I look back on my life and sometimes wonder how I have made it this far! I have made silly assumptions and said things I did not realize could be taken wrong until I left the conversation.

I honestly do not know about myself sometimes. I think it has gotten better with time, but still, sometimes, I just shake my head at myself.

I saw this meme and I said to myself, “Yep, that is me!”

And this one (so me)

Then we have this one

You see where I am going with this! Just sum me up in a meme!

Here is one of those times that I cannot believe I was this “dumb.”

SO MY CHURCH (BRAT) STORY begins:

When George and I got married in 1987, we didn’t have much money, but we had a lot of love and were hard-working and determined to make the best life possible. 

He had an old 1968 Dodge Dart that his brothers gave him while he was in pharmacy school. I like to name our vehicles, so I called this one “Sadie.” Sadie was a lady I met when I was young, and she was really – really old! So, Sadie, it was!

When he got it, I asked him if it had air conditioning, and he said, “Yeah, a 440.” “What’s that,” I asked. “Well, I roll all 4 windows down and get up to about 40 miles an hour, and you get air!” I was not amused; he knew it would mess up my hair! 

As we got better jobs, we traded Sadie for better vehicles. We got a 1986 Buick La Sabre, traded for a 1987 Buick Riviera with many gadgets for the time; then he got me a sporty 1990 Toyota Celica! It was white, and I loved it!

It was the prettiest car I had ever seen. I could not believe he had gotten it for me! My mom loved the headlights. They would open when they were turned on and hide when they were off. She said my car had eyelids! Oh, how I loved that car!

I was careful when I drove it. I did not want anything to scratch it or put a “ding” in it. I would park at the end of the lot at the store and walk in the rain, snow, sun, or any kind of weather to keep it safe. 

The Celica had more power than I was used to, so it was easy for me to go faster than I should sometimes have. My friend, Doug, used to call me “White Lightening,” which I thought was a bit of an exaggeration lol. 

From 1988-1989 I was in cosmetology school. I lived on Briar Creek and would have to travel to Pineville to get to school. Speed limits from my house to Pineville are like roller coasters – up and down all the way there. ‘

After I got my Celica, one morning, I was on my way to school and had my music on. I was happy, singing, AND speeding, not realizing it. I got to the Pineville city limits and was in the best mood, and I was just a few minutes from school.

I noticed this car behind me. It was a dark car. It was following me too close for comfort. I looked again because he was so close and noticed these pretty fancy, flashing lights in the car’s grill, it looked like on his front window. I thought they were so cool. I decided to look into getting me some for my new Celica. 

I was smiling, thinking of maybe getting different colors than the red and blue this guy had.

Then I hear a very quick, sharp noise, just one little sharp sound. I looked again in my mirror and thought, “well, that was rude!” Then I saw the man driving the car. It was a cop! I had NO IDEA that it was a cop. I almost passed out. He followed me for the longest time with his lights on (not on top of the car – to my defense) flashing, trying to get my attention.

I pulled off, and he came to the window. He asked me where I was going in such a hurry. I told him I was going to school. He asked what class I was taking and talked a bit about life and careers. Then he asked for my driver’s license and registration. Well, I knew where my license was but I needed to figure out what a registration or insurance card was and where to find it. 

I looked at him with what must have been a blank stare. He laughed and told me to look in my glove box and give him all the papers for my new car. He went through it, found what he needed, and looked at me like, “She really has no clue what is going on!” 

He was really sweet. He showed me what he needed and told me to put it separate from my other items and keep them in the glove box in case of a ‘next time.’ 

He did not give me a ticket. He was very amused. He laughed and said, “You slow down and be careful.” Then he returned to the car and asked me why it took so long for me to pull over. I told him my fantasy of having the lights installed on my vehicle, like on his, only in pink and purple. He laughed so hard. 

He patted the top of my car and said, “Have a good day, Ms. Smith, you sure have made mine!”

WHAT’S ON MY MIND?  GLAD YOU ASKED

As I relived this event in my life, I could not help but think how many times I have naively got into situations where I messed up and didn’t realize it until someone who cared about me would point it out and would lovingly explain things to me.

I look back now and see the flashing lights and the closeness of someone following me, trying to get my attention, and I was in my own world and kept right on “truckin'” until they finally just talked straight to me about what I was doing and how it was not Christ-like. 

Have you ever been in situations where you thought, “How in the world did I get here?” You should have paid more attention to the signs along the way. Those signs are there for a reason! Have you ever thought, “This sin isn’t as bad as that sin, so I am good.”  But you aren’t. Sin is sin!

Galatians 5:19-20 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

No matter what a pretty package it comes in or how good it makes you feel, there is danger in what you are doing! As humans, we see the morality scale, and yes, some sinful acts are more significant than others; but in God’s eyes, all sin is the same.

Let’s say you drive down the main street in your town and see a young lady of “ill repute!” You may feel pretty good about yourself that you are not like her; but then you find someone to gossip about her. Which sin is greater, the sin of sexual immorality or the debauchery of gossip? They are equal sins as far as God’s judgment on the matter. 

Romans 1:18-22 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

I think one dangerous vehicle to travel in on your spiritual road is “hyper-grace.” The deadly message is that God loves you just the way you are (and He does, but loves you too much to leave you there). They preach that He made you that way, and He does not expect you to change the way you live, yet, you will spend eternity in Heaven. Why? Because He would not put us in hell for sin because we have knowledge of Jesus, that He died for us. You are right – He doesn’t – we choose that path!

We all need accountability partners, someone we trust and allow to loving speak truth in our lives. So please look at the road you are traveling. What are the flashing lights, the loud alert sounds that you see but are not effected by them? 

Galatians 6:1-5 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

If you do not have one, find one – TODAY! Find someone spiritually more mature than you and lives a life of salvation and truth according to God’s Word. Do not be the only voice in your head telling you right from wrong because we all get closed-minded, especially when we want to do something that goes against God’s Word. Permit them to be honest with you. To help guide you. To be the person you run things past when you are unsure, someone that will fast and pray for and with you. With that being said, you cannot trust everyone, but you have to trust someone. 

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

If everyone in your life is unsafe, you need to find new friends! Find that person (or several) that will love you enough to be honest and forthcoming with you, in love, to help you travel the road to Christ!

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

I Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Get to a quiet place and center your heart and mind on Christ. He loves you. You are His beloved and He wants us to be with Him for eternity. That was the plan all along.

PRAY THIS WITH ME TODAY (in your own words)

Jesus, help me see the warning signs I am ignoring in my life. Teach me to be more attentive to what is happening around me, what road I am going down, and who is with me. 

Lord, forgive me of any sin and wrongdoing that I have done. I am asking you to send me Godly, spirit-filled, accountability people that love me enough to talk openly about the sin in my life and will pray with me to get through it. 

Lord, make me strong enough to BE that person that others need. 

I want to be filled with Your spirit and live the life I was made to live for You.

You are worthy of my praise, You are worthy of my attention, and You are worthy of living my life to please You and only You!

Speak life into me today, and breathe into me the breath of life that can only come from You.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen