Vacuuming Oreos
July 21-22
Yesterday's entry slipped away as I was out of town for the day and obviously had my priorities messed up. I started to simply email today..."I am here" because I am in a rush to get things together for the truck our daughter is packing to take to Minnesota. The "I am here" comment made me think how we don't always feel the Lord "right there" but we know He is there. So to those of you who were wondering or worrying..."Where is she?" All is well, just chaotic.
If you walked in my kitchen right now you would find my pantry doors open. Realizing the ants I've been battling don't like the light, leaving the doors open seems to keep them from those shelves. The other day I questioned...if they aren't in these cabinets where have they gone. Found them! Opening my front hall closet I saw them scurrying across the floor. Grabbing my vacuum I began to suck them up. Then I moved a box of dog treats on a shelf and unearthed another army of them.Thinking I had conquered the culprits I began rearranging dog treats and WHAM!
We have a box of dogie cookies similar to Oreos. Inside the box the plastic tray and covering was full of ants. I couldn't vacuum fast enough. Then I realized they were even hiding out in the cookie crevices down by the cream, so I began running the vacuum around the edge of the cookie and I could hardly keep up with all God had to say to me.
He began with how sin prefers to stay in dark places and cannot stand the light. (Thus the ants hiding out.) Pouring His Word into our lives and surrounding ourselves with like minded friends whom we trust to love us and speak truth to us is key to exposing the darkness which wants to tempt us bringing disobedience and discouragement to our days.
The cream analogy was profound, since those critters were found last. When you think about drugs, prostitution, pornography, corrupt leadership often the dealers/suppliers/leaders are the ones living the high life (in the cream if you will) and the last to be exposed. The ants which were panicking and running frantically were easily sucked up,while the others in the cream almost got away. Power and financial security often keep us from finding God as quickly as those without protective padding. Interesting how often prominent non-believers want to pass off our faith as a crutch for the weak.
Our home is supplied with a central vacuum so those ants were sucked down into a vat in the basement. I really needed to get on with my day, but God was so clear that if we don't reveal the source of our sinful behavior and totally rid ourselves of sinful temptations they will resurface. Picking up a can of ant spray I headed to the basement and opened the container and sprayed the debris with ant killer.
We can't hide from God.
Hop off to Psalm 139 and chat with Him about that fact.
In verse 23 be willing for Him to do a "sin search" in your life and be your personal exterminator by accepting the gift of His Son.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Psalm 139:23
Just as some of us may think we live in a pest free house, there are creatures lurking in our midst and believe it or not sinfulness is on the shelf of our life wanting to take over.
Romans 3:22-24
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Lord, we thank You for stopping our day and allowing us to get our priorities right and come before You. Vacuum out the sinful spots that are waiting to erupt and infest our lives. Just as my house needs to have crumbs and dirt removed,so does my heart for it can quickly grow corrupt and anxious. Step in Lord, convict us, have us be quick to turn to repentance and follow You. In Jesus' Name, Amen
Yesterday's entry slipped away as I was out of town for the day and obviously had my priorities messed up. I started to simply email today..."I am here" because I am in a rush to get things together for the truck our daughter is packing to take to Minnesota. The "I am here" comment made me think how we don't always feel the Lord "right there" but we know He is there. So to those of you who were wondering or worrying..."Where is she?" All is well, just chaotic.
If you walked in my kitchen right now you would find my pantry doors open. Realizing the ants I've been battling don't like the light, leaving the doors open seems to keep them from those shelves. The other day I questioned...if they aren't in these cabinets where have they gone. Found them! Opening my front hall closet I saw them scurrying across the floor. Grabbing my vacuum I began to suck them up. Then I moved a box of dog treats on a shelf and unearthed another army of them.Thinking I had conquered the culprits I began rearranging dog treats and WHAM!
We have a box of dogie cookies similar to Oreos. Inside the box the plastic tray and covering was full of ants. I couldn't vacuum fast enough. Then I realized they were even hiding out in the cookie crevices down by the cream, so I began running the vacuum around the edge of the cookie and I could hardly keep up with all God had to say to me.
He began with how sin prefers to stay in dark places and cannot stand the light. (Thus the ants hiding out.) Pouring His Word into our lives and surrounding ourselves with like minded friends whom we trust to love us and speak truth to us is key to exposing the darkness which wants to tempt us bringing disobedience and discouragement to our days.
The cream analogy was profound, since those critters were found last. When you think about drugs, prostitution, pornography, corrupt leadership often the dealers/suppliers/leaders are the ones living the high life (in the cream if you will) and the last to be exposed. The ants which were panicking and running frantically were easily sucked up,while the others in the cream almost got away. Power and financial security often keep us from finding God as quickly as those without protective padding. Interesting how often prominent non-believers want to pass off our faith as a crutch for the weak.
Our home is supplied with a central vacuum so those ants were sucked down into a vat in the basement. I really needed to get on with my day, but God was so clear that if we don't reveal the source of our sinful behavior and totally rid ourselves of sinful temptations they will resurface. Picking up a can of ant spray I headed to the basement and opened the container and sprayed the debris with ant killer.
We can't hide from God.
Hop off to Psalm 139 and chat with Him about that fact.
In verse 23 be willing for Him to do a "sin search" in your life and be your personal exterminator by accepting the gift of His Son.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Psalm 139:23
Just as some of us may think we live in a pest free house, there are creatures lurking in our midst and believe it or not sinfulness is on the shelf of our life wanting to take over.
Romans 3:22-24
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Lord, we thank You for stopping our day and allowing us to get our priorities right and come before You. Vacuum out the sinful spots that are waiting to erupt and infest our lives. Just as my house needs to have crumbs and dirt removed,so does my heart for it can quickly grow corrupt and anxious. Step in Lord, convict us, have us be quick to turn to repentance and follow You. In Jesus' Name, Amen
