Near Death Experience

Last night, I opened the bag of candy I had bought for my daughter and pulled out one tiny bite size Snickers and Milky Way. I popped them in my mouth, all 2 bites worth and had a violent allergic reaction. Suddenly, phlegm filled my throat with a terrible itchy,scratchy, raw feeling. I began coughing uncontrollably, and became terrified since it was clear, I was dying. Fortunately, hubby was home. I ran into the TV room and told him I was having an allergic reaction to the candy, had no idea why as I have had this candy before and never reacted, but he needed to be ready to rush me to the ER. I downed a couple of glasses of water, and slowly the symptoms subsided.

I have never had such an intense allergic reaction, and it was scary that I didn't know what ingredient triggered it. I wrote to my genius friend Melissa who can usually answer anything. She uncovered that those candies can have trace amounts of "tree nuts" (hazelnut) which I am allergic to. No more Snickers or Milky Ways for me! It was astonishing -- such sweet little morsels, so seemingly innocent and innocuous and had I had much more than those two bites, I am pretty sure I would be six feet under pushing up daisies now. Melissa told me I had a lot of symptoms of Oral Allergy Syndrome which begins (as mine did) as a local response, but over time, can become systemic in some patients (thus deadly.) I will need to read labels carefully now - and religiously avoid tree nuts.

This is what sin is like! It seems so harmless, those little sins of anger, pettiness, jealousy, irritation, worry, fear...and BAM! Soon you are in full cardiac arrest of the soul! It is really much much MUCH better to avoid those sins, all sins altogether. Even one little bite can land you in massive trouble.
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1 John 1:8-10 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Romans 3:23 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Galatians 5:16 

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

James 4:7 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

John 3:16-17 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

1 John 3:4 

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

1 John 5:17 

All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

James 1:15 

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.