We can't see all of those germs out there, but they certainly exist. A television news reporter did an investigative report on germs at the grocery store — on those shopping cart handles. After swabbing a sampling of the handles, the report revealed quite a variety of disease-causing germs. A health food store in my neighborhood has a good idea. They have provided customers with anti-bacterial wipes near the carts for anyone who wants to sanitize their handles before using.

Let's not be foolish with the sin in our lives!

One of the best health tips that I ever read, was about toothbrushes. The article said that we need to toss out our toothbrushes after recovering from a cold or other illness. Do you know why? It's because the "sick" germs can live on that toothbrush for as long as six weeks. If we keep using the same germ-laden toothbrushes, we can infect ourselves all over again with the same illness!

Sometimes sin is like those invisible germs. We may have some lurking around in our minds and hearts. They could even be in our unconscious thoughts. Let's not be like Lucy and blindly pucker up to the wrong things!

Let's not be foolish with the sin in our lives like many of us have been with our germ infested toothbrushes — when we've been forgiven of a sin, let's make sure we also throw out of our lives the things that re-infect us with that sin! Repentance means a change of heart that leads to a change of behavior. Let's rid our lives of the things that lead us back to the old sin-filled behaviors! But don't just take my word for it; listen to what the Holy Spirit says about it!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. (Hebrews 12:1-2a NLT)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. (Ephesians 4:31)

But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. (Colossians 3:8)

So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is strong enough to save your souls. (James 1:21)

So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing. (1 Peter 2:1)

The Power of Praying Together by Stormie Omartian & Jack Hayford More than just a "how to" book, this book will help us to discover that when we are willing to link our hearts with others before God, we open ourselves up to a wider, more interactive world of prayer.

Katha's small town upbringing in Sherman, Texas was slow paced, with loving parents, lots of down home cooking, and church attendance. Katha graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in English and continued graduate studies in English at Abilene Christian University. Katha was an editor at a publishing company and has done freelance for businesses as well as writing devotional articles for Power for Today. She and her husband have two grown children and a granddaughter. Katha enjoys reading, crocheting, yoga, and singing in groups and as a soloist.

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