Temptations and trials

Satan uses temptations to tear you down God uses trials to build you up Have a Spirit-led day! Starving Bakers… I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry. (John 6:35) Imagine finding a new bakery. You love going there because the baker creates new recipes, better than any you've ever tasted. Soon word gets out and crowds start coming. The baker doesn't have enough help and ends up trying to serve all the customers himself. Gradually you see a change. He's getting thin. Very thin! What's up? You decide to sit and observe. Suddenly the problem becomes obvious. He's busy serving everyone else but never stops long enough to feed himself. With food all around him, he's starving! Can you relate? A lot of us, particularly leaders, fail to take care of ourselves Spiritually, emotionally and intellectually, and eventually we end up being unable to take care of others. And when we do read our Bible or listen to CDs, it's always for others. And what's the result? We end up busy but barren, going through the motions without taking time to feed our souls on the bread of life. And we keep promising ourselves to do better: "when the children are raised... when I go on holiday... when things slow down... when I retire." Solomon wrote: "They made me caretaker of the vineyards, but I have not taken care of my own" (Song of Songs 1:6). The only way things are going to change - is if you change them! Otherwise you'll simply exchange one set of demands for another. Learn to walk away! Jesus did: "After He had dismissed the multitudes, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray" (Matthew 14:23). Start doing what Jesus did, otherwise you'll soon end up like the starving baker! Take time to recharge your batteries - ourselves Spiritually, Emotionally and Intellectually. It will result in a better, happier YOU!