I wish life were easier. How much easier it can get for a single American with a full time job, her own place, and a little cute dawg, I don't know but still. Actually I think what I meant was I wish life would go the way I want it to.
My desire for adventure or something new sometimes makes me nervous. What if after I'm married I get the "overseas bug?" I'm sure it will happen but like right now I have to make the adult decisions and do what is responsible rather than what I want and perceive to be the fun thing. My Momma always said, "life isn't always about being fun . . ." I'm amazed how many times lately I have heard someone say something like "that's not fun" inferring that they will not do something because it's not fun. We wonder why our lives are not feeling fulfilled and yet we only do what seems like it will be fun to our own simple little minds. In fact, I was thinking today how we so loath being in situations where we are uncomfortable. We avoid things that are challenging. Yet isn't that how we grow, how we prove to ourselves that we are capable of the hard things. That when push comes to shove we will stand firm and have a strong character and shove back? Shove back, this week to me means having enough inner strength and trust in God to humble myself, keep my mouth shut and not get fired. Shove back, when my flesh wants something so bad and I need to use the sheer power of thought to talk myself off the ledge, of chocolate that is. I'm fasting with the Awaken 21 crew. Or even the phone call I want to make. I was watching Lord of the Rings and I was struck again how there are so many similarities that can be drawn between that movie and life. When Frodo is the most scared he puts the ring on but then he is visible to the evil eye of Saudon. It feels like that bit of sin in my life that when I engage it then that is when the powers of Satan know I am at my weakest. It is then that I need to lean on my friends, or read scripture, or listen to music, or pray. In the worst moment when the demon from the old world comes and rears it's head like the fellowship of the ring we can look to Jesus, or in their case, Gandolf, for the answer and I'm pretty sure Jesus will have a similar response, "RUN!!!"
Calling on the name of the Lord is not like the magic 8 ball. We still need to make the choice not to stand and be effected by the evil even if it is the sinful desires inside of us. James was really sparing no ones feelings when he said, ". . . each of you is tempted when you are dragged away by your own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
During the Awake worship time the leader stressed the fact that we need to be watching what we allow to enter our mind through our eyes, ears, and even our thoughts. We have got to stop listening to music that promotes sex, cheating, drinking, and all the other "fun" things of the world. We have got to stop promoting T.V. shows that perpetrate sinful life styles that are killing not only the moral standard we are trying to uphold but also the people that are choosing them. We need to be more accountable for the words that come out our mouths. That is the complaining, back biting, swearing, etc. This is such a challenge to me since it seems like every TV show has trash in it. Every conversation at work is rehearsing how many days are left until we can get out of there. The truth is people don't want to hear your positive chipper self, bouncing down the hall. But when the time comes they will miss you. I guarantee it.
Let's set a higher standard for ourselves. Let's try to "set ourselves apart" like the bible instructs. Let's spread the aroma of Christ this week where ever we go. After all we really don't have that much to complain about at least I don't being a single American with a full time job, her own place, and a little cute dawg ;)
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