Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
I stopped while running and took a picture of a giant turtle. (My turtle is the one on the right). I was near the turtle but didn’t reach down or bend down close to it.
Later that day I showed my picture and a friend said I had seen a snapping turtle. It’s a good thing I did not tease this guy.
For I did not know what the consequences could be ! Knowing that I’m not too old to learn something new, I did some snapping turtle research.
I found a video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW0hlVwEQK0
In it, a guy bends down, teasing the turtle’s mouth with a stick. (his turtle is the one on the left).
Suddenly, lightning fast, the turtle struck, snap ! The dude in the video has blood pouring out of his hand !
This episode is a picture of toying with, or playing around with, sin. I think that I am in control. I can dabble with sin and I can easily pull back before I get ensnared. I am not in danger. But that is not true ! I should not dare ! Snap !!
After my turtle encounter, I stand freshly warned. Indeed, I’d like to rephrase today’s opening verse as “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil lurks like a snapping turtle, waiting for someone to bite.”
Kenny B's World 
The enemy can do more than just “bite’ us (although we’ve all had some really nasty, bleeding bites)… but… after reading this, I think I’ve had a pretty easy life…
The song “It Is Well With My Soul” was written by a successful Christian lawyer Horatio Spafford. His only son died at age 4 in 1871. In 1872, the great Chicago fire wiped out his vast estate made from a successful legal career. In 1873, he sent his wife and his 4 daughters over to Europe on a summer trip on the ill fated SS Ville du Havre. Since he had a lot of work to do, he planned to follow them later. The ship sank and he lost his 4 daughters with the wife being the only survivor. She sent him a famous telegram which simply read, “SAVED ALONE…” On his return home, his law firm was burned down and the insurance company refused to pay him. They said “It’s an Act of God”. He had no money to pay for his house and no work, he also lost his house. Then while sitting and thinking what’s happening to him, being a spiritual person, he wrote a song – “Whatever, my Lord, You have taught me to say – It is well, it is well with my soul”. My dear friend, a good attitude will determine your altitude. When you look at your life, career, job or family life, what do you say? Do you praise God? Do you blame the devil? A good attitude towards God makes Him move on your behalf.
Just sit down and say, “Today, God, it is well with my soul. I am thankful I had a peaceful sleep. I am thankful I am alive. I am thankful I have a roof over me. I am thankful I have a job. I am thankful that I have family and friends. Above all, I am thankful that I have the Lord Jesus Christ on my side.”
Be blessed and don’t be envious or shocked when others are prospering because you don’t know what they have been through to get there (test, trials and tribulation).
So, thank God for what you have. “Little is much when God is in it. It Is Well With My Soul!”
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