You Were Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

You Were Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, and I know that full well. (NIV)

            Coach Matthews had a long day on the field after coaching his high school football team. Monday through Friday, the team would practice long and hard after school. The team ranked number one in the district. The coach was very proud of their accomplishments and always taught the team to do their best in all that they did. One of the rules, however, was that they had to keep their grades up. Regardless of how good a player they were, everyone knew that Coach Matthews did not compromise when it came to their report cards. Therefore, after practices, the team would often meet up to do homework and study together.

            One day after practice, Charlie, who was the water carrier for the team, decided to sit down on the bleachers for a while as the team left to go to the locker room. He seemed to be melancholy as Coach Matthews took notice of Charlie’s unusual demeanor. Coach Matthews asked Charlie if there was anything wrong. Charlie had down syndrome and was aware that he did not have the outward appearance that most of the other kids did. Despite that, he tried to not allow that to get to him, but there were times that he wondered why he could not be like everyone else.

            Charlie opened up to Coach Matthews and explained that he did not understand why God did not make him normal like the rest of the kids. Upon hearing this, Coach Matthews went to retrieve his Bible out of his gym bag. He said, “You know Charlie, I don’t have the answers for everything, but one thing that I know for sure is that you were fearfully and wonderfully made.” Charlie looked surprised as Coach Matthews showed him in the Bible that God considered all of His creation as good and even though Charlie was not like everyone else, he was the apple of God’s eye.

            There are times in life when we too can doubt who God made us to be. We may compare ourselves to others and ask, “Why can’t I be like…look like…think like…and act like this person?” But guess what? God did not want you to be like anyone else, but the person that He created you to be. We are all special in the eyes of God and oftentimes, we spend our lives comparing ourselves to others instead of asking the Potter about His plans for us. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you and expected end. (KJV) No two people were made to be alike. The Potter designed it that way, but He placed something on the inside of every individual that is unique to that person alone. All you have to do is pray, ask for guidance and allow Him to show you the plans that He has for YOUR life. Why don’t you try that today? After all, you were fearfully and wonderfully made. 

Be Careful Who You Mock

Be Careful Who You Mock

Proverbs 14:6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. (NIV)

 

        Every since the election of Donald J. Trump who is now the President of the United States, there has been a repulsive thing taking place all over in the body of Christ. Those professing to be Christians and claim to be saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost are doing something that is not of God. This is not the whole body of Christ, but many who are in it have indulged in something that one would expect from the world and not those who call themselves Saints of the Most High God. What is this? Mocking those who say that they received a Word in regards to this election.

          Many people spoke prophetically and said that if this nation did not repent and call upon God, there would be Martial Law and Obama would stay in power. Others said that they had a Word that Hillary Clinton would win the election and then there were others who said that Donald Trump would win. Now, as we know, not everyone’s word came to pass, but there was still some truth in all of them. You may ask, “How is that?” Well, let’s break it down.

          Prior to the election results being declared, the United States and Russia were on the verge of war. Even up to the very week of the inauguration, NATO was moving troops along Russia’s border through Poland. As we know, the United States is a part of NATO, which means that when NATO goes to war, the United States does as well. If there had been a war prior to Donald Trump taking office, former President Barrack Obama could have indeed declared Marshall Law, which would have caused him to stay in office by suspending the Constitution of the United States. Therefore, those who prophesied this were actually seeing what was being lined up to happen even though GOD did not allow it to take place.

          During the months of the election, Hillary Clinton was running on the platform of allowing late-term abortion, war with Russia, and LGBTQ rights along with a list of other things, which many Christians do not realize would have IMMEDIATELY placed all of us in danger with regards to our religious liberties that have been slowly taken away through the various laws and lawsuits that have been filed against private Christian business owners just because they stand on the Word of God. This would have greatly intensified persecution through the courts and Christians would have felt the effects of a Hillary administration with the might of an iron fist like never before. In addition to all of that, the corruption that came out during the election was insurmountable and it was only God that allowed the covers of corruption to be removed despite the election rigging, media lies, and shadow government scheming. Hillary Clinton was set to win the oval office as many prophetically spoke correctly BUT GOD stepped in and did not allow it to happen.

