Falling...it hurts

Today I nearly fell down these steps.  It was not because I tripped over the dog (I just put him there because I hear animals make people pay attention...)

Cute, isn't he?

I nearly fell because:


1.  I am clumsy.  Naturally.  It's a gift.
2.  I was not paying attention.
3.  I am clumsy (did I mention that?).


Heart pounding, I grabbed the railing and saved myself from a skinned knee and a rip in my new Toms...whew.   

The Toms...still looking good!

And it got me thinking.  Sin is always lurking about. In my head, in my heart...it's there.  Yeah, there's the media and the world and all that, but the main problem I have is me.  I'm incredibly distracted and self-absorbed and sometimes my conscience is easy to quench.  Because I don't always want what's right.  


But when I fall, I get hurt.  And hurt others.  


This near miss got me thinking.  That I want to hate sin the way I hate falling down my stairs...and that I want to avoid it at all costs.  Because if I fall, more than the Toms that are going get wrecked.

Still reading?  Here's the dog again...His name is Jack.

So here's the deal, "I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:27 NASB

Because I don't want to miss out.  I don't want my husband to miss out. I don't want my kids to miss out.  I don't want anyone to miss out because of my bad choices.  And by miss out, I mean miss Jesus because I was selfish.  And I thought wrecking myself was worth it.  If it's not worth my shoes, it's definitely not worth a life.  

Grace and peace...A.

Resurrection

I turned off my phone. Logged out, logged off.  Determined to stand alone, before God.  Without sharing before hearing and receiving what He has for me.  In this day.  Moment.  Time.


Resurrection. Death.  This is a week of meditation. Without that great gift...I would be...nothing.  I was...nothing.  


Before Him, there was nothing.  I was nobody.  And knew it.  My brokenness was all consuming.  My words were all hatred.  All anger.  And I was at the end.  Death overcame my heart and mind.    Agony inside. Turned to anguish without.  Destruction of relationship. Denial of love.  


I am sure that if He had not intervened, I would not be alive today.  The constant pain of life would have caused me to take mine in search of freedom.


Freedom came.  The day I walked forward.  I didn't understand what was happening.  But when the pastor said come, I went.  I had to.  And the tears and the renewal were the beginning.  Pride didn't understand that this was no re-dedication.  This was re-birth.


Time taught me.  The word of God has healed me, body, mind and soul.  And in joy and peace I live in this resurrected soul.


"My old self has been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.  So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galations 2:20 NLT