Temptation.

These thoughts actually crossed my mind during the late school year. I realize that it's kind of delayed to blog about them since the heaviness of them have been lifted, but they by no means have become less important to understand.


Temptation. It's a continuous pop quiz thrown at us at as what can seem to be too often. Knowing if you failed it or passed it was something I had and even sometimes still have a hard time understanding. Over the course of an intense Bible study on David, a deep conversation with a friend, and talking to God many things had opened up to me in a perspective that made sense. To be tempted is not a sin. Although how you handle that temptation can result in sin. This makes me jump to the thought of the story of "The Temptation of Jesus".


 "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone." The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time." Luke 4:1-13. 


God to was tempted no less then we are, and in the same ways that we are today. The difference is that He didn't give into them therefore they didn't result in sin.


For a long time I didn't understand that. This topic came up as someone brought up the topic of desires to me. She claimed that if God clothed her with those emotional  and physical desires why would they be a sin? This is when God helped me to understand. Yes, we've been given desires, but desires themselves are not sins. As stated before how you handle that desire will determine if it is a sin. I will give you two extreme scenarios to give you some further thought for your mind to process and understand if you already don't. 


Scenario 1: Pornography is displayed on your computer, or pops up in your mind. You do everything you can to escape your mind processing it by thinking of other things to distract it. In this case you made it bounce, you resisted the temptation, and you shoved it aside. This isn't a sin. It was simply a temptation thrown at you, but in every way you rejected it. 


Scenario 2: Pornography is displayed on your computer, or pops up in your mind.  You continue to look at it and feed the thoughts out of curiosity, while the visual image becomes stronger in your mind. In no way did you resist the temptation but built it up for the next time when the temptation comes along. This is a sin. You accepted the unjustifiable temptation. 

Just a few more thoughts from the Bible to feed on...


"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:3


"For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Hebrews 2:18


"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:2-5


"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.And remember, when someone wants to do wrong it is never God who is tempting him, for God never wants to do wrong and never tempts anyone else to do it. Temptation is the pull of man's own evil thoughts and wishes." James 1:13-14


Have a good night! 

Childhood cancer run, bike, walk...

Hey readers! 
If you live in Alexandria I would just like to give you heads up! There is a run on July 17th it starts at West Union and goes down the trail to Osakis and back.  It is 15 miles!  You are not required to do all of it! You can do a small portion or you can create a relay team for it. Also biking it is an option!  For more details go to www.isaacsfoundation.org. To sign up, download a sign up sheet, print it off, fill it out, and send it in. 


Quite honestly I apologize because I don't know to many details about it to share with you. I'm bummed I won't be able to participate in it because I'll be in New Orleans at that time! I strongly encourage you to check it out though. Cole Haabala is being sponsored this year, and from my understanding the money pledged and raised goes to finding a cure for childhood cancer! 


Thanks guys! :)

Small firm steps.

I can feel a blog post in the back of my mind, but it's not exactly coming..


Summer has been treating me very fair. :)

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with the Haabala's. :) The plan was for me to watch the kids while Carly trained for her ten mile run coming up in July! When she mentioned it, she hadn't remembered that Cole had to have his IV antibiotics hooked up from three to four. Despite that she invited me over to come help with a VBS lesson. With that I learned one of my own...

I walked into the house only to see bright smiles on the three kids' faces accompanied by a smile on Carly's. The kids scattered back to their previous activities while I jokingly chased after Cole threatening to tickle him if he didn't report to his mom for his IV's. Of course on my part it was some what of a mistake. It become more of a game for him and I then it was affective to settle him down, but as soon as Carly said "The sooner we get this done the sooner you guys can go to Missy's house to jump on the trampoline.", he knew it meant business. I stood next to him as they unclamped, drew blood, twisted a tube onto his port, and begin injecting the antibiotics. As a stood there a million questions filled my mind. Before I knew it. I became the special little pole that people at hospitals roll next to them as the IV's drips...

