Don't Give in to the Enemy's Lies

I’m ugly.             I’m dumb.    I have no friends.    Nobody would care if I died.      I’ll never have a girlfriend that loves me.      I’ll never have a boyfriend that loves me.             I’ll never find the perfect person for me.   I don’t deserve to be happy. I need a boyfriend and then I’ll be happy.       I need a girlfriend, and then I’ll be happy.       My parents don’t love me.                  My parents don’t even care about me.   My parents would be better off without me.             Everyone --  is prettier –better looking –has more friends than me.      Nothing that I ever do will matter.    I am a loser.     What’s the point?     Everything would be better if life were just over.

Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies………

The worst, most harmful lies are not the ones that others tell about you. The most harmful, destructive lies are the ones that Satan whispers in our ears about ourselves, and/or those that love us and that we love the most.

These lies only do damage when we allow them to. If we do what the Word says when one of these lies is whispered, we would reject it. Replace it with the truth.

Sometimes the hardest part is recognizing the lies for what they are. It seems that it’s always easier to believe the lies. I have a theory for this.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

When we believe the lies, it leads to feelings of defeat, which leads us to behave in a defeated manner. We give up. We throw in the towel. “It’s not worth it anymore. Nothing I do will make a difference anyway.” It’s the path of least resistance.

When we refute the lies, it requires action. We are required to exert energy-- mental, emotional, and physical. 2 Cor. 10:4 starts out with “the weapons of our warfare…”. This is war!  Truth is the one offensive weapon in our arsenal. The Word of God is Truth. (For more about our weapons, see Ephesians 6:10-20.)

Believing the lie leads to defeat. 

Believing the truth is a call to action.

Satan’s most powerful and effective weapon is lies. He is the father of all lies and enemy of your soul. He desires for each of us (You and Me) to turn away from God and live miserable, lonely lives. His purpose is to destroy God’s plan, which is stated in Jeremiah 29:11.

 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The longer that we listen to these lies, the more we repeat them to ourselves. Before long, we believe that the lies are the truth.  

We convince ourselves that we are not good enough, nobody cares about us, nobody understands how we feel or what we are going through. Nobody has ever felt this way or had this problem. I’ll never be happy again. This is just the way it has to be. I’m going to be miserable no matter what I do. There is no hope. My marriage can’t be fixed. I’ll never love my husband/wife again. This relationship will never be restored, so there is no point in trying. I’m just going to settle for life like this. My children are going to do what they are going to do no matter what I say or do, so what’s the point. I give up.

When our thoughts are so deeply entrenched in these lies, we can’t even see the light of the Truth through the darkness of deception.

What are some consequences of believing the lies?

*feelings of loneliness

*isolation

*seeking relief of the despair through

            -alcohol

            -drugs

            -unhealthy relationships

            -eating disorders

            -gambling

            -destructive behavior to oneself or others

            -reckless behavior

*strained relationships

*broken relationships

*disconnection

*separation from God

*loss of hope

One, if the not most far reaching consequences is when one so gives into the lies that they completely lose all hope and take their own life. Suicide is always a result of believing Satan’s lies.

****PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, if you are EVER having thoughts of ending it all, REACH OUT to someone. A friend, teacher, parent of a friend, pastor, hotline, counselor, SOMEBODY!!! 

You are loved. Ending your life is not a solution. It is a life of pain and suffering for those who know and love you.

Satan wants you to die in bondage. 

Christ wants you to live in freedom.

So what do I do?

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

Know the Truth. Read the Word. When you know the Truth, it will be easier to recognize the lies.

Philippians 4:8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

Refute the lies of the enemy with most powerful antidote- the TRUTH.

God loves you with an everlasting love.

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared from of old to me [Israel], saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you. 

God formed you in your mother’s womb.

Psalm 139:13 For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

God has a plan for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

You are a co-heir with Christ.

Romans 8:17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Jesus loves you and gave His life for you.

1 John 3:16 This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us.

You are more than a conqueror.

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Jesus wants you to receive His peace and life everlasting.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

1 John 2:25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.


So... take up your weapons and fight the battle in front of you. 

Freedom, peace, hope and eternity are worth the effort!!!!!

^{Philippians 3:14} 

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Truth Tuesday....Being a Mom

Having kids is…….so many things….
My friend, Rebecca and I often joke that if someone had told us how stressful having kids would be, we would have just chosen to have dogs instead. But, nobody informed us. We also know that if we didn’t have kids, we would be yearning to do so.

Like any mom, when I gave birth to my first son, I was overwhelmed with the love that I felt. I did not know that this level of love even existed. It hadn’t yet, in me. Having a child really is like having your heart walk around on its own. It is an indescribable love. You cannot know it, unless you are a mother. I believe that a mother having a child by adoption feels the same love.

So, when your child is a baby (if they are healthy) it is the most wonderful time. Getting to know this new little person that you just met, but love more than anyone else. If they have medical problems and as the healthy ones grow, it gets scary. What if something happens to them? What if this child is taken from you? What would you do? How would you survive having had this love and lost?

A mother’s love is scary and yet wonderful and beautiful and empowering. Crazy!

