Wow! It's been a while...

A friend pointed out that it had been a while since I'd blogged....very true. I actually had three different blogs that I have been working on. But they are the types of blogs that you aren't certain you want everyone reading, so I decided to delete those. I think I used them more to think through some things that have been going on, sort of like a personal journal.

Anyway....God has once again shown me his mighty power of providing! I found out earlier this week that my financial aid was given back to me. The week before, I found out that the book loan was granted to me as well. The book loan was a glimpse as to God's provision. But when I received the email stating, "The Financial Aid Committe has approved your appeal for financial aid..." you cannot imagine the praise I was giving to my God. (I'll share him with you if you like) :)

Well, I'm about to start the third week of school. I received my last order of books on Friday at work (the only reason I went in...lol). You should see my window, 16 books looks more like 30! I had to go out today and buy a bookshelf to put my books at because my window looked cluttered.

Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs are the topic of conversation for African-American Lit. I must say, it's interesting to hear some of the African-American girls speak up when certain points are brought up in class. I think that's one reason why I'm enjoying the class more than anything.

American Lit, well it's just interesting. I love how the professor is open to so many different ideas.

Discipline of English has been sooooo easy. This is one of the two online courses I'm taking. The readings are nice and short. The longest assignments right now are reading responses, which I love because they are pretty much all about our own opinions. And it's focusing on writing, and how to teach it. That's what I think I'm going into for the time being, so I'm enjoying it.

Then theres Contemporary Women Writers, second online coourse. First book we're reading: "Reload: Rethinking Women and Cyberculture". Oh my goodness, I picked up the book on Monday to read it for my assignment on Wednesday. I kid you not, the terminology is insane. I think Teske might have been able to explain it to me better than webster did one word at a time. It was something about cyborgs, cyberculture, cyberpunk, cyberfeminism, and scientist calling themselves "God". That last part was the one thing I was able to understand very clearly. Then there was a story about a human brain used to run a ship? What in the world is that all about!?!?!? I'm ready to move past this book! I can't even do my responses because I have no clue what I'm writing about.

There is one good side to the class. We are doing a major paper, couldn't really tell you what it's about because I don't really understand it. I think the point is to research an author (female) or woman in any media as long as literature is involved somehow. The professor asked a few questions to give us ideas as to what to focus on. She told me, "You might want to look for women writers in theology, women who write about Christianity through essays, memoirs, autobiographical work, etc." So I asked a couple of people, and they both mentioned Dorothy Sayers, so that's who I stuck with. I went into a database to get some info, and I must admit, I'm excited about this part of the CWW class. I think it's the only part I'm excited about right now. :)

Besides that, all is okay. My last official day at work was this past Friday. Finally, no more driving back to Garland during the week. Now I can actually join my friends for lunch and dinner. And I'll have some free time to focus on retreat. Haven't been doing much of that lately, and it's starting to catch up with me! Then it will be back to work sometime between the 1st and 15th of October. There is an opportunity for me to work across from the school at a daycare, but I don't know. I struggle with calling my boss and saying, "Hey, all that time I bugged you to tell me when the school would be opening, and telling you I wanted to come back, and you working with me in every way, well that's all pointless now cause I'm working in Commerce. Won't be coming back." What to do, what to do???? While I decide, we'll see what intersting things will be happening in my life!

Oh, and don't be surprised if you happen to come across some new Bible questions. A friend prompted me to do some studying on a few words. Long story for you to understand where that came from, that story would be in those blogs you aren't going to read (ha-ha). But I'm very much looking forward to doing another deep study of God's word! Be ready to answer questions!!!

So, Brownie, how's this for an update??? :-p

Learning to trust....

My first week in Commerce is over, except for the fact that I have tons of reading to do. But it is over! This week has been one of the stressful, yet most teaching weeks for me. (couldn't think of a better way to say it).

A day before payment for tuition was due, I found out that I was denied my financial aid, this was last Thursday. I had already seen my loans come through, but within 24 hrs, they were taken right back. So imagine where my head was at. I had no money for books, no money to pay tuition. So I had to fill out forms for emergency loans. I still had to wait a week to find out anything. This situation took over everything pretty much, what I thought of, what I focused on, what worried me(although I shouldn't have).

