October 22nd, 2012

It starts out simply enough; church is great, the family of believers is a source of encouragement and affirmation...and then Satan shows up, right there in the pew next to you. You feel like something is not quite the way it should be and you're right, so you do what you have done before, get alone with God.

But if we are not careful our "alone time with God" becomes an alone time away form God where we are truly alone, except for that small voice that we perceive to be the Spirit that tells us that we "need" a break from the "church" that it's good to have time "alone" to figure it all out...did I mention that Satan is the Great deceiver, he wants nothing more than for you and I to try and "figure" it out on our own.

And soon a little time is a long time, and soon we are convinced that the farther we are away church the closer we are to Him...but all we have done in the alone time is redesign God so that he approves of the choices we make, and we discern that his plan is better accomplished on our own...and now the path is so easily traveled...and so wide...and the hand that leads us seems to be leading us in the same direction as before...and in the midst of our newfound sunshine falls a mist, or is it the tears of the Father who loves you so much He won't force you to turn back, but will weep until we do.

If you are on this road today know that I have traveled that same road...I won't try to tell you I know you're story, but I will tell you about a Savior that gave me another chance, and I'm here if you need help getting turned around. 

God loves you.

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