Fruit Flies....

I have fruit flies in my kitchen.

And one or two in the far back bathroom.

And one that likes to sit on the tv screen, right in the middle, no matter how many times I shoo him away.

I have spent a week trying to eradicate them.  I moved the compost bin outside to freeze.  I put all ripening fruit in the fridge.  I've washed and scrubbed everything I can think of.  

And still, every morning, fruit flies.  By the dozen.

They're making me feel a little bit crazy. I keep thinking there's some amazing thing that I am completely overlooking that will get rid of them.  

Nothing has turned up on Google yet.

And it makes me think.

My life has some fruit flies. Flaws.  Habits.  Issues.  Things that don't seem to change, no matter what I move or scrub.

They make me feel a little bit crazy.

I want an instant cure.  Some magical solution that will rub them out.  

I've been touring Ephesians lately. Chapter 4 in the New Living says this:

"Since you have heard about Jesus and learned about the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God--truly righteous and holy."  (v. 22-24)

Ok...there it is.  Throw off the old. Put on the new.  

How?  Let the Spirit.  

It almost sounds magical.  Ethereal.  How does that happen?  Well, v. 25 has some ideas: Stop telling lies... and v. 26...and don't sin by letting anger control you.  v. 28. If you are a thief, quit stealing.  Instead use your hands to do good. 

And so forth.

Step 1. Throw Off.  How?  By doing different things.  

Step 2. Let the Spirit renew your thoughts, your attitudes.

So a bit of elbow grease, and a lot of the Spirit.  

Getting rid of fruit flies in our lives takes more than a magic eraser.  

The difference is, the elbow grease required for a life change comes complete with the help of the God who keeps the universe in better order than I can keep my kitchen.  

That means that the fruit flies in my kitchen have a better chance of lasting than the flaws, habits and issues of my heart.  

And this is what I'm writing down and tucking in my pocket today: 

"Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord... and because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." Romans 7:24, 25- 8:1 NLT

Goodbye fruit flies!

P.S. I completely chopped up the Romans scripture...look it up! Chapter 7 is amazing!

When the Words End

Sometimes words run out.  

The soft start to new year's resolutions went well.  Slow, some weeks better than others, but definitely a better start than usual.  

But news that a precious little girl had just days before Christmas died stopped my heart and mind for a while.  Grieving is a process, and everything paused.  

http://freshlifechurch.org/lenya/

Slowly we rejoiced through Christmas, and welcomed a new year.

Much work, much change came in the new year, and finding our "sea legs" has taken a while.  I've repainted the living room, sold half the furniture we own (which isn't much), and am redoing other rooms in the house.

And while I focused on making over my home, another loss came.

This time a family.  The Griego's. A family who lived quiet lives of deep richness and great impact.  

A family who served people in prison, bringing the hope of Christ to the unreachable.

A family who opened their home and lives to everyone around them.

A family who was killed in a way I can't even think of.  

And the words ended again.  Grief overwhelmed.  

It still does.

"Be still and know that I am God."  

Little Leny knows.  The Greg, Sara and their 3 children know.

So I am still, so I too can know.  

And that's where I rest today.