Disguises and Distractions

We take a break today from "Reasons to Attend the Open House" for Tracie to share a story...

By definition, an adventure is an exciting or very unusual experience or hazardous action of uncertain outcome. So far, we have had excitement - new house, new friends, misplaced items in mislabeled boxes. We've had unusual experiences - lightening strike wiped out the internet for five days, two crashed computers in one week, three dental trips involving broken teeth for me and two for John within a month of each other. 

Then the hazardous presented itself a few days ago when we arrived home shortly after dusk to discover a three-foot plus rattlesnake crossing our driveway.... it was just a random sighting though, right?




Well, our "random" experience took a turn when the EMC guys who were fixing our fried transformer said our neighbor was experiencing an abundance of rattlesnake sightings this year. Suddenly, all I could think about were kids, dogs, and a yard full of snakes disguised as sticks.

I researched safety - back away slowly. I researched what to look for, what to avoid, what to do "in case of". I dreamed about snakes - I lost sleep. Within 36 hours, I was obsessing.

Finally, I prayed. Interesting how prayer can change one's perspective, isn't it?

When I took the time to listen, the Lord reminded me of I Peter 5:12 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Suddenly, the Lord was redirecting my thoughts as he began teaching me... Satan is real and dangerous, and he is destroying lives.

In 36 hours, I became a self-taught semi-expert on rattlers in Georgia, ours are called Canebrake Rattlesnakes by the way, but have I ever been that intense with sharing my faith? Have I ever obsessed over how to share God's love better? I look others in the eyes, yet I've never lost sleep over their souls.

I'm still going to be alert in our yard but as our journey continues, I'm also going to consider the last part of adventure's definition of the uncertain outcome. We each have a choice before us - the enemy is active so when you look that next person in the face, will you take a chance to be used by God so that their future outcome will be changed or will you slowly walk away?

I am praying for boldness for you and for me!