Donuts

 Ugh! There are donuts in the break room today. And not just any donuts, but Krispy Kreme!!😱😬😣

Can you imagine what that does to someone like me that struggles so hard with food temptations?

With me it is not just a matter of will power. I have shared my issues with all of you. I have been enslaved by food. It has been and continues to be a great temptation for me. 

Lucky for me I don't have to go into the break room. I can eat my lunch at my desk. 

So if I go in there, it is because I choose to. 

Today I choose not to. 

Today I will avoid the break room. 

I will eat at my desk. 

It is hard to go past there to the restroom or kitchen without lifting the box lid. But if I lift the lid then what? 

I have to fight off every temptation. I cannot "flirt" with the donut box. 

Being tempted is not sin because even Jesus was tempted. 

God does not do the tempting but He allows the tempting. 

But God does provide a way out of temptation. Always. And He will give you the strength to fight off any temptation. 

“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 10:13 ESV

High hopes

Discouragement is a huge factor in why so many of us lose our hope. A small seed of discouragement can sprout into doubt and then doubts can grow buds of fear, worry, wants. Before you know it you are living in the shadow of hopelessness. 

People become discouraged when their trying and their efforts don't match up to their own or someone else's expectations. 

Often instead of hearing encouraging words, people hear discouragement. And very often it comes from members of their own families or people they care about. (Remember Job?) "Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die." But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

Job 2:9-10 ESV

A lot of times we get a mindset that it would just be easier to throw in the towel than to keep on fighting for something. We tend to give up or give in rather than face the struggles. 

We will take the easiest way out of problems even if the easiest way isn't what's best for us. 

Satan loves discouragement. He will plant those seeds by any means he can. He will bring them to sprout and grow. Because discouragement takes our eye off the prize. 

We need to hang on to hope. Look to the only One that gives us hope. We need to talk down those that discourage us even if they think "it is for our own good."

Have you ever heard, "Don't get your hopes up?"

Well what good are low hopes?

Why shouldn't we get our hopes up? My hope is in the Lord. How much higher can they get?

Be an encourager. Lift each other up. Build up someone's hope. 

Why not?

God calling

If the President of the United States called you and ask you for some of your time, just to come spend some time and hang out, would you go? 

How would you act? How would you dress? What would you want to talk about?

Would you be excited? 

God is calling you to fellowship. He desires your company. He longs for your presence. He wants you to meet His Son and have a relationship, no better than that, an heirship with the Son. Will you come?

What do you want to talk to Him about? How do you act? Are you excited?

Just come. Say yes to the invitation of fellowship time with the Father and Son. 

Go and Do

It is so easy to wake up and begin your day and before you know it you are swamped with everydayness. 

Did I pray?

Did I thank God for another chance?

Did I even think about God?

At the evening meal we bow our heads, (I hope we remember) so we rattle off a short sweet thank you for the food. 

At night as we snuggle into our beds, we may say another thank You, Lord, if we don't fall asleep first.

Was I a blessing to anyone today?

Did I read any of God's word today? Did I, Do I ever, dig deep into His words to me?

Is my life all about making it through one day after another? Is that what life is?

I found out this morning that a beloved man of God has passed on. He is now celebrating in the arms of Jesus. 

He was over 90 years old, so he has lived over 33,000 days.

He walked hunched over, but no more!

He was truly an inspiration and encourager to many.

He faced many struggles, but always had a smile and nice word for everyone else. 

He prayed always for God to take care of his sick wife. He always said, Help Evelyn to come home. I'm sure that will remain his prayer even more so now.

You see, he is now part of that great cloud of witnesses that the Hebrew writer wrote about that cheers each of us on through our race to the end.

I need to be in conversation with God. I need to be deep in His word. 

There is more to life than just getting by day to day. I need to be helping others to get by. I need others to help me get by. We do this by meeting together, by studying together, by praying together, by loving each other together.

Lord, help me.

Job well done

The Bible says, "Whatever you do..." do ALL to the glory of God. 

Make your beds

Do your dishes

Mail your letters

Pick up the kids

Wipe their noses

Do your job

Do someone else's job

Clean the church

Shovel out your neighbor

Help fix something for someone

Do what you hate

Do what you love 

Do what you don't want to

Do it All and do it as if you are doing it for God. 

Not always an easy task. In fact, I seldom do things (chores) while even thinking how God would want it done. 

What kind of attitude, during work, would bring God glory?

What kind of talk, while working, will honor God?

Is "good enough" good enough for God?

Lord, I want to please You. Help me.