Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil

The preacher Hugh Latimer recorded this as a 'common saying' as early as 1555, in his Twenty Seven Sermons:

"There is a common saying amongst vs, Say the truthe and shame the diuel."


Shakespeare also used the expression in Henry IV. Part I, 1597:

Hotspur:

And I can teach thee, coz, to shame the devil
By telling truth: tell truth and shame the devil.
If thou have power to raise him, bring him hither,
And I'll be sworn I have power to shame him hence.
O, while you live, tell truth and shame the devil!


Saying it out loud sounds funny and most won’t get its meaning, its sole or SOUL purpose; which is to ALWAYS tell the truth, even when tempted to lie. To ALWAYS tell the truth, even if it is easier to lie. To ALWAYS tell the truth, even if you know you won’t ever get caught. The phrase also brings to mind another quote; I've pilfered from an unknown author…“Character is what you are, when no one is watching.”

Lying is a hot topic for God and Jesus, and the act of it is referenced in approximately 100 different Bible verses. More importantly, it is #8 on the list of GOD’S GOLDEN RULES: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor" (Exodus 20:16, The Ten Commandments). Oddly enough, of all the character pinchers in existence, lying is the easiest one to avoid; but is the one by which many people find themselves getting pinched a lot.

The thing about lying is that a single lie usually ends up spinning into a gossamer mess. Once the chain of reaction has begun, it often becomes difficult to stop…one lie is told; another is told to cover that one, and then another, and so on, etc. Deceit takes on a life of its own and feeds itself on the soul of the liar. Isaiah 59:12-13 immediately comes to mind:

12 For our transgressions are multiplied before You, And our sins testify against us; For our transgressions are with us, And as for our iniquities, we know them:

13 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, And departing from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.


For me, the necessity for telling the truth is as essential as it is for ME to be me. It means to be who I am. Not give way to or opening my life up to shame. To not allow myself to be held hostage by my mistakes or by my past; if I don’t start nothing there won’t be nothing, if that makes sense.

We have such little control over most aspects of our lives. What we do have control over, and is most often over looked, is how we act, react, treat others, and teach others to treat us. We do not have the ability to change the past and minimal control over the present with the previous stated exceptions; however, we can decide how we would like to exercise those exceptions in the future.

I always say that everything I need to know about Life, I learned from Jesus, Momma, and Daddy. Then I follow it with a “Mommy and Daddy always say.” In this instance, they had a lot to say. Starting with Jesus only finds fault with our mistakes if we don’t learn from them and we doom ourselves to repetition. Actually, Daddy’s exact words were "Jesus only thinks we’re dumb if we become repeat offenders." Daddy made sure that there were no repeat offenses or offenders on his watch, in our house.

We all make mistakes. No one person is perfect. It is our imperfections that Jesus shines through. If we were perfect, HE would have no purpose. However, since we are not of the perfect persuasion we need Jesus and his lessons, as tools to use to not be or become repeat offenders. If it sounds like I’m referring our talking about criminals, when I say repeat offenders, in a way I am. If we continuously break mans law, that’s what we would be called. Why would there be an exception when breaking God’s Law? The ONLY difference is Jesus and the salvation HE offers us when we accept HIM and truly repent and don’t repeat. A reminder to remember of this comes to us in 1 John 2:24-27.

24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.


In order to say NO, we MUST say YES to Jesus. Christ said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If Christ is Truth, then it follows that lying is moving away from Christ. Being honest is about following in God's footsteps, for He cannot lie. If the goal is to become more God-like and God-centered, then honesty needs to be a focus. A promise is made to us in Hebrews 6:13-20

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.


Growing up in our house, honesty was the only policy when dealing with telling the truth or telling a lie…simply because it was and is God’s way. Telling the truth was not a crime in our house, even if it was something that my parents really wished they weren't hearing, and there was no consequence for honesty. There was no hiding dishonesty, either though. Momma and had another saying, “don’t do anything in private that will bring shame in public, because everything will eventually come out in the wash.” I can’t help but think of a few more verses from Isaiah, when I hear Momma in my head…

Isaiah 28:15, 17

15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, It will not come to us, For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.”

