Friday I started re-arranging the gift shop. One thing led to another, and I ended up taking down every shelf in the place and moved them to another place. I went home late Saturday night, still nowhere to completion, in tears. I had a big mess that needed to be cleaned up before the shop could re-open. I chose to go in on Sunday and see what I could do about getting things put back together. Did I ask God about this decision? No, I just did it.

Was I convicted first thing Sunday morning? Yes. Let me tell you why the Holy Spirit chose to convict me on the spot! I have been praying for a Christian sister who has been led down the path of sexual sin. She has wrestled with God, yet she continues on believing that she has a place in Heaven no matter what. I try not to judge her, but I still think to myself how can you call yourself a Christian, and claim Jesus as your Savior, and do not follow His commands? Well, well, well, little miss sinner smarty-pants….. practice what you preach. I believe that the Holy Spirit was convicting me, not just because I didn’t go to church, but also because I made that decision without God’s leading. He has said "keep the Sabbath holy". I believe that was a commandment, to be obeyed just as having sex outside of wedlock. SIN is SIN. My sin was just as intentional as hers.

I needed to pray with someone. On my way to work, I turned right into the church, about an hour before the service was to start. Just as I was walking in, Deb Cole was as well. Funny thing? I believe not. God placed her there at that moment to pray with me. She didn’t just tell me what I wanted to hear. She let me see that in reality, I had made the gift shop my ‘idol’. I put it before God. Whoa, Nellie! I did do just that. It is amazing how we can be working out certain things on our walk with God, and not even see the things that are right in front of us. We let so many things get in the way of pure and holy fellowship with our LORD. Yes, what a friend we have in Jesus, but God is God, He is LORD, He is El Shaddai, God Almighty. Let us not lower Him to try and compromise our own agendas.

Let us all remember our first love, and start this year with new anticipation of how God will change our hearts.

Father, Lord and Master of my soul, you are my true love, let all my actions come out of reverence for you. Lead me in your ways. Search my heart and show me the wickedness that needs to be made pure in you sight. I can only do this through repentance and cleansing from the blood of your son, my precious Jesus, in whose name I pray.