The Filter

So I bought a Brita water pitcher complete with filter about 3 months ago. It has been great getting fresh clean water. When you fill the pitcher up, you can see the water go through the filter and little black pieces start to float but get caught in the filter to prevent you from drinking it. Well, a few days ago, I went to go buy replacement filters because they recommend that you change it every three months to continue to get quality water. But I was curious if I really did need to change the filter out. So while changing them out, I decided to randomly shake the old filter which sounded like an egg shaker. So I took out the new one that I had just put in and it made no sound. All the black filaments from the water had gotten caught in there and I thought that is really awesome.
So the question is, are you allowing God to "filter" the black filaments that are in you right now? When you have never had unfiltered water, drinking tap water doesn't taste bad. I mean the body that God built has the capabilities to get rid of it without the filter. However, once I had the fresh pure filtered water with no stuff in it, I didn't have any desire to go back. So let God do his thing and filter out the black stuff in your life. I mean he is the Creator of all things including you so he should know what you need and what you need out of your life.

Run Away (Part I)

Have you ever been watching a movie and know something scary is gonna happen or something is gonna pop out? You can tell because the music picks up and it tends to be the calm before the storm hits for lack of a better phrase. I know I have said, "Don't go in there," "Or watch out," or "This never ends well." Well, this happens in real life as well when it comes to our sinful nature. 2 Timothy 2:22 puts it this way: Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the name of the Lord.
When I think of running from something or fleeing, there is a distinct sense that the object or person you are running from is gonna get you or hurt you. There is a natural fear element and the sense to get away from it QUICKLY. However, sin tends to slowly rope you in with the facade that it is fine and won't hurt much (more on that in Part II). However, Paul knows better than this and warns Timothy and the other readers of this. He even instructs TImothy instead to pursue: righteous living, faithfulness, love and peace. He also instructs Timothy to find likeminded believers and companionship to help with the fight because you can not fight this by yourself.
So, when sin comes down your block, do you run away/flee or do dabble and hang out there? Do you focus on the "big sins" (drugs, sex, etc.) and let the little ones in? God makes no differentiation between sins. Sin is sin in his eyes and it all is bad and separates us from God. For me, I know it depends on my circumstances and situation as it pertains to sin. Either way, I need to have my defenses up and ready for any and all attacks from the enemy because they are coming. (Ephesians 6:10-17). I need to not set up camp when sin comes my way.

Farther, Longer, More Expensive (Part II)

I love road trips. Being in the car and going somewhere is just so cool. Don't know what it is about them but God definitely put it in my DNA to love them. One reason I love them is I get to relax and take in some of God's beauty when I am not rushing with the normal here and now of daily life and the conversations you get to have with someone if you are riding with someone else. My favorite road trip of all time is the trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame with my dad. It was just him and I and plenty of time to talk on the drive from Richmond to Cooperstown. It also had plenty of scenery and beauty to behold specifically in upper New York (totally different than NYC).
However, sometimes you go on a trip and you get lost and head the wrong direction, then you get stuck in traffic and have to sit, or you will have an unforeseen expense pop up. I distinctly remember a trip I took back in August to see a concert. Nothing seemed to ever come together for it. I was able to get a friend to meet up with me at the VA Beach Amphitheater. However, the trip down got started late, then there was so much Friday traffic that I was late to see the first band. When I got there it was raining (mind you, it's an outdoor pavilion) and I was never able to meet up with friend at the concert even though we had cell phones but for some reason we just could not connect. The trip took longer than expected, cost a little more than I was planning to pay, and even though the bands were good, I left with a sour taste in my mouth from everything as a whole. Another "road trip" that is that way is sin.
"Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you are willing to pay."
Why is that when we dabble in sin that we can say, "I won't let it consume me," "it's not that big a deal," "I'll never go that far," "It seems fun and everyone else is doing and it doesn't seem to have any consequences," or fill in the _______________.
So what does the Word of God say, here's a brief synopsis of it:
1) Where did sin get started:
Romans 5:12- When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone for everyone sinned.

2) Well that sucks, but there is good news and a solution:
Galatians 3:22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God's promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:15-18 And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift. And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of many sins. The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God's wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam's one sin brought condemnation upon everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness makes all people right in God's sight and gives them life.
Romans 6:7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
Romans 6:14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead you live under the freedom of God's grace.
Titus 2:14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin to cleanse us and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
Titus 3:5a He saved us not because of righteous things we have done but because of his great love and mercy for us.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Run/Flee (love the word flee but it wasn't used in New Living Translation) from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

3) Sometimes you know you are doing something wrong so you want to hide out and keep away from God because he'll find out but unfortunately he already knows:
Psalms 32:3 When I (David) refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away and I groaned all day long.
John 3:20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.
Romans 2:5a But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself.
Colossians 3:5a So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.

4) Now sometimes we (as Christians) can set things up as"holy" things and then they become duty instead of service. It's interesting but Israel also struggled with this and God called them out on this.
Hosea 8:11 Israel has built many altars to take away sin, but these very altars became places for sinning.

When you think about sin from your past, has it ever left you with a good feeling? I know for me the answer is a definitive "no". However, human nature says, it'll be different this time or that even though it went bad for this person, it won't end badly for me. Two final thoughts to leave you with:
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.
Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
What that means is: The Christian race is a marathon not a sprint so while you are running it get rid of those things that slow you down like sin. And how do you do that, by hiding God's word in your heart.