17 Also I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the plummet; The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters will overflow the hiding place.


And they were and are right, lies can’t be hidden forever. Gossamer strings do break, exposing a lie or two eventually, no matter how tightly they are weaved.

If we did wrong, made a mistake, or had done something warranting punishment and we were honest, we were still punished. And the punishment always fit the crime. However, a lie would not only bring discipline, but a heftier consequence. Usually there was no heftier a consequence than the hurt and disappointment in Momma or Daddy’s eyes, for lying. I can imagine the same happens with God; after all HE’s every ones Daddy. I couldn't bare disappointing Momma or Daddy with something as dumb as a lie, why would I want to separate myself from God with one? That’s exactly what the bible says will happen. It seems that many of the verses on the subject of lying fall in Isaiah, so there will be no surprise when the next lines you read are Isaiah 59:1-8. Again, get ready to read…I won’t paraphrase the bible; it’s just that good on its own!

1 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.

2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity.

4 No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.

5 They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave the spider’s web; He who eats of their eggs dies, And from that which is crushed a viper breaks out.

6 Their webs will not become garments, Nor will they cover themselves with their works; Their works are works of iniquity, And the act of violence is in their hands.

7 Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths.

8 The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.


The number one rule of the house had two parts, take responsibility for our actions and be willingly accountable. Mommy and Daddy strived for us to not be held hostage by shame, but to be freed by glorifying God with Honesty.

Honesty is a direct reflection of our inner character. Our actions are a reflection on our faith, and reflecting the truth in our actions is a part of being a good witness. When we are faithful and honest, it shows. And the bible says this in several passages:

Luke 16:10 - Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
And To fight the good fight, as Special K says…expressed in the bible with:

1 Timothy 1:19 - Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.

Proverbs 12:5 - The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.


God desires us to be honest. Since God cannot lie, He sets the example for all of His people. It is God's desire that we follow that example in all that we do.

Proverbs 16:11 - The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness.

Psalm 119:160 - The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.


It is important that we keep our faith strong. Being honest is not always easy. As Christians we know how easy it is to fall into sin. Therefore, we need to work at being truthful, and it is work. The world does not give us easy situations, and sometimes we need to really work to keep our eyes on God in order to find the answers. Being honest can sometimes hurt, but knowing that we are following what God wants for us will make us more faithful in the end.

Honesty is also not just how we speak to others, but also how we speak to ourselves. While humility and modesty is a good thing, being too harsh on ourselves is not being truthful. Also, thinking too highly of ourselves is a sin. Thus, it is important for us to find a balance of knowing our blessings and shortcomings so we can continue to grow.

Proverbs 11:3 - Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

Romans 12:3 - Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.


I am a work in progress. We are all works in progress. God knows all of my past transgressions, as HE knows I am his willing servant and eager student, so I do not fret over those things for which I cannot change. I own them, display, and wear them openly; not necessarily with pride, but I wear them exposed for the world to see. In doing so, I have let go of my past self, am allowing myself to glorify the Lord NOW, and continue to learn my lessons so that I may be more pleasing to the Lord in my future.

So, when I hear the phrase “tell the truth and shame the devil,” what I really hear is tell the truth and let the devil be dumb all by his self.

XOXO,

Stevia

p.s. ~ As always, I'm reserving the notion that I may add more words later. ;)

The Separation of Church and Everything (The Re-Write)

I recently gave myself the opportunity to read all of my “old” blog discussion topics, to Special K’s voicemail box, and came across this one…The Separation of Church and Everything: How to keep a righteous mind and keep it “your” (or rather, my) business...Think Globally, Act Locally and maintain “your” (or rather, my) own inventory list and not someone else’s.