The cord was was about three feet long from the injecting machine to his port on his chest, which meant the machine in my hand couldn't travel to far away... I could see the huge grin on his face as he knew that everywhere he went I had to be close by to follow. He walked in circles, he walked in zig-zags, he walked in patterns unexplainable. He'd often pick up the pace, slow down, and at some points even began to run...

In every way this made me think of God. Us being the little children, and God carrying with Him everything we need, every breath we breath. It made me think of how we can choose to walk ahead, or fall behind, but either way God is there. It made me realize the unsteady pattern of some of the paths we choose to take can be harmful, and very unexpected. It makes me think. Why run when we can take small firm steps leaning onto our most stable crutch? It hit me in ways unexplainable.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Take some time to think about how you're running the race.

That tall ol' pedistal..

I have a mind. It tends to wonder, to create, to dream, to imagine, to wish. My mind can do more then ever imagined. It can hold more information then ever obtainable, but it will never understand the full glory of my Savior, nor the love, the sacrifice, the greatness, or the thought of eternity. To that it has become stumped, and throughout my journey to understand that I will only ever get a slight taste of what it really is.

How about people? Can we understand them? I sure can't, but to an extent I've learned that we only need to understand certain things to small extents. People fail. They lie, they murder, they hate, they gossip, they idolize, they die.

We fall short in ever measure to God. Yet His love runs from east to west, from top to bottom, from nail to nail.

What makes me stumble is how could I possibly keep God next to me in the crowd, while I place a friend upon the pedestal and look to them for their incredible actions. How? I see this man. I see him fail. I see him stumble as I do, but yet I find him worthy to rest upon a pedestal?

God. A man who took His life for me, for you. A man who did the impossible. Yet I sometimes see an earthly man more better deserving of praise? Impossible.

Yet it's a sin I commit. I understand how great people can be, but my God He rocks. I can't even wrap my mind around everything He's done for me, yet I search or set a higher resting point for Him to reach.

Dear God,
Each and everyday I fail. I look to earthly material possessions, and friends to satisfy me. I know only You truly can satisfy me though. Help me to look towards You in times of need, in times of happiness, and in times of thanksgiving. Help me to give YOU the credit, and the glory that YOU deserve. Help me to find the correct earthly company for my stay on this earth. Thanks for standing by me at every moment. Thank You for coming after me even when I stray away. Thank you for forgiving me. Help me to turn and run from sin, temptation, and the devil. Help me to walk a straight path towards with You, and see the world as You would be please for me too.
In Jesus Name I Pray,
Amen.

Priorities!

I'm NOT going to sleep until I squeeze a very unorganized post out.

Wow! This weeks been great! I've spent a good reasonable amount of it at the Haabala's babysitting! :) Cole had a fever so Jon and Carly took him down to the hospital. They spent Monday morning-Wednesday night there, so I've been helping take care of the kids during the days while their Grandma goes to work. His chemotherapy treatment is ending soon! Early July I believe. Please pray that it's enough to get rid of the cancer! Around the time his chemotherapy treatment will be ending I'll be getting my license, so Coley and I plan on going on a celebration "date" to DQ. I can't wait! :)

Lately I've been thinking a lot about the order of my priorities. They've definitely shifted. School has moved out, friends moved up, and God? Where does He lay? I'd like to say He's at the sky rocket top, although if I said that I'd be lying. I CAN say that I full heartily wish God was on the sky rocket top.

I'm realizing with more free time it's hard to actually push myself to do daily scheduled things on my own. I like to just play things by ear a lot of the time. I've been doing at least a daily devotional each day, and some good book reading. Surprisingly I've found it easiest to sit down to do a devotional not at a scheduled time, but when I sit down thinking I don't have anything to do! I encourage you to find something that makes sure and holds you accountable for getting some personal time with God too!

I'm excited for what this summer holds! It's definitely going to be the deepest one I've had ever, which I will certainly enjoy because...I AM deep. God's offered several opportunities this summer to keep me accountable to keeping my life on a decent path. I can't wait for all He has in store!

New Orleans is coming up sooner then I can imagine. Two weeks of focusing on my Lord. I'm excited God shed the knowledge on me that I can only get out of this trip as much as I put into it. I can't wait to get that extra little spark of God's presence. It'll be overly refreshing.

Following soon after that FCA leadership camp will come! I'm certainly hoping to get so much out of that too! I want to take everything that I learned at New Orleans and previous experiences and learn to apply it all in a daily manner to spread the hope of God to others!

Following that Zion will be having VBS, and I'm hoping to volunteer the week there! I can't wait to see what God has in store for these kids this year!

Don't forget in the busy reality of life that God should be our center. Take a break. Breath. Read some Bible. Talk to Him. Look at the beautiful creation He has laid ALL around us.

My goal is to pick up the writing a little more often. I'll be getting a heart full of things to talk about once the summer picks up a little more.

Go live life loud.

Faith Like a Child.

Dedicated to my nephew and niece.

Little kids. I'll never understand the special place that they hold in my heart. I am beyond privileged to be an Aunt at the age of 15. It's the best of both worlds with being the youngest in my family. It's like having the little brother and sister I never had, without the complete responsibility of it. I especially think it's cool because my nephew is 11 years younger then me, and that's how much older my sister is then me, so I can finally see her perspective of growing up with a little sister around. It's pretty sweet.

As much as I don't always appreciate being beaten every time playing Mario cart with my nephew, giving half of my extremely good food portion to them when I eat a snack, and how cluttered my room gets when they spend the night, did I mention one time my nephew woke me up at 2:00a.m. to make me search my room for some fox, because he claimed he saw some but couldn't remember if it was a dream? Well he did. I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's worth it, because with it comes gallons and gallons of love, and a numerous amount of hugs. (I am assuming that's not to accurate of a term for measuring love, but it seemed to get my point across.)

At times they can be such a testament to me, in ways that are not imaginable. It's incredible to see that childlike faith lies within them when I ask them who Jesus is. I see that the love and acceptance they have for everyone should be my model or how I also should also show love an acceptance. To little kids it's simple. Past doesn't matter, wrongs aren't being counted, worries are thrown away, and the word 'doubt' doesn't have meaning.

Each year the daycare (Cole Haabala's) I volunteered at goes swimming at Holiday Inn or the like. We eat pizza, play soccer, and swim it up. I remember one year as Cole was finally getting use to the pool, he'd jump off the edge and into my arms assuming I would catch him. There was no doubt in his mind that I would, even if I was looking the other way, he didn't doubt I'd reach my arms out at catch him. In every way our faith needs to grow to be like that. To know that in every circumstance God will reach out his arms to catch us.

My nephew's lately been attached to these little cards that give reasons why you should accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. He's got no clue what they actually say on them but he's got the right idea. He walks around with them sticking out of his pocket where ever he goes. Whenever he runs into somebody new at the grocery store or his parents stop and talk to them he pulls out a card smiles big and says "Do you know Jesus? You can keep this card!" It's something as simple as that-that can make a world's of a difference. A child. A childlike faith.

Be bold. Stand out. Set apart.

Dear Jacob and Tahira,
I love you guys like crazy. You guys mean the world to me. I couldn't of asked for a cooler nephew or niece. You guys rock. :)

Dear Cole,
No doubt do you also mean the world to me. I'd give you one of my kidney's any day. For real. :) I'm so blessed for you to have been part of my life, to feed you bottles, rocked you to sleep, read you stories, and spent hours on end swimming, running around, and playing soccer with you. I can't wait to continue to watch you grow up. Just please don't grow up to fast. :) Keep fighting that cancer, bud!

Dear Allie and Brady,
You guys make me smile to no end. Allie your smile lights up the world, and your quotes never ever fail to make anyone laugh. Brady, your determination never fails to help you get back up! :) Your the lights onto the darkness.