Dirt Dauber

Amelia loves to play in the mulch. When her mommy and daddy put new mulch in the flower bed by their front door, instead of playing on her play mat with her toys, she would crawl over to the edge of the grass and start pulling the mulch out of the bed. When our new mulch arrived, a rich black covering over the dull rain-washed beds, she did the very same thing. One afternoon, I filled the water play table for her with clear tap water and before I could add the third pitcher, she was adding in handfuls of mulch. Next thing I know, she’s covered from head to toe and pretending to wash her hair with it!

We can’t make sense of her fascination with dirt and water but this week, on her very first birthday, she’s really enjoying the beach. Though she can toddle about now, she’s still faster at a crawl so she drops down into the sand on all fours and heads straight for the water. She pauses only momentarily when the surf rolls past her, then she’s digging deep with a piece of shell she’s picked up along the way. It’s beautiful and terrifying all at the same time because she is fearless. She doesn’t recognize the danger.

Mud daubers are a type of wasp that builds a series of tubes from mud caked together. Larvae are sealed inside each tube along with a live insect that has been paralyzed and will become food for the new wasps. I’m not sure I want to know how the insects are captured and paralyzed. There’s no obvious spider’s web to avoid. This wasp is a stealthy predator and once she’s within striking distance, she’s ruthless. Sounds a lot like an all too familiar enemy.

“Stay alert!

Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.

He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

1 Peter 5:8 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.5.8.NLT

The devil is a liar. The prince of this world makes great claims but he stands judged already. He was defeated at the cross. The moment the perfect Lord Jesus willingly laid down His life, salvation became possible and sin and death were defeated. His resurrection proves He is God and has God’s authority over the deceiver. We claim victory in the holy name of Jesus, but many still do not acknowledge Him as Lord and King. The allure of this world keeps them from finding peace and contentment in Christ.

“For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.

These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave.

But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”

1 John 2:16-17 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.2.16-17.NLT

“And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.

So God did what the law could not do.

He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have.

And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death.

But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

For the sinful nature is always hostile to God.

It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.

That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature.

You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.

(And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.”

Romans 8:2-9, 12 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.2-12.NLT

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.

Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.”

God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

These desires give birth to sinful actions.

And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.”

James 1:12-16 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.1.12-16.NLT

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.

And God is faithful.

He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.

When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.10.12-13.NLT

Amelia and I were on the front porch one rainy afternoon last week just to be outside. She had a tube of bubbles in each hand and her kiddie pool full of blocks and cups was sitting behind her, but there just out of reach was the mulch. Ours is really more of a stoop than a porch. It’s one step plus a few inches- no trouble for you and me- but when the drop is nearly half your height, it’s dangerous. Each time I redirected her away from the edge, she turned around, toddled right back, and proceeded to sit down with one leg extended over the edge. For one long moment, she stood there calculating how to outsmart me before I picked her up and headed inside.

How like us to look over the edge into something muddy, messy, less than when our hands are already full of God‘s best blessings.

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.13.5.NKJV

“And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”

Matthew 6:13 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.13.NLT

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.

But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.

Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.

Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants.

And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.

These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

Galatians 5:13, 16-17, 25 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.5.13-25.NLT

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God.

And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

And who can win this battle against the world?

Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”

1 John 5:1, 4-5 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.5.5.NLT