          Now we are here with a Trump administration. Despite everything that should have knocked him out for the count, he still won. Anyone who is looking at this other than through the eyes of God is missing the entire picture. Donald Trump ran on a platform of changing corruption, but for many Christians, they wanted someone who would put a stop to abortions. For those Christians who do not understand this, God is Pro-Life because HE is the CREATOR of life. Therefore, America has killed 60 million children through abortion and counting. Donald Trump was not the perfect answer, BUT he is the one that God allowed to step up to the plate. Proverbs 8:15-16 By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. (NIV) Unfortunately, many Christians have made him out to be a god and have mocked others who did not deceptively prophesy but were all indeed right with what could have easily taken place if God had not stepped in.

          BUT be CAREFUL those of you who are mocking the ones whose prophecies you deem not worthy of your ear. Just because Donald Trump won does NOT mean that Bible prophecy is not going to be fulfilled. God’s time capsule for this nation is still running out and just because we have a new administration does not mean that this nation has a new heart. The heart of America is STILL not for God and this is even those who claim to be in the Body of Christ.

          The Bible tells a story of a group of young boys who mocked the Prophet, Elisha. The Prophet Elijah had just gone up to Heaven in a chariot of fire and so Elisha had asked Elijah for a double portion of his anointing. After this had taken place, Elisha was on his way to Bethel when 42 young boys started mocking him. Elisha must have been balding or was totally bald when the boys mocked, “Go up old bald man! Go up old bald man!” Elisha called down a curse upon the boys and 2 bears came out of the woods and killed the young boys. God did not take kindly to those who mocked His prophet rather they be young or old. 2 Kings 2:23-25  ⁽²³⁾From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said. “Go on up, you baldhead!” ⁽²⁴⁾He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. ⁽²⁵⁾And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria. (NIV)

           This story is a good reminder that even if you feel that your prayers were answered with regards to this election, be careful not to mock others who have a sincere heart for God as well. Your mocking may be at the expense of your own demise spiritually. The Word lets us know that no one has the complete picture of what’s to take place. Only God knows all. 1 Corinthians 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. (NIV) There are enough false prophets out there who are intentionally misleading God’s people for the sake of greed, fame, status, and other evil desires. Don’t allow Satan to use you as one of his active agents for your need to have a spirit of pride which God hates. Proverbs 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. (NIV) God’s Word will always be fulfilled in His perfect timing, but since we are NOT God, we have no right to mock others as if it were in our own hands to control.

God's Love In Creation

GOD’S LOVE IN CREATION

God has always existed. He has never had a beginning and will never have an end. It is hard for many people to understand this for the reason that we are used to things having a starting point. However, this is not the case with God. He does not have a genealogy where you can trace His heritage. He has no ancestors because that would mean He would have had to be born. No, God is just who He says He is…God. There’s no other explanation to define why He exists. He just simply does. Hebrews 7:3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. (NIV)

In the beginning, God created a beautiful world. He created a universe full of people, animals, and other living things because He wanted someone with whom to share Himself with. God could have existed without making one living being, plant or animal. He could have existed with only the company of Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit, but that was not God’s desire. He created living beings, starting with the angels, to share in His glory. He desired living creatures who would love, honor and serve Him, but most importantly was for them to be in relationship with Him. God wanted and created a perfect universe full of life, but despite His best efforts, there would be a battle to be fought brought on through the very ones He had made.  Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. (NIV) Some people may ask, “Couldn’t God had kept man from sinning altogether? Why would God create people, while knowing that we were going to mess things up?” Well, to answer the first question…yes. God could have kept man from sinning by not giving man a choice in the matter. However, what would that make us? We would be no more than mere robots without the ability to have free will. Would you want someone to be forced to love you, or would you prefer them to want to love you on their own free will?

Now, to answer the second question, imagine being in a world where there was only you. There was no one to communicate with, no one to share your life with, and no one with whom you could experience joy and happiness. One can only imagine that this may have been the feeling of God prior to creation. What an empty world it must have been and therefore, one can understand why God desired to create a universe full of life and splendor. He wanted living beings to celebrate His creation. You can liken it to the parable of the banquet as told in the Bible. What if you prepared this huge celebration for people to enjoy, but there was one problem. There weren’t any people. This is what God must have felt like and therefore, He decided to do something about it even while knowing the final outcome. Let’s read the passage in the Bible concerning the parable of the banquet that Jesus gave.

