Saturday, February 19, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Storms of Temptation
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
It was total darkness outside. There were no stars and no street lights. The only light was coming from my headlights, which I had on full blast so that my squinting eyes could make out what was up ahead. Then it got worse. A rain drop here and another one there. Before I knew it the heavens opened up and my windshield wipers came on.
Driving can be hard enough at night and can become next to impossible with a downpour and wind blowing you from one side of the road to the other. Temptation can creep up on us faster than a thunderstorm, and when it unleashes, can wreck us and throw our lives off road and off course. Just like my windshield wipers and headlights are designed to help me see through the rain and darkness, the Bible is there to prepare you for what can and will happen.
As you read the stories of the Bible you will see where even the greats were tempted and tested, sometimes to the very brink of their sanity. Yet, the verse above reminds us that God is in control even when your surroundings are not. You can trust God and know that even if a hurricane of temptations swirl around you, the eye of the storm is not that far away.
It was total darkness outside. There were no stars and no street lights. The only light was coming from my headlights, which I had on full blast so that my squinting eyes could make out what was up ahead. Then it got worse. A rain drop here and another one there. Before I knew it the heavens opened up and my windshield wipers came on.
Driving can be hard enough at night and can become next to impossible with a downpour and wind blowing you from one side of the road to the other. Temptation can creep up on us faster than a thunderstorm, and when it unleashes, can wreck us and throw our lives off road and off course. Just like my windshield wipers and headlights are designed to help me see through the rain and darkness, the Bible is there to prepare you for what can and will happen.
As you read the stories of the Bible you will see where even the greats were tempted and tested, sometimes to the very brink of their sanity. Yet, the verse above reminds us that God is in control even when your surroundings are not. You can trust God and know that even if a hurricane of temptations swirl around you, the eye of the storm is not that far away.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Fighting Forgiveness
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25 (KJV)
It might be one of the hardest things to not only say, but mean. It is a phrase that destroys your pride and rips into your ego. Yet, something this dramatic and profound can be exchanged in two simple words. "I’m sorry."
The flip side is not much easier. To forgive can be just as daunting and trying. When someone has hurt you or wronged you, it is hard to accept that two simple words can fix it. However, is it all that much easier to bottle up your feelings and hold everything inside?
Let’s face it. When we have pain or cause pain, it is more than just words that get in the way. It is our feelings and emotions. The more time that goes by, the more entrenched the memory becomes, until it consumes everything in you to the point that you are to terrified to ask, or too scared to give in.
Take a moment, right now, to think of the people you need to forgive. Then take a few minutes to think of who you need to seek forgiveness from. No matter how hard it may be, or how long ago it might have happened, it is never too late to do something about it. A simple "I forgive you" or an "I’m sorry" could go a long ways to fix something that was once unfixable. While it may not solve everything, it sure is a good start.
(www.tddm.org)
It might be one of the hardest things to not only say, but mean. It is a phrase that destroys your pride and rips into your ego. Yet, something this dramatic and profound can be exchanged in two simple words. "I’m sorry."
The flip side is not much easier. To forgive can be just as daunting and trying. When someone has hurt you or wronged you, it is hard to accept that two simple words can fix it. However, is it all that much easier to bottle up your feelings and hold everything inside?
Let’s face it. When we have pain or cause pain, it is more than just words that get in the way. It is our feelings and emotions. The more time that goes by, the more entrenched the memory becomes, until it consumes everything in you to the point that you are to terrified to ask, or too scared to give in.
Take a moment, right now, to think of the people you need to forgive. Then take a few minutes to think of who you need to seek forgiveness from. No matter how hard it may be, or how long ago it might have happened, it is never too late to do something about it. A simple "I forgive you" or an "I’m sorry" could go a long ways to fix something that was once unfixable. While it may not solve everything, it sure is a good start.
(www.tddm.org)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Your Treasure
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matt 6:21 (NIV)
How many of us collect baseball cards, or comic books? I used to love anything with a dollar sign in front of it. It's especially appealing when you hear stories all the time about someone selling an old Mickey Mantle card and buying a new Dodge Viper or selling a stack of old comic books so they can finally get that brand new bike they have always wanted.
When we think of treasures maybe a dark dungeon deep within the earth comes to mind, or a dragon that will put his life on the line to guard his most valuable possessions from the medieval knights who come to make a name of themselves. Whether a thousand years ago or today, this verse still makes sense. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Sit back and look at what you have and what you value most in your life. Right now I really treasure my truck, computer, and girlfriend. So needless to say, that is where you can find my heart. This verse is so true, so easy, but yet so deadly and costly. When we get to heaven there will be no need to drive around a '96 Ford Ranger, no need to go online, and definitely no need for a girlfriend. There will be only one need, and that is to be in the presence of our Heavenly Father.
This week, along with myself, look over what you cherish the most. What do you find hard to live without? Girls, how long can you live without phone privileges? Guys, how long can you live without the TV? When we look over things it's easy to see why this verse is so powerful. Now just think of what it would mean if you put Jesus as the most treasured possession you owned.
(www.tddm.org)
How many of us collect baseball cards, or comic books? I used to love anything with a dollar sign in front of it. It's especially appealing when you hear stories all the time about someone selling an old Mickey Mantle card and buying a new Dodge Viper or selling a stack of old comic books so they can finally get that brand new bike they have always wanted.
When we think of treasures maybe a dark dungeon deep within the earth comes to mind, or a dragon that will put his life on the line to guard his most valuable possessions from the medieval knights who come to make a name of themselves. Whether a thousand years ago or today, this verse still makes sense. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Sit back and look at what you have and what you value most in your life. Right now I really treasure my truck, computer, and girlfriend. So needless to say, that is where you can find my heart. This verse is so true, so easy, but yet so deadly and costly. When we get to heaven there will be no need to drive around a '96 Ford Ranger, no need to go online, and definitely no need for a girlfriend. There will be only one need, and that is to be in the presence of our Heavenly Father.
This week, along with myself, look over what you cherish the most. What do you find hard to live without? Girls, how long can you live without phone privileges? Guys, how long can you live without the TV? When we look over things it's easy to see why this verse is so powerful. Now just think of what it would mean if you put Jesus as the most treasured possession you owned.
(www.tddm.org)
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