{"id":23992,"date":"2018-10-18T03:30:25","date_gmt":"2018-10-18T10:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=23992"},"modified":"2018-10-16T16:31:11","modified_gmt":"2018-10-16T23:31:11","slug":"october-18-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/10\/18\/october-18-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"October 18, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”\u00a0<\/em>Proverbs\u00a04:23<\/p>\n

Security Sensors<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Security is a big issue here in South Africa.\u00a0Unfortunately there is a lot of crime. It’s fueled by poverty, drugs, gangs, and greed. Burglar bars on the windows, security fences, neighborhood patrols, WhatsApp security messages, and alarm systems are all part of our life. We have alarms on the inside of our house, and also “sensors” on the outside to detect movement on the perimeter.<\/p>\n

Floyd was very security conscious, especially when thinking of me being here frequently alone when he traveled.\u00a0I feel he took care of me even before he got sick.\u00a0I also have very lovely neighbors who help to watch out for me.<\/p>\n

In recent weeks, our alarm has gone off three times in the middle of the night.\u00a0As you can imagine, it’s “alarming.”\u00a0Being rudely awakened and rushing to see what’s happening is not the way you want to wake up. The adrenalin rush makes further sleep almost impossible.<\/p>\n

In one of the events, a neighbor’s cat had set off an outside sensor.\u00a0The sensors are programed to try and prevent this from happening, but the cat must have walked right in front of the beam.\u00a0We have a small storage shed, and the other two times a small lizard crawled over the sensor and set the alarm off.<\/p>\n

The Lord began using these life events to speak into my heart.\u00a0What came to me is that we are “on guard” against the “big” issues that can trip us up in our hearts. Those internal alarms work well for the most part!\u00a0But what I really need to be on guard for is the small things.\u00a0My thoughts, speech, attitudes, and responses\u2014these smaller things are just as alarming and destructive in my walk with the Lord if I’m not careful.<\/p>\n

As we’ve been walking along this unending, unexpected journey, I have been careful to guard my heart in not “blaming” God for anything. I have chosen trust repeatedly when facing things that I don’t understand. I’ve relied on His grace to cope with things that are beyond my control. I have called upon His mercy to have strength to endure.\u00a0He has been faithful on every level!<\/p>\n

But I do get weary… and I don’t want to let my guard down in the midst of weariness.\u00a0These little creatures that have set off our security alarms have been a good reminder to me to be careful not to let “little” things in any way impact my walk with the Lord and my trust in Him.<\/p>\n

“Stay alert!\u00a0Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.\u00a0He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour”\u00a0<\/em>(1 Peter 5:8).<\/p>\n

Lord, thank You for Your grace in caring for me, protecting me, and helping me on this unexpected journey. Help me do my part to guard my heart.\u00a0In Jesus\u2019 Name, Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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