Eyes In The Sky

But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death. Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters. James 1:14-16

Occasionally I like to relax on my back porch looking off in the distance towards Huntsville International Airport. It is about 30 minutes as the crow flies whatever that means. I have this great app called ATC where I can listen in to the Air Traffic Control towers of many airports. 

These 'eyes on the sky' are crucial in bad weather, limited visibility, emergencies, and just insuring skies stay safe and no planes collide midair. Believers are given eyes on the spiritual skies by reading the word of God and heeding His voice. Going our own way and acting like we know more than our Maker can lead to serious consequences. 

Are you tuned in and paying attention to God?  When you know what is right do you do the opposite anyway? Don't be headed for a crash landing in your life. Deep down when you know what is right why not listen to God and not be enticed by the enemy. 

PRAYER: I choose to listen to your voice and heed your warnings to stay on the course you want me on. Give me strength for any challenges that lie in my path. In Jesus' name. Amen.

What Is Tempting You?

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Chocolate cake? Groupon deals? Clothes on sale you don't need? Getting the last word in an argument or dispute? Maybe it is something far worse. Even though self control is needed for all areas of temptation, eating chocolate cake and the rest of items mentioned won't lead you to a life apart from God, at least not normally.

The enemy is the great tempter. Like a dangling red apple in one of the cartoons trying to entice an innocent victim to take a bite only to discover it is poison. Temptations are around you every day. Temptations to cheat, lie, steal, gossip, be hateful, even when maybe it is only what you think may be minor. Deep down inside some stuff is just plain wrong. Against the rules mind you. 

If you make a point to daily stay in the word of God you are less apt to have behavior that borderlines on tempting you or when you do you are able to stand strong and do the right thing. 

PRAYER: I need you in life daily, 24/7. When things come my way and I am tempted to do something that is wrong in your eyes, give me strength to avoid it and run the other way. If I have done wrong help me get right with you and others by confessing it. In Jesus' name. Amen.

A NOTE TO REMEMBER

A few days ago while taking a walk in a park I looked down and saw a
scrap of paper and was going to be a good citizen to pick it up and
throw it in a trash can. Being curious, I first glanced at this little

note and it simply said "nice butt. Look but don't touch". Now I hope
I have not offended anyone reading this but I found it rather comical
that maybe some young man had been out there on the walking path and
had a reminder to himself in order to not let temptation get the best
of him. Since I was on the "love month" I decided to use this as a

opportunity to speak of what love was not. Was this one of those "God
things"? Who knows.

Love is not lusting after someone. This little reminder I found that

was written on a post it note was probably someone dealing with a

temptation or an addiction perhaps. It is hard to say, but in the
Bible in Matthew 5:28(NIV) it says 'But I tell you whoever looks at a

woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his
heart.' Adult magazines should be treated like poison to include the
type that make a homosexual man lust after other men, which is totally
not okay either. This is a real problem and unfortunately Christians
are not exempt so need to be on their guard. If you suffer from this

problem ask God to help you. Get into Christian counseling or find a
trusted accountability partner to confide in. There are filters for
your computer such as "Covenant Eyes" which would be a good investment
for someone with this temptation that is so strong they can not
control it.

The enemy can have a hey day in 2013 with quick access to online porn,
adult movie channels in hotel rooms, adult magazines and even more
acceptable magazines such as "Sports Illustrated Annual Swimsuit"
issue which still has nudity inside it's pages. If you subscribe to

"Sports Illustrated" for your preteen and teen children or husband my

recommendation would be to keep an eye out for this issue. Satan puts
all types of "eye candy" out there to lead people astray. You do not
hear that much about women and these sort of problems, but they aren't
exempt. 1 Peter 5:8(NIV) says 'Be self controlled and alert because
your enemy the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking
someone to devour.'Satan is constantly scheming of ways to destroy

Christians and this lust issue is a big one. Just look at TV today and
the movies. "Plugged In Online" is a good resource for seeking good
entertainment choices for the family.

Amos 5:14(NLT) says 'Do what is good and run from evil, that you may
live! Then the Lord God Almighty will truly be your helper just as you
have claimed He is!'. In Proverbs 5:18(NIV) speaking to men it says
'May your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the wife of your
youth.' Plainly put, love your wife and keep your eyes from

wandering.Run from anything that is evil before Satan snares you in
its' trap.

Let me end with this verse from 1 Corinthians 10:13(NIV) which says
'No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is
faithful and He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted He will also provide a way of out so you can
stand up under it.' God is able to help so just call on Him.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus you created all things and among those are the
beauty of mankind. Help me Lord stay away from TV shows, movies,
books, magazines or anything that would entice lust within me. I can
do all things with your help. In Jesus name. Amen.

LOTTERY FEVER

This past week it seemed the world went crazy over the half billion dollar jackpot in the lottery, which was billed as the largest ever. Crowds lined up to buy tickets hoping for the chance at this huge jackpot. Many think, when and if, they would come into this windfall of money all their troubles would be over when in fact there are numerous accounts of past lottery winners and how it has ruined their life.

