This morning, I went to get blood drawn…and before I even got to eat, I was confronted with temptation.
TRIAL/TEMPTATION #1
Fear.
I have written before about the giants that tend to attack me, and one that I wrote about is the giant of fear.

In that blog, I said this:

Another of my favorite verses about fear is this:

2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

When someone is standing up to the giant of fear, 2Tim 1.7 is the perfect stone to throw. What fears are not covered by power, love, and a sound mind?

This morning, I wrote my dear husband Jim and said
“I’m scared of failing or quitting”
Jim replied:
“You have not quit, therefore you won’t fail”

smart man.
love, power and a sound mind. I talk about it in that blog…but,
Jim’s text back to me gave me love.
The music that Jim had uploaded to my phone gave me power….Here I am to Worship
And with that love and power, I gathered myself up, and trusted in a sound mind!

I was able to pack my little cooler(I bought a cute one) with a breakfast, and head out to my blood letting session.

TRIAL/TEMPTATION #2 –
ENVIRONMENT – or location, location, location!
The corner of 6 Pines Drive and Research Forest is a very favorite place for me. In fact, I have used this medical building’s parking lot frequently!
Let me show you!

No, not the butter burgers…the Turtle Sundae!!! Chocolate, Caramel and Pecans on top of frozen custard. NOT on a yeast free diet!

1 Cor 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].

God is faithful.

Amy Charmical, in Edges of His Ways, May 26th writes this:

The pressure of temptation is measured by One who knows what the substance to be tested can stand. The maker of glass would not subject his glass to a weight of 20 tons per square inch. Here lies our comfort. We commit our souls “as unto a faithful Creator. (1Pet 4:19)”
And there is more in this. Sometimes we are tempted to feel that even though the pressure would be nothing to another who is stronger, it is too much for us. But it never is: “He knoweth our frame; He remembereth we are dust. (Ps 103:14)”
The temptation to yield and do what the flesh would naturally do is meant to offer us an opportunity for endurance, and for the exercise of faith. This ‘is the patience and the faith of the saints. (Rev 13:10)”

As I read this the other night, it hit me…it’s not the trial or temptation that is too much…is whether I will choose to endure, whether I will choose to exercise my faith.
My Heavenly Father chooses tests for me that HE KNOWS are not to much for me. Because HE LOVES ME!
He is giving me the opportunity to exercise my faith muscles. Because HE LOVES ME!
I am in the position to CHOOSE whether I will exercise those faith muscles.
BTW, where did that faith come from? My Heavenly Father!

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

My Heavenly Father has given me the measure of faith, and with it, if I exercise it, I can move mountains, I can do the deeds of Christ, and even greater deeds (Matt 21:21, John 14:12)! Of know credit to myself…it’s ALL God’s power….given to me by GRACE!

So, first, God so LOVEd me that HE led me to this reading BEFORE I entered temptation!
Then, God gave me the grace to have the POWER to withstand temptation!
And, He promised to make a way of escape( 1 cor 10:13)…He gave me the STRONG MIND to prepare my breakfast and take it with me!

Let me show you the victory!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRIAL/TEMPTATION #3
LACK OF PREPARATION
I forgot a drink, but I had a bottle of water in the car….not quite enough!
So, here’s my third TEMPTATION and VICTORY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VICTORY!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s only noon, and I’ve had two trials, but I’ve also had two victories.
I’ve spent an hour writing this photo blog…and that has challenged me.
I give up on getting the photos straight, and the words right…I just want to post this blog…share my thoughts…and go paint.
In the mean time, I am going to be leaning heavily on God’s GRACE to help me through the next 28 days.

5pm add on – today has been great.
The concern about workout recovery was answered with coconut milk!!! Better than anything else I’ve ever done to try to handle the crash when I perspire a lot!
I am behind on my water, but have had unsweetened ice tea twice.
After supper, I’ll do my evening protocols, and day one will be over!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

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Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

 

 

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