Hey First Time Mother!

I overheard a conversation last night between a pregnant, first-time Mom... and a Mom of 3 kids (I'd say all of her kids were somewhere between 1-5 years old...) And this is how the conversation went:

First Time Mom: I'm feeling a lot of emotions... I'm excited... I'm nervous... I'm anxious... I just want to be a great parent. 

Mom of 3: Oh, honey! You are going to absolutely love being a parent. It is amazing. You will be wonderful at it because you were called to do this!! You are going to rock it!

First Time Mom: I know I am going to love it... I'm just nervous about balancing it all.. work, being a Mom, being a wife, taking care of a house. I don't know how it's all going to come together, you know? I know it will be exhausting, but worth it. I'm just so nervous! Gah!

Mom of 3: Oh honey, you will be so good at this! Don't worry at all. It will take a few weeks, but eventually you'll get in to a routine and it will be a piece of cake! I promise! You'll learn balance and eventually it will be easy!

While I am sure 'Mom of 3' was just trying to give encouragement, I think it's dangerous to tell a first-time Mom, "Once you get in to a routine.. it will all be a piece of cake. I PROMISE!'

Here's the advice I would give to a first-time Mother if they ask.

It's not a piece of cake. 

Now, don't get me wrong here, folks.

I LOVE being a Mommy. It is the greatest gift God could have given me and I DO NOT take it for granted. I know there are women that try to have children and unfortunately, they cannot. I know I am blessed that we are able to have healthy, happy children. I thank God for them every single night after I wrestle them all to sleep ;) LOL.

What I'm saying here is... I'm not going to blow rainbows and butterflies up your butt.

Being a Mother is one of the toughest, most rewarding jobs out there....

but I stress TOUGHEST.

Nothing gets my panties in a bunch more than eavesdropping (oops) in to conversations from pro-Moms to soon-to-be Moms and hearing angels sing as she is talking. Being a Mother is a breeze for you? Awesome! You never want a break from your kids? Way to go.

But I am guessing you are the exception.

Being a Mother is tough.

When you see those two blue lines, you better get ready for a wild ride.

Did you like your sleep before this? Well, suck it up. Because that's done for the next 18 years (maybe even longer if you're a worry wart, haha) Soon, you'll be seeing 2AM, 4AM, 6AM, and hearing your alarm clock going off.... while simultaneously hearing the screams of a newborn. Oh, sure. You'll try and coax them back to sleep with a binky, but bottom line is... They're hungry. So, you'll spend the next 30 minutes feeding them, trying to keep them awake to actually finish the bottle, burping them, and laying them back down. 

Personal time? Get outta here. You wanna know how I pee? With a 2.5 year old trying to climb on to my lap to get the tooth paste, with a 4-year old screaming to fix her Elsa dress for the 99th time today, and with a 6-year old trying to start the bath water. EVERY TIME. Ha! Wanna know how I bathe if I have to get it done through the day and nap time is no where in sight? With a 6-year old trying to climb into the tub with me, with a 4-year old 'cleaning the walls with my bath water', and with a 2-year old washing me off. Lol

Oh, your friends wanted to meet up for food in 20-minutes? Yeah, you better check yourself before you wreck yourself. You've got a diaper bag to pack, kids to install in car seats, and you better wipe those spit-up stains off your shirt and jeans, sexy.

You got your favorite TV shows? That's cute. Well, you better think it's even cuter to watch them on DVR at midnight on a Friday night because that's the only time you get the TV to yourself. Before you know it, 'Yo Gabba Gabba' and 'Mickey Mouse' will be taking over your TV in ways you would have never imagined. You'll even find yourself singing along. Scary.

Becoming a Mom for the first time means not functioning in the morning until you have at least 5 cups of coffee coursing through your veins. It means late nights, early mornings, pretending that make-up from the day before is your make-up for that doctor's appointment this morning. It means running behind schedule, spending money on necessities as opposed to wants, sniffing butts to see if another human being has pooped, changing diapers that change your nail polish, begging kids to eat (even if it means a happy meal from McDonalds for the second time this week.) It means thinking a vacation is a 10-minute shower alone. You might even have time to shave your legs. Dream, girl. Dream.

