UPCOMING EVENT

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Monday, September 12, 2011

The Brakes Are There for A Reason

So, on the way to my grandmother's house in Hot Springs, there are a lot of curves and turns in the road. You literally go from a speed limit of 55 to 20 in seconds just to get around the curves safely. And most of these curves are not the "safe curves", you know, the curves that have the metal guardrail to catch you if you don't slow down. No, these badboys will put you in a mega ditch or off the side of a small cliff if you don't obey the caution signs. Just imagine.....coasting around the curves, admiring the beautiful scenery, enjoying the cool shade of the trees covering the road. You close your eyes and let go of the wheel to just feel free for a split second....BAM! You're flying off the cliff! Why? No brakes!

Day to day living comes with a lot of curves and twists. Arguments with loved ones, illness, loss of jobs, surprise pregnancies, financial problems, bad day at the office or at school, a death in the family. And God has conveniently installed metaphorical brakes for us in the form of common sense, awareness, intelligence, our conscience, etc. If you're lined up perfectly with God, His voice should fill the spot of your conscience. That's the one that goes, "Uh, yeah, you know better. You're going to be begging for forgiveness later if you do this." And it sounds simple enough, right? You hit the curve, you apply the brakes. You make your way through the curves, some harder and sharper than others, but you still come out eventually. When does the trouble come?

WHEN WE STOP APPLYING THE BRAKES!

We all have those little trouble areas in our lives that we are far too willing to close our eyes to, lifting our hands from the steering wheel and letting go when we should be clinging to the wheel for dear life and be prepared to stomp those brakes. Here are some examples:

* Alcohol - "But Jesus drank wine in the Bible." "One glass isn't sinful." But when you can't remember the last however many hours of your life.....or your family and friends can't stand to be around you anymore.....or there's more booze in the fridge than food - YOU STOPPED APPLYING YOUR BRAKES!

* Sex - "Oh flirting's okay." "There's nothing wrong with a few kisses." But when you find yourself cheating on your spouse because they cheated on you and then they cheat again to get revenge for you cheating.......or you find yourself pregnant at 15 and the guy you made the baby with drops you like a bad habit - YOU STOPPED APPLYING YOUR BRAKES!

* Not going to church - "Oh it's just this one time." "I'm sick/tired/sore/in a bad mood." But when you show up at your home church and they built a new stadium-seating sanctuary since the last time you were there.....or you can't even remember the pastor's name - YOU STOPPED APPLYING YOUR BRAKES!

* Lying - "I can't tell her she looks fat in that dress. It would hurt her feelings." "No one will notice if I say I'm 28 instead of 34." But when you can't remember the last truthful thing you said........or you find yourself suddenly lying to the Wal-Mart cashier over something stupid like how often you drink Dr. Pepper - YOU STOPPED USING YOUR BRAKES!

* Judgment - "It's not judging. It's just recognizing how I don't want to act." "Well it's okay to judge her because I don't have that problem." When you forget that you are not without sin and you take it upon yourself to sit on the high and mighty judgment seat of God - YOU STOPPED USING YOUR BRAKES!

You get it? Got it? Good.

When we stop applying the brakes that God has given us and go soaring off that cliff, what do we do? We cry. We scream. We pout. We stomp our little feet. We get depressed. We get mad at God for letting it happen in the first place. Sound familiar? Boy, it sounds familiar to me! How many times did I not apply the brakes in my own life and then when I'm sitting in a ditch in a busted car, broken and burned, I've gotten mad at God: "Why did you let this happen to me? I'm a good person. I don't deserve this. Why don't you love me? Fix this right now!" And you know what I hear from God when I get over myself and give Him a minute to talk?

"I love you. I didn't create you for this. I didn't want you to go through this. I never wanted you to hurt like this. I gave you the tools you needed to avoid this. You chose not to use your brakes little one, now choose to learn from the mess you've made. Put your hand into mine and I will guide you out of the wreckage."

"God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

"Be sober-minded. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7

"But as for you, O Man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness." 1 Timothy 6:11

What area(s) of your life have you stopped using the brakes in?
What area(s) of your life have you let get out of control and out of what God would approve of?

Lord, so often we take our eyes off of you and off of the road you've placed us on. We close our eyes to sin and lift our feet off the brakes. We fall into ditches that we feel are impossible to get out of, and we get so angry at you for allowing the ditches and cliffs to exist to begin with. Thank you God for loving us. For your endless grace that covers all our sins. For your hands that reach out to lift us up out of the messes we create. For your infinite patience and wisdom that exceeds the craziness we create in our own lives. God, I ask your forgiveness for those areas of my life that I've closed my eyes to and fallen into. Help me Lord to exercise clear-headedness and steadfastness in my walk with you. Lead me from temptation and sin as I strive to deepen my relationship with you. Be an ever-present reminder to our souls and spirits that we were made for so much more than this. That your plan and blessing exceeds anything here on earth. Thank you God for your Word and your guidance. You're absolutely amazing! Amen!

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