Carnal Pentecostal women have even been overheard telling their church sisters that they are out of style and that they dress like a grandma. They believe that to look beautiful, a lady should be current in her style of dress and wear clothes that showcase her anatomy more.
These people are called vain because they seek to be beautiful to the opposite sex and crave the attention and compliments of others. Since what we mortals call beautiful is not always what The Lord God calls beautiful. What then does God call beautiful?
I know His Word says that he made “everything beautiful in its time.” Our understanding of that broad statement is very limited at best because we see some things that do not appear beautiful to us. If we pay attention though, He does name some things that he calls beautiful.
God Calls The Church Beautiful.
Psalm 96:6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Song of Songs 6:10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?
Psalm 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Beauty Tip # 1: Are you part of His church? Then you’re beautiful to God.
God Calls Preaching Beautiful.
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Beauty Tip # 2: Don’t criticize what God calls beautiful!
God Calls Salvation Beautiful.
Psalm 149:4 For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
Beauty Tip # 3: If you have obeyed Acts 2:38 by repenting, being baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ and have received the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance… Then God has made you beautiful.
God Calls Holiness Beautiful.
Psalm 96:9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Psalm 29:2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
2 Chronicles 20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.
Beauty Tip # 4: If you live a modest and godly life of separation from the world then God looks at you and calls you beautiful.
God Calls Long Hair On A Woman Beautiful.
1 Corinthians 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1 Corinthians 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
Beauty Tip # 5: When women allow their hair to grow long and pray. God calls that beautiful.
God Calls Worship Beautiful.
Psalm 33:1 Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psalm 147:1 Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
Beauty Tip # 6: When worshippers lift up His name in praise, God calls that beautiful.
God Calls Watching His Children Be The Blessed, Beautiful.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
Beauty Tip # 7: When you are able to enjoy His blessings in daily life, God calls that beautiful.
You Want To Know What Is Really Beautiful To Me?
Jesus Is Beautiful to Me
Isaiah gave us an advance notice that something beautiful is about to happen when he prophesied about the coming Messiah.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
The Word ‘Wonderful’ Is Another Synonym For Beautiful!
He Is Altogether Lovely
Song of Songs 5:16 … yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
Serving God Is Beautiful
(Copyright, Nelon Music Co. 1986)
Serving God is beautiful
Serving the King of Kings,
I serve Him because I love Him, you see,
Serving God is beautiful to me.
Serving God is beautiful
Serving the King of Kings,
I serve Him because I love Him, you see,
Serving God is beautiful to me.
Stupid Men With Smart Wives
Stupid Men With Smart Wives
How does that happen? It’s not all that uncommon today to see a stupid man with a smart wife. It makes everyone wonder about how they met and what was the attraction.
If she is so smart, why did she marry him? Did he con her? Did he keep his real self hidden from view until he married? Was she blinded by love?
Evidently, too many men have turned out to be, or act stupid after their marriage. If the wife had known how stupid he really was when they were courting, she quite possible would have never looked at him twice let alone married him.
I can even name a couple pretty stupid men in the Bible that were married to smart wives.
But, Let Me Just Focus On One, A Man Named Who Was Actually Named ‘Stupid’.
That’s Right, There Once Was A Man Named Stupid.
- That’s what his mama named him.
- He was called Nabal.
- Nabal = ‘Fool, Senseless’ (Hitchcock’s Dictionary of Bible Names)
- When it came to stupid, Nabal’s mama made sure he got to sit at the head of the class.
- He turned out to be the name they called him.
Nabal
He Was A Very Great Man, But He Was Also The Ultimate Senseless Fool.
1 Sam. 25:2 And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
- He was considered great because of what he had going on for himself.
- He had local respect and recognition.
- He had great means.
- He had a wonderful wife.
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Nabal Didn’t Fear God Nor Man
- Nabal was rich but he was also harsh and evil in his dealings. (1 Sam. 25:3).
