So What If You Do?

In my last post I ended with not giving in to temptation, specifically sex outside of marriage. I've preached on this one for some time ~ it's easy to do when you're not being tempted. So what happens when you DO "sin"? I've found that depends on a lot, your background, your current environment, your self confidence, etc. Since I was raised Catholic, when I commit a sin ~ knowingly & even "unknowingly" ~ I'm programmed to first feel guilt, then wallow in it a bit, go to confession & then await my punishment ~ which of course will be given out as harshly as the "level" of sin I committed.
Well that's a bunch of crap and just as much of the deception as whatever takes us down these roads that we are ALL on. I've stood on my pedastal long enough and hidden behind whatever kind of wall of a specific kind of Christianity I could build. Am I a Christian? Absolutely; however not the kind I was presenting ~ I had about every Christian quotation and sentiment I could add on my facebook wall, I professed to stay moral by claiming no sex or no this or no that was the way ~ but those are easy when you are "safe" behind the walls you put up.
So what happens when you are not writing a blog, posting on facebook and out living life ~ even as a Christian? Well it's not exactly the same for each of us obviously, but what I do know is that eventually your "real" life and your "safe" life collide and no matter how strong a wall you think you've built, it's coming down. God did not design us to hide behind walls, nor does He expect perfection ~ if He did there wouldn't have been any point in having Christ die for us would there? My last post was on April 27th ~ I waited a few weeks before typing it & posting it as the reality of my true self was conflicting with what I was hiding behind. Don't get me wrong, I still believe that living life as God tells us to in the Bible is the best way & will always be; however, we do not do that - if we're truly being honest. We should strive to but what happens when we don't? Well if you're anything like me, that's a daily thing so am I supposed to walk around all day putting myself down because I went 5 miles over the speed limit? Am I supposed to keep track of all my swear words all day & put change in a jar? (or say 10 hail mary's~lol) And what happens if I commit one of the REALLY big ones? Ladies, it does say there are certain things God abhors & I am not writing this to make us all feel we're free to run out & do whatever we want anywhere, anyhow, etc. but what I am saying is we are real women with real lives with real issues with real sin, period. Does that suck? Yep, it can ~ most definately; however I want to retract something I put in my previous post ~ even though God will not condone sin, nor bless it, we sin daily YET we are still blessed by God ~~ NOT because of what we do, but because Christ already paid for our sins and if we've accepted that gift, then we are accepted, period. I will clarify once more ~ this is not justification to go out and sin and think nothing of it, what I want you to know is that when you do sin, it's an opportunity for the enemy to use in ways you may not expect and it can be a dangerous road; however smoking, drinking, sex, swearing, speeding ~ sin is sin ~ there may be very different consequences for each one ~ don't be fooled into thinking there won't always be a consequence, but don't be fooled into thinking you're getting some wrath of God punishment ~ or that you're less of a person, woman or Christian either.
Again, don't get me wrong, there are things that certain sins will prevent you from being a part of certain things~ for example, in some churches men cannot be deacons if they are committing certain sins, etc. ~ so sin can prevent you from serving in ways that could be a blessing to both you & those you could help; but at the same time, God knows us, He knows our hearts and He has a plan for each one of us, we simply need to keep trying, keep learning, keep praying, keep reading the Word, and keep true to who we are ~ don't hide and don't get so far "up" that no one can relate to you or even bother trying. You can be a Christian and not be perfect ~ seriously, anyone who knows me, truly knows me, knows I'm nothing like what I was hiding behind, and whatever you're hiding from, even if you think you're hiding behind God, you will have to face it eventually ~ & God may be the One to make you face it.
I've never believed life is worth living without taking chances and going for what your heart truly desires (& I'm not talking about drugs, addictions, etc. I mean true heart desires) but for a few months I lived like I didn't believe that & I hid behind a wall I could not sustain, as you cannot hide from yourself for long ~ and I missed out on a lot, maybe even missed out to an extent that some chances may be gone forever, I don't know, but the point is ~  if you think your heart is protected by hiding, believe me ~ it is not. Guard your heart ladies, but don't try box it up, be true to you, to who God made you to be ~ we are all unique, not one exactly the same ~ in other words, designed on purpose & for a purpose ~ so get out there and live.