Good morning and happy Monday, my bloggy friends! After Saturday, I'm trying to recover from a numb back side. Our son, Nathan had a basketball tournament in McLean. He played at 10, 11, 2, and 4. This meant us leaving Chenoa at 8:45 am and returning at 6 pm and sitting all the time in between! I felt like I'd been hit by a mack truck by the time we got home but on the positive side of things, they won 2 games out of the 4. Go Hawks!!

Yesterday, we visited my friend, Jill Savage at Crosswinds Community Church (www.crosswindscommunity.cc) . Her husband, Mark, is the pastor there. What a great time of worship and fellowship we had. He spoke on "Diagnosis Temptation"

When temptation comes it does so with a purpose. We can often confuse testing with temptation. They are different. They work differently and pursue different results. Our responses, both good and bad, will reveal and lead us to where and how we must pursue maturity.

Luke 4:1-13 Satan tempts Jesus in the wilderness
-Jesus was tested and tempted. Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and it was the Spirit that lead Jesus in the wilderness to be tempted by satan.

1 Peter 4:12-19 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the suffering of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers a s a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

-Our faith WILL be tested

-Be ready for the testing is coming

-Testing is individualized to our strengths and weaknesses

-When we participate in the sufferings we will be overjoyed when His glory is revealed (Hebrews 10:35-36) (1Corinthians 9-10)

-Accept the blessing of the trial

-God rewards and is pleased with our willingness to engage the test

-When things get hard, don’t go back to the comfortable (old life before Christ)

-Take a risk – ASK FOR HELP (1 Peter 4:16)


Are you rejoicing in who God is and what He is capable of doing - irregardless of what's happening around you? I know, I know, it's not an easy thing to do but when we choose to stay focused on God instead of our circumstances, we are bringing glory and honor to our Lord.

Have a great day!

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie