Summer's Last HurrahLake Superior, North Shore 
Numerous Waterfalls  
God has created all things.... 
Lake Superior  
Fantastic Hiking   Lots of stairs to climb 
Tiramisu (and Peter too) 
Happy Memories Three nights and three days...tent camping...rigerous hiking... and some leisurely time spent next to the crashing waves of Lake Superiour. The four of us had an enjoyable time. I must say though, everything about the weather this last weekend gave the message that "Fall" is just around the corner - yet Fall is a beautiful time of year too. ____________________________________________________________________ I listed it as "currently reading" so that it's picture would come up, but I actually finished reading "Idols of the Heart" a couple weeks ago. It is a great read - very thought provoking - and I highly recommend it. I wanted to post some notes I took....... "The most powerful worship will be among people whose minds linger in the light of truth and whose hearts - whose emotions - are as near the fire of God as they can be without being consumed." ~author unknown Split second reactions reveals what is in our heart If you are willing to sin to obtain your goal or if you sin when you don’t get what you want, then your desire has taken God’s place and you’re functioning as an idolater.” We sell ourselves to them (idols) and we believe that the loss of them is an unbearable affliction – a curse. Honoring God means that the Lord’s pleasure and glory come first. Obedience is the only sure evidence that we love Him (John 14:15) Remember – in your own strength you don’t have the ability to make yourself a holy God-worshiper. But God is committed to changing you. As the Holy Spirit illumines your heart to Christ’s beauty, your love will grow. The false god’s that entice will lose their appeal. The sin of unbelief is =@ the heart of idolatry Believing and embracing Christ’s atoning death for your sin is the fundamental key in abandoning the gods of this world. (Rom 8:32) “We are half hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” ~ C.S. Lewis Do I sincerely believe God will provide all I need? As we struggle with our sinful idolatry, we’ll frequently find ourselves in prayer for wisdom, strength, true hatred of sin, and love of righteousness. We need the Spirit's guidance even in our prayers. That’s because, on our own, we don’t know how to pray. We don’t know what we should pray for or even how to frame our desires. We don’t know if our desires are idolatrous or if we’re asking according to His will. It’s in the times of deep earnest prayer that the Holy Spirit will help us again. (Rom 8:26-27) The "will" never desires evil as evil – but as seeming good. How happy are the people whose God is the Lord (Ps 144:15) Delighting to do God’s will means turning from the deception that joy lies outside obedient fellowship with Him. We need to consistently disbelieve the imaginations that appear sweeter than God’s loving Kindness. Define happiness the way that God does and you will never be disappointed. We have a major heart problem to struggle with for our entire lives. There will never be a time on this side of heaven when our heart will be completely conformed to loving and worshiping Him. (Jer 17:9; Gen 6:5; Gen 8:21; Ps 51:5; Eccles 9:3; Mt 15:19) Every day we must choose who we will love the most: God or me! God knows me. God knows how I long to love Him, how I want to be pleasing to Him. He also knows when I’m deceived. He knows when I’m trying to kid Him into thinking that I’m okay. He knows all the times when I do good works to impress others. He is aware of my apathy and when I worship other gods. He knows me through and through. (Heb 4:12-13; I Cor 13:12) We need concentrated doses of truth on a daily basis about the God who really is (this is because we have such a bent to create gods who are more to our liking that our minds must continually be informed and corrected) Lies cloud our thinking. Q- What am I trusting in? Instead of trusting in God – that He has allowed this difficulty into my life for my good (and ultimate happiness) I’m trusting that people have the power to make me happy. I need to see my circumstances as god’s gift to open my eyes to my idolatry and free me from it. Instead of getting sinfully angry when I’m criticized I need to rejoice in God’s faithful discipline. (prov 25:12) As I abide in Jesus (pursuing unity and dependency) and obey His commands (and confess sin), I will find that my desires are gradually transformed. God will work in my heart to enable me to lay down my desires for self worship and self love, and He will place in me the desire to worship and love Him. (Rom 12:2) (John 8:44) The heart (with it's sinful bent) never does choose the right, nor make a choice freed from self-love. Examine the thoughts and desires that captivate your heart! Ceaselessly crush the idols! We don’t consistently choose the Lord because we’re not convinced that choosing Him will result in our happiness. (Phil 2:12-13) Simultaneous steps: 1. Put off old self 2. make new in attitude of mind 3. put on new self His spirit can conquer your most formidable fears and dearest pleasures and keep you safe. Jesus had a pure heart – his thoughts, desires, affections, and motivations were all focused “like a flint” on pleasing Him. Jesus wasn’t afraid of missing worldly pleasures because He didn’t desire anything but His Father’s smiling countenance. He did not desire anything the world had to offer. "Lord, give me the wisdom I need to fight temptation and put off idolatry. Show me the thoughts and desires that Satan uses to frighten and entice me. Help me to put off self-sufficiency, pride, and laziness that would stop me from watching and praying with a vigilant heart." | 
