Resisting Temptations

My kids love their i-pods.  They each have i-pod touches that my husband bought them as gifts when he retired from the Air Force.  (With the exception of Tori who got a NOOK color instead)  They have many games, apps and even books on them that keep them intrigued.  The only problem is that they struggle to have the self control to turn them off when necessary. 
Last night my 8 year old Brady asked if he could charge his in his room since the "charging station" (the outlets next to the desk in the kitchen) was full with other charging electronic devices.  I knew this wasn't a good idea, but somehow he got the go ahead to take it upstairs and I saw it laying on the floor next to his dresser.  He sleeps in the top bunk of the bunk bed so it was quite a ways away from him but just in case I did remind him that he was not to get down and get his i-pod while in bed or in the morning before "free time" which is when our kids are typically  allowed to play them.  I asked him if I could trust him and he assured me "yes mom...I won't touch it.  I know you're trusting me."  I smiled and assured him that I knew I could. 
A little while late my younger son wanted his water refilled (remember my post from yesterday and know that I am still working on my responding like Jesus in this situation! :) )  When I returned with Max's re-filled cup of water Brady said from u-top the bunk bed....."Man mom....it is such a hard temptation to see my ipod over there charging and not want to go play it!"
What a lesson for an 8 year old!  Yes my love, sometimes God takes away our temptations to help us resist, but sometimes he also leaves them right there within our reach and calls us to have self control.  A fruit that can only be produced with the help of the holy spirit.  I prayed for Brady, and I pray for myself, that the Holy Spirit will always lead us to resist temptation.

1 Cor 10:13 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, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Responding like Jesus

I decided with the New Year to try and get my focus back on the things in life that are most important to me. That being above all else.... my family. Not that they ever were not my main focus, but I just want to intentionally be joyful about the job that has been placed before me as a wife and a mom. It is so easy to get frustrated when so many people want your attention all the time. There are so many demands from laundry to school work, to activities and meals that sometimes the temptation is there to become agitated or short with the ones I love the most. There isn't a whole lot of time for "me".  Balancing kids, husband, chores, school and self can seem like a daunting task.

I teach a 2nd grade Sunday school class every other Sunday at my church. When I first signed up for the job it was more to fulfill that "requirement" to serve with in the church.  It was just checking off the box in the area of stewardship but it ended up being a huge blessing to me. I am amazed each week at what teaching those guys teaches me.  I love those sweet kids and each week our lesson speaks to me personally more than I ever thought a 2nd grade lesson could!

This past week we learned about how Jesus fed 5,000.  In the story Jesus' 12 disciples had just returned from a missionary journey he had sent them on. After they told him all they had done and taught, he took them with him in a boat on the Sea of Galilee to a remote place, for rest and prayer.

The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. Mark 6:30-32

 In my life this would equate to.....I have just spent ALL day "ministering" to my kids (with barely enough time to eat!)  and now it is 9:00 at night and I am ready to retreat to the remote place of my couch to rest and relax for the night! Here is where my biggest temptation to be frustrated and annoyed comes in.....one kid wants a cup of water, another forgot to pray for something, another wants me to scratch his back,  someone has something REALLY important they need to remind me of before tomorrow.....ect. ect.  This is "MY" time I say to myself. I have spent ALL day taking care of these guys why can't they just go to sleep and let me RELAX!!  Well listen to what happened to Jesus and his disciples when they went away for "their" time.  Make note of how Jesus responds.  It certainly isn't with frustration and anger like I normal tend to respond.

But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. Matt 6:33-34

He "HAD COMPASSION" He didn't snap at them. He didn't say "come on people!! Can I not have 30 minutes to myself!!!!??"  No Jesus simply had compassion.  He knew that they needed him and attended to them in love. I need to work on this.  It is so easy to think that we deserve "me" time. So easy to get aggravated when our "quiet time" is interrupted.  Yet another example of how I need to follow Jesus...in how I react and how I respond.