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The Itch of Sin

8/25/2014

12 Comments

 
Picture
    Scratch, scratch, scratch.  I have arrived home from our church's family camp covered with mosquito bites.  I tried to prevent getting bitten, for I react pretty severely to bug bites. My skin gets all red, swollen, itchy, hot, and I sometimes feel feverish and fatigued.   I mixed up a blend of oils - citronella, peppermint, lemon balm, and witch hazel and faithfully sprayed my exposed skin, especially at dusk.  I also have a specially treated bandana that is supposed to repel insects.  I wear that around my neck.  I've even got a large netting - it kind of looks like an upside-down mesh laundry bag that I wear around my whole head.  And, I faithfully whip up my pillows and shine my reading light under them before getting into bed each night.  You never know if a spider might be enjoying a warm nap under there!
    Now, before you laugh too hard, you have to understand that for some reason, God created me to be bait (or should I say, food?) for any and all insects - spiders, mosquitos, wasps, ants, and my all-time favorite, the dreaded no-see-ums.  You name it, they seek me out by name. I'm just minding my own business, not even thinking about bothering them, yet they still persist.  I don't know how many times I've woken up covered with spider-bites, but Rich gets zero!  When we're outside, I'm the one that's usually flapping my arms around shooing them away, while Rich calmly relaxes and enjoys the scenery.  
     So as I sit here trying hard not to think about my itchy ankles, but the more I try NOT to think about scratching, the more itchy they become!  I got to thinking about how much these irritating bites are like sin.  No matter what I'm doing - eating breakfast, typing on my computer, driving, talking with Rich, the itch is ever-present; never far from my thoughts and attention.  I find my hand drifting down to my ankles especially when my mind has shifted into neutral - when my defenses are down.  And once I give in to that first little scratch, I've got to repeat it, for now the itch has intensified. And I scratch again, and again, and again.  And now, far from being satisfying, it's beginning to hurt a little.  And bleed.  And I must scratch harder and harder to satisfy that intense itching!  Aargh!  The only time that I don't hear the call to scratch is when my mind is completely engaged in something like trying to play my viola, or driving our large van in Seattle's rush hour traffic.
    It's the same way with our fight against sin.  Even though I am a new creation, I daily battle with sin. The temptation to give in to sin is always there - calling me; tempting me.  And it grabs me when I let my mind shift into neutral.  And once I give in to sin, just a little, it demands more.  But it never satisfies.  Sin costs.  And the end of sin is death.  James says, "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." 
    I'm learning that a key to battling sin is my mind...what am I going to feed it today?  When I choose to soak my mind in the truths of God's Word, I don't notice the temptations to sin as much, for my mind and soul is filled with God and His great love and grace toward me.  "Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ..." (1 Peter 1:13)



12 Comments
Amy and Nana
8/29/2014 03:17:04 pm

Great blog, Mama! It sounds like your writing. :) It is a good analogy. We love you!

Reply
Mama
9/1/2014 05:44:50 am

Thanks for reading, girls! Hmm...I wonder what my next post will be about? Next goal: trying to figure out how to work the layout of photos. Hope you are having a good, productive day today.

Reply
Noelle Tanaka
9/1/2014 03:00:05 am

I like your post!

Reply
Mama
9/1/2014 05:47:13 am

Glad to know you were here, Noelle! Our fight against sin is one in which we all share. Glad that we can bellum geremus together.

Reply
Aaron
9/16/2014 01:50:39 pm

Nice blog, Mama!
It's the first time i've been here, and it's nice too see the posts!

Reply
Mama
9/16/2014 03:00:15 pm

Welcome, Aaron! Glad to have you here and I'm happy to know that you read my Mariners post. I'm glad that you'll still be around for a few more years so we can cheer together for the Mariners each year.

Reply
Debby Walker
7/6/2015 05:07:55 pm

I just became a patient of your husband's. I chose him because in his bio, he stated he was a Christian, I knew that I would be able to relate to him, as I am a believer too. He told about the Team Tanaka website, and how you all had just go back from Cambodia on a mission trip. I just read your blog on insect bites and sin.........loved it. What a great analogy......sin is surely like that.....good good words. Thanks.

Reply
Brian Flannery
1/25/2017 10:34:06 am

I am so glad God directed me to this blog. I am the pastor of Stark United Methodist Church in Elliott Co. KY. I just started in Nov. 2016. I have had this idea on my heart for a couple weeks about Sin being like an itch. This is the only reference I could find. I need a scripture to back up what God has for me. He will provide that also. Thanks again and God Bless!

Reply
Lori
1/25/2017 12:11:57 pm

Wow! Thanks for commenting. Your comment encourages me to write more. May God bless your efforts as you shepherd your congregation.

Reply
Frannie Garcia
6/7/2017 10:55:03 am

Hi Lori! I had an appointment with Rich this morning and got to catch up a little bit. I think of your family often. I just read your analogy on bug bites and sin. What a great analogy it is! Just wanted to say hi. God bless you guys.

Reply
Lori
6/7/2017 12:01:05 pm

Hi Frannie! Wow - it's been a long time. You've probably heard that Jonathan is married and Amy will be married this summer. Our youngest is 10 years old. Glad to hear from you and hope all is well with you.

Reply
Nancy
3/21/2018 06:40:22 am

I’m a patient of your husband. I always ask about what’s going on with the Tanaka tribe. Nice positive spin on bug bites.😊

Reply



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    ​Lori

    Hello, all! The purpose of this blog is to keep you all updated during our journey to Juneau, Alaska. 

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