 Luke 14:25-24 ⁽¹⁵⁾ When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” ⁽¹⁶⁾ Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ⁽¹⁷⁾ At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ ⁽¹⁸⁾ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ ⁽¹⁹⁾ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’  ⁽²⁰⁾ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ ⁽²¹⁾ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ ⁽²²⁾ “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ ⁽²³⁾ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ⁽²⁴⁾ I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” (NIV)

In order to populate Heaven and the world, God first started with creating heavenly creatures. Yes, the angels were the start of living beings who would love, honor and reverence Him. They would have many tasks of importance to perform in Heaven and later on Earth. God took great care to create them and one of His most precious creations was the angel Lucifer. God seemed to have made him a little more special in comparison to the other angels. God loved Lucifer and adorned him with special jewels as part of his unique beauty. Ezekiel 28:12-15 ⁽¹²⁾…This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. ⁽¹³⁾You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. ⁽¹⁴⁾You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. ⁽¹⁵⁾You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. (NIV)

 Yes, God made Lucifer to be a very special angel. God actually loved him as He did all of His creation. Lucifer was an angel to whom God had given many gifts and talents. He was deemed remarkably exceptional in God’s eyes. Unfortunately, Lucifer allowed pride to get into his heart. Therefore, he became sinful and arrogant because of his beauty. He thought that he could become higher than his Creator and this was when sin first came into existence. Ezekiel 28:17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. (NIV) God never wanted any of His creations to turn against Him, but Lucifer did. God wanted Lucifer’s love and admiration, but only received pride, jealousy, hate, and contempt. What had God done to deserve such treatment from an angel who He specially created? All God did was show him love, but even Lucifer was given the ability to have free will. Why had this beautiful  being  turned against him in such a way? He even caused 1/3 of the other angels to try and overthrow the God of the Universe? Revelation 12:3-4 ⁽³⁾Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. ⁽⁴⁾Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. (NIV) The “stars” as mentioned in the above text represents the angels who fell out of heaven along with Lucifer who became known as the devil and/or dragon.

This must have truly broken God’s heart. Oh, how He must have been hurt to have loved Lucifer so deeply prior to his fall. God cares deeply for all of His creation, so Lucifer was no different. However, due to Lucifer’s rebellion, God had to kick him out of Heaven. This is why the Bible says that there was war in Heaven.  

Revelation 12:7-9 ⁽⁷⁾Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁽⁸⁾But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. ⁽⁹⁾The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (NIV)

Can you imagine God having to watch His beloved creation battle one another all due to pride because of the beauty that He created? How heart-wrenching this must have been for Him and yet, He had to do the unthinkable. He had to kick the rebellious angels, His creation out of Heaven where they could no longer disturb the peace and love that filled the atmosphere, for sin can have no place before God. Despite this, God still wanted to create more living beings who would be a little beneath the angels in order to love and have them to reciprocate it back to him. Psalm 8:4-5 ⁽⁴⁾What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them.  ⁽⁵⁾You made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. (NIV)

 Therefore, God created man in His image. Not only did He create man, but He made a world for us to enjoy and be able to appreciate the love and glory of God. Unfortunately, the devil in all his hatred had to poison God’s creation and therefore, God improvised so that man would not be eternally lost. 

Psalm 23

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want or need.

Just as sheep follow their shepherd, so are we to trust in God and know that He will provide for us as long as we follow His lead.

He makes me lie down in green pastures; 

He leads me beside waters of peace.

The Lord positions us in a place of peace, prosperity and leads us to the substance of all life force where troubles will cease.

He restores my soul.

Once we allow Him to take control and give us rest, our bodies are then made whole.

He guides me in the path of righteousness for His name's sake.

The Lord leads and guides us down our destined path for His name to get the glory and no recognition can we take.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil threat.

The devil may take us through what may seemingly be a petrifying experience, but we must trust in God and discredit the devil's bet.

For you are with me; Thy rod and staff comfort me.

God never leaves us to fend for ourselves. He uses His finger to beat the devil down and catches us before we fall so the devil will flee.

You anoint my head with oil and my cup overflows.

Once we have gained your favor, You allow Your anointing to shine through and the blessings flow from the top of our heads to the bottom of our toes.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.

God will always surround us as long as we live throughout whatever strife.

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

I will stay faithful until the day Jesus comes back again, and we always will be together.

I’m A Broken Vessel

I’m A Broken Vessel

You created me from the dust of the ground,

To be in the image of You.

I was nothing more than mere particles of dust,

But You gave me form and the breath of life too.

