I have no name for this blog - partly because I don't know where I'm going with it, partly because what I am thinking I really don't know if I can put into words. But when I feel like the Lord is putting a heavy burden on my heart, it sure helps me to write about it... so this is that attempt.

As Scott and I are traveling the country, it seems like the predominant discussion these days goes something like this, "My life is falling apart because..." Some of our days are filled to the full with one phone call after another where people are suffering... I don't know if it's always been this way, or if it truly is that God's people are opening themselves up to temptation more and more with the influence of the world around us. I personally didn't understand how much one person's sin could affect so many people until I was an adult. But more and more, we see these young people who's lives are being torn apart, and they are dealing with things well beyond their years.

So here it is - my plea that I just feel like I have to voice! It's God's plea to you...

Keep Yourselves!!!

...unspotted from the world; from falling to tempatation; from destroying your life and the lives of so many others! Too many people are dabbling with sin, and it's not a game that is going to end in your favor! The Bible says that sin is pleasurable for a season, but also that you can be sure that your sin will find you out!

The whole truth is, that none of us have to travel far from home to see the devastating effects of sin. And maybe it's even in your own home. It's in my home - I see every day the grief it causes, the tears in my children's eyes when they think of how people they know have been hurt by sin, how they have been hurt by it. And boy, does it make me just want to even more determine to 'keep myself'! Proverbs says it this way, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." Are you keeping your heart?

Yesterday a JW came to my door. I shared the gospel with him. He said this, "Well, do you think that we are going to find world peace?" What a loaded question. I told him that as long as there is sin in this world, we are not going to have peace. But that my hope doesn't lie in that! My hope lies in the Lord Jesus Christ, who someday WILL bring peace to this world, and sin will be forever done away with. And that now, even though my life is touched by sin, I personally have complete peace in the Lord Jesus Christ! I can say like the Psalmist that, "the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places." Oh, it's not that I haven't had my share of suffering and pain in this life - haven't we all? But I'm living each day with my confidence in a Savior who is able to keep me, who gives me peace in spite of all the pain.

Maybe you are one of those people now, who are feeling the effects of sin, who feels like their lives are falling apart - maybe not because of anything you personally have done. Are you just wondering HOW the Lord is going to do it??? Let me just remind you that we have a God who is able to do abundantly more than you could even ask or imagine! And it's by His power - not ours. Oh, trust me, I am still waiting to see what on earth the Lord is going to do with some of those things - cause I can imagine some great ends to that situation over there - but I am choosing to trust Him each day, and I know that His solution is far better than mine! "My ways are not your ways, says the Lord." Nope - they're FAR better!!! And I fully believe it!

And that's the best advice I have to offer! Give it to Him - completely! And GUARD YOUR HEART, because truly, that's where the issues in your life will spring from. Ponder the path of your feet - plan in advance what YOU are going to do when that tough situation arises!

"My son, give attention to my words;

Incline your ear to my sayings.

Do not let them depart from your eyes;

Keep them in the midst of your heart;

For they are life to those who find them,

And health to all their flesh.

Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues of life.

Put away from you a deceitful mouth,

And put perverse lips far from you.

Let your eyes look straight ahead,

And your eyelids look right before you.

Ponder the path of your feet,

And let all your ways be established.

Do not turn to the right or the left;

Remove your foot from evil."

Proverbs 4:20-27