Do you have a virus?

I've been without a computer for a while..... a virus was the culprit!  I became victim to an old trick that has been updated.  I received a message stating that I had contracted a virus and I needed to run my virus software to find it and get rid of it.  Well, this wasn't the first time I've seen that trick so I did not click on the yes or no button, instead I clicked on the X in the top right hand corner to get me out of it.  OOPS!!!  Wrong thing to do.  Because I clicked ANYWHERE in the box, I was doomed.  I was not on a new website, I had not clicked on something that was forwarded to me and I certainly had not opened an attachment, I was just surfing the web and the message came up.

I started thinking that our lives are just like computers and we can pick up viruses at times we least expect it. It can be so easy for sin to sneak into our lives.  We all know that we must guard our hearts and minds by being careful what we watch on TV, but sometimes if we are not careful, we will get a virus through something as "simple" as a commercial.  Other times it comes in through our favorite show that has nothing wrong with it until something is "slipped" in that we ought not to be watching or listening to.  Perhaps our favorite radio station that has nothing wrong with it becomes over powered by a radio station that has music on it that we ought not to be listening to, but music that is so tempting.
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I now have a very good virus software.  Of course, the virus software will not do me any good unless I take it out of the box, download it and run the scans.  If I just buy the virus program and leave it sitting in the box, you think I could convince the company that they did not do their job?  No, they would immediately tell me it was my fault I was infected because I did not load the virus software onto my computer.  The same is true in our lives.  We cannot have a Bible, leave it sitting on our coffee table, and expect it to protect us from the viruses of the devil.  We must use read the Bible daily and hide God's Word in our hearts because if we don't, we will just do all the wrong things when we are tempted.  The devil knows our weaknesses and he knows exactly what to tempt us with.

Let's determine in this new year to not let any viruses into our homes. Let's make a habit of having our devotions, praying and staying in church.  Strive for a virus free year!

Happy New Year!!!!!

Our advanced form of communication

The other day I was reading the Christmas story and I read where the angel told Mary that she was going to be the mother of baby Jesus and the angel also told her that Elizabeth was also pregnant and was approximately 6 months along.  I've read that so many times, but not until this time did it occur to me that the angel had to tell Mary that Elizabeth was expecting because they did not have phones, the postal service or email back then.  Of course I knew they did not have those forms of communication back then, but I had never given thought to the fact that Mary probably had no idea that her own cousin was 6 months pregnant until the angel told her.

It made me think of my first boyfriend.  I remember when we used to write each other (his father was a missionary so they did not live local) that it seemed to take forever for his letters to come and once they finally came I would read them over and over again because I was so "hungry" to hear how he was doing and so happy to hear that he was thinking about me. 

It was then that I had to bow my head in shame because I realized that have a love letter that is even more important, yet I do not read it as much as I should.  We all have that love letter, it is from God and it is His Holy Word.  God longs to hear how our day went and He longs to hear us tell Him that we love Him.  God longs to speak to us as well and He does that through His Word.

Not only am I lazy about reading God's Word, but I am also lazy about telling my family how much I love them and how much they mean to me.  We have so many forms of communication now that I think we actually take them for granted and don't use those forms of communication to express our love to our friends and family.  If we did not have phones, U.S. Mail or email, we would realize how important it was to express our love every chance we got.

This is the Christmas season.  Let's determine to spend more time expressing our love to our friends and family, but more importantly, express our love to the Lord Jesus Christ by reading His Word and spending time with Him each day in prayer.

Happy holidays!!!

Brighter days ahead

I usually can't contain myself when the holidays start up, but this year I am having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit.  I could not write anything for the last week or so because I just could not put into words how I was feeling, nor could I write anything because nothing seemed to "fit". 

My blog is turning over a new leaf.  I will write at least every other day.  It may not be a devotion every day, but it will be something uplifting, helpful or encouraging.  While looking through a book called, "Life Can Be Hard Sometimes", I found the following poem.  This is not a poem based on scripture, but I hope you will find it encouraging, like I did.

Look to the Future and Brighter Days Ahead

Sometimes it seems like the world is crumbling around us and we just can't go on.
But those are the time when we most need to look to the future, to hold on to our
faith and hope and to each other.

One of the hardest things to accept is the realization that things that make no sense
to us now may never make any sense, but life will go on anyway - with no explanations
or apologies, and that we somehow survive the changes thrust upon us.

We even manage to grow.... but nothing grows without rain, so when it begins to pour,
let it flow.  And when the storm has passed, let it go.  Be kind to yourself; ask for what
you need.  You are not alone.

Kerry McCaskill