Oh, but how Your creation has destroyed itself

 Because of the devil’s scheming lies.

Thinking that we as human beings can be as God,

Rising up above the heavenly skies.

If only we would come to the knowledge,

That You are the Potter and we’re just clay.

Broken vessels at best that we truly are;

Yet, You can fix us if we ask today.

I’m unworthy for Your hands to even touch,

This marred-up vessel that I’ve become.

Yes, cracked, broken, and stained indeed,

By the evils of sin that I have succumb.

Nevertheless, You love me with an unconditional love,

That only You as my Creator can do.

You, my God, are the Potter and I am Your clay,

                    Please mend this vessel as I submit to You.

You Were Wonderfully Made

You Were Wonderfully Made

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, and I know that full well. (NIV)

            It was Monday morning and time to head back to work. Mrs. Peterson had enjoyed a nice Christmas vacation and now, the children would be ready for her once they came back to the classroom. Mrs. Peterson had been a 4th-grade elementary school teacher for 10 years and she adored all of her students. Even though some of them were a little more challenging than others, due to their various backgrounds, Mrs. Peterson treasured them all. They were even more precious to her because she and her husband did not have any children of their own. Therefore, the students that she had over the years became her prize and joy.

            The week went by fast as the children began to settle back into the routine of things after enjoying a long break. Mrs. Peterson taught the students their subjects according to the lesson plans that she had created to prepare them for the end-of-the-year state-wide exams. This was major for both the school and the teachers because it was deemed to measure what the students had learned and the effectiveness of the teachers. Although Mrs. Peterson was confident that she had done her best throughout the year to give the proper instruction to her students, she still considered the exams to be a nail-biter not only for them but for herself as well. She wanted all of them to succeed and go on to do well in their future academics.

            One day, as Mrs. Peterson was erasing the board, while the children were out for recess, she turned around and noticed that one of her students, Kathy, had not gone out to play with the other children. This was quite unusual for Kathy because Mrs. Peterson knew that Kathy loved to play with the other children. Therefore, this caused Mrs. Peterson to be concerned as to if Kathy was ill. After, walking to Kathy’s desk and noticing her sad look, Mrs. Peterson decided to break the silence and ask, “Kathy, why aren’t you outside playing with the other children?” Kathy looked up at Mrs. Peterson and replied, “I don’t feel like playing today. I just want to study.” Although Mrs. Peterson was fine with Kathy wanting to study, she felt that there was more to it than the response that she received so she decided to question Kathy further.

            “Kathy, can you study once you get home and enjoy the few minutes you have left to play?” Mrs. Peterson asked. “Yes, Mrs. Peterson, but I am worried,” replied Kathy, “that I will not do as well as the other kids on the test. I’m not smart like they are.” At hearing Kathy’s response, Mrs. Peterson told Kathy to follow her to her desk at which, she grabbed her Bible and turned to the book of Psalms. Mrs. Peterson taught at a Christian school where there were no problems with her teaching her students about God. She loved teaching them lessons from the Bible that helped them with issues that may arise. Therefore, she thought it necessary to do that with Kathy.

“Kathy,” Mrs. Peterson said, “do you know that God made you special?”

“Yes, Mrs. Peterson!” Kathy said excitingly.

“How do you know?” Mrs. Peterson asked.

“Well, the Bible tells me and my mom and dad told

me too,” said Kathy.

“That’s right!” said Mrs. Peterson, “your parents are absolutely correct because the Bible lets us know that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

“What’s fearfully?” asked Kathy.

Mrs. Peterson replied, “Well, Kathy, in the Bible, the word fearfully does not mean to be afraid. When the Bible tells us to fear God, it means to reverence and respect Him. So, in this case, it means that God took care and reverence to make human beings.”

“He did?” asked Kathy.

“Yes, Kathy,” replied Mrs. Peterson, “God took great care to make you because He loves you. That means that you are just as smart as He wants you to be because you were made in the image of Him. And you know that God is really smart. Right?”

Kathy thought for a moment and answered, “Yes, God is the smartest person in the whole wide world because He made me.”

“That’s right Kathy. Now all you have to do is study and believe in yourself. God will help you do the rest,” said Mr. Peterson.

            After the talk with Mrs. Peterson, Kathy went outside to play for recess and kept in mind what she and Mrs. Peterson had discussed.

