Bible Verse Friday

~No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it~ 

1 Corinthians 10:13

This rings so true.

How often do you go on a diet, ONLY to feel as though everyone else is trying to help you cheat?

How often do you put yourself on a budget, only to be assaulted by a million ideas of things you'd like to purchase?

How frequently do you set goals only to feel as though any and everything that could impede your planning will and does?

When we make goals and plans it is then that Satan attacks.

He wants us to feel a sense of failure.

He wants us to give up.

Our house juggles the stresses and temptations of a budget on a daily basis.

I've mentioned before that Bud & I are aggressively working to pay down our student debt.

Our only debt.

We give ourselves an allowance each month, but it never seems like enough.

The money seems to come in and go out just as rapidly.

We are tempted by nice patio furniture at Target.

I am tempted by fabric at the quilt shop, especially now that I have my sewing machine back.

We are tempted by the idea of having 2 cars.

**In case you didn't know we are a one car family.

That means that most days (98% of the time) Bud drives to work and Bitsy and I are home all day.

If there is something going on that I want to go to I try really hard to see if anyone near me is going so that we can hitch a ride, if that doesn't work, Bud might drive home during lunch and I'll drop him back off on my way out.**

It's humbling.

I am tempted by my neighbors beautiful plants and yards.

Bud is tempted by unhealthy foods.

But I must remember that God will not allow us to be tempted any more than we can bear.

Despite wanting to furnish our home with beautiful items, I have found peace in knowing that it'll feel so much better when we are debt free.  

Even though having 2 vehicles would make it possible for Bitsy & I to be more mobile during the week, I have found comfort in knowing that it would probably lead to too many 'just because we can' trips that would equate in spending money I shouldn't.

In the face of unhealthy choices, Bud is faced with the reality that the military requires a certain standard of him weight wise, and he too wants to be healthy.

No matter what temptations we face, God prompts us to think about the reward of being debt free.

We think of all that we will be able to do to glorify him when we don't have that debt looming over us, he reminds us of this frequently.

What things tempt you?

In what ways do you feel God tugging at your conscience to make the right choice?

How do you find support?

It can be difficult for us because everyone around us seems to spend money as though it grows on trees.

It's difficult when going out to dinner or going shopping are activities on the table because we are pinching pennies.

I have no problem going shopping with a friend, but I always feel pressured when they ask, "Aren't you getting anything"?

How do you all deal with that?

I am thankful for a God who I know protects me, shelters me, and teaches me.

He will not give me more than I can bear.

If he brings me to it he'll bring me through it.

I hope you all have a Blessed Friday!