- He didn’t care about helping others.
- He was focused on building his own kingdom, not helping God’s or anyone else’s.
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1 Sam. 25:3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
- She was Smart.
- She was Beautiful.
- She was Unappreciated.
- She was Ignored.
- He was Evil.
- He was Wicked
- But he came from a great family… Caleb’s
- A goodly heritage and background evidently is not enough. He was still stupid in his actions.
- He was Churlish – (rude, mean-spirited, discourteous, uncivil, impolite).
- He didn’t deserve his wonderful wife.
- Abigail was the very image of beauty, wisdom and grace.
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No One Could Talk To Him
- He was Mr. Macho.
- He refused to listen to his wife or anyone else.
- Stupid men view their wives as inferior.
- Sometimes that attitude erupts in anger, irrational behavior and even violence.
- A man couldn’t speak to him. 1Sam 25:17
- No one could reason with him.
- He was always right, everyone else was wrong.
- Nabal never got delivered from his nature.
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Abigail
- Abigail is described as “intelligent” and she is praised in 1Sam 25:33 because of her discernment.
- But Nabal never benefited from his wife’s wisdom.
- They were never a team in his mind.
- She even stopped David and his men from attacking Nabal and killing him.
- She fell on the ground before David to apologize for her husband and beg for mercy.
- David listened to Abigail.
- Abigail described her husband in a very sad way when she made her plea.
- 1Sam 25:25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him:
- She said: “Please disregard my worthless husband, Nabal, is his name and it means foolish. That’s what he is.
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- He refused to even feed the hungry men that were with David. All they had asked for a piece of bread.
- He ordered them off of his property.
- When Abigail heard what happened, she immediately went to David’s camp and apologized.
- Abigail’s actions are the only thing kept David from slaughtering Nabal and his men.
- When she got home she wanted to tell her husband what she had just done but he was too drunk to talk to anyone.
- She had to wait till he sobered up the next morning, before she could speak to him.
Nabal Heart Died Within Him
1 Sam. 25:37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
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Some Kinds Of Stupid, No One Can Fix. That’s When God Stepped In.
1 Sam. 25:38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.
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Can Anyone Fix Stupid?
I Don’t Know For Sure.
Here’s How I Would Try To Fix Stupid In My Life.
1. Rekindle The Fear Of The Lord In My Life.
Prov 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
2. Repent – Turn Around.
3. Be a Man That Someone Can Talk To. Whether Pastor, Friend or Wife. Be Approachable.
4. Humble Myself Before God And Man… Including My Wife.
5. Admit I’m Wrong, Especially To My Wife And Family.
6. Willingly Take Godly Instruction. From The Bible, My Pastor, My Friends, And My Wife.
7. Never Let My Heart Die And Turn To Stone. (Because I Know What Happens In The Next Verse. That’s when God stepped in.)
So, if you ever see a stupid man with a smart and beautiful wife… pray for him, but pray more for her. She has a great big cross to bear in life.
When One Part Of Your Brain Hijacks The Other!
When One Part Of Your Brain Hijacks The Other!
Quite a few years ago, I was told about a new book and curiosity made me want to read it. The problem was, I was a little short of cash and not sure I wanted to spend what I had on a book instead of eat lunch.
I stopped by our local Barnes & Nobles Bookstore and asked the lady if they had the book, Emotional Intelligence in stock. They did, so I looked at it a few minutes and then found a nice easy chair and began to scan the pages for a bit longer. I read about fourteen pages and then I laid the book down and began to ponder on what I had just learned. I’ve never forgotten.
The premise put forward was that we all have two brains. (I was glad to find that out. I have been told I didn’t even have one.)
The author said that we each have a brain that thinks and a brain that feels. Our life may be at peace and functioning well, but turmoil, pain and great consequences come to us when one of our brains hijacks the other.
He Explained It By Describing Murders And Murderers.
