Bzzzzzz! (or "What's a Woman to Wear When Swatting Mosquitoes!")
A Hurting
Word...
Labor Day (USA) brings with it a last holiday weekend fling, and for many families, a wonderful picnic complete with hamburgers, hot dogs, Mom's potato salad (try Georgia's below!!), chocolate cake, lemonade--oh, you know, the works! And now that I've made us all properly famished, and dusk has settled in, the lawn chairs holding all the inlaws and outlaws but never the kids, what's that I hear??? Bzzzzzz......welcome the marvelous mosquitoes to the picnic afterglow! They're here to annoy, harrass, and help you finish your lovely day with a swat, a scowl, a scratch--and a "Where IS that blasted bug!"
We can smile for we are indoors on our computers, away from the ornery little creatures (unless you have a laptop at the picnic!)--but hold on! Did you know mini, menacing mosquitos--the "spiritual" kind--are all around you, harrassing, annoying, distracting and diverting you from the work of the Lord in your life and through your life?? Come on to the Well and let's find out what's going on and what to do about it! Don't bother bringing the bug spray--it won't work for THIS kind of mosquito!
A Helping Word...or
Two!
Busyness to Divert from Time with the Lord!
Mosquito Number One makes its grand entrance, buzzing around by day, when we're too BUSY to pray, then buzzing around by night, when we're too TIRED to pray. Communication with God gets lost in the shuffle of the kids, the komotions, and the kraziness of the day--and don't forget the meals, the laundry, the job, the taxi service--you can make your OWN list--and all the while this little "buzzard" smiles away. He's diverted another Christian from the strength and power needed to fight the enemy....and he's the enemy! For if you haven't guessed by now, your adversary the devil would like nothing more than to keep you and me from a quiet time with our Lord. That's where our strength lies and he's won a battle when we're just TOO busy! Well, stop in your tracks--the house and the office work can wait. Hang on--there's help ahead for you!
Bothers to Distract From Service to the Lord!
Life is full of blessings...but it comes with bothers too, and here's where Mosquito Numer Two and his cohorts take over! Listen to them confer among themselves: "Let's break down her Internet connection, let's get the kids in a major fight, let's cause criticism and hurts to annoy, and you know what, fellow buzzards? She/he/they won't be able to focus on the work the Lord has called them ALL to do! They'll have to just focus on the hurts and the heaviness, the issues and irritations of life, and we'll build up the anxiety level till they're worthless for anything godly. No encouragement to others or service to God today--they're too busy swatting US all day!" Ever been there? I have--sometimes, the mosquitos come alone, sometimes in pairs, sometimes in a swarm--and you're left to swat the empty air in frustration, fear, anxiety, unbelief and despair. Stop it--there's help for you....read on!
Burdens to Disturb the Peace of the Lord!
Mosquitoes are tiny, little things, but let them buzz endlessly for minute after minute, which seems like hours, and they've GOT you! Stress mounts, anger flairs, irritation develops bigtime--and you've lost it, over a silly little mosquito! That's exactly what "he" wants--let the pressure build with the burdens and there goes her peace! There goes her rest in the Lord--out the window where the mosquito should be headed! Burdens are a part of life, but so many times we let them pile upon us without taking them to the Lord. The pressure builds and we've lost our peace. The little mosquito has done its job--he's happy and we're harrassed....but stop! There's hope for us all....read on!
Now here's where the fun begins! You see, you don't need any special equipment, except maybe a really good "swatter" to get the house and yard mosquito! But you are going to need bigtime equipment to get to the mosquitos under control in your spiritual life! You see, a tiny mosquito can become the "stronghold" of the house - unbelievable, but true. This miniature menace diverts, distracts and disturbs the life of the believer with annoyances, harrassments, little digs here and there, and then he smiles, for HE is in control! Now what to do--I mean, what to wear! Here it is--your guaranteed gear to successfully wear when swatting a spiritual mosquito: Bible Gateway.com - Ephesians+6:10-17"> The Armor of the Lord!.
I have a rather weird imagination (as you may have noticed...grin), but this past week, as I've gone through the hassles and harrassments of "little things" which annoy and bother and distract, I was tickled as I realized that what THESE mosquitos need are a fully equipped Christian wearing the armor of the Lord--and those little menaces have to GO--in the Name and the Word of the Lord. I picture myself swatting the tiny mosquitos dressed in the full armor of the Lord, and I grin from ear to ear, but THAT is what it will take for us all!
So put on that helmet of salvation, wear that breastplate of righteousness, tighten up the tummy with the girdle of truth, get on those gospel-peace shoes, and hold up that shield of faith. Now you are fully dressed, and ready to wield the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God--and that dratty little mosquito who's been bugging you all week has to GO!! Bzzzz away, you mini-menacing critter. You have no place in the life of a child of God and we will NOT be diverted, distracted or disturbed any longer by your clever schemes! GO in the Name of the Lord!
...and that's just a word or two from my grinnin' heart to yours!
His Healing Words
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds), casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (KJV)."
"Lord, I've been bothered and burdened too long by the "mosquitoes" buzzing around in my life, diverting me from Your Word and Your work. In Your Name, I put on the armor of God and stand victoriously against the wily schemes of the enemy. He is defeated! In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Need some extra rest and refreshment in your desert place? Visit Songs of Praise below and let the lovely music fill your soul with His peace and joy!
A place to enjoy other devotionals!
I'm blessed with a wonderful "virtual web family," many close friends who not only help to keep me sane and smiling, but write wonderful devotionals. Enjoy their spiritual insights--and their sites as well!
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This Christian home has been visited a zillion times
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Most of the music playing at Peggie's Place originates from Songs of Praise.
Visit their great Web site to hear beautiful tunes by many talented artists. CDs are available.
PLEASE NOTE: Peggie's Place is still online - please note correct address. Peggie's Place, a personal Christian web site, is also a member of the Gospel.com community, formerly known as Gospel Communications Network, now defunct. My site is no longer known as "peggiesplace.gospelcom.net" or "gospelcom.net/peggiesplace" - the updated address is Peggie's Place. Please update any old bookmarks/links to peggiesplace.com. See "A Redirect at Peggie's Place" for more detail.
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A Hurting
Word...