But being a Mom for the first time also means that you will learn what it's like to fall in love with someone before you even know what eye color they will have. Being a first time Mom means you will finally understand what unconditional love really is. It means you will know what warm cuddles after bath time are... what it's like to see another human being in pain and realizing you would give your own life just to make it stop. You will fall more in love with your husband as you watch him laugh and play as soon as he walks in the door from work. It means you will finally understand what everyone has been telling you for years... "Life goes by too quickly" because one day, you'll be giving birth, and the next... you will be planning their 3rd birthday party. Becoming a mom for the first time means that you will get to kiss booboos, make bad dreams disappear, change their wet butts so they find comfort, take millions of pictures (some of which you'll forget to print off.) Being a first time Mom means you will finally understand the true meaning of family. You'll realize that watching 'The Lorax' at 9pm beats any bar atmosphere you'll find. Being a Mom for the first time....

is hard work,

but worth every bit of it.

First time Mom, I don't want you to get this false realization from some women that it's 'easy.' I've heard it from someone before. 'I can't wait to be a Mom some day. I love all of the pictures you post on Facebook! All of the cute clothes and all of your fun activities! I can't wait to be a Mom some day! It looks so fun!!"

It is fun.

But what you don't see in my pictures is a 12:30AM crying session because my 6-year old won't sleep for the 6th night this week.. A 2-year old that napped at 6:00PM and has zero desire to relax for bed at 10:00PM. A 4-year old having a meltdown because she can't find her favorite Barbie. A trip to Walmart that ends in tears (not from the kids-- me!) Non-stop screaming on 45-minute car rides to grab something to eat. I-phones soaked in cups of coffee. Laundry piled up so high you can't see the washer.

Being a Mother is hardwork.

It's not for the faint of heart... it's not for the selfish. 

It is for the caring... it is for the loving. It is for those that have realized that although you might smell all day long... and although you might have dishes piled up in your sink from 3 days ago... your floors haven't been swept in weeks.. you're covering up the bags under your eyes with make-up... you know you're still blessed.

First time Mother, I would never call parenting 'a piece of cake.' We are all just trying to do our best. And that's all anyone can really ask of us. All you need to know about being a first-time Mom is this:

You're going to love that little 7 pound cutie with all of your heart.

Everything else will fall in to place... even though sometimes it might not feel like it.

If you're struggling at first, that's alright... we were all there.

If you're struggling 6 months down the road, that's alright... we were all there.

If you're struggling 6 years down the road, that's alright... I'm still there.

Being a Mother is hard work.

But it's the best thing you will ever do with that precious life you have been given.

Enjoy it. Take it all in--- even the bad days (because you will have them!) It's not going to always be sunshine and flowers... but I always like to quote one of my favorite movies in situations like this:

"You never see the hard days in a photo album... but those are the ones that get you from one happy snapshot to the next."

Breathe, first time Mother. You're in for the ride of your life. 

Attitude is Everything!

According to the dictionary, 'attitude' is described as: manner, disposition, feeling, or position, with regard to a person or thing. I think of 'attitude' as the expression of our feelings towards a person, thing, or event.

And the one thing everyone can agree on is this:

We have CONTROL over our attitudes.

We are the only ones.

According to Charles Swindoll, "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people say or think or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a school, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes!"

God Almighty knew what He was doing when He gave us free will-- He gave us the opportunity and privilege to choose how we will live our life. This is why there are words like optimist, pessimist, negative, positive... We get to pick. 

Have you ever started your morning off rough? Have you rushed around, forgot important papers, dumped coffee down the front of you... and this started your day off horribly. So, you have a bad attitude the rest of the day. You're unhappy. You're miserable. You just want to go home. Everyone is on your nerves. BUT one good thing happens-- something makes you laugh, you win $10 on a scratch off, someone pays for your meal... And your attitude shifts. That negative, nasty attitude flies out the window, and you're back to that peaceful, happy nature.

