Scripture Challenge 2010: Word # 2 Temptation

Thank you Patter for this word! I want to be like Forest Gump and say "...that's all I have to say about that." However, sharing is good. It allows me to relive God's blessing, and perhaps it will encourage someone else. I could talk about many different temptations, but there was one in particular that I was facing at the time of the challenge. As a single, Christian, woman trying to live holy, this word came at a perfect time for me. I desire to be married and in dating I am often being pressured to engage in pre-marital sex. We all get bombarded with sentiments like 'you deserve it', 'do whatever makes you feel good', 'God wants you to be happy'. Meditating on the word temptation led me to a lot of scriptures. I received just the strength I needed to gird up my loins...pun intended. Also, the LORD used my girl friend to remind me that God calls Christians to be holy while the world suggests that we be happy. Well, happiness is based on happenings. We all fall down sometimes and strive for happiness instead of holiness. Seeking holiness brings a constant kind of happiness that we call JOY. Thank God for the signs He strategically places along the path to help us go in the right direction. Even when we do not follow the signs God forgives us, teaches us how to forgive ourselves, and then HE leads us back to the path. Therefore, we can still have joy!

By the way, the same aforementioned girlfriend also gave me the black and white background used on this page. She was trying to achieve something on a scrapbook page and it didn't come out right, so she gave the page to me. Well, since there are no mistakes in scrapping, I put the page in my scrap box. I decided to do this mini album using all scraps. So, here we are several years later and I finally cut it down and used the page. Now whenever I look at that page I will be reminded of her sweet spirit, her choice to endure her current hardship, and the awesome advice she gave. I am glad that the page survived all the purges of the scrap box.