#201 - The Enemy Uses People too!

Good morning! It is good to be back! Two mornings in a row... I've woke up in my own bed and smelled the aroma of coffee made by my sweet husband! :) Love it! Still working on the Proverbs 31:15 concept... waking up while it is still night... and before my household. Well, regardless... lets get into the Word.

Proverbs 6:12, 14-15 - A worthless person, a wicked man, is he who goes about with a perverse (contrary, wayward) mouth. Willful and contrary in his heart, he devises trouble, vexation, and evil continually; he lets loose discord and sows it. Therefore upon him shall the crushing weight of calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken, and that without remedy.

Proverbs 31:18a - She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good... 

Wow. I looked at this "worthless & wicked" person, how they SOW discord. One thing that I found was interesting was the word "contrary." The dictionary defines "contrary" how I thought it would as: opposite in nature or character. As humans, we were made in the image of God. Our hearts were made to want to love and serve Him. In this case, we see a person whose heart has been turned to do something COMPLETELY opposite of what it was designed to do. This wicked person has a heart that is not doing what it was called and designed to do, but it is being a servant of the enemy. Our nature, being made in God's image, is naturally bent to want to believe in a Savior, believe in what is good & honorable, serve & worship our Creator. Our spirits are drawn to want to fill the void in our heart that was designed to house the Holy Spirit. The wicked person is doing completely the opposite. In speech and action, he/she is devising evil. The words the proceed from his/her mouth are evil and come from the evil one. This person is SOWING discord. Discord is defined as: strife, dispute, war. Synonyms for discord are: conflict, struggle, controversy, argument, contention, quarreling. 

As we read further, we see the results of sowing discord. We see the results that this wicked person reaps. Sowing & reaping is a law, and for the wicked person the unfortunate series of events is what they reap. Many places in the Bible use the word "suddenly." I often enjoy reading the "suddenly's" of the Bible as many places it shows how "suddenly" things change in the favor of the man or woman of God. "Suddenly" blessings flow. "Suddenly" things change in their favor! SUDDENLY. I look forward to the positive "suddenly's" in my life to see the Lord change things, or add blessings to my life. In the case of this wicked person in Proverbs 6, the "suddenly" it is talking about is not a good "suddenly." A "crushing weight of calamity" comes upon this wicked person. It happens suddenly. As if not expected. The dictionary defines calamity as: a great misfortune or disaster, grievous affliction, adversity, misery, serious injury. The idea of "calamity" by itself is bad enough, but Proverbs 6 describes it as WORSE than just calamity, it describes it as CRUSHING WEIGHT of calamity. It is not just bad, but it goes from bad to worse.

I read through Proverbs 31 and just marveled at the life of the Proverbs 31 woman. Her life is far from calamity. Her focus and every effort is in partnership with God. Her work with and for God is good. She  is a vessel and tool for God, and because of it she is blessed. Proverbs 31:18 even says that she is able to TASTE and see the fruit of her labor. She is able to experience the blessings that come from her obedience. She is able to REAP the fruits of what she has sown. She has sown good, and she reaps blessings. We read everything about her life and it is as if her life is filled with blessing. She goes from blessing to blessing. Her diligence paves the way for God to be magnified and the "good" that she sows, she reaps in countless blessings.

Are there vial people in your life? Are you unsure how someone could be so mean, or say something so unkind, or act in a way so unbecoming? In some cases, all we can do is to pray for these people. Like the wicked person in Proverbs 6, that person needs to come into the saving knowledge of our Savior. The wicked are used as tools of the enemy to destroy the righteous. It is our job to recognize it and then pray for them. Don't take it personally. The enemy will attack in ANY way he can, and sometimes he uses people! Gird yourself up with FAITH and through prayer, PRAY these people into the Kingdom!

#80 - Year of FAVOR.

HELLO! Ok.... I'm about to show my age! So... I was sitting out on the porch and reading my Bible... a bit cool, fall is definitely here. Well, I listen into the kitchen and this is what I hear, "Cotton Candy, sweet and low, let me see that tootsee roll..." Yes... bustin' out with a little 1994 tunes! Whoa! Is that aging me?? Lol! And another hearty "Yes"... Tyler and I still bust out around the house in a bit of some dance groove. (I would say "booty" music, but since this is a Christian blog, I'll keep that thought to myself!)


Ok... I'm over the tunes... I'm ready to get started!! 

Proverbs 5:8b-9 - ...come not near the door of her house [avoid the very scenes of temptation]. Lest you give your honor to others and your years to those without mercy. 

Psalm 35:12-14 - They reward me evil for good to my personal bereavement. But as for me, when THEY were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting, and I prayed with head bowed on my breast. I behaved as if grieving for my friend or my brother; I bowed down in sorrow, as one who bewails his mother. 

Psalm 65:11 - You crown the year with Your bounty and goodness, and the tracks of Your [chariot wheels] drip with fatness. 

Proverbs 31:21 - She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet. 

What's our overall take-away of the above verses? In walking as the righteous, in avoiding the scenes of evil, you may not immediately be rewarded with good. It actually may seem like the unfair is taking place, that you are being put in an unfavorable position by not doing things as the "world" does them. But FEAR NOT! The YEAR of God's favor WILL BE UPON YOU! The RIGHTEOUS WILL BE Blessed! God will not let you go without being blessed for your righteousness! If initially people are bestowing "evil" upon you, FEAR NOT. If you are being treated unfairly, FEAR NOT! Your God will avenge you. God will lift you up! How would you rather be raised up? By your OWN doing, or by GOD doing it? If I were a betting woman, I would bet that GOD will lift you up in a far superior light than what you could do yourself!!


A few things come to mind here. 


Avoiding the Appearance of Evil: Tyler and I have had something that we have always done to avoid the appearance of evil. When I worked in Corporate America, I often had the opportunity to ride to appointments with other Business Bankers. Instead of riding with them, I would ask them if I could just meet them there. And Tyler does the same. It sometimes seems inconvenient. People think that it is weird. "Why would you want to meet us there? Don't you want to save gas and just ride with me?" Well.... the answer was, No. No, I don't want to "save gas" and meet you there. What I want to do is AVOID the appearance of evil. Avoid the question that could raise in someone's mind if they saw me in a car with another man. "Humm.... That is Tyler's wife. I wonder why she is with that other man. He's attractive. Hum. I wonder where they are going?" We heard Billy Graham once say that he had a glass office. It was glass so that any time during any meeting, he completely avoided the appearance of evil. Anyone could see into his office and always know that things were in the "open" and above board. If he was on an elevator alone, and a woman got on the elevator, he would get off so he wouldn't be on an elevator alone with another woman. Inconvenient, sure. But.... he avoided the appearance of evil and to this day, Billy Graham is esteemed as one of the most godly men in history. 


Being Rewarded with Evil: This doesn't seem like a fun topic. When I re-read over this section in Psalm 35, I was a bit astounded by the humility of a man and how he would treat an enemy. Someone who treated him so poorly. But what a true showing of a Christian. Like what it talks about in the Sermon on the Mount, 'love your enemies.' The gist of it saying, what more are you if you love those who love you, don't even sinners do that? But, love your ENEMIES, those who persecute you. That is different! 


I was at a funeral this weekend. The minister told a story about a man back in the 1400's. A man was on trial and was going to be killed. Another man, hearing about the man, decided to walk 70 miles to pleed for his life. To beg for the man to be able to live. As he arrives after hours and hours of walking, he gets before the king or magistrate and begins to pleed for the mans life. The King states, "NO. He will be hung. He will not live. Any friend or family would most assuredly come this far to try to get me to spare his life, NO! He will die." The man who traveled such a long way on foot responded, "But sir, he is not family, nor is he my friend, he is my greatest enemy." The King responded back, "Well, with that being the case, if you would travel that far for your enemy, I will pardon his life. He will live." 


Wow! But, that in essence is what it was saying above, in Psalm 35. If you read the whole Psalm, you will hear that. Where the Psalmist was repaid with evil, he mourned and wept for his enemies. He repaid them with kindness, with love. 


The YEAR of BOUNTY: What a great reward to look forward too! This is something that I am going to claim for the NOW. That NOW, this year will be the "Year of God's BOUNTY and goodness!" That as the RIGHTEOUS, we can believe for the goodness of God to shine in our life. Sure, maybe sometimes by living as the righteous, we may be treated unfairly. As we live above reproach, things may sometimes seem unfair and not to be going in our favor. BUT, I am reminded recently by a revelation that Tyler received. What is a PMA? What is a Positive Mental Attitude? I have always thought that I was pretty optimistic, that I had a pretty good attitude. What what is a TRUE PMA? A TRUE PMA? A true PMA, no matter WHAT the situation or circumstance says, "I know that things are going to turn in my favor. I know that EVERYTHING works out in my favor. I didn't get this deal? I didn't get this sale? No biggie. I know that EVERYTHING works out in MY favor because I am a child of God." 


