The "c" Word

If you are friends with me on Facebook you saw the following post:

After having some time to pray and process with our immediate family and boys, we wanted to share with you some news that we received recently. Donald had surgery two weeks ago to remove a tumor from his face. When the pathology came back, we were told that he has a rare and aggressive form of cancer (rare as in there is not another documented case). We have been on a several week journey of tests, tumor boards, multiple pathologists and consultations. While no one ever wants to hear the “c” word, we can honestly say that God has given us His perfect peace since the first day of discovering this tumor. We already have a growing list of ways that God has answered prayers and provided for us in this journey. While Donald’s treatment plan has not been finalized we do know that it will be aggressive. Our next step will be to travel to another hospital (most likely MD Anderson in Houston, Texas) for a consultation with their team. For all the prayers that have been prayed by our “circle”, we thank you. For all the prayers that will be prayed, we thank you.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Rules

Rules.   We seem to all have a problem with following them.   It isn't like this is a new thing.   From day one even Adam and Eve couldn't follow one simple little rule.  Don't eat from that one little tree.  One.  Sounds so simple.  Obviously the rest of human history proves that it wasn't. 

Every day I watch the news and I see some other event where a simple rule was ignored and something that could have been avoided ended up in tragedy.

"Don't text in drive."
"No swimming allowed."
"Do not trespass."
Speed limit signs....
Colored flags at the beach...
Yellow lights about to turn red...

You get the idea.  The list goes on and on.  Without even mentioning a specific thing I am sure you are thinking about things that have happened recently.  

This isn't a judgement or condemnation.  I have broken quite a few rules in my life.  As I have thought about this trend of bending, flexing and flat out breaking rules, I can't help but apply it to my spiritual life. 

Those rules that God has given are often just as short and simple as some that are posted in our day to day life.  However, we think bending God's rules aren't any bigger deal than speeding or texting or driving.  

I was just reading some posts of a pretty popular women's Christian author.  In one of her posts she used curse words.   I have noticed it more and more among Christians.   Like it isn't a big deal.  However, God's Word is pretty clear on this.  James says our tongue is to be the rutter to the ships of our thought life.  Ephesians 4:29, says “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”  Even 1 Peter 3:10 says, “For He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.”

Anyway, I have been doing a lot of looking at rules.   Not legalistic rules, but the boundaries that God has given us to bring us closer to him.   The ones that allow me to stay out of the snatches of evil and safely in His arms.