The Scorpion's Sting

Today's daily devotional (courtesy of www.rbc.org). This should be taught in our schools.

Aesop tells the ancient story of a boy hunting for locusts. The lad had caught quite a few when he saw a scorpion. Mistaking it for a locust, he reached out his hand to take it. The scorpion showed his stinger and said, “If you had but touched me, my friend, you would have lost me, and all your locusts too!” There are some things you cannot embrace without losing what you have in the process. King Solomon used a word picture of fire instead of a scorpion as he warned his son against the dangers of sexual sin (Prov. 6:27-29). As a wise father, he wanted his son to know that in this wonderful, dangerous world there are not only flowers and songbirds but also scorpions and fires.

Solomon’s warnings in the Proverbs were not just about sexual immorality. Together with the rest of the Bible, such insights help us to understand the wisdom of an eternal God who loves us far more than our own mothers and fathers do. His Word also points us to the One who can help us even if we have “grabbed a scorpion” or “built a fire in our lap.” Life offers us choices. Christ graciously offers us forgiveness for what is past, and wisdom for what yet lies ahead. —Mart De Haan

The lessons of life are best learned when Christ is your teacher.

In the valley

Luke 9:33
"Master, it is good for us to be here…"

Spending time with the transfigured Master on the mountain top is good, but spiritual growth and discernment is developed in the valley down below.

Mountain top experiences are encouraging and uplifting and are open to all believers by His grace.
However everlasting fruit, patients, character, endurance, long-suffering and above all trust, are refined in the valley of day to day living.

In the valley is where God speaks loudest to your heart as you seek His righteousness and guidance through it.
In the valley is where obedience is learned as He navigates your steps.
In the valley is where the true test of the purity and commitment of your faith is found.
If you have not disciplined yourself to obey His guiding word, you can become inept in recognizing the vices of the enemy and quickly lose hope while there.

Do not lose your heavenly perspective while in the valley.
Be a willing vessel.
Find comfort in the knowledge that He does not fail nor forsake you regardless of the depth of the valley.
He is working out an eternal work in you.
And above all, remember He walks along side you while you are there.

Amen.
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Network down

Our internet at home has been down so my entries will be somewhat brief if posted at all.

As for the 7th Heaven finale, it was so uneventful that I felt more emotion for the King of Queens finale. On the bright side, it was fun getting together to see the show off!
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An end of an era

7th Heaven is airing its series (not season) finale this Sunday. THIS SUNDAY!

Yes, the storyline has become . . . a bit thin and the quality of cast they recently recruited reflects the decrease in their production budget, but I love the Camden family particularly since it reminds me of a very special time in my life (in retrospect).

I remember the first time I watched the show. Les and Marc, as usual, invaded the floor area of my room in front of the tv. This meant that my floor was covered with blankets, pillows, goo goos, blankies, and snacks (this was 1996 so maybe no goo goos). I remember making fun of them for watching it because Jessica Biel, Mary Camden, used to be on Flipper - which I thought was the corniest show ever. Anyway, by the end of the show, I was hooked. We continued to watch it as a family over the years and as we grew up and moved out of the house, it's still part of our conversations. It's like they're childhood friends that we grew up with.

Drive home

There are times when I am in fervent prayer asking God for an answer almost to the point where I am begging. And there are times when, out of the blue, He speaks loud and clear. Today, He was loud and clear.

I was on my way home from dinner with colleagues heading back to the freeway from which I arrived but the westbound onramp was closed. So I ventured eastbound and exited to catch a westbound ramp only to find that the freeway that I needed to get to take me home did not exist (although it did for the other direction). Frantic, I exited the freeway once again to find that the onramp that I needed to get on was closed, too! This happened again (a closed onramp!) as I had to switch to another freeway. That's when I was convicted. Why had I not asked Him for help because I certainly would have 1 year ago. As I meditated on that question, I thought back to this week's fellowship with Dr. David Jeremiah's Amazing Grace series. "For so many years, Lord, I have lived on my agenda and leaned on my own understanding ....."

Masked by the business of everyday life, I had let the devil get a foothold - and as we know, all it takes is an inch.

The Nightline Face-Off

I apologize for not posting for a few weeks but it has been so busy!

Quick update - I learned about a debate that will be showing TONIGHT, May 9th, and wanted to share http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=3130360&page=1.