We CAN change our attitudes. We do not have to live grumpy, miserable lives. 

Bad things are going to happen. We might as well accept it now. That will make it easier when they come. And that will give us a more positive attitude when the bad things do present themselves. We can say 'Oh well, I knew they would come eventually..." 

One of my other favorite quotes says, “In this life we are all just walking up the mountain and we can sing as we climb or we can complain about our sore feet. Whichever we choose, we still gotta do the hike. I decided a long time ago singing made a lot more sense.” Life is a journey. It is full of hills and valleys.. .ups and downs. We are all just trucking along together. And guess what? We can complain the entire journey. We can whine because we didn't get what we want. We can complain because someone else's journey appears easier. OR we can sing through the highs and lows. 

We HAVE to go through good times and bad times. That is life. It won't perfect for all of us, all of the time.... so if we HAVE to go through them, we might as well SING through them! We might as well have a positive attitude through them. There's no reason to struggle and be miserable at the same time. 

I know, I know... it is hard at times. Trust me, I've been there! When our daughter was diagnosed with Autism, I couldn't see any goodness at all. All I saw was pain and misery. I felt guilt and abandonment. I felt anger and disbelief. I felt bitterness and terror. I couldn't see anything good in that moment... 

But you know what? I HAD to go through it. We HAD to go through it. It was in the cards God Almighty dealt.If this cup wasn't going to pass from our family, I had to stop with the whiny, angry attitude and say, 'Nevertheless Jesus, Thy Will be done." It is all in our attitude. 

Our attitude defines our journey.

What is your attitude speaking to those observing your journey right now?

Do they see a miserable, sad person? Do they see a pessimist? Do they see someone unhappy with everything? Do they see someone that constantly complains?

Or do they see someone who is content? An optimist? Someone sees that bright side regardless of how dark the situation? Do they hear someone speaking words of life? 

Philippians 2:5 states, "You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." (NLT)

An attitude of love- of mercy- of grace- of patience- of self-control- of peace- of content. 

Romans 14:17-18 says, "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too."

Living a life of goodness, peace, and joy---- THIS is the attitude that please God!

I know personally, I have struggled with needing an attitude adjustment for quite awhile! I was the Queen of misery. I would immediately get frustrated or aggravated if one thing went wrong in the morning. It was a horrible way to live-- and a stressful way! No wonder I never felt good!

Are you in the same boat as me? Do you desperately want to quit complaining? To stop being miserable? To see the glass half full? To stop letting little things get you down?

Ephesians chapter 4 says, "Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy." (NLT)

God, help us to realize the necessity of a life of prayer! Help us to realize our need to ask for forgiveness for our old human nature--- the person that complains all of the time, the person that hates, the person that cannot find love, the person that lives in fear, the person that lets wrath and bitterness control their lives. And help us to pray for a new nature-- to be like You. Help us to pray for our thoughts and attitudes-- that they will be renewed in YOU.

Joel Osteen once said, "If you want to be happy, you have to be happy on purpose. When you wake up, you can't just wait to see what kind of day you'll have. You have to decide what kind of day you'll have." It is that simple. 

I know we can say 'But look- you don't know what I'm going through right now..' 'You don't know what I've been through..' and that's true, none of us do. But what I can tell you is this-- you are going to go through what you are facing right now regardless. Wouldn't you rather be at peace and happy during the trial instead of being miserable and angry? 

We are all going to face hard times.

Some of us will be still in Christ. Some of us will rest through the struggles. Some of us will laugh and heal from that laughter.

And some of us will be angry at God. Some of us will lose sleep at night. Some of us will be angry and make our souls even sicker during the struggle. 

The point is: It is OUR choice.

No one else's.

What will be your decision today?

These Seven Things- Feet That Sprint Towards Evil

Proverbs 6:16-19 states, "Take note, there are six things the Eternal hates; no, make it seven He abhors: Eyes that look down on others, a tongue that can’t be trusted, hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that conceives evil plans, feet that sprint toward evil, A false witness who breathes out lies, and anyone who stirs up trouble among the faithful." (The Voice)

Feet that sprint toward evil.