            In our lives, we may doubt our abilities to succeed just as little Kathy did. We may compare ourselves to others and/or think that we did not get an early start in life to accomplish some of the goals and dreams that we once had. However, we must remember that God made us to fulfill whatever purpose He has regardless of the years that it takes. Many people in the Bible did not start their God-given destiny until later in life. We find this in the case of Moses who did not lead the Children of Israel till he was 80. Joshua, Moses’ successor, was in his 80’s when he took over. Ruth, according to Christian historians, was 40 when she married Boaz and had a child. Elizabeth was in her old age when she had John the Baptist. Jesus did not start ministry until 30 years old. These are a few of the examples in the Bible where their destiny was not delayed, but set for an appointed time. Habakkuk 2:2 Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.” (NIV)

            The Potter loves you and created you to be a unique vessel for His kingdom. You have been given spiritual gifts that are just for kingdom building. All you have to do is ask the Potter to help you discover your gifts if you do not already know, and allow His timing as to when they are to be used. If you have felt that it’s too late to fulfill your goals and dreams, do not listen to the seeds of doubt that have been planted in your mind by the enemy. Things may seem impossible with man, but with God all things are possible. Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (NIV)

To the Victim of Narcissism, The Potter Loves You PART 2

  

To the Victim of Narcissism, The Potter Loves You PART 2

THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF OUR STUDY ON VICTIMS OF NARCISSISM IN ACCORDANCE WITH 2 TIMOTHY

2 Timothy 3:1-7  ⁽¹⁾But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ⁽²⁾People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ⁽³⁾without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁽⁴⁾treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – ⁽⁵⁾Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. ⁽⁶⁾They are the kind who work their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, ⁽⁷⁾always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. (NIV)

)   Slanderous

The narcissist loves to slander you to your face. They will call you names and/or try to convince you that you are something evil when that is not the case. They will say that you are selfish when you know that you are the most giving person there is. They will tell you that you are self-centered when all you are trying to do is live your life as God has guided you. The narcissist will downplay your personal relationship with God by having you feel spiritually inadequate. If you view yourself spiritually through the eyes of a narcissist, you will doubt God’s love and give up on Him all together by transferring the narcissist’s negative views concerning you onto God. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called out of darkness into his wonderful light. (NIV) 

The Potter does not determine His thoughts of you based on someone else’s opinion. Their negative thoughts of you does not make it a fact. When the prophet Samuel was looking to anoint the second king of Israel, God let him know that He does not view things the way that man does. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (NIV) Whereas man thinks of you as being inadequate, the Potter thinks that you are absolutely someone to die for.

b.)   Without self-control

The narcissist does not have self-control in how they act towards you. They do not respect your boundaries when you clearly tell them that they are over-stepping them. The narcissist feels that you do not have a right to demand that they honor your boundaries because it would then require them to stop or at least limit their aggression. In their minds, rules are meant to be broken and therefore, they will do exactly that. Trying to get a narcissist to respect you and your boundaries is like trying to get a dog not to bark. It would be very difficult. The narcissist views boundaries as you trying to control them instead of acknowledging that it is your need of not wanting to be controlled by them. Have you experienced this? Write down your experience here.

The Potter desires for His children to have self-control over their actions and deeds. No one will be able to make it to Heaven with the “can’t help its” excuse. We are called to place our bodies into total submission under God. 1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (NIV) A person who cannot control themselves and seek to destroy others will find themselves having the same fate.

c.)     Brutal

The narcissist is very brutal in their words and how they treat you. They demean you every chance they get to uplift themselves. You are never good enough and they will be sure to let you know. You may be compared to another friend, family member or even a stranger just so they can let you know how incompetent that you are. Their words are piercing to say the least and if you are not careful, their analogy of you will replay in your mind over the years like a movie marathon even if they are not in your presence. You may always have feelings of low self-worth because of the negativity that they have pronounced over your life. You may find that your self-image is tarnished because of their cruelty. Unfortunately, once again, if you let them know, they will be sure to let you know that it’s your fault that you feel that way and that you just don’t like rebuke. They feel as if they have the right to demean you in the name of constructive criticism, but if the roles were reversed, they would convince themselves that they are victims. 

