Ghost Towns

I remember sitting down on the floor after a successful night of Trick or Treating and sorting my candy.  I DID NOT exercise much self-control as I "counted" the sweets (going into my mouth) :P  Yesterday, Kassi and Danielle came home with some of their Market Day treats leftover and I may have eaten more than two of those Nutter Butter Ghosts...that triggered the Halloween night memory.

Exercising self-control is very much counter-cultural.  We hear messages to GO FOR IT, PUSH THE LIMITS, JUST DO IT....with very little, if any, definition as to what we should be "going for"...phrases like this sometimes become our motto as we blaze a trail of our own self-seeking desires.

There is quite a difference between a tummy ache from Halloween candy and some of the consequences we incur once we are adults if we do not exhibit self-restraint.  I heard a pretty sad story last night....the picture of this man walking through the destruction reminded me of where we find ourselves sometimes due to our own choices.

The only true redemption we have to once again become a BRIGHT CITY ON A HILL is within God's amazing GRACE through His gifts of forgiveness and reconciliation...but, it is up to us to seek that more than we seek any other desires....that is the part we must control.