Feet that be swift in running to mischief.
Eagerness to do wrong.

Feet that are quick to do evil.

What would the description of our 'feet' be today?

'Feet' are mentioned quite often in the Word of God.

There was the washing of feet, the sacredness of wearing no shoes on the feet while on holy ground, and the metaphors concerning 'feet.'

In Romans chapter 3, we read that Jesus tells the disciples that no one is better than the other (Jews are not better than the Gentles, etc.) Jesus said no one is righteous- they have all turned away from God. He then begins to described their actions: their words are full of deceit, lies roll off their tongues, they spill dangerous threats from their lips, their speech is filled with curses, and their FEET are quick to hurt and to kill. They leave ruin and destruction wherever they go.

In Psalms 73, David talks about how he was envious of the prosperity of the wicked- it seemed like their lives were smooth and simple! They weren't in trouble or plagued like everyone else was. They appeared to have everything you could have hoped for. In this moment, David's FEET slipped! Another version says that David's FEET almost fell into sin because he saw this luxurious lifestyle of the wicked. Another version says his FEET almost stumbled- he almost lost faith because he saw how much he struggled trying to do good, while the wicked had it all. It wasn't until the end of chapter 73 that God allowed David to understand- their life right now is only temporary, a dream because they are not living a life pleasing to God.Our reward is eternal-- we just have to hold out for it.

In Proverbs chapter 1, David writes that only fools refuse to be taught. Sinners will attempt to entice them. It might sound appealing at times. But God warns us to watch our feet that we do not fall into their way of life. Proverbs 1:16 says, "because their feet run toward trouble and they hurry to commit murder." Greed overtakes their lives. Their feet are ready to do evil acts.

Proverbs 19:2 says, "He who has no knowledge of his own soul, it is not good for him; and he who is hasty with his FEET sins (impatience will get you into trouble)." (GLT/GNT) A lack of patience, FEET that run into whatever situation first without thinking... it is not good for us. God calls us to be patient, to think, to use wisdom and knowledge.

How would God describe our FEET today?

Would He say that they are quick to run to trouble-- to gossip, to conversations that tear others down, to crime, to making fun of others, to stealing? Are they impatient? Do they run to situations without thinking or using wisdom? Are they falling into a life of sin? Are our feet running with the crowd? Are they jealous and being driven by envy??

OR.

Are our FEET on a solid foundation? In Psalms chapter 38-39, David revealed he was suffering with guilt from his sins. David said there was no rest in bones because of his sins. His sins were a huge burden to him-- to heavy for him to carry. David said that his sorrow was continually in front of him. He begged for God to not forsake him. He asked God to deliver him from all his transgressions. And in chapter 40, David declares that he was waiting patiently for the Lord to hear him. He said "God brought me out of a horrible pit, out of the mud and the clay. God set my feet on a rock and made my steps steady." He put a new song in David's mouth, one that praised God. 

Is His Word a lamp to our FEET? Psalms 119:105 says, "Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me and keep my feet from stumbling." His Word is our road map- our compass. It teaches us how to live the life God has called us to-- IF WE ALLOW IT. His Word teaches us how to be patient- how to love others- how to be faithful- how to live a life pleasing to God. It teaches us how to find joy- to be at peace- to let our fears go-- IF WE ALLOW IT. His Word can be a light to our feet-- teaching us where to walk, how to walk. 

Are we keeping our FEET from evil ways?? Psalms 119:101 says, "I keep my feet from every evil way, in order to observe your word." Keeping our feet from every evil ways means that we are consistently praying, consistently repenting, and consistently striving to following a path of goodness. According to the dictionary, 'evil' is described as: morally wrong or bad, immoral, harmful, marked by anger. God's law- His call to leave the evil ways behind- lets wisdom flow through us. We learn what is the best way to act in situations, how to react, how to live a peaceful life, how to love. 1 Corinthians 6:9 says, " Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves...." God, please keep our feet from evil.

How would God describe our feet today?