So anyway, my classes started on Monday. My first class was American Literature. The professor is great! She is funny, not serious all the time, jokes around every once in a while. And we're talking about the Puritans, and how they affected literature as they traveled to the New World, and how Calvanists had a big part in religion and their beliefs and tons more. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to do any of my readings because I don't have my books yet for the class.

My next class was African American Literature. We really haven't figured out how the class is actually going to be. The prof. is constantly talking about a presentation that we all have to do, when it's due, what to expect, and a new blog that he set up for the class (yay!). We were supposed to talk about the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Doulgass, but thank goodness we didn't, because I still didn't have my book to read it. (An honest excuse I might add.)

All goes the same for my two online classes, Contemporary Women Writers and Discipline of English. The books weren't such a problem as it was to simply figure out how to work around the eCollege program. It's so confusing. I think I understand it maybe 35%. Ha-ha!

All week long, I tried figuring out if I had gotten loas or not. All I was able to find out was that I received a book loan on Friday. So I'm going to check and see if the bookstore is open today so I can get two books I need (if they have them). This money situation was a last minute thing. I didn't know what to do, who to go to, or anything. All I could think was to immediately email all my friends and ask them to pray. And they did! But it was difficult to know that all I could do about it was pray.

I have to say that God was teaching me a HUGE lesson here! I found out about the money on a Thursday evening. I got up and left to Commerce at around 7:30 the following morning, thinking I could figure it out and get my money back right away. I guess I thought that it had to be a misunderstanding. They tell me that it was because I dropped a class, and the ladies gave me no hope. I had to fill out an appeal, but they kept being negative about it. In the mean time, I filled out an emergency loan application for books and tuition. I wouldn't find out about the emergency loan for another two weeks, the book loan in a week, and the appeal in two weeks. So I had to be PATIENT (ha-ha, something Erin and I worked on yesterday). I filled out everything that I could and had to, got in my car, and drove back to work.

When I pulled into Garland, about 10 minutes away from my work, I started hearing, "What restores our faith in God? What reveals the Father's love? What can lead the wayward home? What can melt a heart of stone? What can free the guilty ones What can save and overcome? Overcome...." (Mighty is the Power of the Cross by Chris Tomlin) I just began to cry. I realized how much I had doubted the One that had my situation in control. As much as I prayed, I realized that I still tried to take control of the situation instead of allowing Him to show me what he wanted. And when I saw what I had been doing in the last 24 hrs; I asked for some major forgiveness and said, "It's all in your hands!" I have to admit, the peace that I felt after turning it all to God, amazing.

At times throughout the week, I struggled with not knowing where the money was going to come from. I knew I had help for my books because a sweet friend offered to help me out. Took advantage of that the first day of class! But throughout the week, I received phonecalls, "If you need money for school, for anything, give us a call! Don't hesitate!" "When do you need to pay your tuition? Let us know so we can help you out." "Call us as soon as you find out if you need money or not." I was amazed. Again, God was showing me that he knows what he's doing. My trust in our heavenly Father has grown to such great lengths, I can't even tell you.

I am reminded of a couple of verses that Lance taught 3/4 weeks ago, James 1:2-4, "Consider it pure joy, my brother, whenever (meaning they will come) you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverace must finish its works so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." I can't lack anything when my faith is truly in Christ!

No longer a baby...

This is Jasmine 4 years ago...

And this is Jasmine today...

on her first day of pre-K. I was fortunate enough to get to take her to school on the first day and for her first time ever, she is after all my goddaughter, so mom had no choice but to let me! :-)

It was a very exciting morning. I went to her house around 11 am. The minute I walked in the door, she runs up screaming, "Nina, I'm going to school today!" The excitement in her voice just made me smile from one end of my face to the other. Then along comes Aly (2 y.o.) saying the same thing, "Nina, I'm going to go to school today!" I didn't have the heart to say, "No you're not sweetie."

11:50 came around in no time. I went out to my car and got my camera, I had to take pictures of this great moment. We then got in the car and headed for her school. She rememered the way, her mom and dad had taken her to see it last Thursday. She kept saying, "Keep going straight...keep going straight...keep going straight....turn here." It was so funny, especially since I knew where the school was at.

