by Kathy Owen-Gifford

The Story of two Pasta Makers

Am I believing the hype and trading truth for a lie?

AKA:  “I already have a pasta maker!”

I saw a flashy ad for what looked to be an awesome pasta maker. The ad sped up the extruding process so it seemed to be fast, efficient, and pretty, because they offered it in many colors. It looked so good in the ad that I clicked… as I waited for the website to load I had a momentary flash daydream of becoming a local pasta connoisseur; at that fast rate, I could make pasta and sell it to everyone in a tri-state area! LOL! Then I saw the price, $24.99… hmm… “Well, that doesn’t add up”. Full disclosure, I have a juicer/pasta maker that if bought today would be around $350, (I paid around $250 at a local return store) and I know from my research when I purchased my pasta maker that it was one of the best value to performance available at that time. Mine is a juicer that is also a pasta maker, and I have never made pasta with it, ever… let me repeat… I have never made pasta with my pasta maker, ever!

As I was clicking the ad, I already had grand plans for that new pasta maker, but then I realized that price was not good… also, … What have I ever really done with the pasta maker I already have? It’s also a juicer so I’ve only used it for juicing.

I was so ready to trade the truth: 

I have a mid-to-high-end pasta maker that is tried and true commercially with 4.5 stars from 2141 users,

for a lie:

Fast pasta maker 5 stars from 15 users,

because of a flashy ad.

How often do we get derailed by the hype, the flash? Not all ads are lies, and I’m pretty sure the little $24 pasta maker would probably work a couple of times … maybe it’s not horrible or cheap (I would bet it is, but I’m not sure). It was the flashy sped up ad that drew me away with empty promises, not truth.

Weighing What Appears to Be Truth in Daily Life

In life, the enemy uses flash and hype to draw us away. We often, in the moment, trade the truth of a focused abundant life with Creator God for the lies of the created  – “new experience”, “best club” “best team”, “best car”, “grass is greener”, “this heals”, “that fulfills”, “Answers!”, “pills to be smarter/healthier/skinnier” –  hype that leaves us (me) more unfocused, fatter, unsatisfied, and frazzled.

I’m not against clubs, teams, self-help, diets, doctors, or money management; knock yourself out – I use most of these tools myself! What I’m saying is that we need to put everything in its proper perspective. Use tools as needed, but keep your focus on the One Who is the Giver of all truly good things.  We  need to keep God as the Leader, Director of our  lives, through our thoughts and actions. We need to live out our faith in fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), honor God daily for who He is. Philippians 1:27 says, “Live a life worthy of the Gospel”.  I confess that I have not and still do not live like that everyday… I’m growing, I’m getting better at it.

Weighing What Appears to Be Truth = God is…

It is God who sustains us, who directs us, who fulfills us, not empty promises of the world we live in. It is the Creator who keeps us. Do we fear Him? God is love, and God is just. Do we humbly honor Him in our social settings? Do we fear His wrath for our sin? Sinners who are saved by God’s grace still need reminding and to remember daily His sacrifice for us. We need Him moment by moment in our lives to sustain us, and to fair well, but mostly to live worthy of Him. (Read more: Philippians 2)

In Romans 1 Paul is telling of people who are lost when he refers to those who have “traded the truth for a lie”. He’s talking about the sin of putting everything before God. We, the redeemed by grace have already chosen to put God as our leader; it is imperative that we humbly ask God to remind us whenever we get close to those old behaviors that are enslaving us.

As far back as Adam and Eve, human beings have traded the truth for a lie. Because the king of lies and his lying friends are always beckoning and whispering to us.

Weighing What Appears to Be Truth – Do This

Be alert, stay actively mindful.

1 Peter 5:8-10 (NKJV)

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be [c]sober, be [d]vigilant; [e]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But [f]may the God of all grace, who called [g]us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, [h]perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Speak truth today over your life.

Research the truth.

I know most of us are savvy consumers, I shared the pasta maker analogy because although we tend to be wise financial consumers, we often forget to be wise social and spiritual consumers. It’s so easy to fall into the trap, we click and our minds wander to the possibilities! Susie says, “Did you see that new diet? Let’s try it!” … “Did you hear what Constance said to me? I think she’s losing it! …” and off we go… listening to worldly advice… or the gossip that could change our minds about ourselves, Constance, or even Susie. Instead we must remember, “I’m eating healthily and exercising, so, a yoyo diet could derail my progress”. Or during the gossip… remember someone we already know and love, “Constance is someone who probably needs my grace and mercy now”. Or, maybe it’s Susie who needs the kindness, grace, and merciful friendship shown to her with a sincerely humble and gentle rebuke or boundary!

Weighing What Appears to Be Truth – Social Balance

Proverbs 27 is a great reminder of social balance.

Proverbs 27: 5-6 (KJV) 5 Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

All of the Books of the Bible I’ve quoted here (Proverbs, Romans, Timothy, Peter, and Philippians) speak to a humble social balance, as does the whole Bible.

My prayer for you is also my prayer for me.

I pray blessings on your message, mission, and life! I pray that if you don’t know the Savior intimately, you will start today. Engage with Him daily. He loves you like no one else. Invite Him into your moments. Look for His hand on your life. I pray you give yourself permission to humbly submit to Him in your whole life. He wants all the good things for you.

These things I pray for you for your good and for His glory!

I thank God for you, my NACWE sisters! 

NACWE is on mission fields across the United States, Canada, and in Guatemala, and Peru. We are open, Lord! Please let us know if you’d like to serve or partner with us in 2021!

Love,

Kathy