The Potter disciplines His children when they are living unholy lives, but He never demeans you in order to bring you down. The Potter’s rebuke is of love and not brutality. He disciplines out of love, but not for mere pleasure. His judgments are righteous to bring all to Himself. Love does not have to hurt because God is love.

d.)   Not lovers of the good

The narcissist thinks that he/she is good because they do good things. However, much of what they do is for selfish motives. It is often for their own record keeping to be regurgitated at a later time. They convince themselves that nothing is wrong with them and that everything that they do is good. They consider themselves to be the best boss, the best friend, the best spouse, the best parent and anything other than them being perceived as the best means that you are ungrateful. They fail to look at themselves to see how they could have possibly been better at whatever it is they do and even if they manage to do so, you can often guarantee that it will be short-lived. Their minds will go back to, “I’m the best and you are the less” mode.

The Potter has let us know in His word that our works are like filthy rags. Therefore, no one is good. It is only by the grace of God that any of us have the desire to do good. Nevertheless, when we have God in our hearts, it will come naturally to produce good fruit. The Bible lets us know that even the wicked gives good gifts. Therefore, doing good in and of itself will not get you to Heaven.

e.)    Treacherous

   The narcissist is treacherous. They will lie on you and make everyone believe that what they are saying is true. The worst part about their treachery is that they are quite convincing. They will throw you under the bus and wipe their hands as if nothing ever took place. If they did something to you, they will tell everyone that you are over-reacting or that you are being deceptive. Because you come off as being the troubled person, due to being their most frequent scapegoat, they will make you look like the spawn of Satan, while themselves appearing to be angelic in nature. Therefore, no one will believe you. They are the master of deception and the scary part about it, they may even believe their own lies.

The Potter does not like treachery. This is one of the things that destroyed Lucifer. He was able to deceive a third of the angels as well as mankind, while knowing full well that he could not deliver on his promises. He may have actually believed in his own mind the lies that he has and still is telling others. The Potter, however, will deliver you from the enemy’s snares. Wicked men lied on His son, but Jesus died to offer everyone forgiveness. Despite what is done to you, forgiveness is a must and your redemption can be found at the Potter’s house.

f.)     Rash

The narcissist is often rash and thoughtless when it comes to being empathetic with the needs of others. While they can be giving at times, and we know what strings come with those gifts, their thoughtlessness comes in their total disregard for another person’s feelings. They are rash in what they say and how they relate to others. They love to be waited on hand and foot, so that they can be the center of attention. Remember that with a narcissist it is all about them. You do not matter. You are just a means to an end. If you fall into the trap of thinking that they have changed, their rash ways will awaken you once again out of the land of delusion -- just as a person getting whiplash. 

The Potter is never rash with His children and His thoughts are of us all the time. We quite often put Him second, but He always puts us first. He tends to us with loving care and provides all of our needs. When we hurt, He does too. When we cry, He collects our tears. When we fall, He picks us up. There is no neglect at the Potter’s house.

g.)    Conceited

Narcissists are normally good at what they do when it comes to jobs, creativity, planning, etc. However, because they are good at things, they sometimes become conceited and use that opportunity to let you know that you will never be better than them. For example, the narcissist may have taught you basic skills in decorating, but even if you go to college, obtain a degree in the profession, be mentored by a top designer, and become the number one recognized expert in the nation, they will take your success and credit it to themselves -- regardless of the amount of work that you put in. You are irrelevant because they must be recognized for their many accomplishments and that includes you. They will leave you scratching your head and asking the question, “Am I crazy?” 

The Potter is the One who gets the glory in whatever accomplishments that we make in our lives. However, He does not mind you having a sense of accomplishment on a job well-done. As long as you give Him honor and glory, He will exalt you and allow you to be humbly pleased in what you’ve achieved. What the enemy tries to take, the Potter will restore. The canker worm has no place at the Potter’s house.

h.)   Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God

The narcissist takes pleasure in themselves and diminishing the self-esteem of others. If you are close to them, it is like keeping a scorpion for a pet. You will eventually get bit. They often appear pleasant, friendly, and likable to others, but if you are a close family, friend, or loved one, it is like being around Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The world sees the professionalism of Dr. Jekyll, while you encounter the wrath of Mr. Hyde. They will even go as far a displaying outward affection for you in public, but will rip you to shreds at a more private time. You may even begin to resent them because you are tired of the facade. 