Why is it money seems to be the cure all for everything? When you work hard and go to school for degrees you are rewarded for our efforts normally by a good paying job. The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 "even while we were with you we gave you this command. If a man does not work he should not eat."  Now that does not sit well with the 'redistribute the wealth class warfare crowd' trying to pit  classes of people against each other instead of realizing the people who work hard should get to keep their money. The lottery seems to prey on poor people. Many out there truly do not want to work and want the government to take care of them and many do want to work but maybe can not find a job right now. Do not be jealous of another's wealth or seek to be rich.

It says in 1 Timothy 6:9 "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into  many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction."  Proverbs 15:27 says " A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live." Gambling can be an addiction that can hurt the family finances and break up marriages. Proverbs 23:4 says " Do not wear yourself out to get rich, have the wisdom to show restraint."  In 1 Timothy 6:10 it goes on to say "For the Love of money is the root of all sorts of evil. Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves many griefs."

Matthew 6:19-21 says where our real treasure should be. It says "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Money can bring lots of heartache if that is all you are striving for. Seek first God's kingdom.

PRAYER: Lord I want my treasure to be in heaven and in your word. Help me not purposely be striving for wealth but when it does come to remember it is through you we get the ability to do work and earn money. You bring true riches. In Jesus name. Amen.

TEMPTATIONS

This is not about the 60's Motown Musical artists but instead about temptations we face each and every day in our daily lives. Many temptations abound and they are thrown in our path by the enemy to get us off course.This is not necessarily about being tempted by chocolate or food but many deeper things than that. Although gluttony is listed as wrong in the Bible there are some other temptations that have more severe consequences.

 Some  of these include the temptation to lie. Not saving sex for marriage is a tremendous temptation for many. Wanting to cheat on tests is also not up there on good things to do list. Giving false information or incomplete information on tax forms is one you often hear of that can send you to jail. Speeding in your car is a temptation for many which can cause vehicle accidents and tickets. For some there may be a temptation to steal which too can land you with some time incarcerated in your local 'gray bar motel'. As mentioned previously the temptation in eating too much especially if you know you need to lose weight. Alcohol is not necessarily a sin but drinking alcohol to excess can make you end up doing things you regret(See Proverbs 23:31-35). It is best to not touch alcohol at all if you can resist it. You will save a ton of money and heartaches as well. There are those people who want to stop smoking and tobacco tempts them. The temptation to tell someone off has to be kept under control. To idly sit and watch immoral things on TV or in the movies may be tempting because the ads make it look attractive. We know is not good for us so we have to resist the temptation and choose to turn off the TV or not go to a particular movie. Even just sitting around watching television where people talk about their lives does not really add anything to  your life. It can be a temptation for some to give up these daytime shows and movie star magazines. The reading material we choose that tears down instead of building up can tempt some as well. Many today are addicted to pornography and even some within the church. This can be porn on the Internet, TV, or magazines. You have to run from this sin which so easily destroys the mind and can hurt relationships as well. For many men there is a temptation to go to what the south calls 'Gentlemans' Clubs' otherwise known as strip clubs. We all know this is not a wise thing to do at all. Matthew 5:28 says "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Nowadays there are even 'gay clubs' which enters into a whole new realm of temptations. The Bible says in the book of Leviticus that a "man should not lie with another man". (See Leviticus 18:22).

Those were just some of the ways people can be tempted. You may be able to add to the list. But let's go over some Bible verses now that deal with temptations. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says " No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure."  James 1:14 says "Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away." So those 'evil desires' have to be controlled and that is where the fruit of the spirit of 'self control' comes in handy. You can not do everything you feel like doing in life or you will get yourself into major trouble. Some of the temptations that lead us off God's path can cause not just spiritual problems but emotional and psychological problems as well and sometimes medical problems in the case of a possible pregnancy from premarital sex or a sexually transmitted disease as well. Just cause you 'feel' like doing something does not mean you have to do it. Control yourself. If you can't, ask God for His help and direction.

Remember Jesus was led into the wilderness by the devil and tempted but never succumbed to sin. Matthew 4:1 says "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil."

Temptations come when our evil  or wrong desires lead us off the path God has set before us. Sometimes you might have to verbally say out loud "Get thee behind me Satan" when you start to feel yourself slipping into temptations. James 1:13 says "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone."  You are responsible for your own actions. You can control yourself. It is possible. You first have to know what is right and what is wrong and that is found in the pages of God's word the Bible. You can not erase the things in the Bible you do not like. You will give account for the things in your life you have done wrong.

We all have things that have led us down the wrong path. The thing is we do not want to continue down that path. Change friends if you have to. Stay away from places you know you have hard time resisting. Ask yourself if God were with you would he be pleased by your behavior.

To help you as you seek to walk a walk pleasing of the Lord keep in mind this verse in Galatians 5:22-23 which says "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." There are those words again, self control. Basically stop yourself from doing wrong before the bad stuff has happened. James 4:7 says "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Ephesians 4:7 says "and do not give the devil a foothold." Just remember what 1 Peter 5:8 says "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Get that self control in full gear.

Start today and walk a walk pleasing to the Lord asking Him to give you the ability to stay on the path of righteousness and away from those things that tempt you to do wrong.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven I thank you for the things I have learned in the course of my life that have kept me running the good race. Temptations are all around so give me the ability to do what is right and good in your eyes. In Jesus Name. Amen.