SLIP and SLIDE

While I am out of the country on a missions trip, I am re posting some older posts. This post originally posted on December 14, 2009:

It has been a few years since we have gone to the mountaintop to celebrate Christmas, but the memories of it are as fresh in my mind as the pine needles are on my mantle. When the children were younger, we would pack up and drive to Petite Jean Mountain and stay in a cozy cabin and celebrate Christmas in a unique way.

The steep climb up the road to the cabin was always interesting. Especially if the road was slick with ice. It was always an adventure to go up the road and we always had to make sure we stopped at the market down at the bottom of the hill for fear that once we got up the road that we would not be able to get back down again, because of the iced over road.

The most memorable trip to Petite Jean Mountain was the year that we all ventured out on a long hike around the mountain. The paths become very steep at times and it actually is a dangerous path to take. Caution must be taken when hiking these trails. On this particular trip, our boys were young and my husband decided that he would explain to them the "do's" and the "don'ts" of hiking on a dangerous trail.

Rule #1 ... stay on the path.
Rule #2 ... do not try to take a shortcut through the trees.
Rule #3 ... step carefully, as it ices in places and you will lose your footing.
Rule #4 ... see how steep this mountain is? people have disregarded rule #1, #2 and #3 and have fallen to their death off of the mountain.

Almost as soon as these "rules" came out of my husbands mouth, he slipped on the ice (rule #3) and slid off of the path (rule #1) and slid down the side of the mountain, only to be caught by a tree (rule #2). After we caught our breath and realized he was alright, the boys laughed and laughed at how daddy taught them how to "properly" slide and fall off of the mountain.

Remembering this awesome memory of our Christmas past, caused me to remember what the scripture in Proverbs says about slipping and falling...

"People with integrity have firm footing, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall." PROVERBS 10:9

How firm is your footing? As you walk on this path of "life", do you find yourself having a difficult time following the 4 "do" and "don't" rules?

Stay on the path, keep your eye on the prize!

Taking shortcuts will only delay your blessing...put your trust in God and allow Him to take the lead!

Getting off course can cause harm or even death ... stay firm in His Word!