The Brain That Thinks
The brain that thinks can get out of balance and push all emotions and normal feelings aside. It will then ignore every soft and tender thought the person ever had.
- He feels his mind is superior and he won’t get caught.
- He refuses to think about regrets and the pain he will cause.
- He devises ways to lure, entrap, and murder his victims.
Society uses the term Cold Blooded, Premeditated Murder, with Malice Aforethought.
Serial Killers must plan, calculate and orchestrate their dastardly deeds while ignoring every emotion that would stop them. Their brain that thinks hijacks the brain that feels. Society is very happy to lock that person behind bars for the rest of their life. They experience no remorse.
The Brain That Feels
The brain that feels can become so overwrought with painful emotion that it takes matters into it’s own hands and goes into what it believes is an appropriate action.
A loving wife may find her husband in the arms of another and her brain that feels immediately hijacks the brain that thinks.
- She is not worried about consequences.
- She hasn’t got time, in her mind, to worry about the law.
- She can only think about the hurt she feels.
We call it a crime of passion. It was a spur of the moment action. Nothing was preplanned. Sometimes juries have been a bit understanding and even lenient in such cases.
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When A Husband Is Unfaithful To His Wife.
The part of his brain that thinks, has to ignore and hijack the brain that feels. Unfaithfulness is not a spur of the moment action.
The brain that thinks hijacks the brain that feels and he convinces himself that he is no longer in love with his spouse. He says, he doesn’t love her anymore and hasn’t for some time. He tells her that to prepare her for what’s to come. He finds illogical fault with her to justify himself.
She is devastated and angry, and rightly so. The children quickly notice changes in daddy’s behavior and they become defensive of their mother and afraid of this man they loved.
Think about the all the emotional, logical, and spiritual Stop Signs and Road Blocks an unfaithful husband must pass before he arrives at where he thinks he wants to go.
- Permitting thoughts about another woman to have access into mind.
- Letting those thoughts become lustful and pleasurable.
- Creating a moment where the two of them can actually meet and talk.
- Making plans to meet again.
- Making plans to leave and divorce his wife.
- Ignoring the fact that he has no Bible right to leave his wife for another.
- The sending of Text Messages.
- The Emails back and forth.
- The secret Cell Phone calls.
- Then Deleting those Messages and Emails.
- The actual clandestine meeting.
- Touching her for the first time.
- The first kiss.
- The Motel.
Look how many stop sign he has to ignore. Look how many roadblocks he must step over. It’s pre-meditated. It’s planned. The brain that thinks has hijacked the brain that once felt love for his wife and family.
Nothing about unfaithfulness is accidental. It’s planned. It thought out. The brain that feels for God, family, and future has just been hijacked.
It makes no difference if the unfaithfulness is emotional or actual… it’s sin and it’s wrong.
Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
When his brain that thinks hijacked his brain that feels… He had to ignore every hurt and pain in his wife’s eyes, words and heart. He had to ignore the consequences for his actions. He had to ignore the damage he was doing to his home and his children.
- He had to push aside the loss of his standing with God.
- He had to ignore the loss of his participation in God’s Kingdom.
- He had to be willing to place his eternal salvation in jeopardy.
He had to arrive at a place that made him not think about how much he was throwing away.
He now had a new infatuation and he could not think about anything else but her; not even her husband or her children.
He must be proud of the fact that he is a thinker and has a high IQ. In his own mind, he is smarter than the others who are crying. He refuses to let any emotional connection with his own wife and children stop him from achieving his goals. They have only become baggage and now he wants to be free from them.
Although He Knows These Passages In Proverbs, He Totally Ignores Them.
Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Proverbs 6:24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
Proverbs 6:25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
Proverbs 6:26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
Proverbs 6:27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
Proverbs 6:28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
Proverbs 6:29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
Proverbs 6:30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
Proverbs 6:31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
Proverbs 6:32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
Proverbs 6:33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
Proverbs 6:34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
Proverbs 6:35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
Proverbs 7:27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
When a husband becomes unfaithful. He is not the only one now with a problem. His selfish thinking and actions have immobilized all those around him that love him. His marriage is paralyzed and may never be restored. His children will never respect him for the way he selfishly walked out on them and their mother.
