Temptations...A Tug of War

I MUST do what you ask....
    I must stop...
    Stop giving in...
    Stop making excuses...

You, Oh God, are all I that I need!  You give strength when I am weak.  1 Corinthians 10:13 says,  "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."  You will always give a way out; an exit.  I just have to take it.

Why do I feel that I am in a tug of war? I know what I need to do, yet I will give in to the very thing I know that I shouldn't do! I can relate to what Paul says in Romans 7:5-20 when he says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.  As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."

During the day, I feel strong; can think clearly.  I know what I need to do.  Then comes the night.  The same routine; the same pattern.  In and of itself, it is not bad.  But because I feel that You have said to pause...I should.  I should obey.  I must obey. 

I Will stop.  I WILL pause.  I Will surrender.  Strengthen me, Lord!  I come to you as a broken vessel  who can't do ANYTHING apart from You!  I will trust and obey.  When I am weak, You will make me strong.  At night I will look to You!  I will lean on You!

Is there something that you feel that you need to pause or stop doing?  Maybe it is over spending, over eating, or binge watching Netflix.  Or maybe it is spending too much time on social media comparing yourself to all the filtered photos that are posted.  We all struggle with something.

An unknown source once wrote the following. 
Some people fall into temptation, but a great many make plans for disaster ahead of time. “Son,” ordered a father, “Don’t swim in that canal.” “OK, Dad,” he answered. But he came home carrying a wet bathing suit that evening. “Where have you been?” demanded the father. “Swimming in the canal,” answered the boy. “Didn’t I tell you not to swim there?” asked the father. “Yes, Sir,” answered the boy. “Why did you?” he asked. “Well, Dad,” he explained, “I had my bathing suit with me and I couldn’t resist the temptation.” “Why did you take your bathing suit with you?” he questioned. “So I’d be prepared to swim, in case I was tempted,” he replied. Too many of us expect to sin and excite sin. The remedy for such dangerous action is found in Romans 13:14, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Whenever we play with temptation, it is easy to drift into great danger. A woman was bathing in the Gulf of Mexico. She was enjoying the comfort of relaxing on an inflated cushion that kept her afloat. When she realized that she had been swept about a half mile out from the beach, she began to scream, but no one heard her. A coast guard craft found her five miles from the place where she first entered the water. She did not see her danger until she was beyond her own strength and ability.

Too often I yield to the temptation with excuses. "It's not THAT bad."  "This will be the last time."  "It's not hurting anyone."  But when you have heard the still small voice of God whispering in your ear to stop doing something it is in our best interest to trust that.

I have chosen not to post what my particular struggle is so that you can insert your own.  I am happy to report that this past week, I have been able to stand strong almost everyday.  Bible verses are my ammunition to fight against the temptation.  It is a retraining of the mind of which I am committed to do!  As I lean on the Lord for His help, my relationship with Him will deepen.  And that is the very thing I desire.

I am a work in progress....

Spiritual Warfare.... Putting on the Armor of God

"Why don't you try this challenge and see what you discover?

For the next seven days, try not to say or do anything in response to feelings of insecurity, fear, or really anything that is out of alignment with your true identity in Christ. You might be surprised at how quiet you  become."

~Priscilla Shirer, #ArmorOfGodStudy

Breaking the Stronghold of Pride

Beth Moore's thoughts on the stronghold of pride... Love this!

Discontented Faith

I know I have felt a discontentment in my faith before.... I come in contact with many who still feel this way after years of serving the Lord. Living in America is a gift, but because we are a nation of prosperity, we tend to look for "things" to fulfill those empty places. I like how Beth Moore writes in in her study on Breaking Free....

"The big secret is that Christians are supposed to be fully satisfied with Jesus, but many still harbor an unidentifiable emptiness or need. Their unwillingness to be truthful about their lack of satisfaction in the Christian life keeps them from asking the right questions: Why do I find the Christian life lacking? How can I be more satisfied? Remember, Satan capitalizes on secrets! Secrecy always provides fertile ground for shame to grow. We grow more and more ashamed of ourselves for not being satisfied Christians. Because we won’t ask questions inside the circle of believers, the enemy tempts us to look outside for godless answers. Either Christ can satisfy us and meet our deepest needs, or God’s Word is deceptive. In the days before I began to enjoy the fullness of Christ, I somehow knew God’s Word was true and that the problem rested with me, but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out what the problem was. I served Him. I even had a love for Him, however immature; but I still fought an emptiness that kept me looking for love and acceptance in all the wrong places. Never once in my youth did I hear clear teaching about the spirit-filled life. Perhaps this is why I refuse to shut up about it now. Satan knows the Holy Spirit is key to abundant, liberated life, so he has done everything in his power to cast confusion and fear around the subject. "

Only God, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, can satisfy us... “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14

Critical Comments and Attitudes

Oswald Chambers once said, "Whenever you are in a critical temper it is impossible to enter into communion with God." 

