An Unwanted Twist in Motives When Pride Sneaks In

June 7, 2022 by Leave a Comment

It can come out of nowhere—or be so subtle I don’t even notice it at first. A twist in motives.

Pride slips in, unwanted yet there. My heart and thoughts can be in the right place as I start an activity—writing, singing, serving in ministry, helping someone, or even in online interactions. And then bam—a desire to impress pops up.  Whether ever so slightly or a glaring example, my motives take a twist. I hate it when it happens.

I’m not alone, though. A twist in motives can sneak up on any of us at any time, especially when we’re doing something we do rather well. It’s natural—and okay—to feel good about a job well done. The problem occurs when we start to puff up and get prideful, secretly wondering if we’ve impressed certain people. It’s crazy how we get prideful over the talents and abilities God alone has given us, isn’t it?

Thankfully the Lord has made me acutely aware of my prideful tendencies. Most of the time I immediately recognize a prideful thought and can go to battle against Satan as he tries to snare me in his trap. I go to prayer, confessing my twist in motives and ask the Lord to help me want “to bless and not impress.” (That’s a phrase I keep handy at all times—a phrase I strive to live by.)

Do any of you have a similar struggle with pride trying to weasel its way into your heart? I think the apostle Paul may have. Whether he battled pride or a different problem, he told the believers in Rome, “So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” (Romans 7:21)

Let’s continually be on guard against the enemy’s attempts to get us to slip into pride, his plans to corrupt our initial desire to serve or bless. Let’s be on the lookout for a twist in motives.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 KJV

*How can you be more alert to pride sneaking in?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, will come out in early August. Sign-up is FREE. *Temporary problem with Life Notes sign-up. To sign up, just contact me.

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

*Flickr photo by .Bala, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: enemy, fighter, frustration, growth, help, life, prayer, pride, protection, sin, wisdom Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

“Depend” Acrostic: 2019 Theme Word Refresher

September 3, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Last year I wrote an acrostic as a refresher and enjoyed the exercise so much I decided to do the same again this year for my 2019 theme word—depend. I should have done this at the half-way point, but we’re two-thirds through the year now. Better late than never is a motto that will surely prove true for this tardy effort of mine today, though, don’t you think?

Below you will find some thoughts (in acrostic form) that came to mind as I contemplated the various aspects of depending. I also hope the above photo from my summer trip to Colorado will give you a visual of depending on God and of using laser-focus to keep your eyes on him.

Depend

Dare to trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

Empty yourself of pride and admit that you need God as well as others.

Place all your concerns into the hands of God and enjoy his peace.

Endure whatever trials of life come your way as you count on God to see you through.

Name the characteristics of God and give thanks that he is able and trustworthy.

Dig deep in your faith in God and resist the impulse to take matters into your own hands.

I hope this depend acrostic blesses you and offers help for a current situation you’re facing. I encourage you to try your hand at an acrostic as well—whether with your word for the year or for another word you need some further insight or encouragement regarding. May God bless all our efforts to grow in our walk with him!

“The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.” Lamentations 3:25 NLT

*What aspect of depending on God is most challenging for you?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, will come out in early November. Sign-up is FREE and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

*My photo

Filed Under: challenge, depend, encouragement, faith, faithfulness, life, peace, pride, refresh, trust, word Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Groom’s Cake Idea: Show State Pride

October 16, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Mother of the Bride, has your daughter’s beloved decided what kind of groom’s cake he’d like to have yet? He may know hands-down what would express who he is perfectly, but if not, he may need some suggestions. This is where you and the bride can be of some help.  I suggest throwing out a wide variety of ideas that might fit him, both fun and traditional, and see which one snags his interest.

If he’s a fella who’s proud of his state, one of your suggestions could be a cake design that allows him to show some state pride. The cake’s shape could be the actual shape of his state, like the one pictured above from a Texas groom’s wedding.

This Texas groom’s cake also incorporates the state flag, but other options are possible as well. For instance, a Kansas groom might chooose to go with a Kansas-shaped cake covered in sunflowers or a scene picturing the wheat harvest. But you don’t have to worry about coming up with specific ideas because if your soon-to-be son is state-proud, he’ll quickly come up with the perfect ideas on his own.