We pulled up to the drop off lane, and I started to feel some emotions creeping inside of me. I was finally able to see the young assistants that walk up to the cars and pull the kids out and take them to their class. As our turn came around for one of the girls to come and take Jasmine out of the car, I turned around and tried helping her get her Princess backpack on. The door opens, and she's as ready as could be to get out of the car. She stands up, gives me a big kiss and hug, says I love you, and runs into the school.

I found my way out of the drop off lane and onto 5th where I can head straight to work. Suddenly the tears began to roll down my face. I've seen Jasmine as my baby since the day she was born. I went with mom to all her appointments, was at the hospital when Jasmine was born, took Jasmine to all her check-ups, and have just been a part of her life from day one. Last year we had a big Princess birthday party for her. We started talking to her about getting ready for school this year, and the excitement has been in her ever since. But for me, I still saw her as my baby that wasn't ready to be sitting in a classroom with a teacher teaching her the A,B,C's, and 1,2,3's. And to suddenly see her walking into such a "big" school and into her school as excited and proud as she could be, well I couln't help but realize that she isn't a baby anymore!

And here is the funny part...she isn't my child! Now if I got that emotional simply by leaving my goddaughter/niece at school on her first day of pre-K, imagine what it will be like when it is my own child I'm having to leave at school for the first time!

Early morning for a non-early riser!

School started up today for Garland ISD. The youth and a couple of parents gathered at the church last night to pray for those returning, homeschool parents, teachers, and administrators. I had everyone leave by 9 so they could go home and get their rest, as well as mine. I had made plans for the early morning hours.

I woke up at 5:30, made a special run to S'bucks, then headed over to the house of one of the youth. She had expressed the anxiety she feels on the first day, and we decided to get together to pray. I watched as she got ready to head out. She walked at least five times back and forth to her backpack thinking, "Do I have everything?" And every time she did that, I'd say, "You've got it all. It's going to be okay. You've got it all under control even though you don't know it." 7 am rolled around and mom was busy taking a picture of her getting in her car. We prayed while mom looked for batteries.

She headed out to school, which would have been 5 minutes down the road if there wasn't any traffic. But it was past 7 am, and the traffic was crazy. She was supposed to be there at 7:30...that didn't happen. But she was calm and relaxed as she sat in traffic. I was in my car standing still in traffic next to her. :-)

I headed home and put clothes in the washer. We're back to scrubs now that the school year has started. I only have to worry about work clothes for 4 days, since I'll be in Commerce on Wednesday. I grabbed some coffee and cereal and sat down to read Sandi's book, False Positive. I'd picked it up once before and begun reading it, but wasn't able to finish it. I looked at the clock and it was only 7:45. I read another thirty minutes before deciding to go make another run at S'bucks. S'bucks can be such an encouragement for a homeschool mother that is all about chocolate ;) (isn't that right, j?).

So I went and dropped off the encouragement drink while J was in the shower. Her kids were all excited, "Is it a surprise? Does she know about it? Can we tell her?" I quickly walked out and came back home.

Now I'm just sitting here thinking of what my next move will be? Perhaps work on my Genesis study, or read more of False Positive, perhaps read a little out of The Angel by James H. Pence, finish washing clothes, or maybe just go back to sleep for another hour. It's only 9 am, but I am exhausted!

One final note: My 4 year goddaughter, Jasmine, is starting pre-k today. I'm so excited. I get to take her to school this week. I can already see it, camera in hand, taking pictures of her putting on her backpack, getting into the car, out of the car, into the school...if only they'd let us walk them into the classroom. (*tear)

Praise and plea...

I found out today where I will be working my last week at Blue Ivey. I'll be working with the first teacher I worked with when I first started four years ago. I'll also be working in what I always considered my classroom. And I'll get to be with my pre-school 3 class I had last year(04-05), which will now be kindergartners. Awww...

Anyway. After finding that out, I continued on with my routine: get some lunch, go to my naproom, get all the kids to go to sleep, and finally eat and read. I've been going through "The One Year Book of Praying Through the Bible" by Cheri Fuller. Sandi gave me this for my birthday a couple of years ago, and must say I've really enjoyed it!

Today's devotioanl was focused on Psalm 35:10: I will praise him from the bottom of my heart: "Lord, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the weak and helpless from the strong? Who else protects the poor and needy from those who want to rob them?"

