Footnotes, Makeup and Pantyhose

I am pretty sure that footnotes, makeup and pantyhose were invented by Satan himself.
As a student, nothing struck fear in my heart more than footnotes.  As you can see, English was not my favorite subject and the reason boils down to footnotes.  Please understand that I never wanted to steal someone else's idea and take credit for it.  However, as a student who was forced to write about a topics in which I had no interest or thoughts, everything would be a footnote!  And don't even get me started on MLA, APA, and Chicago.  What a nightmare! Why couldn't I just say, so-and-so said such-and-such in this book, and be done with it? 

Today's blog is not so much my thoughts as compiled thoughts of others that I would like to share.  I want to talk about the biggest stumbling block of all time and I hope to correctly give credit to those who gave me this input, however, it will not be done in a lovely MLA footnote.  If I wasn't so paranoid about it, I would look each up and give them a perfect footnote.  However, all they will get is a shout out. 

My issue with pride first came to light when attending a bible study of Beth Moore's.  She shared the following poem that she wrote and I have kept it in my bible for years.  It describes the battle perfectly.

My Name is Pride

by Beth Moore

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

I cheat you of your God-given destiny...

because you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment...

because you "deserve better than this."

I cheat you of knowledge...because you already know it all.

I cheat you of healing...because you're too full of me to forgive.

I cheat you of holiness...

because you refuse to admit when you're wrong.

I cheat you of vision...

because you'd rather look in the mirror than out a window.

I cheat you of genuine friendship...

because nobody's going to know the real you.

I cheat you of love...

because real romance demands sacrifice.  

I cheat you of greatness in heaven...

because you refuse to wash another's feet on Earth.

I cheat you of God's glory...

because I convince you to seek your own.

My name is Pride.  I am a cheater.  

You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you. 

Untrue.

I'm looking to make a fool of you.

God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry...

If you stick with me, 

You'll never know.

This poem brought the effects of pride into the spotlight.  This week, it was while listening to a sermon on the radio about demons, the pastor (I think it was Robert Jeffress) said that Satan was once an angel and his downfall happened due to his pride.  This made me realize the very sobering thought that I have something in common with Satan himself.  Pride is a constant battleground in my life.  I believe it is C.S. Lewis who said, "Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind".

Lord help me become sensitive to the presence of pride in my life so that I can bring it to you and lay it down.

Footnote...Thank you to all those who speak truth into my life.

Would You Like Salt with Your Fries?

Psalm 96:3 NIV

[3] Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

[19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

With global access through the Internet, I see our 'nations' today changing.  Today we are not separated so much by geography as by our political party, beliefs, the lifestyle we live, or by the color of our skin. We used to be divided by nations and cultures but today those lines are blurring. Quickly replacing the age-old divisions of geography are new dividing walls that have popped up over the past ten to twenty years.  Our nations are now splintered into factions of society based on beliefs and judgements. If this is true then we must cross these new barriers of race, political affiliation and lifestyle to spread God’s word and be salt.  

A common trick of the enemy is doing the ‘ole switcharoo’ on our thinking.  He relishes leading us to identify Christian behavior as that which is not.  In my neck of the woods in Texas, he uses our natural desire to protect our families to justify separating ourselves from this world. Many Christians have seen the shift in thinking of this world and out of fear, have chosen to isolate their family from the outside world as much a humanly possible. I will be the first to admit, this world today is scary for raising children, and I am glad mine are grown. But never forget that God loves your children more than you can ever love them.  Be a wise parent, teach them well, pray unceasingly for them, then trust God. They just might be the influence that is missing in our world.  

Matthew 5:13 NIV

[13] “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Salt has an amazing power over food.  Any cook on the food channel will tell you that it enhances the flavor in food.  It also preserves it by fending off bacteria. But to be effective, it must leave the salt shaker and spread out evenly. In the hands of a chef, it is the most important seasoning. It is only effective when it is spread out and stirred in.  The power of salt is released when it is dispersed. It has no power in the salt shaker.  If it stays in the sterile environment of the salt shaker, it has lost its power or it could be said that it has lost the action of 'saltiness'. By the way, the opposite of saltiness is bland.  Jesus was instructing his followers in this passage. Obviously, he was not telling us to rope ourselves off from the world. I think he was telling us to get out there and mix it up in our world just as he did. This prevents us from being bland, unpalatable Christians.

Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV

[24] And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, [25] not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another---and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

These words are written to Christians. Why would God tell us to meet together if Christians never separated and spread out? This passage contains an assumption that we spread out and mix with the world daily.  

In my job, I have the privilege to see Christian teachers nurturing children from dysfunctional and broken families. I see kind children from Christian homes learning side-by-side with those without hope, showing them what life is like on the other side. On network television this week, I heard a Christian artist proclaiming the power of our risen Savior. I see these Christians boldly spreading his word in the face of the lies of the enemy. This gives me hope.  

If you call yourself a Christian, please prayerfully consider your role in this world in light of what Christ called us to be.