DON'T FALL PREY TO SATAN'S SCHEMES!

1 CHRONICLES 21:1-3

And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.
And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

David fell to Satan's temptation. God provided a way out in Joab's counsel, but David's curiosity was spurred on by arrogance. His faith was in his own strength rather than in God's. If we feel self-sufficient and put confidence in ourselves apart from God, we soon fall to Satan's schemes. Self-sufficiency pulls us away from God. When you are tempted, examine your inner desires to understand why the external temptation is so appealing.

(1 Corinthians 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).

HAPPY FRIDAY....sis katie

SATAN—THE MASTER TEMPTER!

1 CHRONICLES 21:1
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

The Bible text says Satan caused David to take a census. Can Satan force people to do wrong? No! (This dispels the Satan made me do it excuse) Satan only tempted David with the idea, but David decided to act on the temptation. Ever since the Garden of Eden, Satan has been tempting people to sin. David's census was not against God's law, but his reason for the census was wrong—pride in his mighty army. He forgot that his real strength came from God. Even Joab, not known for his high moral ideals, recognized the census as sin. From David's example we learn that an action that may not be wrong in itself can be sinful if it is motivated by greed, arrogance, or selfishness. Often our motives, not the action itself, contain the sin. We must constantly weigh our motives before we act.

Please Lord, help to fall on my knees and consult you.....

Daily Manna For Thought - Wednesday, November 15, 2006

THERE IS NO PLACE FOR SELF-PRIDE IN GOD'S ARMY!

1 CHRONICLES 21:1
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

David's census brought disaster because, unlike the census taken in the book of Numbers (Numbers 1-2) that God had ordered, this census was taken so David could take pride in the strength of the army. In determining his military strength, he was beginning to trust more in military power than in God. There is a fine line between feeling confident because you are relying on God's power and becoming proud because you have been used by God for great purposes.

A story is told of a preacher who held a meeting in the southwest.
At one point in his sermon, the old minister spoke of Simon of Cyrene and asked the audience to determine in their own hearts their reaction to that scene.
Just then a young boy came walking up the aisle, with serious determination in his eyes. The preacher stopped speaking and the congregation was as quiet as death.
“You asked what I would have done if I had been in the crowd when Jesus fell under the weight of His cross.” He looked earnestly up at the preacher. “Sir, I would have helped Him carry it.” He was a Mexican boy around nine years old. His father was a miner and his mother was an outcast.
The minister lifted his arm and cried: “Yes, and if you had helped him to carry his cross, the cruel Roman soldiers would have beaten down across your back with their whips until the blood ran down to your heels.” He never flinched. Meeting the preacher’s look with one of cool courage, he replied through clenched teeth? “I don’t care. I would have helped Him carry it just the same.” Two weeks later, at the close of the service, the old preacher stood at the door, greeting people as they left. When the little boy, Pedro, came by he patted him affectionately on the back. Pedro pulled away with a little cry. “Please don’t do that. My back is sore.” The preacher stood astonished; he had barely touched his shoulders. He took him to a room and removed his shirt. Crisscrossed from his neck to his waist were ugly bloody welts. “Who did that?” the preacher cried in anger. “Mother did it. She whipped me because I came to church.”
Luke 14:27 “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”
2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
1 Timothy 4:10 “For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.”
1 Peter 3:14-17 “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing than for evil doing.”
There is no questioning if we will suffer, for the Word of God is clear, that in bearing our cross we will suffer, but it also tells us be not afraid and neither be troubled. We trust in a living God that will take care of his people.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed: we are perplexed, but not in despair: Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed:”
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Yet, we question why we suffer. The Word of God answers this question. We suffer that others might be able to find Salvation through how we live with our suffering.
2 Corinthians 4:10 “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
2 Timothy 2:10 “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
Let everyone ask themselves the same question every day. Am I willing to suffer for the cause of Christ? If I am then I must remember the words of Christ.
2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (Author Unknown)

Oh, My God, here we are being torn apart by what he said/she said....can't we take our eyes off of ourselves and each other and put them on you? Can't we do as this little boy did, serve you no matter what?
Oh mighty God, forgive me and help me to look through your eyes instead of my own and everyone elses.

Please Pray

Please pray for the same family member that underwent the sugery in Oct. They have just discovered more cancer cells...this means Chemo....then radiation....thank you.

Inspirational Story

One day, when I was a freshman in high school,

I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.

His name was Kyle.

It looked like he was carrying all of his
books.

I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a
Friday?

He must really be a nerd."

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my
friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.

They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping
him so he landed in the dirt.

His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten
feet from him.

He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled
around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.

As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. "

They really should get lives.

" He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!"

There was a big smile on his face.

It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.

As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen
him before.

He said he had gone to private school before now.

I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.

We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.

He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.

I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends

He said yes.

We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I
liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came! , and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books
again.

I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious
muscles with this pile of books everyday!

" He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.

When we were seniors, we began to think
about college.

Kyle decided on Georgetown , and I
was going to Duke.

I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a
problem.

He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football
scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class.

I teased him all the time about being a nerd.

He had to prepare a speech for graduation.

I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak

Graduation day, I saw Kyle.

He looked great.

He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.


He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.

He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.

Boy, sometimes I was jealous.
!
Today was one of those days.

I could see that he was nervous about his speech.

So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be
great!"

He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and
smiled.

" Thanks," he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began

"Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through
those tough years.

Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly
your friends...

I am here to tell all of you that being a
friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.

I am going to tell you a story."

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the
first day we met.

He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.

He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have
to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.

He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.

"Thankfully, I was saved.

My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy
told us all about his weakest moment.

I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful
smile.

Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions.

With one small gesture you can change a person's life.

For better or for worse.

God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some
way.
God Bless you all, this day, may your lives glorify God and be
a witness to those around you....love and prayers, sis kd.