For the week of: Monday, July 16th 2007

"Danger Signs"

Last year, my beloved Rick had a new treadmill delivered from Sears.  Very nice, not top of the line by any means but definitely a step above the 18-year-old one we had. 

At the time, I was experiencing some discomfort with a couple of my toes. It hurt every time I climbed on the treadmill because my tennis shoes were cramping my ouchy toes.  Solution?  I figured I’d just forget the shoes and do my time in my socks. 

As I thumped away on the black rubber track in my previously white socks, reading my Angela Hunt book, Rick walked in and said, "I smell something.  Smells like something's burning." 

Assuming he was making a sassy-pants comment about the slow pace I was trekking, I shot him the evil eye.  After all, I wasn’t letting a couple of bothersome toes stop my diligent exercise program (perhaps diligent is a tad too strong – maybe occasional exercise would better describe my pattern –-- seldom?).

I think I stayed with the program all of thirty minutes before I headed to the family room.  Here’s where it all started to head south. 

Almost immediately I started experiencing a warm, tingly sensation on the flat of both of my heels.  A few steps more and the warm, tingly sensation felt absolutely blistering.  By the time I fell into the nearest couch, my heels felt like someone had a grill full of hot coals about 1/4 inch from the bottom of my feet.  Indeed, the burning smell Rick experienced was...my feet! Evidently, the friction of my socks rubbing over my heels (with the added weight of my body) onto the rubber track on the treadmill gave me a sort of A1 rug burn on my heels.

I had no clue it was happening at the time it occurred.  You couldn’t have convinced me, while I was hoofing it, that I was burning rubber….literally! 

Oh dear ones, don’t miss this – you and I can be treading close to a putrid spiritual quagmire of sin and stick our smart little noses in the air and act like we don’t smell a thing. 

#1 – My head knew better than to run without good supportive shoes on my feet. 

If I’m being a devoted student of the Word, I know what God’s inspired message says to me about the things that are temptations to me.  I know I am to avoid every appearance of evil.  If it could be mistaken for evil in the least tiny little bit; if it could cause another to question my spiritual integrity, then I am to avoid it like fresh skunk road kill on a hot summer day.   I know I am to flee from satan.  If I am faced with a temptation that threatens to overcome me, I am to literally turn away from it and get out of Dodge.  That may mean averting my eyes, plugging my ears, biting my tongue ‘til it bleeds and running toward the exit sign but I am to get out of the sin territory.

#2 – I didn’t listen to the words of a trusted observer.  I have accused Rick of being part hound dog.  I tell you, the man can smell odors almost before they exist.  If he said something was burnin’, then something was burnin’!

I cannot tell you how imperative it is to have at least one sister to whose heart you are so tightly knit that when she says she smells something burning near you, that you grab the nearest fire extinguisher.  I mean it.  We all need one someone who will lovingly but boldly say…

• “I think the conversation at lunch today came pretty close to gossiping.” 
• “I think your anger about this situation may be Satan firing up your pride.”
• “From where I was standing today, that conversation you were having with that guy that’s not your husband looked and sounded a lot like flirting.”
• “You seem a bit out of touch today.  Are you having a hard time staying away from the pain medications?”

I know, bold stuff, almost embarrasses you to read it, doesn’t it?  It’s life dear ones and it’s life for believers as well as non-believers and we best be surrounding ourselves with trusted sisters who will cry, “I smell something burning!” when Satan is trying to start a fire from the pit of hell.

My prayer for you this week, and I do pray for you, is that you will dig deep into the Word and equip yourself with the Sword that promises to be your weapon against the evil one.  And I pray that you will invest in a relationship with another trusted believer who can lovingly but honestly tell you when it smells like something’s burning!  May God bless your week with boldness and courage to hold Him up in your life, bringing honor and glory to His Most Holy Name.

Lovingly,

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