Cold wind doth blow, and we shall have – rain, not quite cold enough for snow, but a bit chilly none the less.

Checked the cameras on Mt. Hood, Mt. Bachelor and Crater Lake, satisfying seeing the amount of snow they have accumulated these past few hours.

The mountain passes look to have a lot of snow on them and roads aren’t clear yet.  Snow studs are still on the Toyota not planning on going anywhere, but it is nice to have them ‘just in case.’  We never put snow tires on the Lincoln it just doesn’t seem to go very well in the snow.

‘course we have the ‘family’ 4X4 when we need it, but the mpg is about a third of the Toyota.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 4:8  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Each day I follow pretty much the same routine – it is easier for me to do that so I don’t forget...

I boot up my computer – while I am waiting for all the background stuff to load up, I text my kids and grandkids (if I haven’t already) telling them that I love, miss and am praying for them.

When the computer seems to be booted up well enough to go on-line, the very first thing I do is click on my Norton Virus icon and run an update so I have the latest program and then I run a virus check on my computer to make sure something hasn’t slipped in.

Now, it is done by the computer every day, automatically, but I like to make sure before I go to a web site, or download my e-mails that I have the latest so I don’t corrupt my computer.  After doing that I can rest knowing that almost all viruses will be detected and destroyed before they hit my computer (or give me a warning that something might be dangerous) – I know, it isn’t 100%, but as close as we can come.

This morning as I was doing this, it occurred to me that I need to do that every day with my spiritual life. 

Not just automatically, where I say, God check me out this morning and then move on.

Every day we receive data that is detrimental to our well-being and our spirituality.  Sometimes we ‘download’ something that we didn’t realize corrupted our hearts – but God knows and if we have Him point it out to us early we can better deal with the bad information and allow Him to cleanse us.

Therefore, I must download the newest virus update.  I do that by reading His Word and asking Him to lead me in His way. I spend some time with Him, listening to Him, processing that information and trust that He has given me what information I need to live my life for Him, today.

THEN, I do a virus scan to make sure that I haven’t sinned against Him, by asking HIM to search my ‘hard drive,’ (my heart and mind) to make sure that nothing has slipped in that will interfere with our relationship.

To make sure I haven’t download material that is dangerous to my soul.  IF He finds something I ask Him to delete it, put it in the trash and discard it from my mind.

I don’t want it to corrupt my other ‘files’ and I don’t want to send it along to others.

It is important that we be as pure and holy as we can be.  When we speak, when we share, when we go about our daily lives we want to go with confidence that God has prepared our hearts that we might better serve Him.

When we do that we can rest easier knowing that He knows our heart and is protecting us from satan’s temptations.

Just as there are web sites we know are dangerous and we know not to go there, there are situations we know are dangerous and once we realize that, we should make sure we don’t go there, we don’t need the temptations.

But sometimes they can’t be avoided, sometimes they sneak up on us and sometimes we have to reboot during the day, especially when we encounter situation(s) that ‘try our souls’ and that is perfectly okay, we can do it as many times as we need with the assurance that He is there, willing and able to protect us.

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 4:8  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Later, Art :-)