These Seven Things: A Heart That Makes Sinful Plans

Proverbs 6:16-19 says, " These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (KJV)

Another version states, "For there are six things the Lord hates—no, seven: haughtiness, lying, murdering, plotting evil, eagerness to do wrong, a false witness, sowing discord among brothers." (TLB)


Plotting To Do Evil.

Other versions of Proverbs 6:18 says-

A heart that creates wicked plans
Hearts that plan to do evil things
A heart that plots evil schemes
A heart that makes sinful plans
Any time we plan-- or create an atmosphere-- to do evil things- it is breaking God's heart. This goes from the person planning to kill another human being to the phone call made to a friend where we destroy another person with our words.

In James 4:17, Paul writes, "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." When we know what is right and wrong and we choose the latter... this is sin in the eyes of God. We must be mindful of the life He has called us to and follow it with our whole heart. We must learn to subject our thoughts and actions to Jesus. We must learn self-control over our flesh- over our thoughts- over our words.

Born in to Sin.

We were all born into sin. Psalms 51:5 says, "But I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me." (TLB) It is what is called our 'human nature.' If we do not pray every day and commit our lives to Jesus, living a life that is not pleasing to the Lord becomes easier and easier.

I've been there-- where I once had a steady relationship with Jesus Christ, over the years I stopped praying, I stopped reading the Word of God. And it would bother me from time to time. I would see my Bible sitting on the bottom shelf of my pantry and think 'I haven't picked that up in so long...' but I would just move along. I didn't feel the desire or the need to reestablish a commitment to God. Maybe it was out of guilt. Maybe it was because I enjoyed our lifestyle. But all I know is that acts that I know God was shaking His head at became easy- little guilt. I was born into sin.. and through a lack of prayer.. through a lack of wanting to be close to God.. I fell back into that life. I didn't subject my thoughts and actions to His goodness.

When we don't have a relationship with God, having a heart that plans to do evil seems almost second nature. It all goes back to what we have been discussing the past week--- it is all a heart issue.

The Heart Issue.

When our hearts are not lined up with GOODNESS, bad tends to flow out of them.

In Matthew chapter 15, we read about the Pharisees asking Jesus a question concerning rituals. Jesus said 'People honor me with their lips but their hearts are nowhere near me. They elevate mere human ritual to the status of law, their worship is a meaningless sham.' Jesus then says, 'What you put into your mouth cannot make you clean or unclean. It is what comes out of your mouth that makes you unclean. Peter told Jesus that He might have offended the Pharisees with this statement. Jesus said the Pharisees are like the blind leading the blind-- they will all fall into a ditch. Peter still wanted a further explanation, so Jesus broke it down even more for us.

Jesus said, 'Don't you understand that whatever you take in through your mouth makes its way to your stomach and eventually out of the bowels of your body? BUT-- the things that come out of your mouth- your curses, your fears- your denunciations- these come from your heart and it is the stirrings of your heart that will make you unclean. For your heart harbors evil thoughts- fantasies of murder, adultery, fornication, fantasies of stealing, lying, and slandering. These make you unclean!'

Our heart- when it is not right with God- is what makes us unclean.

Mark 7:21-22 says, "It’s what grows out of the hearts of people that leads to corruption: evil thoughts, immoral sex, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wicked acts, treachery, sensuality, jealousy, slander, pride, and foolishness." (The Voice)

and Luke wrote in Luke 6:45, "It’s the same with people. A person full of goodness in his heart produces good things; a person with an evil reservoir in his heart pours out evil things. The heart overflows in the words a person speaks; your words reveal what’s within your heart." (The Voice)

What is in our heart will proceed out of our mouths- out of our hands- out of our actions. It will overflow-- so we must be careful that what is stored up in our heart is goodness, peace, faith, love, joy, meekness, and a gentle spirit.

Every one of the abominations discussed in Proverbs 6 relate to one thing: our heart.

Filling Our Hearts and Minds with GOODNESS.

