Seashells by the seashore....

Last week, I had the opportunity to spend the weekend with my family and a friend at our condo in Siesta Key....I've always loved walking along the beach especially at sunset. There are normally families walking together, laughing, talking, and making memories-I love taking this all in. As I was there kicking the sand with my feet and picking up shells, I was reminded of something interesting. Those of you that know me, know that I love "marine biology," I am so fascinated with the wonders of this world, but especially those that involve the ocean. One of those wonders to me is the "sea shell," or better yet, the animal that takes shelter in that sea shell. It is so interesting to me that a whole world for one animal can exist in something smaller than a quarter. It is because of their size and frankly "the circle of life" that predators present a high risk to them, even those of "their own kind!" Did you know:

"Many mollusks prey on other species of shells by means of drilling. This means that they use specialized mouth parts and enzymes to excavate a circular hole through the shell and then insert their proboscis to eat the soft body parts of the clam or other shell. Sometimes octopi also drill holes in shells to get to the tasty animal inside."

-"San Diego natural history museum"

What that means in "layman's terms" is that over a period of time, the predator slowly works it's way into that shells world and takes over, by complete consumption. This drilling does not happen fast, but slowly-over time.

Does that sound familier. Isn't easy especially in high school , to allow someone to talk us into doing something that it totally against our moral code? And yet we go along with it and before you know it, we are completely taken over by sin..and it seems like all of a sudden-we are an empty shell. What once housed a flourishing individual, now houses an empty spirit..Drained of ambition, drained of life itself!

Please take a second to read these lyrics by "Casting Crowns:"

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

Do you see all of the parallels? Distractions do not normally affect our decision making right away, but rather over time. Even our own friends can have an affect on our downfall. Remember that saying "You are who your friends are?" Well it is true, the people we spend the majority of our time with should reflect what we want to emulate!

When that same shell is alerted and knows that it is being threatened, it will bury into the sand immediately! Using that example, when the holy spirit alerts us inside that something is "not right," may we too bury ourselves in the Lord- Using His Word for guidance and refuge!

So ask yourselves this question: "Who am I allowing to influence me, is this good or bad?"

Big Mess!

I remember being in a drama group in Middle School that volunteered to serve for a dinner at church. I was so excited, I thought that it would be so cool and "official." After we served everyone their food, it was time for their coffee and dessert! I had never carried coffee without a top before so I thought the best thing to do was to watch the coffee very closely, just in case it decided to spill I could somehow tell the cup to "stop that!" HAHA right? I was later told, after intense concentration, that I should not look at the coffee but rather look ahead at the person I was bringing it to. For some reason this actually steadies your hand and causes you to spill less. Who would have thought?

I know that it is so easy for me/us to have something happen in life, where we end up staying so focused on the issue rather then the ONE that we are taking it to. If you were to look directly into that coffee, you would not see your reflection-Your problems do not define you, but rather the way that you handle them. Everyday we are faced with different obstacles that we can either allow to consume our attention or forge us ahead to focus on the Lord. I want to remind you that no one ever said (or should ever say) that "the christian life is easy," but we choose what we make of it. It is important that we keep our eyes fixed ahead so that we do not make a BIG MESS!

"Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you." Proverbs 4:25