Fuller describes how early on in Psalm 35, David is crying out to God as his enemies were trying to destroy him. "He expresses his fears concerning his foes and cries out to God to rescue him and to defeat those who are opposing him." I love what she writes next, "But then David picks up his best weapon of all - worship. As he praises the Lord from the depths of his heart, his attitude goes from discouragement to hope, from desperation to devotion."

Funny, when I pray to God because of difficult circumstances, I don't see myself praising or worshipping God. I see myself crying out to him for help, but that's about it. This thought was harder for me to take in as I read a quote by Joni Eareckson Tada, "Most of the verses written about praise in God's Word were penned by men and women who faced crushing heartaches, injustice, treachery, slander, and scores of other intolerable situations."

What drew those men and women to praise God during such difficult times? How did Job not turn away from God as Satan thought he would? And what about David? In his Psalms, he is always praising God in one way or another in the midst of trials. What in us causes us to turn to God in ugly situations and cry for help, yet fail to praise him for who he is and what he has given us, the gift of life?

Or is it just me? Am I the only one that prays without praising? Do you see yourself doing the same? Or can you truly say that you praise God even during the difficult times?

The move back....

It is now the 17th...6 days away from making my first trip back to Commerce! I'm begining to feel excited, anxious, and nervous. I'm happy to be starting school without having to work! That way I'll be able to concentrate on school and a few projects on the side. I'll be living in a new hall, with a dorm that will definitely have the feel of an apartment. You'd have to see the rooms at Whitley to understand the difference between this one and the "regular" rooms. Anyway...

I picked up a lay-away I had at Wal-Mart on Monday. I just love that store! I bought some black matted frames to put up some pictures I took while I was in Maryland. And today, I went to pick up the second part of the lay-away, my bedding. I have decided on new colors for my side of the room: dark brown (or chocolate) and khaki. I'm all about the neutral colors right now. I would have bought brown frames for the pictures to match, but the pictures are in B&W, and brown just didn't seem to match. Oh, and I got a telephone for my room! Why am I excited about a telephone, I have no clue!

I still have a few things that I need to get, but i am trying to not spend money if it isn't necessary. So I figure that if it's really necessary, I can just hop over to Wal-Mart, which is next door to my hall, and buy whatever I need. I'm also trying to not take everything from my room at home to Commerce. But I can already tell you that will be hard. I'm the type of person that always thinks, "I don't need this...but wait...what if I need it for _______?" That has been the thing that has prevented me from throwing so many things away!

J will be helping me move in next Saturday. I'm excited about her going. I'm hoping that we'll get to spend more than just "moving-in time" in Commerce so I can take her to the Cowhill Express, only the cutest little coffee shop in Commerce and show her the campus (BTW, just a bit of history for ya. Commerce used to be called Cowhill, TX. Believe, I'd rather say that I live in Commerce instead of Cowhill!)

I can't wait for this week, and part of next week to be over! I get next Wednesday off so I can go sign in and get my room key. I can't wait! The 5 of us - Erin, Loma, Alyssa, Sophie and I - hopefully will get to see each other. Then back to work for only 2 more days, until September/October.

I'm wondering what God will be doing in my life this semester. I honestly do wonder! One thing I am praying for is a sense of direction! For the past couple of years, I've been a bit confused as to where my life is going. I went from being an Elementary Ed major to an English major. I'm still an English major, I just don't know why. I do, however, find myself committing more and more to ministry projects. Yesterday, someone made the comment of, "You seem to be very busy. Are you in school? I know you're heading up a few things here at church? Is that what's keeping you so busy?" My only response was this, "I want to prepare for ministry. The only opportunity I have right now is during the summer time, so I do say yes quite a bit to church projects. If I could be up here every day, I'd do it!" And I think God is definitely calling me to do something in ministry, I just don't know what. Hence, the prayer for direction....

In the meantime, I'll enjoy the new semester living away from home once again, with my friends, and reading 24/7. Here's one good final note. Rest assured that I will be going to classes everyday and making good grades this semester. I missed quite a bit last semester for a reason or two. A friend I met in two of my classes called me a couple of weeks ago and said, "I know where you're gonna live. The minute I walk into class and don't see you there, I will come to your room, and drag your butt out of bed and into class!" What a friend :-)

Away from the everyday life...

