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!

Falling...it hurts

Today I nearly fell down these steps.  It was not because I tripped over the dog (I just put him there because I hear animals make people pay attention...)

Cute, isn't he?

I nearly fell because:


1.  I am clumsy.  Naturally.  It's a gift.
2.  I was not paying attention.
3.  I am clumsy (did I mention that?).


Heart pounding, I grabbed the railing and saved myself from a skinned knee and a rip in my new Toms...whew.   

The Toms...still looking good!

And it got me thinking.  Sin is always lurking about. In my head, in my heart...it's there.  Yeah, there's the media and the world and all that, but the main problem I have is me.  I'm incredibly distracted and self-absorbed and sometimes my conscience is easy to quench.  Because I don't always want what's right.  


But when I fall, I get hurt.  And hurt others.  


This near miss got me thinking.  That I want to hate sin the way I hate falling down my stairs...and that I want to avoid it at all costs.  Because if I fall, more than the Toms that are going get wrecked.

Still reading?  Here's the dog again...His name is Jack.

So here's the deal, "I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:27 NASB

Because I don't want to miss out.  I don't want my husband to miss out. I don't want my kids to miss out.  I don't want anyone to miss out because of my bad choices.  And by miss out, I mean miss Jesus because I was selfish.  And I thought wrecking myself was worth it.  If it's not worth my shoes, it's definitely not worth a life.  

Grace and peace...A.