James 1: 15

"Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
James 1:15

Being a Mom, I resonate with the word picture of this verse. Having gone through the process of "thinking about conception" and then conception itself...the growth process leading to birth, and realizing that we all face the ultimate end: death. There is a vivid message here.

Affairs don't happen because a spouse (husband -OR- wife) looked at someone else and thought they looked cute. No, it happens when someone looks, lingers, thinks and contemplates how that person looked (or treated them so nicely, or seems so Godly a spouse, or was so much neater than..., etc, etc, etc). Over time the thoughts begin to settle in and become comfortable, and before you know it the sin has become full-blown and there's nothing ahead, it seems, but a slippery slope.

There are two things to remember, then:

1) Guard your heart, for out of it flows the well-spring of life. Don't let those thoughts take root ~ surrender the desire and the feeling to Christ. A companion to this is that God does not tempt us...but He does give us the strength (HIS strength) to walk away when we simply say, "HELP!"

2)There is no sin so great God can't redeem it. Confess and repent to God your sin. Then take hold of James 1:9 that says we can ask for wisdom when we don't know what to do...then look for His leading in what to do from there.

Sidenote: I am not so naive to think that sin always looks ugly. Sometimes we've become so comfortable with it that we really don't want to stop thinking about it or doing it. It is in those times that you can ask God to make it ugly to you....ask HIM, the One who created you, to change your mind about it. He is faithful, and He will, in the words of an acquaintance, "catch your conscience." If you still don't want to...see it through to the end in your mind's eye. Sin is never worth the end result.

I Thessalonians 4: 7-8

"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you His Holy Spirit."

Something you may not know about me is that I am a Birth-Mother. In 1996 I had a baby girl. I was not married at the time, and I placed her in the arms of her God-chosen Adoptive Mother to be a member of their family. she is beautiful and vibrant, and very much a part of my life today. God has truly worked all things together for good in this part of my story.

However, I tell you this not to share me, but to point out the wisdom and urgency of the two verses Paul writes above. Purity is nto a Christian "buzz-word" like "WWJD" or (enter any popular phrase here). Purity is a mandate.

The Thessalonians were good people ~ Paul even urged them to do what they were doing "more and more." The fact that he addressed sexual sin and manipulation in the middle of it only points to the fact that it's so easy to get sucked in! An impure life ~ sexual, thought-full, immoral ~ only leads to pain. Giving your body to someone who is not your spouse; manipulating someone to get your way; using ill-gotten ways to further your cause, none of these lead to a peaceful, joy-filled Spirit. (I can say that with confidence that comes from personal experience.) No, these things lead to the death of your Spirit.

So lead PURE lives! The Spirit, if you are a Child of God, is yours ~ seek God and His righteousness and He will make your ways pure.......Don't reject Him. In doing so you're basically telling Him He is not enough ~ and I can also say with confidence that turning from what looks like it will fulfill you to what God insures will fulfill you will bring blessings and fulfillment you can only begin to imagine.

Extended leave?

I apologize for not updating recently...I've lost internet access on my personal computer and am only able to access my blogs and all other internet related "stuff" on Scott's computer. And...since he tends to be at work in his office most days and well into the night...that's rather difficult to do on a regular basis. Please forgive me if you really, really look forward to reading these Apples of Gold! *grin*

Here's the latest entry....

Deuteronomy 1: 34-37

34 “When the Lord heard your complaining, he became very angry. So he solemnly swore, 35 ‘Not one of you from this wicked generation will live to see the good land I swore to give your ancestors, 36 except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see this land because he has followed the Lord completely. I will give to him and his descendants some of the very land he explored during his scouting mission.’

37 “And the Lord was also angry with me because of you. He said to me, ‘Moses, not even you will enter the Promised Land! 38 Instead, your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will lead the people into the land. Encourage him, for he will lead Israel as they take possession of it.


This passage astounds me. God told MOSES he wouldn't enter the Promised Land because he didn't believe 100%!! MOSES!! But Joshua and Caleb ~ two men who simply believed that God would do what He said He'd do ~ would be the only Israelites over the age of 20 who would enter the Promised Land when it came time. Astounding.

So many of us call ourselves Christians and yet we never quite believe that God will do exactly what He says He'll do. So we live our lives as we wish ~ making sure we are "good" and "do mostly the right things ~ and don't give sanctification or repentence a second thought most days. But when things get tough we call on God to heal us...or bless us for our efforts...or miraculously make things better in our lives. What fools we can be!

Asking God to come into our lives is easy ~ He makes it so amazingly easy! But being like Caleb and Joshua? That's the hard part.

Because I am so aware of my Moses-like tendencies in my own life, I've come up with a way to help me pray more fully. Maybe it will help you, too. It comes from what I've said above ~ Christianity is not a One-Way street, we've got to do our P.A.R.T.

P: Praise God for who He is. Not for what He's done for you, but simply for who He is...the example I think of is Creator. Give praise for where you've seen His hand today.

A: Ask forgiveness for your sins. Repent and turn from them. Allow Him to clean your heart so there is no wall of separation between you.

R: Requests...this is the place to lift up whatever requests you have. Healing, guidance, comfort, strength, wisdom, etc. These are for yourself and others.

T: End with a Thankful heart. As Christians, even on the most horrible of days, we have something to be thankful for. Ending our conversation with God on a heart of thanks allows transition into "the world" with a better perspective.

God is not some fairy-Godfather waiting to bless us as we live sinful lives. (sidenote: I am NOT saying our Christianity is based on works!! Please understand that ~ what I'm saying is that we cannot live 90% for God and 10% for ourselves and expect Him to give us the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb believed 100%.) We need to do our PART.

Go with God today and everyday...