July 27-August 2 God Limits Our Temptations 1 Corinthians 10:13

God Limits Our Temptations

1 Corinthians 10:13 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.

Temptation takes you to an opportunity to sin whether it is sex, lying, stealing, covetousness, greed, pride, uncontrolled anger or any other sin. It is an invitation, an open door, a beckoning to fulfill some fleshly, worldly urge. Every man, every human is tempted. It is part of the human condition (such as is common to man), part of man’s way. The source of the temptation does not matter – every human is tempted.

But God is faithful - picture us so easily beset, addicted, waylaid, distracted and then picture God, constantly faithful:
Constantly :
watching
available
able to rescue
loving
aware of our frame.
Faithful to :
limit the power of the temptation.
match the degree of temptation to the degree of our ability to resist.
provide a “back door” for us to go out of – using our will to escape.
Every temptation comes with two sides, a fork in the road – right or left, two doors, a way in and a way out. When I make the right choice I do not have to continue to suffer the urge to sin. I am delivered, I am free.

Let us pray for each other!! Be blessed. Leslie

New Theme: Understanding God's Reign July 20 - August 23

1. July 20—26 God Causes All Things to Work for Good Romans 8:28
2. July 27-August 2 God Limits Our Temptations 1 Corinthians 10:13
3. August 3– 9 Trials Make Us Grow Up James 1: 2– 4
4. August 10—16 We Die With Christ but Live by Faith Galatians 2: 20
5. August 17—23 Christ has Overcome the World John 16:33

July 13 -19 Knowing and Trusting Our Great God

Jude 24—25 24

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

The God Who Keeps Us!

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Be Blessed, Leslie

July 11 Knowing and Trusting Our Great God Proverbs 3: 5—6 Part 2

Proverbs 3:5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

(Continued from yesterday.) Next the recipe tells you what not to add – your own understanding.
Kind of like it says on the Jello box – do not add pineapple or pineapple juice – jello won’t gel
Or like it says on the dry yeast package – do not add water to the yeast ahead of time – your bread won’t rise.
Or when you are making meringue for lemon meringue pie from egg whites – don’t let the yellow of the egg get in your mix – the meringue won’t fluff up.
Do not try to add your two cents to God’s directions and instructions – you will lose your way.

Now you are ready to add another generous portion of acknowledging Him. How much? In all our ways. Let’s see that would be our thinking ways, our walking ways, our talking ways, our spending ways, our dressing ways, our working ways, our playing ways, our praying ways, our resting ways. The way we do the things we do – in all of our ways.

Put it all together and what do we get – a promise that God will direct our paths. Even better than mapquest or a GPS unit in your car. American King James Version“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk you in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21. Surefire, 100% perfect and trustworthy directions. I’ll take that anyday.

Try this recipe for walking God’s Way. It’s full proof – you can’t miss if you follow the directions. Be blessed. Leslie

July 6—12 Trusting in the Lord Proverbs 3: 5—6 Part 1

Proverbs 3:5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Talk about where the rubber meets the road – remember the story of the man who fell over the edge of a cliff and was saved from sudden death by a branch that was sticking out. He was holding on to the branch for dear life, shouting and crying out “Help, help is anybody up there?” A voice came from heaven and said ‘Yes, son I am here.” The man said, “Who are you?” The voice patiently said “I am God, do you want me to help you?” “Yes, God” the man said. God said “Let go of the branch.” The man thought for a moment and then shouted “Is anybody else out there?”

We laugh, but we are a lot like this man. It’s OK to trust God as long as it makes sense to us or doesn’t require any faith challenging actions. Or, if we think we can figure it out for ourselves , what do we need God for? Well Proverbs 3: 5 – 6 is a recipe for trusting God, for walking God’s way.

The recipe begins with trusting God in a generous portion. In fact, the verse tells us exactly how much trust we need. We need “all your heart’s” worth of trust. How much is that?
That’s so much trust that when your money is low – you trust God.
That’s so much trust that when your health is failing – you trust God.
That’s so much trust that when your friends are few – you trust God.
That’s so much trust that when death is at your door – you trust God.
That’s so much trust that when your spouse walks out – you trust God.
That’s so much trust that when all those around you are losing their heads, you can keep yours because – you trust God.

I'm praying for "let go of the branch faith". Pray for me and I'll do the same for you. Be blessed. Leslie

July 4 Knowing and Trusting Our Great God Jeremiah 9: 23 - 4

Jeremiah 9: 23—24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Have you considered that it pleases God that we know Him and understand Him? Sometimes we spend a considerable amount of time trying to please others and to be thought well of by them. But God says if we can think on and receive His love, instead of relying on our own thinking He will be pleased. God says if we will recognize and accept His acts of judgement, justice and mercy, instead of relying on our own strength and attempts at control, then He will be pleased. God says if we will align our ways with His standards of righteousness, instead of relying on our money and possessions to fulfill us, then He will be pleased. Not only will He be pleased but He uses the word delight. I don't know about you but it doesn't seem like God is asking for all the complicated things I think I have to do to please Him. Maybe it's like all those art works that our sons Paul and Stephen brought home from Kindergarten and we put them proudly on the refrigerator. No, they weren't Monet's or VanGogh"s but they were made with love by their own hands and we were thrilled (yes, delighted!) to have them. Hmm, I'm going to go think about that for a while. If He speaks to your heart about this let me know. Be blessed. Leslie

July 2 Knowing and Trusting Our Great God Jeremiah 9: 23 - 4

Jeremiah 9: 23—24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

I will glory…
Not because I am so smart
Not because I am so strong
Not because I own great riches
But because you’re in my heart Lord
And because I know your name
Yes, because I know you love me,
And, because I know your mercy
Yes, because I know your holiness is displayed in all the earth
I will glory…
And because you know I love you Lord
In this I will glory.

Be blessed, Leslie