Thursday, Jul 03, 2008

TWG - July 3, 2008

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TWG - July 3, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Exodus 36; Psalm 48; Acts 8:1-25

Today is July 3, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. We are doing something of eternal significance. We are redeeming the time. That is one of the basic premises of TWG. We believe that what we do every day is so important that we must do the important things each day. That is why we read the word every Day

Well, my allergies are beginning to wind down. No need for decongestant last night! God is good! But I did pick up a souvenir at camp… poison oak! That’s right folks, I have poison oak on my legs. It’s only a little itchy. Yesterday I published our radio broadcast to the net on overcoming your fears to share your faith. Check it out. I spoke with John for quite a while about our need to get serious about the kingdom of God. I spent a bit of time on the phone with Marcia on Awana. Pray for that! She can use it. I spent a bit of time on the backhoe moving dirt around. I finished the road to the amphitheater and added more dirt to one side of the mound. And then, the backhoe decided it no longer wanted to go into reverse! I went to work out with Kyle, David, Marcia and Tye and then spent a quite evening at home doing finances. I put up a picture of Dave and Barb’s short legged Corgi Dogs on the blog at timewithgod.mypodcast.com. check it out. Dr John writes: Funny that this week's verse on your podcast is exactly what we were talking about in a study I do with a small group. It occurred to me that the first sin was the breaking of communion with God - not strictly eating the apple, but wandering far enough away from God that the devil has room to weasel in. Anyhow, love your commentary. Thanks John!

This week’s theme verse is 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Grin and bear it! Remember that comic? In a recent strip a couple is in for marriage counseling. They just can’t take it any more. The marriage counselor is deep into the session when he stands and says, “and stop ganging up on me!” Who needs counseling? Who can’t take it anymore? Good news. God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear! What is a temptation? This word has a dual definition. The first is “an enticement to sin.” The tempter is constantly, craftily, dropping the bomb on us to draw us away from godly living. God won’t allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. The second meaning of the word is “any trial meant to serve as a test of our love for God.” In the parable of the sower, the seed that fell among the rock died because of “testing.” The hot sun wilted it’s enthusiasm for God. In 1 Peter 4:2 temptation is called a fiery trial of suffering meant to “test” you. The word “temptation” sums up any and every trial or temptation you face. No matter what test you are facing, God will not allow it to be more than you can bear. No matter how great the temptation, God will not allow it to be more than you can bear. Yesterday I heard about a mother who years ago lost a son to cancer. She prayed for his healing, but when he died, she walked away from Christianity! That was a test of her faithfulness! Did she pass? It took years, but now her love for Christ is restored! God won’t give you more than you are able to bear. Write it down. Etch it in stone. Repeat it as often as necessary. Make it your daily mantra: God won’t give me more than I can bear! Is that temptation overwhelming you? You feel like it is too much for your senses and you absolutely have to give in? Not true! This verse is not a general principle for everyone, it is an individualized truth specifically tailored for you! God knows your limits. He knows what you can take! He weighs every test and every trial before sending it your way. If you’ve got it, it’s because God KNOWS you can take it! For example: That’s why your child was born with a handicap and mine was not. You can take it! Or why you have lots of cash and I don’t! I can’t take the temptation. God knows what he’s about. So, thank him for the trials and temptations and come to this realization: God never puts me in a situation where he’s not going to come through for me. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Hang in there baby! Grin and bear it.

Dear Faithful Father. You know me. You know just how much I can handle. Thank you for not giving me more than I can take. I know that the trials and temptations are there to strengthen me, not to destroy me. I need your grace to make it through. I can do all things through Christ!

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”-

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