My family and I went to Arkansas this weekend to visit two of my cousins. We left Friday night on what was supposed to be a 5 1/2 hour drive. It ended up being a 7 hour drive after stopping three times and then getting lost for about 30 minutes. I told my parents, "This is the last time you invite my aunt, all her kids and grandkids!" Besides arriving in Pottsville at 3 a.m. everything else was pretty good.

On Saturday, we drove out to a swimming hole near Dover, Ar, Long Pool Recreation Center. It was awesome! The drive up there was amazing, we literally drove up and down mountains. Now, if you know me, nature is the one thing that can call my name and I will run to it without hesitation. I was in heaven as we drove past the pine trees, saw the scenic views from the top of the mountain, walked through the stream/river, and actually swam in it.

I wasn't fortunate to be around people that understood my love for nature and my need to take pictures of it. E, I so wished you were the one driving! I must say, I appreciated you even more as my parents continously said, "Why shoud I stop so you can take a picture of a tree/bug/water...etc???" Thanks for understanding my picture-taking obsession! I was only able to take like 5 pictures.

This was something I was fascinated with!This is a gigantic rock (for a lack of better words) from which everyone was jumping off of. It was so neat to be swimming right in front of it. Can't explain the feeling. Erin, you may remember that I didn't set foot in the river at Harper's Ferry because there were these little itty-bitty fish. LOL. I had to suck it up this time because my 4 year old god-daughter asked me to take her in the water. I freaked out at first(without letting her know it). But after realizing that the fish, half the size of my little toe, would swim away immediately, I was okay. What drew me the most was how still the water looked around the rock. It's so clear in this picture. See it? Again, I'm a bit obsessed about the little things in nature.

This was what really relaxed me the most. As I looked around at the trees, the eagles flying around, the clouds and the sun, I couldn't do anything more than just stare. All I could think of is this amazing song by Chris Tomlin:

"You Do All Things Well"

Mountain maker
Ocean tamer
Glimpses of You
Burn in my eyes
The worship of heaven
Fills up the skies

You made it all
Said, "let there be"
And there was
All that we see
The sound of Your voice
The works of Your hands
You do all things well
You do all things well
You do all things well

Star creator
Wind breather
The strokes of Your beauty
Brushed through the clouds
Light from the heavens
Touching the ground

You made it all
Said, "let there be"
And there was
All that we see
The sound of Your voice
The works of Your hands
You do all things well
You do all things well
You do all things well

Imagination runs wild
And breathes the breath of life
Across the fields
Across the miles

You made it all
Said, "let there be"
And there was
All that we see
The sound of Your voice
The works of Your hands
You do all things well
You do all things well
You do all things well

Lost my frame of thought...now I must go listen to that song...

Book Tag

So I saw my name on Erin's list of tagged people. Thanks buddy! :) Funny thing is that I rarely read books. I remember more of the books that I read from elementary - high school than I do recently. Ooh, hope Sandi doesn't see that. :) So here goes:

1. One book that changed your life: Night by Eli Wiesel - This was simply an amzing book to read in tenth grade, as we talked about the Holocaust in my history class.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once: I Promise I'll Find You by Heather Patricia Ward and Sheila McGraw - What can I say? I work with kids everyday. The day I discovered this book, it became my favorite book to read to my 3/4 year olds. They even know the song now!

3. One book you’d want on a desert island: Don't know if there would be a point? I'd probably use the pages to light up a fire!

4. One book that made you laugh: 101 Questions Children Ask About God (Questions Children Ask) by David R. Veerman, James C. Galvin, and James C. - Wilhoit - Once again, I work with kids. LOL. I'd have to say that the comics in the book were more or less the cause of my laughter than the actual questions.

5. One book that made you cry: A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer - This has been the saddest book I've read. We read this book in my 10th grade child development class. I am truly amazed that this guy was able to survive the torture that his mother put him through!

6. One book that you wish had been written: Step-by-Step Guide to Dating (LOL) - A book that tells me what to say, when to say it, how to say it, etc...I think you get the idea.

7. One book that you wish had never been written: Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth H. Blanchard - I read this book along with my co-workers at the fist day care I worked at; the boss told us we had to read it. I understood and learned nothing from this book! If someone has read it and knows what it's about, more power to ya.

