Satan's Tactics

Lies, Lies, and More Lies,

It amazes me how many women are hearing the lies of Satan, and yes I am one of them. He just would not stop with that first lie to the first women, he has to continue feeding more and more women with untruths.

Several have shared with me since the last post regarding the lies that they feel women are hearing. Lies about ourselves, our families, our church and many more. Although we know he is the Father of Lies, we still listen. Why? Because he is sneaky...making the lies seem so real and true. He is saying them over and over causing us to begin to believe them even if we know better. We begin picking ourselves and others apart and not focusing on God's things.

I am reading a new book by Lysa TerKeurst, "Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl". (This is a great book that if you are interested in walking through it with a small group please let me know) Anyway, in the book Lysa makes a great point.

"Satan would love for us to pick ourselves apart, to obsess on the negative. When we do, we become hyper self-focused and take our eyes off Jesus and the mission set before us. Many of us spend years trying to hide or fix what we perceive as personal flaws.
Jesus would love for us to see ourselves as a package deal of unique qualities that He -- the author and perfecter of our faith -- saw a necessary for the life He's calling us to live."

That spoke so much to me! I get so hung up on the lies Satan tells me but to hear that Jesus saw each and every quality that I was given...the good, the bad and the ugly (The last two most likely just in my opinion) was necessary for the life He called me to live. Those qualities are usable by Him and for His glory. If that ain't freedom from the lies of Satan I don't know what is!!!

His chosen daughter!

Cynthia

Lies Satan Tells Women

Currently Bro Ronnie is leading us through a series "Satan: Father of Lies" and this really has me pouring over the many lies that Satan tells women. So I feel led to post about some of these lies.

Women today are bombarded with more and more lies from Satan. There is almost an epidemic of "soul-sickness" and it is not just among women in the world but also among those of us in church. Why? Because Satan wants us in bondage. He wants both you and me not to live freely but rather to live under a cloud of personal guilt and condemnation. He doesn't want us to enjoy the grace and love of God so he whispers lies to us. During our walk, we may stir up a lot of religious dust but we won't do Satan's kingdom any real damage when we listen and dwell on his lies.

So what are some lies Satan tells women? Please note this is just one or two and not an exhausted list. Maybe you would like to add more on in the comments.


One lie that Satan whispers to women is "If you take that mask off, people will not like you." He leads us to believe that if others see my uglies then they won't like us. I have noticed more and more that women want to see who other women really are. In other words, don't play like you have it all together when I am floundering around like a fish out of water. This is one that I am personally working on. I struggle and as I timidly slip the mask from my face, I sadly hear ladies say, "but I thought you had it all together." Wow what a lie I was telling! I have put on a mask of happiness, when really I struggle with depression at times. I have put on a mask of being outgoing when really I struggle with the fear of rejection and loneliness...even in a crowd. I am currently learning that these mask are doing nothing for me except keeping me in the crippling bondage that Satan desires for me.
Not only is the mask hindering me but it is very possibly hindering another lady from experience the grace and mercy of God.

Another lie Satan tells women is "you are not worth anything." Have you heard it? I sure have, especially when I am seeking to do that which God has called me.
Personally, Satan knows when to play "You are not worth anything" card on me. When I am trying to organize an event or study, he whispers it in my ear. When I am seeking God's direction for my self or ministry, he is there whispering it in my ear. Even when I sit down to write a blog post, he's whispering it in my ear. Whether through his own whispers or the use of others, Satan tries to make us feel less worthy. As we listen to Satan's lies we grant others the opportunity to determine our worth. He knows that many times our worth is in direct relation with what others have said about us. Instead of letting others define us we need to reflect on what is true. I am a child of God's and a treasured possession. I am currently doing a study on the Inheritance of God and if we were not worth anything then why would God send His only son to die for us? Why would he be preparing a place for us, a MANSION in heaven? Why would He call us co-heirs with Christ? It is all because we do have worth! We are worth some much more than this big revolving ball in the universe. Yes it is hard to fathom but it is true. The lie of no worth told by Satan is just that, a Big Fat Lie. I struggle with this lie sometimes but when it rears it's ugly head it helps me to dwell on the truth. Please take time to read Ephesians 1:3-12 and just listen to the Words of Worth spoken over you. Did you see you are chosen, adopted, purchased? What other truths did you find?

I know we could go on and on about the lies Satan tells women but it respect for your time we'll stop here. We may address a few more over the next few days but please leave a comment stating other lies Satan whispers in the ears of women.

Beautiful Feet

I have had a pedicure only once in my life. Not because I don't desire another but I am so down right ticklish on my feet I can barely stand it. Although I have experienced two foot surgeries and had to bare all the dealings on my feet I still can't bring myself to getting one. Yes I want to have the soft beautiful feet with expertly painted toes that so many sport but I just can't bring myself to it. Crazy I know...most of you are saying "Get over it". You just don't understand...sometimes just the simple act of pulling a sock over my feet tickles.
Yes my son loves knowing this about me and if I am bare foot with feet propped up, he will reach out to tickle me every time he walks by.

Beautiful feet got new meaning for me this summer with I was on the mission trip in France. One day a young man at the ports came up to the group handing out Bibles. He asked the young women that knew French if he could take a picture of the group's feet. A little dismayed at the request, she asked why? His response was, "I have never seen American feet before, they are pretty." She then pulled the group together to grant his request and responded with a question for him.

Her question was, "Do you know what the Bible says about beautiful feet?" With him shaking his head no, she quoted the verse from Isaiah 52:7 "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns!"

With this the young man asked, "What about the feet of those who believe in God?"

She responded, "They will become beautiful also because they will go and share what has become real in their hearts."

