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AlwaysR8chel -> RE: ~ The Journey ~ (2/3/2006 8:48:18 AM)
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Crown of Life “So how was your afternoon at work today?” My heart sank, I knew exactly what he was asking me. “My afternoon was just fine,” I lied. No response. Good, he bought it. We were enjoying a favorite TV show. Another commercial seemed to play in slow motion as my stomach began to knot up. “It wasn’t fine!” I blurted out. “I messed up again.” A chasm suddenly appeared between us in spirit. His body language told me that he was disappointed. I didn’t dare look him in the eye. Why did I lie? Why did I mess up today? My brain started to overload with self-condemnation. I was tempted again today. Self control was far from me. I failed. What was my sin? It was lust. Lust can be focused on just about anything in life and usually happens when we long for something that we are not supposed to have. Sometimes the objects of our lust can be food, possessions or even people. The Greek word for lust used in the book of James is defined as: G1939 ἐπιθυμία epithumia ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah From G1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden): - concupiscence, desire, lust (after). There is something healing about confessing not only to God, but to another person as well. My fiancé is my accountability partner. I wonder if days like this make him wish he wasn’t. I’m glad he cares enough to not give up on me. An email comes to mind. My fiancé sent it to me Wednesday morning. It read, “Cheer up! Jesus loves you, you got me, and there are promises God gave you this morning that are waiting for you to claim!!!” Here it is. A promise for all to see and to claim for themselves: the crown of life. Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12 NASB) Temptations are beautiful lies that can kill us spiritually. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. (James 1:14-16 NASB) We can fight our lustful thoughts by appreciating the good that God brings into our lives… Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (James 1:17 NASB) … and training our minds to dwell on excellence. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9 NASB) Today is a new day and God’s compassion and lovingkindness for us never fails. The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB) Let’s do more than just think about change today. Let’s do it!! But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25 NASB) The crown of life is ours, my dear friends. Love always, Rachel ~ * ~ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 NASB)
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