Today I am home, wishing I was at church – got a sinus thing    (no passing around :0) So I was reading blog posts of wonderful “Jesus Girls”  out there in the blog world. so here is what prompted this post ….  All a person’s ways seem pure to them,but motives are weighed by the LORD. ~Proverbs 16:2I was reading Shelly’s post over at IS THAT YOU, LORD? and she brought out this verse. She connected it to how people manipulate, control, criticize and judge people…. But then she turns that view inward, saying:

But what about the times when I criticized someone?
Or judged?
Or manipulated?
Or tried to control?
Suddenly, my words came more slowly and I meditated on what God was saying.
Do I have the courage to peek inside my own heart?
Am I brave enough to ask God to show me my true motives? ~Shelly – Is that you, Lord?

At the bottom of her post she had added that verse that I have added above.

All a person’s ways seem pure to them…

Now why would that be??When God showed me ( all in that instant of reading this verse ) the answer – He pointed right to how He put this verse together and by the exact words He used. It is in the word : SEEMWhen our motives are impure we have to cover what we really are (just like the fig leafs in the garden of Eden) by SEEM –ing different than what we are. We project what we want others to think or what we want them to SEE…all while we are hiding the truth. We are hiding that little (m) on the end of seem. (as if we are biting our tongues not to say the rest of our deception) that (m) stands out if you flip that word around — MEEs (almost as if it is screaming out) ALLLLL ABOUT ME!!!!  This is why ALL A PERSON’S WAYS SEEM PURE TO THEM –because they are blinding themselves by believing the lie that what they are seem-ing is the actual. They have a bad case of the ME’s.Sometimes we try to curb these bad behaviors toward others by thinking like this:“Come on Starla , you can be nice” –rationalization (manipulation of self)“Ok Starla, go be kind!” – an act of will (control issues)“Oh Starla, your just being silly” –detachment from what is, and denying the real issue (anger, hurt ect..)(see how what we SEEM is also only doing what we are trying to cover up to ourselves) vicious cycle!!The truth is if manipulation or control are the motive it will bleed through no matter what we do to try and fix it. If we are criticizing and judging others because we disagree or have a heart issue, it will continue to grow. The only FIX for the first two ( which is a TRUST issue)  is to LET GO of the outcome and be ok with what GOD gives –believe that He has good things for you. Know that He will only take you were you will absolutely fit and be amazingly blessed. The second two are relationship issues. If you are doing these you are most likely believing you have the answers for these other people that are so messed up. Or you are angry, disappointed, hurt, and/or holding a grudge to which the only hope is reconciliation. Maybe you need to have a conversation?? …. Shelly said : “Do I have the courage to peek inside my own heart?” 

Do you have the courage??…..you know you do “IN CHRIST” we can do all things!!Sometimes that is not easy but we have a promise :

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  

Lord, let us not be people who manipulate, control others or ourselves. Help us to deal with our hurts and disappointments in the way that You have given to us – pray and seek the truth from You and then go face to face in the spirit of love – its not easy but may we trust that when we do things Your way we never lose!Have a blessed SUNDAY!!Starla