June 26, 2013 - The Fly Flap

I promised you a laugh this morning; let's do it. As a child, we had no air conditioning therefore our windows were open often. Open windows equaled open opportunities for flying critters. Some of you in your fifties can say, "amen" right here. And while I hate mosquitos, they always seemed to come and go. But NOT flies. Flies seemed to have this mentality that once inside, they owned the joint. Now for those of you who like order and everyone following directions, screaming at the flies to leave the same way they came never worked for me. You? So, my nanny taught us the art of popping them with the "fly flap." Did you catch that...the art? I discovered from my nanny that there is a rhythm and technique to successfully using the fly flap (swatter) and while none of the other children took this seriously, it became my personal challenge to embrace the philosophy of NO ESCAPEES. If fact, as soon as I made eye contact with one entering the window, I snarled, "you're dead, sucker!" From using the fly flap, I graduated to watching their movement so closely I could snatch them in mid air with my hand. Before some of you gag, you have to admit that's pretty good. Can I be honest, even at my age I can still grab one in mid-air........ah, the success of victory. (LOL) Some of you do this too - you know you do. But today, let's link the attack and destruction of bothersome flies to those little issues and challenges that seem to always arrive when we don't want or need them. For example, sometimes our body holds fluid, especially in this heat, and our shoes won't feel the same. Something that small can cause a distraction for hours if we allow the fly (thought that you've tried everything and nothing works for you) to invade your peace. Isn't it amazing how quickly we give our emotions to the negative. Or, if we weigh and discover we're up a pound (which could again be fluid in this heat) and we allow the fly to torment and distract. Life is too short! Grab the fly flap or your hand and send that distraction to heaven! Make your best effort to be healthy in all areas, everyday, and never allow a moment to ruin the remainder of your God-filled day. Can I give you a fly flap today? As you read the verse below, many of these can be seen as a fly experience and each has the potential to be HUGE distractions. But God never intends for us to be pulled from our posts (health in all area) by fly distractions. Use God's Word and His response tactics as your BEST fly flap. The verse says, "The day you needed me, I was there to help." Smile. PK 2 Corinthians 6:4 The Message (MSG) Staying at Our Post 6 1-10 Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don’t squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help. Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don’t put it off; don’t frustrate God’s work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we’re doing. Our work as God’s servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.