So MOB, add the state theme to your groom’s cake ideas and share away when it comes time to talk wedding cakes. You never know, it might be the design idea that your man of the hour gets excited about!

*You might also like to read Groom’s Cake Idea: Law Books (or any other books!), Groom’s Cake Idea: Favorite Professional Sports Team, Groom’s Cake Idea for the Military Man, and Groom’s Cake Idea: A Chessboard!

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride check out my Books/My Work page.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early November. One lucky subscriber (new or current) will receive a $15 gift card to Starbucks and a signed copy of my book to use personally, give as a gift, or donate to a library. Sign-up is free and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*Flickr photo by 19melissa68, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: bride, cake, fun, groom, Mother of the Bride, pride, variety Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Guest Blogger Jane M. Tucker: A Part of God’s Mosaic

June 27, 2016 by 8 Comments

Bowl Plaza mosaic*Today’s post is written by my friend Jane M. Tucker. She is the author of Lottie’s Gift.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1)

Hebrews chapter eleven describes many people who accomplished great things by faith in God. I have sometimes heard this chapter called the “Hall of Heroes,” or the “Faith Hall of Fame.” These titles conjure images of a museum where the portraits of Bible heroes like Abraham, Moses and Rahab hang on the walls. Gold name plates nailed to the picture frames tell who they were, and what they did.

The idea feeds my pride. Someday, I’ll be as great as they were. Someday, I’ll deserve to hang in that hall, too. It isn’t a healthy way to approach my faith walk.

Because the Hall of Fame idea is a trap for me, long ago God gave me a different visual: A mosaic, made of millions of different stones, each one reflecting His light with infinite beauty. In the Master’s hands I am a stone, tumbled to a high polish by time and trial, until I am fit to take my place among all the other precious and unique stones in His timeless design. The idea of a mosaic is reflected in Hebrews 12:1: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (emphasis mine).

The mosaic image holds three advantages for me:

  • I measure myself rightly. I’m not so much a portrait, grandly set apart in a gallery for all to see. I’m a stone, precious to my maker, but not more so than His other precious stones.
  • I see myself in relationship with other believers. Our triune God is all about relationship. One lovely stone is admirable, but it gains even more beauty when placed with all the others to form a greater whole.
  • I remember that God wants everyone to join his family. A missing mosaic tile is instantly noticeable. God needs all his precious stones if his artwork is to be complete.

Now, let me be clear: The portrait painter and the mosaic artist are only metaphors for a God we cannot fully describe. Metaphors clothe the intangible with concrete images, but they are limited. Martin Luther called God a mighty fortress, and David called Him a rock, and those metaphors also have their limitations.

What metaphor for God speaks to you today?

When she’s not gallivanting around New York, Jane M. Tucker works and plays in Overland Park, Kansas, with her husband and three nearly grown kids. She writes about the people and places of the Midwest on her blog, Postcards from the Heartland. Jane’s novel, Lottie’s Gift, about an Iowa farm girl with a big gift for music and the sister she loves with all her heart, is available on Amazon.com and at CrossRiverMedia.

*Photo by Jane M. Tucker

Filed Under: beauty, creation/creative/creator, faith, family, guest blogger, light, pride, unity, variety, Word of God Tagged With: , , , ,

Midweek Morsel: Old Glory Still Flies

July 2, 2015 by 2 Comments

419187374_244fb2442b_zAs we head into this Fourth of July holiday weekend, aren’t you glad that Old Glory still flies? Much blood has been shed and many sacrifices made to ensure that our country is still “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” I, for one, am forever grateful, and I’m sure you are, too.

Let’s not forget that it’s because of the One to whom all glory is due that our nation still stands where Old Glory can fly. Thank you, Father, for the freedom we enjoy. Thank you, O Lord, for your watch-care and mercy!

“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” Psalm 29:2

*What are some of the ways God has blessed our nation?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early August. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by arbyreed, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: America, bravery, celebrate, free, holidays, old, pride, thanks Tagged With: , , , ,
Next Page »