THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
by: Robert Frost (1874-1963)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

A Word of Advice

On August 12, 2006, Michael and I were married. We could not have asked for better circumstances under which to hold such an event. The location was perfect, the butterflies accompanied us, and the LORD settled there to watch two of His children devote their lives to Him and to each other. The end of our reception concluded with a circle of prayer from dear friends wanting to wish us well. One of those very dear friends looked at us and said, "do you want to know how to make your marriage last?" We looked at one another in agreement as he told us his answer. His words were: Put God first, and favor each other. I thought for a minute, how simple that sounded. Over the course of this last year, that has not only proven to be the best advice we received, but also the most difficult. Marriage is work. Not only are we thrust into a new living situation with someone we have never co-habitated with, we are also forced to pretend as if we are happy changing our habits to adjust (for the other persons sake, of course). I have learned through it all, that even the foulest moods can be softened by favor. For example, when I am making dinner, I'll give Mike the bigger piece of chicken because I know he's hungry. He let's me have the last Pepsi, even if he wants it. He opens the door for me and pulls out my chair. At night when I climb into our freshly made bed, I pull the covers down on his side. It's my way of saying that I can't wait to fall asleep next to him. These things may seem simple to some people, but we've had to try. There are many times that we both want to be selfish, and let's face it, sometimes we are. But everyday, we put God first, and then we try to put each other before ourselves. In June, we were given a joyful gift from God and we call her Abigail. She needs our attention almost constantly. We are blessed with His grace each and every morning, just to wake up and spend time with her. We both know that she is only on loan to us because she belongs to the LORD and we want to love her as much as we can. It's harder to spend time alone with each other now, but we find ways to favor each other through her. The truth is, she has brought us closer to each other, and closer to the realization that we need our Jesus now more than ever. She has brought us closer than we have ever been. Now, our priorities have changed for the better. That word of advice is a continued reminder when I get frustrated, a word of truth that helps me realize how thankful I am.

In The Lion's Den

Picture yourself walking down the street in the middle of a towering city. The walls and streets are adorned with gold, the lights are shimmering, beckoning you to come and see. The buildings are all made of expensive brick and an abundant, flowing river runs right through the center of town giving life to everything. Anything you could ever want is right there at your fingertips. All you have to do, is reach out and take it for yourself. You can have whatever you want too, there's no limit here. If what you see isn't the biggest or the best, you can just ask for more and you'll get it. In the Book of Daniel, such a place existed. "Young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace." They were taught a new language and given a new name. They were given a new creed to live by. That creed was, " I AM, and there is none besides me." In a city filled with overindulgence, excess, and pride, they were expected to follow suit. The highest value was placed on youth, beauty, and intelligence and those who did not fit, were cast out. Those who did fit, became lost in the self-centered culture. The cup of this city was inviting and intoxicating, foaming and overflowing. She wasn't just offering everyone a sip, she offered them the world. My question to you is, are we so desensitized by our modern day Babylon that we can't even see how it is indoctrinating us? How can a people effectively live in this kind of world and not be overtaken by it? In the Book of Daniel, the horrific snare of captivity is seen over and over again, but Daniel resists her charm. In today's society with all the endless forms of entertainment, the lusts of the eyes and of the flesh, and impressionable youth searching for significance, can we do the same without falling prey to it's allure? Can we live a life of sincere integrity in a world with decaying morals and still win souls for our King?