Wednesday, September 15, 2010

ATTENTION WAL-MART CUSTOMERS…..

9/15/10 ……or was it K-MART customers. Regardless, we’ve all heard those blaring announcements. “Clean-up on aisle 3.” There is a difference in a store that keeps current with clean-ups---much like AA Step # 4 ---where you take a daily inventory of “oops” in your life. That way the AA messy/dirty parts are kept in check lending to the overall “clean” presentation.

The Hopkinsville Wal-Mart makes that “clean-up” announcement almost every time I’m in the store. It is reflected in the overall tidiness of the store----unlike a Wal-Mart we visited in southeast Memphis one Sunday night. That Wal-Mart had merchandise strewn on shelves & some had fallen off bottom shelves into the aisles. Customers just stepped over stuff, even cracked eggs. I felt dirty and somewhat fearful just being in the store. I never found what I came for either because I was so distracted by the mess. I had trouble staying focused on what I needed.

We need to keep our “dirt” in check as well and be willing to clean–up as we go through-out our day----it’s called confession. If you don’t do it daily, join me weekly on “Weeping Wednesdays” and own up to your sins. Coming clean (true repentance) feels so good. Others will see it in our demeanor. That will get everyone’s attention in a good way----just like a “clean up on aisle 3.”

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:8-9)

We all have an “aisle” that needs cleaning up today. I know that I do. I’ve already made prayerful plans to clean it up.