Danger, Danger!!

This morning I was reading one of the most basic things in the Bible. Adam and Eve and their "fall". It's found in Genesis 3 and I'm sure everyone is familiar with the story of how the serpent visits Eve to trick her into eating the one thing God has commanded they don't touch.

That got me to thinking about how we are as humans from the time we are just tiny tots, all the way until the day we die. I know I've blogged before about having boundaries, and discipline in your life as far as your dreams, goals and work ethics are concerned, but we also need them in our walk with God as well. I recalled how when my son was little and we began to teach him of the things he could and could not touch because of the dangers of them. And so began his journey with learning boundaries, self-control, and discipline.

Part of teaching him those principles was showing him what not to touch or go near, and protecting him when and if he did it anyway.

I remember one time, in particular, we were walking down the street in town and I was holding his hand. He was still small and I knew that I had to hold to him or it's hard to tell where he'd end up. We had almost made it to Radio Shack when he noticed a kid on the other side of the street with a bunch of red balloons. He yelled out, "Mommy, look!" and pointed. I felt his little hand loosen its grip and suddenly jerk from mine and I saw him dart off, away from me. My heart sank in an instant. My instinct to save him kicked in so he wouldn't run into traffic and get hurt or killed. I quickly took off and grabbed him by the shirt collar and pulled him back. I wrapped my arm around him and held him close to me tightly as I explained why he was to never stray from me again. I told him how dangerous it was and that bad things could happen to him if he got away from me. I remember the look in his eyes and on his tiny face as he listened intently to my words. After I finished, he shook his head in agreement and we went on about our business.

There were other times too in his young life when I noticed just because I had warned him of dangers, it didn't always mean it stuck in his mind. One thing that I always made sure he knew NOT to get around was the stove when I was cooking. I always told him that it would hurt him and tried my best to help him understand the dangers of it.

On one occasion, I had put a roast in the oven for dinner and went on about cleaning house. Josh, my son, was playing and being his usual good self, I thought when I heard a scream come from the kitchen. I dropped the broom and ran through the house to find him crying loudly and holding out his right hand that was red as a beet by that time. He was around three years old and I asked him what happened. In all of his crying and me holding his hand under cold running water, he managed to point at the stove and say through sobs and snubs, "hurt". I knew immediately what had taken place. I asked him if he'd touched the oven and he shook his head yes. I reminded him of the warning I'd given him to NOT touch it but realized that the temptation to touch it, had far outweighed anything I had told him about it being bad for him.

We are like that with things in this world, as well. God tells us in His word the things that we can and can NOT touch, yet we continue to do so like my son with the hot stove door. The same way when he spotted the red balloons across the street, they caught his eye and caused him to want one. So he let go of me and ran toward them, putting himself in harm's way. Genesis 3:6 tells us how the when Eve saw the tree was good for food, that "it was pleasant to the eyes" and "she took of the fruit and ate". Sometimes we see things that turn our heads or look good to us and we think that touching them or chasing after them is alright. But in reality, what need to do is turn to God and His protection. I wanted to include one scripture about abiding under God's wing and being protected, as found in Psalm 91:4, but I'm also being led to include this scripture that keeps coming to my mind, so I'll follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and include it as well. 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you except that which is common to mankind, but God is faithful when you are tempted that He will provide a way out that you may endure it." And that's exactly what God does for us by trying to catch us to keep us safe, as I also grabbed my son and pulled him back. God will go to that length for you. He will chase you and try and pull you back to safety, you just have to let Him. God always tries to get our attention and tell us of the dangers, but sometimes we don't listen, we continue on anyway until we are hurt. When you hear God call out to you, or you feel God tug on you to pull you back to protection, by all means, go back to safety.

I'm a prime example of how many times God came for me when I got into bad situations and was headed toward hurt and heartache. God was right there to save me from it all, but there were times that I went head long into danger and temptations and ended up hurt; very badly. It wasn't because He didn't try to help me, but rather because of my own rebellious spirit that I carried at the time. I knew things were wrong, but I went anyway. Even though I'd been told not to by God's Spirit, I did anyway and wound up in a heap of trouble. But God, being the good God He is, was there to pull me out of the mess. I was injured and hurt, but He rescued me. How I wish I had just listened in the first place and saved myself the pain and heartache, but I didn't.

Listen, there are going to be times in your life that you mess up and go full steam ahead in the wrong direction. Why? Because you are human. I don't care how much you try to be perfect, there will be mistakes that you make. They may not be like mine, but you will make them.

In a perfect world, we will listen to the Father as he speaks to us and avoid danger. But in our world in which we live, with all the sin and temptation around us, we will mess up. The good news is that you can turn to God when and if you do. You can turn back from the danger and run to Him. I'm not giving anyone a license to sin just because we live in a sinful world but I'm saying that if you do mess up, (and you will) remember that God is there to love you anyway. He made us and He knows there will be times we touch the thing we are not supposed to touch. He knows there will be things that catch our attention, like the balloons with my son, and we will run after them. He will do His part to draw us back to safety, we just have to listen and run back to Him. Proverbs 2:11 says that "discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you". That means if you are wise, you will avoid evil company and allow the wisdom of God to preserve you in times of temptations.

Side note:

I want to put something out there today that hopefully will clear up what I'm doing on my blogs. I am in NO way trying to preach to anyone. Who am I to preach? I am NOT a preacher nor a teacher in any capacity whatsoever. But I want to tell you what my blogs are for. My website is a tool in which readers can follow me, find out more about me and purchase my books. My blogs started out as a fun way for my readers to keep up with the goings on in my life and all the fun things happening for me. It was a way to take you on the journey that I was on.

But my blogs have changed and someone messaged me and said they "are too churchy" and "too much about God". Well!! I have to say this now. My life is completely different now than it was six or even four months ago. God is everything in my life now. My heart, my mind, my spirit, and my writing belong to Him. I thought about what was said and I wondered (for a split second) if that person was right. Then I thought "how can you get too much of the Bible?" The word of God is the ONLY answer to every problem you'll ever have. So no, they are not "too churchy". I have never tried to use my blogs to push God on anyone. My website is open to the public and those who choose to come and read, do so on their own. My blogs are in no way put on people against their will, whoever reads them, chooses to read them. I don't know all of the ones who read them, I don't know who my audience is, but I know that if it offends anyone, the choice to not read them is theirs. I can't stop writing about what God has led me to just because one reader says that. I refuse to trade what God has done for me to be a man-pleaser. I look at it this way: if there's a show on tv that you watch and didn't like, then you simply wouldn't tune in anymore. You certainly wouldn't expect that network to take the show off the air because you didn't like it. It's the same with anything, if someone doesn't like something, they are not being forced to read it.

So I can't change back to what I used to be to make anyone happy. I want to please God. And as far as my blogs go, I look at them as sort of like a diary that I write each day. I know that people read them, but they really are a diary of my journey.

Having said that, I'll say that after I was sent the message about them having too much Bible in them, I had a thought. If ONE person can cause you to question what you know God has led you to do, then what will you do when scoffers and naysayers come on a larger scale? If you are hurt by one, how much more will you be hurt by a thousand? I smiled and agreed. So all I can say is, welcome to my new blog. I pray with each one, someone will find something helpful in them.

I have a wonderful testimony to share with others who are hurting. A testimony of God's mercy, grace, forgiveness and His amazing plans for our lives and my goal is to help you find healing amid the hurt.

Remember to work hard and Dream Big!!

Much love,

Christy