dancing with the devil - 1 Chronicles 9:35-39, 1 Sam 13:1-5, 1 Sam 13:19-23, 1 Sam 13:6-18, 1 Sam 14:1-52

"There wasn't a blacksmith to be found anywhere in Israel. The Philistines made sure of that—"Lest those Hebrews start making swords and spears." That meant that the Israelites had to go down among the Philistines to keep their farm tools—plowshares and mattocks, axes and sickles—sharp and in good repair. They charged a silver coin for the plowshares and mattocks, and half that for the rest. So when the battle of Micmash was joined, there wasn't a sword or spear to be found anywhere in Israel—except for Saul and his son Jonathan; they were both well-armed."(I Samuel 13:19-23)

How stupid to put themselves into this position - and even with their enemies.  People they were in war with.  Out of all the gifts and talents God gave the Israelites, did none of them not know how to sharpen their farm tools?  Or did they not want to?

Oh yes, here I am with the art of self-righteousness.  Is that a board in my eye - again.........

How often have I allowed myself to stray away from Him to satisfy my wants?  When there is something that I want to do and I know it is "dancing with the devil" and flirt with it anyway?  I wrote about stuff the other day.  How hard it is to resist a good bargain - bring it home knowing I don't "need" it and let it accumulate with all the other "stuff".  That good bargain quickly becomes  mundane.  No matter what it is, it needs attended to - either with dusting, cleaning, storing,  Bargains add up and can put a strain on your budget.  An unneeded bargain isn't a bargain - it's a burden.  Or food - sweets - too big helpings - unhealthy choices.  I consume it and it goes straight to my belly and hips.  It clogs my arteries, puts on the pounds which is hard on my joints and bones.  It robs me of a healthy life - a life of movement with ease - of time here on earth - robbing me of years with my kids and future grandchildren. 

satan and self are the king of rose colored glasses.  They can take the ugliest sin and make it look beautiful to entice us to flirt with it.  To relax our guard, to step a little farther from God, to refocus our hearts, souls and mind - to ensnare us until we are found without weapons in this spiritual war.  That is why it is essential to be in His Word each and every day.  To chew on it throughout the day - to have it become a part of you.  Only then are we able to see sin for what it really is.

 Ugly in the worst sense. 
















To see that sin is not who you want for your dance partner during the steps of life.