Yesterday was the twins' (Deyci and Griselda's) birthday. And it was also Wednesday. Every Wednesday we have a service in someone's home, and yesterday it was in their home to celebrate with them. Jose gave the lesson, and it was really good. Since it was their 17th birthday, he themed the lesson around Psalm 119:9.

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your
word."

Since the girls are just starting living their own "Way" or "Path", we talked about how you can keep on the good path.
In life, your path is never going to be a straight, smooth path. There will be thorns, and bumps, and holes. There'll be snakes, and animals, and you'll probably trip and fall.

So, how do we avoid all that?

• You can try to just be super careful. Step slowly... But maybe you can't see that the hill you're stepping around has thorns poking out, or a snake lurking behind it. Uh-oh.

• So, you can try to just sit out, and give up. But if you're not walking your path at all, you're not living at all. Lame.

• Maybe you think you're just brave enough to take it. You have shoes on, you can walk over those thorns. But, the thorns are tougher than they look, and your shoes aren't as strong as you thought. Ouch.

• So it would seem, the only option left is to clear the path out, right?

Well that makes sense. But how do we do that? We're just human, we can't do it all ourselves. We need a map, to know which turns to take. A guide who knows their stuff to tell us what to avoid. A machete, so that when we come to thorns or animals we can clear them out.

What can be all of those in one? Or as it's put in Psalm: How can a young man keep his way pure?
The Bible. Living according to the word!
If the snakes are bad company, and the thorns are anger, and maybe the little bumps are drugs, the bugs are anything else that could pull you away and put you off track, we have to clear those things out by living according to the word.
We can't just read the Word.
We can't just memorize the Word.
We have to actually LIVE the Word.
Now, that's not saying that if you live the word you won't have those things tempting you and pushing you. Far from it! You'll have just as many, or more. But when they do come around, you'll have something the world doesn't; something, someone, to take care of them for you. You just have to let Him.
You have your guide, your map, and your machete. :)

Blessings always,
Erin :)