It all goes back to what we are filling our heart and our mind with. Are we filling our thoughts with evil things? What are we listening to? What are we watching? What are we thinking about? We do have control over our thoughts. It can be difficult, but we CAN do it. From someone who has struggled with anxiety much of her life-- anxiety that caused me from being able to go into public for quite some time- I can tell you that the mind is a battlefield and having control of our thoughts is the only way we can defeat fear and wicked imaginations. It takes work-- and a lot of subjection.

I read a quote on Pinterest (Shocker I know! Lol) that stated, "If your mind is filled with the Word of God, then it can’t be filled with impure thoughts.”  David Jeremiah

What are our hearts full of today?

What are we feeding our minds?

Are we pouring in thoughts of lust, greed, anger, bitterness, jealousy, hatred, envy, spite, ego? Or are we pouring in thoughts of love, peace, joy, self-control, patience, gentleness, humbleness, content, and goodness?

It is up to us. God can't fill us with things if we don't want them. He's not going to force peace into our lives. He isn't going to make us be loving. He will give us opportunities, but He won't force it on anyone. He wants us to WANT that lifestyle and He wants us to ACTIVELY seek it! I knew I wanted to fix my life-- but I had to work to do it. He will pour all of His goodness in-- He will! He will help us live a life of peace-- a life full of love-- but He needs us to want it so bad that we will do anything to obtain it!

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life. (ERV)

What we think tends to control what we do-- pour in the Word of God- pour in conversations about goodness-- pour in music and movies that don't create an atmosphere of evil in your mind.

Do we want a heart that devises wicked imaginations?

Or do we want a heart that plans goodness in our lives and the lives of others?

Set in your mind to BLESS others today. Set in your mind to THINK on good things today. Set in your mind to let LOVE overflow out of you today.

Jesus, this is our prayer!

These Seven Things- We have a HEART problem

Proverbs 6:16-17 states, "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood..." (KJV) 

Another version states, "For there are six things the Lord hates—no, seven: haughtiness, lying, murdering, plotting evil, eagerness to do wrong, a false witness, sowing discord among brothers." (TLB)

Homicide in the United States.

There are 404 'Forensic Files' episodes, 125 'Cold Case Files' episodes, 326 'First 48 Hours' episodes..... and that's just scratching the surface of shows displaying homicides in the world.

As of 2015, there were 15,696 murders that took place in America. There was also an estimated 90,185 rapes. (FBI Latest Crime Statistics)

Hatred, jealousy, and greed are running rampant in our world and it leads other human beings to 'shed innocent blood' or to 'murder.'

I love one of the sayings I read awhile back- 'We have a heart problem, not a weapon problem' and that is the truth in my eyes. One thing I've learned from watching 'Forensic Files' is this... If someone has bitterness in their heart and they want to take the life of another-- they are going to do with their hands, shoe strings, a knife, a rock,. doesn't matter. They will get the job done.

What Does the Bible Say About Murder?

Genesis 9:5-6 states, "More than that, do not spill the blood of any human. If anyone spills your blood, I will hold him responsible. It makes no difference whether it is a man or an animal, both will be accountable to Me! If someone murders a fellow human being, then I will require his life in return." (VOICE)

The Ten Commandments specifically state: Do not commit murder.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

In Jeremiah chapter 7, we find that the temple was in Jerusalem; however, the people of Jerusalem were not following the word of God. God told Jeremiah to go speak these words to the people:

O Judah, listen to this message from God. Listen to it, all of you who worship here. The Lord, the God of Israel says: Even yet, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land. But don’t be fooled by those who lie to you and say that since the Temple of the Lord is here, God will never let Jerusalem be destroyed. You may remain under these conditions only: If you stop your wicked thoughts and deeds and are fair to others; if you stop exploiting orphans, widows, and foreigners, and stop your murdering; if you stop worshiping idols as you do now to your hurt, then, and only then, will I let you stay in this land that I gave to your fathers to keep forever. You think that because the Temple is here, you will never suffer? Don’t fool yourselves! Do you really think that you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and worship Baal and all of those new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are saved!”—only to go right back to all these evil things again? Is my Temple but a den of robbers in your eyes? For I see all the evil going on in there.

God saw the evil taking place... and He was going to destroy the temple because of it.

