None of us are perfect. We all have struggles. Some folk's struggles are more obvious to the eye, while many of us are able to hide our habitual struggles from those around us pretty well. I've been thinking on this subject and studying a bit and a friend on Facebook recently broached the subject. He said "Many of us seem to pull ourselves out of destructive routines only to be sucked back into them again later. We are seriously like sheep. Oh look, there's a hole, oops I fell in. *slowly crawls out of whole* - Oh look, there's a hole, oops I fell in again. *slowly crawls out of whole again* - Oh look, there's a hole.......etc."

this was my reply to him - "I'm right there with you... I've been studying this a lot lately due to my own struggles and a couple scriptures have helped me.

Romans 7:14-25 (part of it - please go read the whole thing) - Paul Struggling With Sin - "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do... I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do? this I keep on doing."

If Paul faced this what makes me think it won't happen to me? I'm going to make it through unscathed?! Paul is considered by many as the father of the early church. He wrote like half of the new testament and listen to what he's saying. Satan at work and our own humaness means we will fall.

then here's a word from John...
1 John 1:5-10 (part of it) - Walking in the light - "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

Praise God!

Keep pulling yourself out of the hole. Eventually through the Holy Spirit you'll see the hole and say "Oh look, there's a hole. I think I'll walk around." Keep walking towards the light and you'll be just fine. You may fall into a few holes along the way, but there will always be the strong hand of your Lord and Savior to pull you out.

What are your thoughts?

P.S. I uploaded more family reunion pictures. If you want to see more of my family you are welcome to check them out here or here.

This is most of my family that got together for a reunion last weekend in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. My immediate family starts about five folks from the left after two of my nephews, my sister and niece. I'm standing behind Sue with my eyes closed and the boys are in front of her. Then my mom is a little more to the right in the white shirt up front. My brother, his wife and other son are just to her right.

My Uncle Jack's son Alan and his wife Jonna (two in from the right with their son and daughter) did a great job of organizing the weekend. They even supplied meals all weekend except Sunday's lunch for $25 per adult.

Uncle Jack paid for this magnificent cabin for the family before he passed away in June. Mom's remaining brothers and sister were all there along with a lot of other cousins. My cousin Lyndon came from Oregon and Kerry came from the U.P. Some of my mom's cousins came from Texas.

The cabin slept 34, but I think we had more in there with futons, cots and couches. The lower floor had 2 hot tubs / jacuzzis on the deck and a pool table, air hockey and foosball in the game area. The resort also had a pool at the foot of the mountain which we used about every day. A few folks stayed at a hotel in town.

It was great to catch up with everyone. Sunday morning we decided to have worship at the cabin rather than try to get everyone ready and go out to a local church. It was a great service with great singing. Alan shared a memorial DVD of Uncle Jack which included the song I wrote and recorded for him. Uncle Auburn had a devotional thought and Jonna even brought enough communion for everyone.

a little taste of heaven :-)