At first glance of the title, one might assume that I am either completely for or completely against the separation of church from everything, but in reality the topic has really nothing to do with either, completely. I had hoped to find the original blog to repost, but am finding it may be an easier task to rewrite it. It has changed a tiny bit, as I have been trying to see God through the eyes of others and have some new perspective to add.

As I write it this time around, various things come to mind. I think about the fact that when I originally wrote it, I was probably peeved because someone took a swipe at me or someone I knew or someone random person who happened to be near me. It may have also crossed my mind, as I encountered a person who knew the “Word” words, but did not really know how to practice what they meant. And I can imagine that it had me mumbling my Momma and Daddy’s words; “say what you mean, mean what you say, but don’t say it mean, and if you don’t know what you mean, say nothing at all because all of your words will become meaningless.” I was also probably hoping in my head that they would heed the last little pinch of “say nothing at all.”

There are many hot bed topics, and by hot I mean HEATED in the BIG sense of the word, that many people try to avoid. The one that baffles me the most always has to do with religion, church, Jesus, and most definitely GOD. How or why people get so heated or angry or violent in a conversation that involves a topic relating to something that’s sole, or SOUL, purpose is to unite mankind is beyond my realm of understanding.

My friend, Special K, says that Christianity is a life style and not a religion. I can agree with that statement. I grew up in the country with parents reminiscent of rural Mayberry. GOD was always a given and an ever presence in our house; still is to this very day now at my own house. I was born, Jesus showed up to the party, and He never left. In our house, Jesus was prevalent in how lived our lives daily and not just on Sunday. I was engrained with the strong moral fiber of spreading Christianity by example, not condemnation. Somehow everything and all the answers always come back to Jesus, Momma, and Daddy.

It wasn’t always easy. After all, I grew up Catholic in the midst of Southern Baptist territory. NOT meaning that Baptist is bad or Catholic is better, just that they are two very different denominations of Christianity. I recall, though, many conversations between my father and a neighboring “Southern” Baptist man. He would criticize my father for being Catholic and would reference what Catholics did that Baptist found appalling. It was always the same and redundant and dumb and always brought up topics of alcohol and dancing and music. I said dumb already, didn’t I?

Daddy was a replicant of Sheriff Andy Taylor: he worked hard, loved his family, nurtured his kids, never went to bars, but liked beer, AND always held tight to his convictions. He never damned anybody for being different from him. Not even the man who criticized him on Sundays, only to then back his truck up behind his house on Monday to haul in his liquor for Football. Not judging here, I’m only saying. This brings to mind, ALWAYS, The Law of Liberty: Romans 14:1 through 14:13.

I don’t plan on paraphrasing; Paul is my favorite author in the bible, SO get ready to read.

1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.11 For it is written:

“As I live, says the LORD,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

If the point I’m trying to make isn’t obvious, it’s about keeping track of one’s own inventory and live by the convictions for which one claims to have and others will see the Jesus in them, without any labels required. God is all seeing and knows the worthiness of one’s Faith and Devotion to Him, regardless of things as puny as a “denomination”. Only I know my relationship with Jesus, just as only you reading this blog know yours, and that is as it should be.

Not all things about growing up Catholic were difficult. At the time, it may not have seemed pleasant, but I was continuously immersed in the Word; whether it was in Catholic school or bible study at home with Momma and Daddy. I was and am still always AWARE that Jesus is everywhere and in everything. I seek his assistance with everything and wouldn’t have a shot of finding my car keys EVER, if I didn’t.

At one point though, I asked and was allowed to go to public school. I remember feeling so proud, the first morning assembly that I was selected to say the Lord’s Prayer over the loud speaker. I didn’t have to read it from a piece of paper like some of the rest of the kids. I knew it by heart and it made that moment that much more amazing. I looked forward to assembly every morning, because I knew it and, as I said, made me proud of me. I can remember when that changed and prayer was no longer said in school. I missed hearing over the loud speaker, but I was still proud that I knew it and said religiously (pun completely intended) to myself every day.

It was weird time. There were parents who were pissed that it was missing and there were some who didn’t care one way or the other. My parents cared that people were offended by the Lord’s Prayer, but not upset in a pissed off way. It was more of a “beyond their realm of understanding” why the Word would be so painful to some. For those who believed, the words have Powerful meaning. For those who didn’t, one would have imagined that words would be just words. We all know now, that wasn’t quite the case back then. ..They were viewed as a weapon. For Momma and Daddy, though, it didn’t matter that the prayer was missing from school because we had it home. They brought the Word to us and to them we weren’t missing the Lord. The ones who took offense to the Word were in need of and had many prayers said for them. They could take the words, but they couldn’t take the “Word” or God or Jesus.

As an adult, this has profound meaning to me. People take offense to the word God on a dollar bill or being in the Pledge of Allegiance to a flag, of all things. Don’t get me wrong, I am extremely patriotic, but I would rather pledge allegiance with faith to and under my GOD, than simply to a piece of material. What is faith or allegiance without God anyway…at least, to me?

It had to go all the way to the US Supreme Court to allow a monument of the Ten Commandments to stay, where it had been since 1961, on the Texas State Capital grounds. There were at least 18 similar cases around the entire US. I understand how unnerving it is for someone to file a law suit over something like a monument of words; which mean nothing to them, simply to have them removed. However, that it can bring such anger and heatedness from the ones for whom the “Word” and words mean something baffles me; considering several of the Commandments get broken in the process.

I recently saw a movie, that will remain nameless (don’t want to give it away), that reminded me that persons who have the Word could never have it truly stolen from them. The Bible IS a precious gift, but the Word is carried and held in vessels more precious than paper and binding; for the slow ones (only joking), WE were and are meant to be the carriers of the Word.

The Lord speaks to me, he speaks to you, and He may even occasionally do it through a wall (or a burning bush, if your name happens to be Moses), but a wall is of this world. It can be moved or hidden, but the Word cannot. Once it is truly written on our hearts, it is immoveable. We are to maintain a righteous mind and heart and show mercy to those who don’t know the Word, by offering to teach It to them without shoving It down their throats...bringing to mind Proverbs 3. Again, I don’t paraphrase the Bible…I wouldn’t do it justice. Get ready to read.

Guidance for the Young
1 My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.
19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the LORD will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,

“ Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways;
32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD,
But His secret counsel is with the upright.
33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the home of the just.
34 Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

Everyone desires to be loved and accepted and a part of something bigger than themselves; and hopefully will come to thirst for the Word. Show them how. Lead by example. Really “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

It is okay to think about what the world is doing, what our neighbors are doing, and even what our brothers/sisters are doing, but we must start with our self; measuring our self by Christ, not other Christians (I think I stole this one from Special K). Looking at our self in the mirror to see who we are and making the change in our self that we’d like to see in the world (paraphrasing Gandhi).

Nothing can come between us and God, but our self. He can only be given or shared, but Never taken away!

Keep a righteous mind and maintain a personal inventory list.

(That’s all I have to say on the subject, for the moment anyway, but reserve the right to come back and more words later…lol).

XOXO,
Stevia

Introductions...

Introductions are always weird, but then again I am weird...we’re all weird!

At the urging of a dear friend, whom I will forever (at least here) refer to as “Special K”, I have removed the restrictive filters from my fingers and corporeally treat the world to the inner workings of my own personal and extremely random observations, thoughts and feelings.

So here I am again, the Insanely Sane Citified Country Girl, reopening the officious, yet politely pointed, can of worms that I sometimes refer to as the girls, or chatty Kathys, or more openly as my two better halves…right and left brains…who at this very moment are conversing amongst themselves, oddly enough, without any input from me.

The expressed thoughts and feelings, in this blog, are not necessarily the shared views of those who may read it and, on occasion, not assuredly always mine completely either…keep “the girls” in mind…lol...(nothing like a cheesy disclosure declaration to add a little spiciness to the mystification of miscellany ramblings).

Happy Reading!

Believe in everything you do…

XOXO,
Stevia