Later in moments of reflection, he is prone to think he is the only one who needs counseling and help. That thinking is either being naïve, stupid or stubborn. AA and Al-Anon both include the addict and their family in the process. What one person did, now has become a problem for all those who once loved him.
Where Does One Turn To For Guidance And Help With Improper Thinking?
There Is Not Much Hope For Restoration To A Once Godly Marriage Or To Having A Sound Mind Again, If God And His Word Are Left Out Of The Equation. Restoration Is Of The Lord.
Psalms 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
AMP: Psalm 16:7 I will bless the Lord, Who has given me counsel; yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
If one of your brains has hijacked the other, God will bring release and restoration to your mind if you will turn to Him. He will deliver you. Refusing God’s intervention will only set you up for more devil’s play.
Sir: If There Is To Be ANY Hope Of Restoration In Your Marriage And In Your Walk With God, It’s Up To You To:
- Choose to repent to God, your wife, and pastor.
- Choose to let God’s Word and God’s man guide you into complete restoration.
- Choose to love your wife with all your heart.
- Choose to reassure her.
- Choose to be careful about your thoughts, feeling and interaction with the opposite sex.
- Choose to clear yourself from further suspicion.
- Choose to connect with your wife, family and God like you never have before.
- Choose to live for God and not throw your soul away.
May The Lord God guide your thoughts, your actions, and your motives every day and keep you from all evil and iniquity. May your heart tenderly guide you in all the night seasons.
Now Go Do The Right Thing!
When God Doesn’t Meet Your Expectations.
When God Doesn’t Meet Your Expectations.
Luke 7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
- What Happens When God Doesn’t Heal?
- What Happens When God Doesn’t Deliver?
- What Happens When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayers Like You Wanted Him To?
It’s not uncommon to get a notion in our heads about how we think God should supply specific things that we need, or want. Some have gotten mad at the Lord, and even backslid because a loved one died or was not healed.
Since His ways are not our ways, there will always be times when God doesn’t move or work like we think he should. That can be a major test for our faith.
Sometimes, life doesn’t turn out like we expected. Why? I can’t tell you, because I don’t know for sure either. But this one thing I do know. God is still in control. He has never made a mistake. I must always trust Him.
Naaman – Almost Lost His Miracle When Things Didn’t Meet His Expectations.
2Ki 5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
2Ki 5:11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
Naaman was a man of high position and ranking in Syria. As Captain of the army, he was always given much respect.
Bottom line, I’m sure, was his disappointment that the Prophet did not personally come out to see him. He had imagined the moment of his healing, and it looked nothing like what had just happened to him. He left the prophet’s home in a huff.
His own servant showed more good sense than he did. Only after being reasoned with, did he finally submit. For Naaman, submission and obedience were the keys to his miracle.
Peter – Denied The Lord When Things Didn’t Meet His Expectations.
When accused by the maid of being a disciple of Christ, Peter replied, “I know not the man!” In a twisted way, Peter was telling the truth.
- The Jesus he knew was a Jesus of miracles.
- The Jesus he knew walked on water.
- The Jesus he knew raised the dead.
- The Jesus he knew turned water in to wine.
- The Jesus he knew fed 5,000 with a few fishes and five loaves of bread.
- The Jesus he knew healed the lepers and opened blinded eyes.
Peter Didn’t Know This Jesus.
- He didn’t know a Jesus of defeat.
- He didn’t know a Jesus of rejection.
- He didn’t know a Jesus of disappointment.
What about the three and a half years he had followed Jesus around? Were those years spent for nothing? Evidently, Peter’s faith had momentarily wavered.