He saw how they were praying in the temple and then they turned around and lied, committed adultery, and murdered.

Murder is evil in the eyes of God. 

Galatians 5:19-21- "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (KJV)

In Galatians chapter 5, we read about the 'works of the flesh' or 'acts of the flesh.' These are called this because they are all driven by the needs/wants/emotions of the flesh.

Adultery- voluntary sexual intercourse between a spouse and someone who is not their spouse- is fueled by lust.
Fornication- voluntary sexual intercourse between two people not married to each other- is fueled by lust.
Uncleanness- being morally wrong- is fueled by the wants of our flesh.
Lasciviousness- lust- this is fueled by the wants of our flesh.
Idolatry- religious worship of idol/excessive adoration or devotion- this is fueled by our flesh searching for something greater
Witchcraft- the art or practice of magic and sorcery- this is fueled by our flesh seeking something.
Hatred- the feeling of hatred, intense dislike, or extreme aversion is fueled by our emotions.
Variance- causing disagreements and quarrels- this is fueled by our own wants/our own desires
Emulations- jealous rivalry-- this is fueled by our desire to want what other people have.
Wrath- vengeance or punishment as the result of anger- this is fueled by our emotions and self-righteousness
Strife- vigorous or bitter conflict- this is fueled by our emotions and our lack of self-control.
Seditions- any action or speech promoting rebellion- this is fueled by our desire to have what we want, when we want it.
Heresies- divisions- this is fueled by our wants and how we want things to work for us alone
Envyings- a feeling of discontent or covetousness of what someone else has- this is driven by our emotions and our wants
Murders- the killing of another human being- this is fueled by our emotions and feelings of anger, jealousy, greed, and more.
Drunkenness- given to intoxication- this is fueled by our own desires- our emotions.
Revellings- wild partying- this is fueled by our own physical wants and desires.

All of these works/acts of the flesh are fueled by our own desires, our own wants, our own emotions. Murder included.

On an episode of Forensic Files, I once heard that must homicides are because of 1 of 3 things: LUST, GREED, OR ANGER.

God, help us to control our emotions, our feelings, our thoughts-- so that our actions can be controlled.

The Heart.

Genesis 49:6 states, "O my soul, stay away from them. May I never be a party to their wicked plans. For in their anger they murdered a man, and maimed oxen just for fun." (TLB)

And in Luke 6:45, Luke writes, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." (NIV)

Whatever is in our hearts WILL come out eventually-- whether it is in our words or our actions. It will proceed. We cannot harbor bitterness and anger in our hearts-- and not deal with it through prayer- and not expect it to surface at some point.

The heart is the issue when it comes to all of the acts of the flesh, especially murder. 

It becomes where our wants, our desires, our needs, our emotions-- they become more important the the breath of another person. Anger overtakes common sense. Lust overrides the life God has called us to. Greed turns us in to an evil person.

And we are left to pay the consequences of NOT getting our hearts right with Jesus Christ.

We can only do this through prayer. Through washing our hearts. Through cleansing. Through repentance. Through asking God to get ride of all the nasty things with in us! 

Homicides are running rampant-- Almost 16,000 people were taken from our country last year-- all because we have a HEART problem. All because we cannot submit our actions to Jesus Christ. We cannot submit our thoughts to His Word. We cannot see the importance of another human being's life. We cannot value the breath of another human being because we are so blinded by our own wants.

We must submit our wants and needs to Him. Ask Him for help. He will never leave us or forsake us. He promised!

Jesus, help us to get our hearts aligned with Your Word today. We plead the blood over our minds- over our thoughts- over our feelings- over our emotions. We submit it to you, Jesus and we ask for Your help. Help us to realize that You created every person on this earth and You called us to LOVE one another- not hurt one another. We love You lamb of God. Thank You for everything You do for us!

These Seven Things: A Lying Tongue.

Proverbs 6:16-17 states, "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood..." (KJV) 

Another version states, "For there are six things the Lord hates—no, seven: haughtiness, lying, murdering, plotting evil, eagerness to do wrong, a false witness, sowing discord among brothers." (TLB)

The Dangers of a Lying Tongue.

