Run from temptations...The discerning heart seeks knowledge.

So, I thought I would share with you two amazing devotionals I just found. They are from the "On the Right Note" devotion book from K-Love.

Run from temptations. 2 Timothy 2:22

What do you need to avoid?

According to Greek mythology sirens living along the Mediterranean coast made such compelling music that passing sailors were mesmerized and jumped overboard to their death. So the hero Odysseus ordered himself to be tied to the mast and the crew's ears filled with wax to block the music; that way they sailed past in safety. A wise sailor knows when the storm is more than his boat can handle. An ocean liner can withstand winds that will sink a small boat. Look at Joseph. When Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him he didn't (1) try to counsel or convert her; (2) think, 'I'm young, lonely, far from home, and her husband's out of town' maybe just this once'; (3) hand around to see how strong he was. No, he fled the scene saying, "How...could I do such a wicked thing...against God?" (Ge 39:9)

It's good to stretch yourself. It's how you mature. But be aware of your danger zones and don't knowingly put yourself in harm's way. Paul said, "If you think you are strong...be careful not to fall" (1 Cor. 10:12) He told Timothy, "Run from temptations that capture young people...do the right thing." And James said, "Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, 'God is trying to trip me up.' God ...puts evil in no one's way. The temptation...comes from us and only us' (James 1:13-15 TM). The bottom line is this: when you're weak in certain areas you need to steerclear of anything that feeds into them. The Psalmist said, "You are my safe refuge...where my enemies cannot reach me" (Ps 61:3) So, what do you need to avoid?

**The discerning heart seeks knowledge. Proverbs 15:14

Stay teachable

If you're talented, you may have difficulties when it comes to staying teachable. Gifted people sometimes act like they know it all. That makes it hard for them to keep developing. Teachability is not so much about competence and mental capacity as it is about attitude; it's the hunger to discover and grow. It's the willingness to learn, unlearn, and relearn. John Wooden said, "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." When you stop learning, you stop leading. Only as you remain teachable will you keep growing and continue to make an impact.

Besides being an astonishing painted and sculptor, Leonardo da Vinci was a genius in more fields than any scientist of any age. His notebooks were hundreds of years ahead of their time. He anticipated submarines, helicopters and other modern inventions. In one notebook he wrote, "Iron rusts from disuse; stagnant water loses it purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind." He was driven by his desire to know more. He was learning and writing discoveries in his notebooks until the very end of his life. And the good news is, you don't have to mind or talent of a Leonardo da Vinci to be teachable. You just have to have the right attitude.

The most important skills to acquire is- learning how to learn. Try this for the next week; ask others for their advice and deliberately withhold the advice you'd normally give. At each day's end write down what you've learned by being attentive to others. You'll be amazed.

***I read these two devotionals, and was quite challenged. I want to be able to stay teachable, because I know that God has many lessons for me to learn, but I have to stay open, and have the right attitude to continue to learn. I hope that these challenge you to have the right attitude.

Some trials..."Transition Semester"

So, lately it seems as though God is trying to teach me a lot. I knew that this was going to happen after I returned home. He taught me a lot while I was gone, and then told me that He has many things for me to learn now that I am back "home" in America. So, I am in the process of trying to decide what I am supposed to do with my major. I am currently an elementary education major, but part of me is thinking that I would like to switch to Intercultural studies. It would enable me to study more about culture, which I love. So, I am calling this next semester my "transition semester". All of my classes, can go toward either major, so I have some time to pray about things and listen to figure out what I am supposed to do. Also, while I was in Africa God was really working on my heart, showing me things, teaching me His ways, in ways that I hadn't ever experienced. So, now that I am back at home, I am not sure what I am supposed to do with some of those feelings, and lessons. I am praying that He will show me what I am supposed to do, what He would have me do. I want to do all things that will bring glory to His Name!

*Another trial is that we just found out that my grandpa has lung cancer( This is my mom's father) and that my aunt my have thyroid cancer. This is been extremely hard on my mother, because as most of you know, my father was killed in a car accident about 2 1/2 years ago, and then three months after that my grandmother died of cancer(my mom's mother). So, now her father and one of her sister's have cancer. My grandpa is really not doing well, so I believe that my family will be travelling down to Kentucky after Christmas to be with him and other family. God is good, and He does have a reason and a timing for ALL that He does, I just pray that understanding comes to all in my family. Please be praying for my mother, as she tries to find her strength in the Lord, and for the rest of my family as they do the same.

*Hebrews 13:5, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."

You can't escape this trial!

Consider it all joy...when you encounter various trials. James 1:2

The Bible doesn't tell us to rejoice when we mess up and get into trouble. God can certainly use our mistakes to teach us, but that's not what James has in mind. Some of our trials just come from "living." Things aren't going right. Usually it's not one big thing but a lot of little things. We enounter physical, financial, relational or emotional trials that knock us for a loop. Peter calls this "the trial of your faith" (1Peter 1:7) What's on trial? Your faith! Whatever the size or length of our trial, there's nowhere we can go to escape the trial of our faith. Trying to avoid it is like changing schools in hopes of avoiding a test you don't want to take. But the next school will probably have tests too, probably harder than the ones in the school you just left, and now you're that much further behind in your studies and preparation. You can't outrun God-ordained trials. He knows where to find you!

The good news is, there's no such thing as a purposeless trial! Each trial is designed to launch us to a new spiritual level. The interesting thing about our trials is, they're custom made; they have our name on them. Paul discovered 2 things about his trials: (a) The reason for the trial. "To keep me from becoming conceited" (2 Cor 12:7) (b) The result of the trial. "That Christ's power may rest on me" (2 Cor 12:9) Like a tailor measuring you for a suit that will fit perfectly, the Holy Spirit customizes the trials we encounter to meet our spiritual need, to mold us, and to make us more like Jesus!