I had a true encounter with that this morning. Someone replaced our facet in our sink yesterday. Well.... I have run the dishwasher twice since then. And... couldn't figure out why the dish detergent was left in the dishwasher. Then I noticed that a lot of the things in the dishwasher were ruined. Cups were disfigured, some of the boys spoons were disfigured... my Camelbak water bottle- disfigured... and other things too. I was so sad. :( Then, I realized that water wasn't getting into the dishwasher. I called the man who fixed it, he told me how to turn it on, so I did. And, Wha-La, fixed. Well.... in the meantime, things are ruined. I asked Tyler, if I should ask for money to replace what was ruined, he said No. He said, what does a PMA say? I didn't answer. Partly because I was standing there pouting. Bummed about my Camelbak. :( I didn't know what a PMA would say, I was just bummed. He said, "It will all work out in your favor. You will get something even better. You'll get to pick the color. Or, you'll just get something you like better!"


Ok. 


Well. Bless your enemies. Evaluate, do you REALLY have a PMA? Expect GOD. Expect that THIS will be YOUR YEAR of BOUNTY and goodness!! 


Have a blessed day! :)  

#31 - NOISE CHECK

Good Morning. 
You know those mornings when you have a lot to do? You are kinda in a hurry? The mornings when you just don't even think about it, but you expect everything to just go as planned. Well.... this morning, IN THE PAST (moving forward it's going to be perfect, IN JESUS NAME) 45 minutes, my morning has been interesting. Laptop #1 battery.... no juice.... try to rig up for cord to reach to my Quiet Time spot... nope. So, go to Laptop #2... go re-rig Laptop #1 to put Pandora on inside with Tyler's Worship Music station, begin with Laptop #2 outside at "MY" Quiet Time spot. 2 minutes, BLACK. Laptop #2, out of juice. (I'm so excited to upgrade this laptop....it's about 10 years young. :) ) SO.... rig cord through the window, Laptop #1 - NOW WE ARE IN BUSINESS!!


So... what all that "rigger-morol", as they say in the south, I'm finally beginning. I actually considered not doing a post today. My parents and niece, Kassidy, will be here soon and I have some quick errands to run. Planned on a 30 minute post.... haha. It's been 45 minutes just dealing with laptops! HA! What do I say, "HA HA HA! I laugh at you Satan! HA HA HA!" lol! Funny. So, let's cut to the chase and roll on.... 

Proverbs 9:13 - The foolish woman is noisy; she is simple and open to all forms of evil, she [willfully and recklessly] knows nothing whatever [of eternal value].

Proverbs 31:29 - Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

When I first read Proverbs 9, the word noisy just kept jumping out at me. NOISY. NOISY. NOISY. I shudder at the word NOISY. Noise to me is equivalent to "Competition with the Holy Spirit." Noise. I anticipate the "noisy woman" was ranting and raving... being loud. The louder she could be the more likely others would miss listening to logic. Even before the Holy Spirit was given to us as a guide..... people in the Old Testament, or those before Jesus left earth, ALIVE, to be at the right hand of the Father.... though people were yet to have the BENEFIT of the Holy Spirit to guide them... they could still ask logic.... from past study of the holy Scriptures, from their experiences of what is right and wrong. What is according to the "law" back in that time. But, I anticipate the "noisy woman" was doing all she could to be loud enough where they couldn't even hear themselves think. NOISE. 


What is "NOISE" to you? To me, "noise" is TV. Brace yourself.... by choice, we haven't had cable in 10 years. Our whole married life we have not had cable. So American Idol, all the TV shows... etc, etc... our lives have not revolved around, "Oh, it's Monday night, my show is on." Or, "Oh, it's Wednesday night, gotta get home before my show starts." The Noise of TV, we have not missed it. I LOVE IT! To me, it feels like our home is always just peaceful. Whether it is just the peaceful sound of nothing.... of quiet. It is just peaceful. We may have Pandora streaming with worship music.... we may be playing a business CD, or success CD... we may be playing a ministry CD.... or, it may just be quiet. 


