Posts with the tag “temptation”

Laugh at me while I laugh at myself In ways, I’m just like my parents. I can be a bit impulsive – you know, it seems like the natural thing to do, so I do it. That’s not always a good reason or plan. But when we face a basic need going unmet, we, like Abraham’s son Isaac, can be driven to the wrong source for relief. When that happens, think again. God may have other plans...  Read More

What is faith? Faith is confidence in what God says then acting upon it. It is not seeing what I can do or get God to do. Suffering, like it or not, is a key to Christian growth. Life’s humbling, humiliations, and our humanity burn away foolish notions about God and ourselves leaving us with a purer faith. We learn more about faith in suffering than study. Study produces doctrine, suffering produces depth: It’s a call to worship. Study teaches us truth about Jesus, suffering teaches us to trust Jesus. As faith matures, we gave God our Lot’s & Ismael’s (baggage/burdens/problems), now he wants our Isaacs (blessings/promises). Giving God the carnal things gives ways to giving Him everything...  Read More

Difficult circumstances should drive us to God. But when they’re driving you away you need a strategy because Satan seeks to get you alone. That’s never a good thing. Satan is an opportunist who shows up when we’re weak. It is in these moments it is easy to give in to wrong and destructive choices. I know, you know, and Satan knows. Yet Jesus also knows about temptation and how to not succumb (1 Cor. 10:12-13). I’m going to show you three places I am regularly and relentlessly tempted when I’m right where Satan wants me - weary, isolated, and feeling alone. You will be too (From Luke 4:1-13).   Read More