My View of Life - Never Better!

                                                                                         Pride
     Pride has a double sided meaning, one positive and one negative. However, throughout my life I've felt to not use the positive form. I'd rather tell my kids or the person I feel to express my feelings toward that I am pleased with them, feel rewarded for them, and so on.
     The negative is what draws my attention. The negative is the great sin, the awful vise. As I listen to people (national TV and talk radio and others,) I believe they underestimate the plague Satan is spreading across this blessed nation. And the motivation behind that plague is pride.
     The first and ultimately all-consuming product of pride is the removal of God our Father, and replacing him with man's carnal nature. The recognition and acceptance of the world becomes the focus.
     In the Great War before the world was between Satan and Michael (Revelations 12: 7-17,) we see pride in all its destructive ugliness.  Satan's goal was and is the glory of the whole earth, having all power and control.
    He wages this war with all the hatred he has against anyone who opposes him.  And his opponent is those that keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17,) and anyone else in opposition.
    It's heartbreaking to see more and more people including many of our leaders get sucked into Satan's trap. Pride rears its ugly head in many ways.
 
 1. The proud can't accept the authority of God giving them direction. God is a threat to their position. They fear man's scrutiny not God's. The world will dictate their value.
 2. Easily offended and hold grudges.
 3. No tolerance. Their way or the highway. Unity cannot occur with a prideful people.
 4. Elevate themselves above others and diminish the competition.
 5. They cause division by pitting their own opinions and works against those who oppose.
 6. They get no pleasure out of winning, only by beating the competition.
 7. Jealousy, faultfinding, gossiping, envying, and unforgiving.
 8. Withholding praise and recognition of righteous and good deeds.
 9. Selfishness
 10. They become contentious.
 11. They won't allow themselves to be corrected or taught. They become defensive.
 12. If the opposition succeeds, they feel themselves a failure. But give them credit, they'll just try harder.
 
     If you, like me, feel this is what's happening in our country right now, then our destruction is near (Proverbs 16:18,) just as so many other nations and peoples have fallen before.
We must not be deceived. Prideful leaders will never seek to improve our way of life, our economy, freedoms, and our success.
    But, I won't allow myself to give into Satan's deceptions. I shall never lose faith in my Savior Jesus Christ, and I refuse to lose faith in The American People. Together we can do it! United we stand as we once were. I'm too insignificant to lead the charge, but if I could I would. But here's what I'm going to do.
 
 1. Do everything I can to rid myself of pride. I will continually repent. I will be humble.
 2. Love the Lord my God with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. The glory be his.
 3. Obey all the commandments.
 4. Continue to seek council from the best sources. Learn and correct myself and allow myself to be corrected.
 5. Love and serve my fellowman. Be happy for their accomplishments, and assist them to do even better.
 6. Understand the opposition. Be tolerant. Pray for them, and love them but stand true to the way I know to be true.
 7. Praise the good they do.
 8. Be a peacemaker.
 9. Be forgiving.
 10. Work hard, render service.
 11. I will cleanse my inner vessel, endeavoring to rid myself of pride for all time.
 12. I shall follow the example of Jesus Christ. (Matthew Chapter Five)
 
     Humility is the all-encompassing opposition of pride. And surely there could not be a happier people than those who humbly come unto Christ. The gap between these two groups will grow ever more obvious and ominous.
    God our Father will have a humble people. He will give us every opportunity to humble ourselves. As the end draws near, the Second Coming of his Only Begotten Son, he will use tough love more and more. Just as our righteous leaders will have to do, and we'll have to do. Christ, in humility, cleared the temple.
     Though, no one knows the day or the hour, the Great and Terrible Day of our Lord's Second Coming will arrive. I wish all those who have succumbed to Satan's Trap would return to their Savior, but they won't. They have their reward (Malachi 4:1,) hence, that day is also referred to as terrible.
     But there are many that will! Now is the time. Find the joy there-in. Come unto Christ.