8. One book you’re currently reading: A Woman God Can Lead by Alice Mathews - I've been reading this book for about two weeks now. Thought I'd read it to get a preview of what our speaker might be talking about at retreat. ;)

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: The Secret of Loving by Josh McDowell - Erin, I've tried making time for this book, but just haven't been able to! Perhaps I'll read it during my free-time in Commerce. :)

10. Now tag five people: Hmmm...this will probably be the last of this, considering everyone that does read my blog seems to have already been tagged. LOL. Whoever wishes to continue this, if you happen to come across it, by all means, do it! Have fun with it!

I think I figured it out!

So I think I've finally come to a conclusion with the testing/temptation words. You can use both words in the same sense, but it depends on who you're crediting for what. From what I have read, you can say "God is testing me to see if my faith is truly in him" or "God is allowing me to be tempted so that he can see if my faith is in him." and "Satan tempts me to sin to blind me from God's love and grace." How does that sound to you?

God allows Satan to tempt us, if you consider God's conversation with Satan in the book of Job. He, however, isn't the cause of us falling for that temptation. Temptation (sin) already lives within us. It is a part of us, as well all know, we are all sinners. God simply allows Satan to spark that desire for the temptation. God does it to see where we really stand in our faith.

I guess my confusion came in where I began to think a bit harder and thought, "Well if God is telling Satan to go ahead and tempt Job, then he's causing it to happen period." But the problem there is that temptation harms us, not helps us. I Tim 6:9 states, "But people who [long to be rich] fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction." Temptation brings upon our lives "ruin and destruction". It doesn't build us up or bring glory to God. And that is what God seeks, that we glorify him through our words and actions. Why would God tempt us to fall into sin and bring glory to Satan and not him?

With that in mind, would God allow ruin and destruction to come into our lives? That's not his desire for us. His desire is to show us his love, mercy, and grace so that we may see who he is and lift him up in our praises. Does he allow pain and trials to come into our lives? Yes! The youth learned that this week on Tuesday night. James showed them that in 1:2, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds," So trials will come, and perhaps temptation will come along with those trials (the easy way out). But consider trials as God's way of loving us and desiring for us to grow in our faith and build endurance; and look at temptation as Satans way of blinding us from our great Father's love. When you think about it, that's really what it does. I won't explain how I finally reasoned that thought out...I'll leave that up to you to figure out.

Tested/Tempted, what's the difference?

I’ve been reading the book of James for the past two weeks or so. If you've read James before, you'll know that it has 5 chapters. So obviously, I've read it more than once.

There have been two verses that have stuck in my mind from day one.

James 1:13-15
And remember, no one who wants to do wrong should ever say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else either. Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death.

I got confused when I read “he never tempts anyone”, because I understood it as, “He never tests anyone”. So I looked at the footnotes, which led me to more scripture. It ultimately led me to the footnotes of Genesis 22:1:

Test. Not “tempted” for God does not tempt (Jas 1:13). Satan tempts us (see 1 Co 7:5) in order to make us fall; God tests us in order to confirm our faith (Ex 20:20) or prove our commitment (Dt 8:2).

This made me think of Job, and the conversation that God has with Satan, in which Satan says, “But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” And God’s response to Satan was, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” It sounds like God is allowing Job to be tempted by Satan. From that previous footnote, is says that Satan tempts, and I understand that I just said that God allowed Job to be tempted by Satan. So God won’t tempt us but allow us to be tempted?

So I continued to search and looked up the word tempted in my NKJ Bible dictionary:

To put to the test; to try, prove, tempt. Te basic idea is to put someone to the test to see how he will respond, as in 1 Kin 10:1. Abraham was tested by God(Gen 22:1) to the utmost degree. David called for God to test his mind and heart, confident that he would pass this test (Ps 26:2, 3). It is God’s privilege to test man; it is not man’s right to test God.

You'd think that would clear up the confusion wiith the words tempted and tested? But it hasn't, because in my mind, tempted still means the same as tested. However, Gen 22:1 says that Satan tempts, not God; God only tests us. Yet it seems with Job that God allowed him to be tempted not tested... So, can you tell me what the difference is between the two words? Whats the result of each?