Proverbs 12:19 states, "Lies last only a moment, but the truth lasts forever." (ERV)

I am sure many of us have heard the quote- it takes years to establish trust, but only seconds to destroy that trust.

Lying breeds an atmosphere of destruction- especially when it comes to trust.

I read a quote that stated, "One lie is enough to question all truths" and I couldn't help but see how true this is.

The first time someone lies to you, you start thinking, 'I wonder how many other things they have lied about? Omitted?" It is a vicious cycle that could be solved with one thing: complete honesty.

Not only does lying breed a lack of trust, but lying also breeds the destruction of other people's lives. We have to be so careful the words we speak with our tongues-- we are not just speaking words in to the atmosphere, we are affecting the lives of others as well.

The Destruction of Other People's Lives.

Proverbs 26:28 states, "You have to hate someone to want to hurt him with lies. Insincere talk brings nothing but ruin." (GNT)

If we use our lies to hurt other people, the Bible says we must have some sort of hatred in our hearts. 

Proverbs 10:12 says, "Hatred causes arguments, but love overlooks all wrongs." (ERV)

When we feel that bitterness-- that frustration-- that anger-- building up inside of us toward someone else, we need to start praying in that moment. We must pray for our spirit, our soul, our feelings, our emotions, our actions, and our mouths. What we speak in that instant could affect our entire life as well as the life of others. Do we want to be the person that tears others down or do we want to be the people known for lifting others up? The choice is ours.

Hatred stewing in our hearts only lays a foundation of evil.

Lies will proceed out of our mouths.
Gossip will become candy to our ears.
Bitterness will eat us alive.

Proverbs 10:18 states, "Liars secretly hoard hatred; fools openly spread slander." (MSG)

Liars secretly hoard hatred.

But God can heal our hearts. He can heal that anger. We don't have to give in to it. We don't have to speak words of hurt- words of evil.

The Destruction of Our Lives.


Psalms 52:3 says,  "You love evil instead of good. You would rather lie than tell the truth" (NIRV)

Do we want this to be what God Almighty says about us? Do we want Him to look at our lives and think, 'She would rather lie than speak the truth.' 'She loves evil instead of following my commandments and loving goodness!' 

I know I don't want that to be what my Savior thinks of me...

And I know He doesn't want us to destroy our own lives, our spirits through a lying tongue.

We are called to work out our own salvation.. and part of that salvation is protecting our own eyes, ears, mouths, and bodies from all appearances of evil. (Philippians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:22)

Works of the Flesh. 

In Galatians chapter 5, Paul writes about the works of the flesh. 

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (KJV)

Another version states, "But when you follow your own wrong inclinations, your lives will produce these evil results: impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, spiritism (that is, encouraging the activity of demons), hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group—and there will be wrong doctrine, 21 envy, murder, drunkenness, wild parties, and all that sort of thing. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." (TLB)

Hatred. Wrath. Strife. Fighting. Jealousy. Anger.

These are works of the flesh that we must crucify daily.

We are humans-- God does not expect perfection from us-- but He does want us to recognize how dangerous these are to our lives and the lives of others and He wants us to pray over them and work hard at not allowing them to rule our lives. 

All of these works of the flesh lead to turmoil. 

Turmoil for our souls.
Turmoil in our families.
Turmoil in our relationships.

Jesus, help us. 

God let this be our prayer:

Psalms 119:29, "Turn me away from a life of lies. Graciously provide me with your teachings." 

Psalms 120:2, "“Deliver my life, O Yahweh, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.”

Teach us how to hold our tongue, Lord. Teach us to speak the truth. Teach us to not want to hurt others. Turn us away from a life of lies.

It is up to us to be mindful of how we are using our mouths-- what are the words we are speaking today???? How do they define our character? Are we tearing people down with them? Are we allowing hatred to fill our hearts? Are we spewing evil? 

The choice is ours.

We can submit to Jesus and speak life.
Or we can submit to our human nature and speak lies.