Questions to ask: Am I a critical person?  Am I quick to cast blame on others when things don't go my way... or the way that I see things? Do I say careless words that I don't really mean that are critical? Do I guard my speech? Am I negative and harsh with my thoughts or comments about others? Unfortunately, I can say yes to these questions. While I don't spew out the mouth at people, my thoughts can be just as harmful. Instead, I should focus on what pleases God.... on who am I to God? 

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man?

if I were still trying to please 

man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10 ESV)

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. "(Ephesians 4:29 ESV)

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:31, 32 ESV)

So, according to Chambers, if I am feeling a disconnect in my relationship with God... I need to check my attitude!

Well... Looks like scripture memorization needs to be "bumped" up higher on my priority list!

Flower City Work Camp...A Time of Reflection

So many things are still running through my mind since serving during Flower City Work Camp.  We witnessed God stirring in many hearts.  Over 645 children heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.  75 prayed to receive Christ.  Relationships were formed.  I did not want it to end.  The faces of so many are still engrained in my mind.  My prayers have been propelled to a whole new level.  A place that I have desired for quite a while now. To get to that place where it is not all about "me".  To stop going through the motions and to see the bigger picture....

It kind of reminds me of the Matthew West's song, "My Own Little World".   

In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I've never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world, population: me

I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don't like what I see
Yeah, it's easy to do when it's population: me

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world

Stopped at a red light looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign said, "help this homeless widow"
And just above that sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, God, what have I been doing?
So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
Oh, how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money than I drove on through
And my own little world reached population: two

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
My own little world

Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me

What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
That I could be living right now
I don't want to miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now

Outside my own little world
My own little world
My own little world

I don't want to miss out on being used.  Being the hands and feet of Jesus.  It is such a sweet place to be.  Learning to die to self.  Love God; love others.  Serve God; serve others. "Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours..."

Anyway....here are some photo highlights from FCWC last week!

Setting up sleeping arrangements at our home based church for the week.

 

Sylus and Turner waiting for worship to begin.

Sisters....Taryn and Tori relaxing.

Cousins....Joey and Ben.

The first night of worship.

Decorating the cars before we leave for our sidewalk club....Kiki, Becky and Anna.

We were blessed with GREAT food....

Anna loving on the kids at sidewalk club....

Kiki....

Katie and Becky with some of our teen sidewalk club campers....

Katie sharing the gospel with this sweet girl....

Getting my hair fixed by the campers.....

At our sidewalk clubs....Monday was 80 degree weather.  Tuesday, it was snowing....only in Rochester!

Our group rehearsing our skits before we head out.....

Our fearless leader....Liesel!

Emma and Beka....

Beka and Olya....

Gathering kids for the sidewalk club....

Sharing the gospel one on one with the kids using the flipper flapper.....

Group G at our first sight on the last day of the club.....

Patricia and her grandson Kamar....such a precious lady whom I befriended.  She sacrifices so much for her family.

Nicky and Justin hanging with Tamare, Jamare  and Jeremiah.  Jeremiah (the one with the hoodie on) asked Jesus to be Lord of his life.  Justin said that he was so excited about his decision to follow Christ!  Tamare (in the camouflage jacket) was very interested and kept asking questions about Jesus.  He eagerly memorized his Bible verses everyday.  I asked him on Tuesday if he would like to have Jesus be Lord of his life...he hesitated and  told me that he wanted to give it some thought and promised me that he would be back the next day.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to talk with him on Wednesday due to another person that I was in conversation with.  However, a seed was planted and I believe that Jeremiah's excitement will spill all over him and his twin brother, Jamare.

 

Sisters....Molly and Addy.

Micah...his first experience at Flower City.

Wonderful godly teens!  I love their zeal for The Lord!

The wonderful lady to the left in the photo is the mom of the girl on the other side of me....Mimi (the mom) and Meghan (the daughter).  Meghan was on my team last year.  When she found out that I was from Alabama, she asked me where I went to college.  I told her Troy University.  She squealed and said that her mom graduated from Troy.  While our paths never crossed at college (that we know of), we know so many of the same people....small world!  I am SO blessed to know this family!

The Camp ended as it always does with praise and worship to The Lord.  Kevin Maloney, my pastor, was the main speaker each night.  Through the messages, many students surrendered their lives to follow Christ.  It was a very powerful, life-changing week for ALL that were involved!

To God Be the Glory!