Upon hearing this the young man said, "then one day maybe my feet will be beautiful as well."

What encouragement we all received that day! What encouragement I want to pass on to you today! Your feet are beautiful as you share God's love. Even if you haven't had a pedicure recently by human hands let the God of All perform a pedicure on your beautiful feet. May the beauty of your feet be noticeable to all you encounter and a witness to the One to whom all glory is given.

Blessings,
Cynthia

Life changing verses.

Over the last few weeks my thoughts have been caused to ponder on several verses in Scripture. Verses that untangle my thoughts, soothe my soul, or even create a wonder so great that I have to dig for more.

Currently I keep turning to Eph. 1:18 "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints."

What verse are you pondering lately?

Beth Moore Living Proof Live

An Important Message from Beth Moore from LWEvents on Vimeo.

The Color Green

If you have ever gone on a foreign mission trip you will undoubtly know that there is usually one very large barrier…Language.

As I began to prepare for this trip we were given a list of phrases that would help with our presentation. Five phrases, one in Arabic and four in French was the basis of our communication with our target people group.
These phrases were: (in English)
Peace be to you
This is a new testament
This is a gift
It is free
Have a safe trip

The longer we stayed the more we would pick up a few more phrases but our original five were used very often. So often I would wake up saying them, go to bed saying them, even saying them in my dreams. To this day, the phrases will jump into my mind. The funny thing is you can’t say just one, they always demand you go through all five at the same time. Maybe it is just me but I get tickled when they appear in my thoughts at the most random times.

Anyway, you can see that our French and Arabic was VERY limited to say the least. The neatest thing was to step out on faith, approach someone, let the phrases roll off our tongue (ok maybe that was stutter off our tongue) and watch God do the rest. It totally amazed me when God would take our bumbling of the language and still open the door for people to receive the packets we were giving.

There were times, however, that something more than those five phrases were needed to break down the barriers. I’ll share with you how God used the color green to open a door.

As I had shared earlier my mother was on this trip with me. One morning she was at the walk on gate (this is where people boarding the ferry would have to carry all their luggage for a while without the use of cars).
As she was offering the packet to those walking up she noticed an older lady dressed in a burqa laboring with her belongings in the distance. My mother shared with her partner at the gate that she was going to start praying that by the time this lady got to the gate she would be prepared to receive a packet.
As the lady drew near, my mother’s partner told my mother that she would approach every one else and my mother’s attention should be directed only to that lady.

My mother walked towards the lady and begins with the five phrases that we had studied but to her dismay the lady refused and kept pressing onward to the ferry. A little discouraged but still feeling she was to continue to offer the packet to this lady. She quickly realized that the five phrases were not enough and she began to seek God’s help. Then she realized that the lady’s burqa was the exact shade of green as the shirt she was wearing. As my mother walked beside the lady she pointed to the burqa and then to her shirt. The lady realized that they were both the same in color and looked my mother in the eyes. At this time, my mother again used the phrases and the lady graciously accepted the packet.

We learned that day that words are not the only thing that God uses to get His Word into the hands of others. It can be many things even a color that He will use to open doors. I encourage you to seek God to show you how to reach those that are rejecting Him.

His,

Cynthia

Playing in Traffic

If you haven’t read the prior post I would like to invite you to do so before continuing. If time doesn’t allow please scroll down to the definition of successful witnessing.

All my life I remember hearing someone tell me, “Stay out of the traffic” or “Don’t play in the street”. As a mother I have stressed these same points to my children over time BUT on the first training day we heard just the opposite.

As we sat in that room listening to the speaker we hear these words come from his mouth, “We WANT you to go play in the traffic!” As we giggled and joked, his face showed that he wasn’t joking. He really did want us to take the initiative and step out into traffic. That was enough to send anyone back to their room to hid under the pillow especially after the cab ride we had from the airport.

The next morning as we met our team and headed to the port the thought of playing in the traffic was a little unnerving. As we approached the gate, cars were well into the process of proceeding through to board. Some were slowly maneuvering the fully loaded cars (a sight in itself to see) past the authorities and others were zipping right on by. Most of the time it wasn’t one car at a time but rather two wide and very much with an agenda.

Our crew leader led us to the small concrete island at the port entrance. She showed us where our materials were, placed a packet in our hands, turned with a smile and said, “Let’s do it”. Oh how this girl from the south wanted to do what she has done best over the course of her life…step to the farthest point of action, fade into the background and hope no one sees her. But God…God would see. God didn’t allow me to travel this far to hide. God called me to this port. God set these materials in place for a people to freely receive.

I started quickly reviewing my 5 phrases and praying for God to empower me to do this task. Just then a thought ran across my thoughts. My husband has always had a quick little phrase that he spouts when someone steps into the line of traffic, “Go ahead, step out there and meet Jesus”. With that thought it hit me what I was doing, (taking the initiative alert here) I was to go ahead, step out there so someone else could meet Jesus. Once that was settled in my own mind, I quickly felt the need to get these materials into the hands of those passing through.

As the days passed, I found myself excited to go to this gate. Although the other two gates were much slower paced and less likely to have my toes smashed by a tire, I found an excitement at the car gate. I witness God soften the hearts of some passing through, I watched in amazement as God took my jumbled phrases and spoke to the people and they accepted a packet. All the things I saw and experienced was because through God He asked us to take the initiative to share Christ's love through the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results to Him!

Are you ready to play in traffic? Ok don’t literally go into the streets and step out into an intersection. But are you ready to play in the traffic of life and step out there so someone else can meet Jesus? I would love to hear how you are "playing in traffic".

His,

Cynthia