The Joy of Kite Flying

While taking a break from homeschooling to enjoy the beautiful weather outside, Andie quickly realized that the strong breeze translated into a perfect day to fly a kite. She was right. We barely walked outside with the kite to find the wind already had taken control of it. She was enjoying the ease in which the kite sailed through the sky and whipped back and forth. As I watched her and gave her pointers for keeping the kite safe and in flight, I thought of the similarities of the wind to the Holy Spirit indwelling the life of a believer.

The first thing that occurred to me was how easy it was to fly the kite when there was a strong breeze. In contrast, I thought of all the times we had tried to fly a kite when there wasn’t enough wind to take it up. It’s quite exhausting. Something about running around and throwing the kite up in the air only to watch it come crashing down drains you of the enjoyment that should be found in flying a kite. I liken it to moving and working apart from the Spirit of God. Many times I find myself wanting something to happen in my life so badly that I try to move this way and that only to find myself exhausted and drained of any real joy. Oh, how I only want to move and respond to the Spirit working in my life and not to the exhausting efforts of my own flesh. Working outside the Spirit’s leading will only deplete me of the joy that is mine in Christ. In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul acknowledges his own dependence on the Spirit of God to lead, guide and instruct him. Although Paul was a former Pharisee and would be considered an expert in the law of God, He admitted that he knew nothing apart from Christ. He affirmed that he relied upon the Spirit and power of God completely. Do I rely on the Spirit and power of God to lead and guide me where He wants me to go or do I make my own plans and expect God to bless them with His power?

Secondly, we learned that staying away from those things that would interfere with the kite flying was of utmost importance. Trees and houses should be completely avoided. As I instructed Andie to make sure she was careful to stay away from those things that would interfere with the kite flying, I thought of how a follower of Christ, who is being led by the Spirit should also stay away from those things that could easily devastate the joy of the flight of a believer. Paul expressed his concern for the church at Corinth that their minds could be led astray from the simple and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3) I can follow the Spirit’s leading and as soon as things get challenging or difficult, my mind can put me on the roof of fear and complacency. If I listen to those who preach a gospel that is always supposed to be easy and without suffering, I can end up stuck in a tree of doubt and anger. I must fly (walk) by the Spirit and I will not carry out the desires of my flesh (interferences). (Galatians 5:16) Am I easily distracted by the interferences of the world or do I consistently renew my mind with God’s word? (Romans 12:2)?

Lastly, I felt the joy that was found in flying a kite that was being carried by the wind. Andie and I watched as the kite would zip above our heads as the wind carried it here and there. It was a joyous thing to watch as that Dora the Explorer kite with its long pink tail flew high in the sky. Yes, there were other things we could’ve been doing. There was still school work that needed to be done and there was laundry that needed to be folded and put up. If I focused on the other things, I would not have enjoyed the moment that was at hand. Similarly, when I am being led by the Spirit and joining in His work, I must be careful not to focus on all the other things.(Luke 10:42) God desires that I enjoy the fruit of what He is doing in and through me at that moment. Do I find the joy of loving and responding to the Spirit of God working in my life or do I focus on the other things that I could be doing?

Just as flying a kite results in immense joy, even more so, living by the Spirit will bear the fruit of joy. (Galatians 5:23) Have you learned some lessons of how to enjoy the fruit of the Spirit?  If so, please share.

Angel's Food or Devil's Food Cake?

Recovering from surgery has limited me in satisfying some of my unhealthy appetites. I won’t make this blog a complete confession, but I must share this one with you. Due to my driving restriction, I’m unable to make a run to Sonic or Kroger when I need to satisfy a craving. The last couple of day’s I’ve been having an extreme, I mean extreme, craving for chocolate. I realized today that either my emotions are resulting in the need for chocolate or that my need for chocolate is resulting in my somewhat instable emotions. This became more apparent to me when I burst into tears at the final landing of the space shuttle Discovery today. I think astronauts and space travel are pretty cool, but I didn’t know that they affected me in this way.

In a pursuit to curb my craving and stabilize my emotions, I went to my pantry to see if there was a box of something that I could make to satisfy this craving. I quickly realized I had two choices. One was a box of gingerbread that was out of date and the other was a box of Angel Food Cake. The Angel Food Cake read “Fat Free” across the front, so I thought, well it’s not chocolate, but I could eat the whole thing and possibly satisfy some craving of indulgence.

I made the Angel Food Cake and sadly to my disappointment it has not satisfied the craving that I have. Even the idea of eating all of it didn’t appeal to me. Today, I envisioned myself devouring a whole pan of chewy, fudgy brownies. From brownies, my mind quickly went into visions of warm Devil’s Food Cake erupting with hot fudge sauce. In an all out battle for my mind and to keep me from losing control and possibly going crazy, the Spirit of God, quickly gave me spiritual application. I have an Angel Food Cake and yet my appetite so desperately craves a Devil’s Food Cake. Can you relate?

I quickly thought of the struggle that Paul transparently shares in Romans 7 about his own fleshly appetite. Our flesh is the part of us that has sinful desires and passions. Paul recognized his own vulnerability to want to indulge in the cravings of his flesh. Even though he had been given a new desire (Romans 6:4) through the Spirit of God, he confirms that there is a war waging (Romans 7:23) within himself. I think far too often I think that there may be a little good in my flesh. It’s a nice thought, but a deceptive one, which only leads to destruction. If I fail to realize the desperate wickedness of my own flesh I will likely walk in areas of sin in which I never thought I would indulge.

Paul openly admitted that there is nothing good in his own flesh. (Romans 7:18) If there is nothing good in my flesh and there is only perfection in the Spirit of God, I must recognize that there is an all out war going on within me. Unfortunately, it’s a little bigger and deeper than a war between Angel Food and Devil’s Food Cake. Thankfully, Paul doesn’t leave us with the overwhelming thought of a desperately wicked flesh and a waging war that must be fought on our own. In fact, he recognizes that it is not a war in which he has the ability to deliver himself. In a response to his own question of who will deliver him from this body of death, he proclaims, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”(Romans 7:25)

Peter, another apostle, affirms Paul’s proclamation that it is through Jesus Christ. Peter tells us that the divine power of Jesus Christ in us has granted to us everything we need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) How can I live and enjoy that divine power I need to fight the war waging within me? Peter tells us it is through the true knowledge of God. Where can I find the source of the true knowledge of God? The only source in which I can confidently access and enjoy this divine power is through the living, abiding word of God. When I personally study God's word and respond to the Spirit's teaching, I am accessing the power needed to destroy my destructive flesh and enjoy the fruit of the Spirit living in me. All other sources are merely supplemental. They will not be the power you or I need to fight the war waging within us.

So what will I eat or even worse what will eat me? Will it be Angel’s Food or Devil’s Food?

P.S. For those of you who are worried about my craving, my good friend brought me a Triple Chocolate Crème Cake. I’m doing better now!! That’s a whole other blog for another day!!