The Potter never changes His mind about you. He doesn’t love you one day and despise you the next. He actually says that if a person is double-minded, then they are unsteady in all things. The Potter aims to give you stability in life. You can experience safety at the Potter’s House. He never plays with your emotions, but He allows them to be used for His glory, so that you can help others.

i.)     Having a form of godliness but denying its power

Nothing could possibly be worse for the victim of a narcissist than to have one in your life who “claims” to be a Christian. These types of narcissists are some of the worst kinds. They will use spiritual manipulation to make you feel like a spiritual reject. They tend to make you think that God is always angry at you. You will hear things like: God doesn’t love you. God will punish you. God is going to send you to hell. God is their avenger. God is going to whip you with many stripes and the list goes on and on. They will make you afraid that if you ever step outside of their beliefs that God is going to curse you with many plagues. They tend to believe that they have a monopoly on God and everyone else is under their feet. They act as if they can command the heavens to rain down fire just because you decided not to go along to get along. What they are actually doing is practicing a form of witchcraft because this type of manipulation does not come from God. They are using God as an excuse to abuse you. 

The Potter does not manipulate but congratulates you on your success of walking in His divine will for your life. That will does not include doubting the relationship that He has with you. Your relationship with God is not contingent on someone else’s view. They too have to stand before God and give an account as to how they lived their life. No one can send you to Heaven or Hell but God. Nevertheless, God your fear of Him to be that of reverence and not one of dread. He does not give anyone a fearful spirit, but wants you to serve Him out of love. Yes, there is love at the Potters House. Love and fear cannot reside in the same space. Because the Potter is love, there can be no fear.  

j.)     Gain control over gullible women

The narcissist will take advantage of you at your weakest. They will use your weakness as leverage to make you feel that they are doing you a favor if they offer you help. The help that is given will be dangled over your head as a constant reminder that you are in need of them and at any time should you not adhere to their commands, they will shut the flow of help off. They may even help someone else, while knowing that you need assistance as a form of power just to let you know who’s in control, at least in their own minds. They will belittle you for even needing help to begin with and privately celebrate your moment of despair. They gain control over your gullibility of being entangled in their web. You may even question yourself as to if it would be better to go without rather than to ask for assistance from them. Getting help from a narcissist can often make you feel like you sold your soul to the devil. The trade-off was not worth the signature in blood. 

You need not allow anyone to control you because the Potter owns the cattle on a thousand hills. All silver and gold belongs to Him. The narcissist cannot outdo God, so always go to the Potter’s House for help first. He is Jehovah Jireh (God, my provider) and He will always provide for your needs. Just as God sent ravens to feed the prophet Elijah, the Potter will send ravens to help you. Guess what? He has more than one raven and where one person may not do, God always has someone else to help see your through. The Potter’s House has an abundance of things for your mind, body and soul and if that weren’t enough, He has more. Trust in Him to supply your needs and He will take care of you.

k.)   Always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth

The narcissist is normally a very intellectual individual, but they never come to the truth of their abusive ways UNLESS they drop the denial and acknowledge it. Many abusers are similar to alcoholics prior to going to alcoholic anonymous (AA). Until they hit rock bottom, admit that they have a problem and get professional and spiritual counseling, they will continue the abuse. They may even make promises that they are going to change, but sadly, it is something that normally cannot be done on their own accord. Therefore, the victim has to decide if they want to remain in the relationship with the narcissist, while knowing that they may never change. 

There is restoration at the Potter’s house even for the narcissist if they will allow Him to operate fully in their lives by giving them the heart of Christ. The Potter can help the narcissist to have healthy relationships instead of controlling ones once they give themselves completely to Him.

CLOSING

Not all narcissists will exhibit every symptom that we discussed and having one or two of the symptoms doesn’t make someone a narcissist. However, if you know someone who has a lot of the symptoms that we just discussed, you may be dealing with a narcissist. Can that person change? Of course! However, they cannot do so on their own. First, they need GOD and then they need spiritual counseling. Most of the time, they will be in denial and therefore, no help will ever be pursued. Nevertheless, the Potter aims to help YOU. He will help you to forgive and teach you how to move beyond the pain of it all. Everyone’s situation is different when dealing with a narcissist. You may encounter one on your job, home, school, a friendship or other. What’s important is to allow the Potter to help you learn how to deal with your unique situation. If it’s a job, for example, the Potter may help you to get another one or help you to cope right where you’re at. The Potter is the only one who knows what’s best for you. People can give advice, but He has the solution. Take a trip to the Potter’s House. Restoration begins at the front door.