Except...

I have been studying the life of Solomon in my quiet time.  This morning this verse stood out.  "And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places."  1 Kings 3:3  Solomon was using pagan alters to sacrifice to the Lord which had been forbidden.  In fact, the high places were to be destroyed.  (Numbers 33:52 and Deuteronomy 7:5)  Except.  What would go after the word 'except' in my sentence?  Megan loved the Lord, except..... 
I love the Lord.  I want my life to have a period there.  I don't want there to be an 'except'.  There isn't a period there, though.  The word 'except' stood out to me this morning because I have an 'except' in my life.  The truth is, God would be able to throughly list the things that could come after the 'except'.  This leads me to repentance and confession.

We must constantly be on our guard.  The world and her ways can creep in so quickly and before we know it we have compromised.  God tells us clearly in His Word what he expects, just like with reguard to the high places.  I pray that God will help me remove the 'excepts' from my heart and life so that I can accept His perfect will.  I pray He will help me parent my children in such a way that they will recognize when they have an 'except' as well.  Lord, help me be who I should be so that my children can see Christ in me.