As I was asking the Holy Spirit, what Proverbs 31 verse would accompany our Proverbs 9 verse, He directed me to this one. He directed me to the woman who excels them all. I thought about what characteristics it talks about in Proverbs 31... she looks, she speaks, she makes things, she buys, she tastes & sees.... but, this verse, she excels all women! It says the foolish woman in Proverbs 9 is open to all forms of evil. I began to think about it... as our Proverbs 31 woman "looks well to how things go in her household"... and ultimately, she excels them all. I came to the conclusion that she is excelling this foolish woman, she must be protecting herself from being open to all forms of evil.


What would or could be forms of evil? Good question, glad you asked. Let's just cover a few:

• Busyness - BUSY - Being Under Satan's Yoke - Busyness could be a form of evil. Are you too busy? Does your "busyness" not leave you time to spend in the Word... to seek out God. Busyness is MOST DEFINITELY one of the plans of the wicked one to pull people of God away from their ultimate purpose and destiny. If he, Satan, can just keep people busy enough to not have time for God, then they are succeeding. I choose to no longer be "BUSY", but to now be divinely productive. :) 
• Bad Content - What are you taking in? Content... in-flow.... what is coming in? What TV shows are you watching? Are they streaming with lust, adultery, killing, murder, acceptance of abortion, homosexual relationships. Is the humor off color to a degree that would be embarrassing if your Pastor was sitting with you? If Jesus was sitting with you? What books are you reading? Websites are you visiting? Take an inventory.
• Idols - Idols could come in many forms. An idol is anything that you are putting before God. I was reminded yesterday when I visited some old co-workers. The Regional President of the bank I worked for asked me, "Amy, you're not one of those mom's that worships your child are you?" No. Tyler Jr is definitely #3 in my life. First God, 2nd my husband, 3rd my son. It could be easy for parents to idolize their children, or put them above their relationship with God.... especially when their live revolves around their kids. Running from this practice to that, flirting with the "BUSY" plan of the enemy. (Don't get me wrong, I'm all for kids activities, if they are directed from the Holy Spirit to be involved. The moment those "activities" pull everyone away from their relationship with their Father is the beginning of where the line would have to be for me.) Idols could come in the form of "working out", worshipping your own body and what you look like. 
• Witchcraft - The appearance of "witchcraft" is now more "appealing" looking. With the Harry Potter movies, the "fun" little spell books, and witchcraft items you can get at Barnes & Nobles... I'm sure all seem harmless. But it is the beginning of evil seeping in. Just worth looking deeper. I haven't seen the "weegy" boards (spelled wrong, but you know what I'm talking about)... those were somewhat common when I was growing up. I never played with one, but it was a way to be directed by "Satan". Literally. A game, things on the game would move and it was being done by evil spirits. All things to be very cautious about and to steer clear!
• Strife - Eliminate strife in your life. It can be a way the enemy can gain a foothold. Once strife enters, the enemy is present.  

There are SO many forms of evil. The most important thing we can do to avoid evil, is to continue to "meditate on the Word, day & night" to continue to check our motives. To check our intake. What is coming in. We have all heard this frequently, "What comes in, goes out." GIGO - Good In, Good Out. Is enough of the "good" coming in that even when bad happens, the good still goes out? 

Our Proverbs 31 woman has excelled them all. She most definitely did have some "checks" in her life. As we read... she looked well to how things when in her household, she did not partake in gossip, she spent time in the Word. All these things keeping her free from being open to all forms of evil.

I have to check myself also! We are still normal people. We rent movies, we use Netflix. We still have to check OUR walk. We recently stopped watching a movie series because it just continue to have a "not right" check in our spirit. We wanted to keep watching it. It was sooooo good. It drew us in. We wanted to see, "What happened to so-and-so in this episode?" And, we even knew of a very prominent minister that we knew of who followed this "show." Why could HE watch it and WE couldn't? Well... all I can say is this... the Holy Spirit is directing US in this matter, specifically this show. And the Holy Spirit may direct someone else differently. Dragging our feet, pouts on, we stopped watching the show. :-(  But out of obedience. The Holy Spirit knows best. 

Do a check this today. What is the "NOISE" in your life today? Is there any? What is in the danger zone for you? Is anything getting close to opening you to all forms of evil? 

Do a NOISE CHECK today.