Self-Deception

With all the talk/worry about being deceived by what/who is around us (often for good reason), it’s most important to examine our own selves and ensure we are not first walking in self-deception. The Bible speaks, on more than one occasion, about deceiving our own selves/our own hearts. “Follow your heart” doesn’t work if your heart is deceived. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer 17:9)

Since it’s mentioned in the scriptures, it seems we should take heed to those things that lead to self-deception.

WORLDLY WISDOM
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. (1 Cor 3:18-20)

PRIDE
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (Gal 6:3) 

BEING HEARERS ONLY OF THE WORD
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (Jam 1:22) 

HAVING AN UNBRIDLED TONGUE
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. (Jam 1:26) 

THINKING WE HAVE NO NEED OF REPENTANCE
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)

So to all who seek to walk honestly and humbly in the perfect law of liberty: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves...” (2 Cor 13:5)

A Little Smile...

...goes a long way. Even if it's an unseen smile. I had a moment of escape from the everyday routine of life today. Who would've thought it could be such a blessing to take five minutes away from everything, grab the cam, and shoot a couple pics of the flowers sitting on our kitchen table? Well, it most certainly was. I love yellow flowers anyway and the chance to capture and share them made me smile. Not to mention the freedom you feel from even a brief escape from the same ole Wednesday routine.

So here are some flowers to help brighten up your day. Be blessed in Jesus today friends.

*Edited with Soft Autumn Glow from The Coffee Shop Blog

Rick Warren's Center for Peace

Regardless of what Rick Warren says or attempts to set forth as a "new truth" for Christians, Islam and Christianity are not religious partners. This has been driving me crazy all day. Did you know that Time Magazine named this man: "America's Most Powerful Religious Leader" in 2008? Where is that powerful leadership taking many Christians? Right into the palm of deception! A "Center for Peace" between Christians and Muslims can never truly be because the Word of God brings persecution to true believers/disciples of Jesus Christ. This is our calling and in it many will be saved by the truth, but there will always be those who deny Jesus Christ and hate us for it. "Love" founded upon lies is not really love at all and can, most certainly, never be a replacement for the Truth, for love "does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth." (1 Cor 13:6 NASB)

For those who may be confused, swayed, or falling into these lies, this is what the Quran says about Jesus as the Son of God:

"And they say, 'The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son.' You have done an atrocious thing. The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son." (Sura 19:88-92) 

Could it get any more clear than that? Remember what the Bible says, especially of those who deny the Son and, henceforth, also deny the Father:

"Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also." 1 John 2:22-23 NASB

Jesus is and always will be the Son of God, fully God and fully man, crucified to take away the sins of the world. Alive forevermore! Please do not be fooled.