Watch Out for the Flip Flops!

I love those games where you try to find hidden objects and boy have I been playing the most challenging game I have ever played! While looking for tomatoes I came across a green ugly tomato worm! It was so ugly I gasped when I found him, as my face was just inches away. With further examination, I could see that our tomatoes vines in many places were completely bare of leaves. I wondered how that one worm, although it was huge, could eat that much! I walked around the tomato patch looking for the rest of the "army" who had riddled many of our green tomatoes as well as the plant itself. I found none! As with the popular game, I knew they had to be there but my eyes were not seeing them. I took another loop around and finally, I find another, then another and yet another! Oooooh! Since they cannot be pulled off the vines, I broke the vine to extract the "so ugly only a mother could love" horned tomato worm! These critters, I read, eat continuously! They voraciously consume the green plants at record speed. As I collected the things, I needed to dispose of them so naturally I called my husband! All I can say is, the bottom of my husband's flip flop was the last thing these devils saw! Not to be too graphic, green goo flew! He was full of what he consumed and when pressure was applied (via flip flop) that came out! (on flip flop)!

I know it might be a stretch, but I see this scenario played out with people especially Christian people all the time! (stay with me here). Frankly when Christians have a little pressure applied, what comes out of them is not always "Christian"! I wonder sometimes, what they feed on. Do they voraciously consume His word or do other things suit their appetite? I know if envy, strife and hate are constantly on the menu, that is what I spew forth! Anger, if not properly handled, can fill a heart so that nothing else can come in. The Bible says don't let the sun go down on it! Self pity seems to be my meal of choice lately, what good will that do me in times of trouble? When I have filled my heart with "poor me", where will I find strength, courage and truth? I know that the time is now to change my diet before it is too late!

I say don't wait until a big “flip flop” (or the burdens of life) crush you on every side, start to fill yourself with those things that are of God!

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8, 9 NIV)