My Little Man is Growing Up--by Jill McKechnie

School started this week. it's been a bittersweet time for me, with my oldest son beginning junior high. So many memories, long forgotten, have come to mind.

Today, I was listening to the Allman Brothers while I was cleaning. Those songs, though not the most spiritual, nevertheless bring back such memories for me. Memories of a time of emotional highs and lows; everything in life seemed incredibly wonderful, or absolutely tragic. I felt on the cusp of something new and exciting, just waiting for me. Where did those times go?

I remember my first kiss. I was at someone's birthday party, sitting with a boy in my class that I liked. He just reached over and kissed me. Afterwards, I looked around, amazed that no one else had noticed! Rockets had gone off, an orchestra was playing - how could everyone act so normal? I remember my dad picking me up at the end of the party, asking me about how things went, did I enjoy my self, how was it, etc. "What is he talking about?" I thought. "Can't he read my mind and see that I've just had my first real kiss? Good grief!"

Ah, love. Now my oldest son is starting seventh grade. He's on the cusp of something new. Of changes, and thrills, and agonies he only dreamt of before. My heart aches for him already, even though he hasn't yet experienced his first love. All I can do, and it is enough, is pray for him. Pray that he will continue on the straight and narrow; pray that he will find a deeper relationship with Jesus; pray that he will have strength to overcome obstacles that may come his way. Pray that at the right time (when he's about 30), the right one will come along.

A bittersweet time. I'm going to try to savor every moment.

The Little Foxes--by Linda P. Kozar

Song of Solomon 2:15 (Amplified Bible) My heart was touched and I fervently sang to him my desire] Take for us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards [of our love], for our vineyards are in blossom.

The little foxes do spoil the vine, don't they? Life's little worries are the worst. But Satan attacks most often as a little fox, not as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

Some say problems come in threes, and it is true that little problems seem to come in bundles, but not randomly. These problems come by design. The enemy knows that a barrage of little problems can easily add up to a big problem for YOU. It takes very little time and effort on his part to make a Christian feel overwhelmed. Often, the first thing to go in a situation like that is a believer's prayer life. With the shield of faith down, it is easy for all those fiery darts to wound.

The enemy will often use random people to irritate and upset you. Like the gum chomping girl at the doctor's office who takes forever to check you in because she's too busy texting. Or the busy salesperson who averts his/her eyes from you instead of acknowledging and saying he/she will be right with you. Or the neighbors who borrow your utensils or tools and never return them.

But Satan's favorite tools to use against you are those closest to you. Christians are the most effective tool of all. Your family. Your church. Your friends. A stranger can only hurt you to a limited extent. But someone who is close to you can deliver a mortal blow. Because they are close to you. Because you trust them.

The little foxes merely prepare the way for the final wound. Weakened and wounded, a Christian is an easy target for such an attack. If you cannot trust God for the small problems in life, how then can you expect to trust Him for the big ones?

As to the course of action--that's simple. Whatever your reaction to the annoyance or hurtful situation is, do the opposite!

*Forgive and move on. Go about your Father's business.

*Choose to love instead of hate. Remember that love covers a multitude of sins.

*Laugh! A merry heart doath good! It is medicine to the soul and health to the bones.

*Spend time in your Word. The Word of God (The Bible) is the ultimate weapon against the enemy. And you WILL overcome the enemy only through the Word of God.

Have you ever laid your head on the pillow at night only to hear the annoying buzz of a relentless mosquito? All the thrashing, swatting and grabbing the air in the dark profits you nothing. Even with the light on, a mosquito is sometimes hard to find, but definitely easier to locate than in the dark. Your light is God's Word.

Remember this--the Little Foxes cannot destroy the vine, but they can nip at the fruit. This week, leave a bad taste in the enemy's mouth. Do the opposite of what he expects. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. And send those little foxes packing!