ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER

ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER

I am getting my blog written later than normal, but that seems to be par for this week. Monday and Tuesday were routine. Catch up the laundry, weekend mail and deciding that, although I keep the house picked up, it was time to clean. A friend has told me, "If you leave dust alone, it is fine. But once you disturb it, it becomes dangerous." That is a good theory, but the dust on my dining room table now has my name written in it. For sure, I cannot get away with dusting around the edges this time.

Wednesday, with every intention of getting a days cleaning in, started out fine. I began in the office which shouldn't have taken that long. Until I found a couple of things that needed put into the supply cabinet. To get them into the cabinet - Well, let's just say that the supply cabinet is now clean and orderly. Then, I received an email from our son saying, "Meet me for lunch." So I fixed my hair, changed my clothes and met him for lunch. After lunch I did not have enough time to start cleaning before going to a funeral. I told myself, "Mary, you can clean after the funeral."

I finished the office and started in the laundry area. Not a very big area. An entryway off the garage with the washer, dryer and a freezer. Just the perfect project to finish the day. That was until I needed to move some cleaning supplies into the garage. Well, let's just say that the cleaning supply cabinet is now as clean and orderly as the office supply cabinet. Then Bill came home.

Wednesday cleaning completed: one and one-half rooms. But tomorrow was Thursday!!!

Thursday I started right in and was almost done with the laundry area when Bill came home and said, "They don't need me in the field today, so how about we meet our friends for lunch?" So instead of cleaning, we drove an hour and half (each way) to eat lunch. And I had Bible Study Thursday evening so --

Thursday cleaning completed: one-half room. But today is Friday!!!

And I am sitting here writing my blog.

Why have I told you all this? A long way around the barn to say that this is how sin enters our lives.

I have every good intention of never swearing again. I will finish that thank you letter. I will: There are so many things that can go after I will and I will not. For some of us, it is "I will not take one more drink." and for others it is "I will pray daily."

And each time there seems to be something pulling us in the other direction. That something is ole Satan. Satan does not want us to quit drinking. He does not want us to pray. He does not want us to treat each other with respect. But he does want us to move further and further away from God.

My cleaning has not gotten done because one thing kept leading to another. Satan will find a cabinet for you to clean or a lunch to go to. Satan will lead you from one thing to another so you do not have time to clean up your life. Satan will lead you from one thing to another so you do not have time for God.

TODAYS SCRIPTURE

ROMANS 7: parts of verses 17-25 -- Taken from The Message, by Eugene H. Peterson

For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. Is there no one who can do anything for me?

The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

How does Satan lead you from one thing to another and keep you from growing closer to God?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Thank you Jesus for being there to help me stay on a true course. I do need help because I am guilty of wanting to do right and slipping back into old habits. Time and time again I turn away but I seem to leave just enough of myself open to Satan that he finds a way to lead me back to the path I just left. I can be so easily distracted. Be patient with me, dear Jesus. I am moving closer and closer to you, sometimes with giant leaps and sometimes with baby steps. Amen