My kids make me insane! If you know me at all, this is no surprise. I like to be in control. I like to know exactly what is going to happen. What the outcome will be. Having kids does not fit my picture-perfect fantasy. What if they turn their backs on Christ? What if they choose a lifestyle that I don’t approve of? What if they make really horrible choices? What if they decide that they hate me and never want to see me again after they graduate? Ugh!!!! Any of those things would devastate me.
Although, none of those things would make me love my child any less. It would hurt. I have watched this happen to mothers that I love. It hurts.
I don’t know. I think that I may have preferred to be ignorant of this level of love. That would have been much safer.
I am praying that my kids will grow to be adults that love God and want to walk in His will and plan for their lives. Will they fail? Of course. I do all the time.
But, I know that as much as I love my kids, my God loves them and me, even more. That is a love that I cannot comprehend.
I am guessing that in the end, the good times will outweigh the bad. And maybe I will not remember all of the bad as my boys grow up. My heart’s desire is to have a deep and personal and real relationship with them as they grow and as they go out into the world to make their way. That would make my heart happy.
And in the end…it will all be worth it. Sometimes God gives me little glimpses that makes me think that it is.

Truth Tuesday....

There is so much hurt and ugliness in the world. I hate that. Life is not fair. People should not go hungry. Kids should not suffer. People groups should not have to endure torment by others. A mother should not have to say good bye to their child and walk out the door knowing that all that will be left of that child's body is ashes. People should not feel so alone and hopeless that they take their own lives. Kids should feel safe going to school, but not all do. These things hurt my heart. My soul cries out.."NOOOOOO!!! It isn't fair!!!!!!!!"

I don't have an answer to why these things happen. What I hold onto is my hope in Jesus. I believe that the Bible is the infallible and complete Word of God. I have faith (hope in what I cannot see). I cannot see wind. But I can see how the wind blows the leaves all over the place and makes the tree sway back and forth. So I know that wind exists. It is the same way with God. I cannot see him. But I can see how he affects people and lives.

John 16:33, in the Amplified Bible, says:
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Nahum 1:7 says: The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,

and one of my very favorite verses...

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

The Bible does not tell us that we will not have any problems when we turn our hearts and lives over to Christ. It tells us that we will experience hardships and turmoil and temptation. BUT...God will be there with us to walk us through these things. He will hold our hand or carry us, if that is what we need. BUT...first we have to put our complete trust in Him. Focus on Him. We have to give our lives to Him, completely and unreservedly.

I do not know how people can go through this life without the hope of eternity with Christ. Without knowing that everything will be made right. That Jesus has overcome sin, death and the grave through his death and resurrection. I would be an alcoholic or a drug addict without that assurance. It is not always easy. But the reward is going to be worth the journey. I just know it!

p.s. One of my favorite websites is http://www.biblegateway.com/ You can look up passages by word searches or if you know the location. You can see the same verse in any translation It is very cool!!!!

Truth Tuesday....

Normally, my goal is to write a scriptural truth. BUT....I am sharing my truth for today....

My truth today=
*I am fat (have gained TWENTY pounds since hurting my knee in June)
*I NEED to stop eating so much.
*I DID go to spin this morning.
*Jeremy's car is in the shop so he had to take mine to work.
*I can't get to work (not sad about this.
*I have a doctor's appointment at 2pm (might make it, might not).
*Our washing machine broken.
*I am going to try to fix the broken washing machine.
*Most of the clothes in the house are dirty (no car to go to the laundromat)
*The house is a wreck (good thing I can't go to work).......

Also, I happened to watch Dr. Oz last week and saw a show on a challenge he has put out there.. lose 10 pounds by the end of the year...So I am taking it....
http://members.doctoroz.com/challenge/the-just-10-challenge

It is a program to help ME and you, if you want. It is pretty basic. But weight loss is basic. Eat fewer calories than you burn. Simple right? Ha hahahahahah!
So I signed up for it. I copied and pasted the eating portion of the program below. He also says to take vitamin b6 and some kind of mango supplement. I will be checking that out too.

Anyhoooo......that is it for today!

Dr. Ro developed a diet plan that breaks down the foods you love into the serving sizes that will help you lose 10 pounds.
TASK #1
Know Your Serving Sizes

Each day, you get a total of 10 servings of the food you love, but the key is portion size. Here's your guide:
Proteins and Fats 4 Servings
1 serving of chicken = 1 breast (skinless)
1 serving of meat and fish = no larger than the palm of your hand
1 serving of beans = 1 cup
1 serving of cheese = the size of 2 dice
1 serving of olive oil = the size of a poker chip

Complex Carbohydrates 3 Servings
1 serving of spaghetti = the diameter of a quarter (measure dry)
1 serving of grains (like cous cous, rice and quinoa) = 1/2 cup uncooked; 1 cup cooked

Fruit 3 Servings
Whole fruits = the size of 1 scoop of ice cream
Berries = 1 cup

Vegetables Unlimited Servings
You should never be hungry during the Just 10 Challenge. Fill up on the fiber and nutrients found in your favorite vegetables.

Additionally, you can have dessert every other day. However, that dessert can be no bigger than the size of your hand.

Truth Tuesday....

I am going through the Beth Moore Bible Study, Believing God (albeit very slowly). One of the topics she covered is that God acts on what he remembers. In the Bible, it often says, "God remembered...." Well, I thought that God remembers everything all the time. Does he forget about people? NO!! When the Bible says this, it shows that God is going to act on that persons behalf, or against that person, if it is necessary. And, Beth makes the point that we act on what we remember also. Our pasts are always a part of us, but the parts of the past that are on our minds, the beliefs about our selves that have become a product of our pasts are the things that we act on. So we need to be deliberate about what we remember and what we think about, so that we act upon those thoughts and not just the random thoughts and memories that pop into our heads.
Beth says, "Beloved, both freedom and faith emerge from deliberate acts of the will to shift our focus from all that begs to differ to the great and glorious truth of the living God. Remember his goodness, we are far more inclined to believe him in our present and future. Be deliberate, Dear One. Remember, we're going to act on that which we remember most." p. 155.
God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. Genesis 8:1