John The Baptist Questioned The Lord When Things Didn’t Meet His Expectations.
Of men born of women, there was none greater than John the Baptist. He was even born with the Holy Ghost. He was a fearless preacher and a chosen forerunner for the Messiah.
- Yet, John finds himself in prison.
- His hopes are dashed.
- His future looks bleak.
- His first cousin, Jesus, is nowhere around.
- He becomes tormented by his worst fears.
- His imagination runs wild.
- He even questioned if Jesus was truly the Messiah.
Luke 7:19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
The Three Hebrew Children – Said, “But If Not…” In Case Things Didn’t Meet Their Expectations.
Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Dan 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
They proudly stood in front of the pagan king and bragged on their God. They said that their God was able to deliver them. But if He didn’t, they still weren’t going to bow down to an idol.
If the Lord God didn’t deliver them, they were still going to be faithful to Him.
Job – Watched His Mouth When Things Didn’t Meet His Expectations.
Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
None of us can imagine the horrible loss Job experienced.
- His family was destroyed.
- His children were dead.
- His vast herds stolen.
- His health was virtually destroyed.
- His wife turned in to an unbelieving nag.
- His friends did nothing but criticize and point fingers at him.
We Love To Quote Job’s Reaction To His Dilemma.
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
The second part of the verse stands out to me today. Job certified, that though things had not turned out like he wanted, he was going to maintain his ways. He was going to keep on doing what he had always done.
What Do You Do When Things Don’t Turn Out Like You Wanted? Do You Maintain Your Ways? If You Want Your Story To Turn Out Good, Then:
- Keep on coming to church.
- Keep on worshipping.
- Keep on praying.
- Keep on singing
- Keep on loving
- Keep involved in church.
- Keep on shouting.
- Keep on paying your tithes.
- Keeping on testifying about how good God is.
Israel – Believed The Ten Spies When Things Didn’t Meet Their Expectations.
Did Israel want to go over into the Promised Land? Most certainly! The problem was, the majority of the spies saw the enemy and became frightened and faint hearted.
This didn’t look like an easy victory to them. No one paid much attention to Joshua and Caleb’s glowing report. They ignored the huge display of grapes.
Because they responded in unbelief, God allowed all but the young to die in the wilderness. They needlessly spent 40 years of wandering because of how they reacted.
Things hadn’t turned out like they expected, so they said ‘no’ to God. God in return, said ‘no’ to their inheriting the promise and gave it to their children instead.
- Never stop believing.
- Never say ‘no’ to God.
Paul – Lived With A Thorn In His Flesh When Things Didn’t Meet His Expectations.
- Paul prayed more than once for God to take his pain away. God didn’t.
- Paul had just spoken the word, and a man had gone blind for a season.
- A poisonous viper and taken hold of his hand once while he was carrying wood for a fire. He just shook it off, and though bitten, was not harmed.
Yet this thorn he spoke of, wouldn’t go away. God had answered his other prayers, why didn’t He answer this one?
Paul never knew, but he chose instead, to be content to live with his unanswered prayer request.
So, What Is My Life Lesson Here?
What Should I Do When Things Don’t Meet My Expectation?
- Like Naaman – I choose to humbly submit my self and obey the Word of the Lord given to me.
- Like The Three Hebrew Children – I will always believe God is able. But if He doesn’t deliver me… I’m still going to be faithful.
- Like Job – I want to keep my spirit right, and watch my mouth during my trial.
- Like Paul – If God doesn’t take away the pain in my life; I will learn to be content, and trust His will.
Remember God’s Words In The Old Testament When Things Don’t Meet Your Expectations.
KJV: Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
KJV: Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The Message Bible: I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work. For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Remember God’s Words In The New Testament When Things Don’t Meet Your Expectations.
KJV: Luke 7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
NIV: Luke 7:23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.
ESV: Luke 7:23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
What Do You Do When God Doesn’t Meet Your Expectations?