SPORTMOM: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
GOD: GOOD! GOOD! I'LL DO THAT . . . JUST DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN A PLACE WHWERE YOU CAN BE TEMPTED
What do you mean by that?
IT'S THINGS LIKE GIVING IN TO TURNING ON THE TV OR CHECKING YOUR E‐MAIL WHEN THE LAUNDRY IS WAITING TO BE DONE OR THE HOUSE NEEDS TO BE STRAIGHTENED FOR THE DAY. THEN THERE IS THE STARBUCKS BREAKS WITH YOUR FRIENDS - IT'S NOT THE COFFEE THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT. IT IS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE CONVERSATION OVER THE COFFEE . . . IT REALLY COULD BE MORE POSITIVE. EITHER BRING YOUR INFLUENCE TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN AND IF IT CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM IT. WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT OF OTHERS, IT IS TEMPTING TO "KEEP UP" WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE YOU TO GOOD PLACES LIKE DEBT. OH, AND MAKE SURE YOU DON'T USE ME AS AN ESCAPE HATCH!
I don't understand the last part.
SURE YOU DO, YOU'VE DONE IT A LOT OF TIMES. YOU GET CAUGHT IN A BAD SITUATION, GET INTO SOME TROUBLE AND THEN COME RUNNING TO ME SAYING, "LORD, HELP ME OUT OF THIS MESS AND I PROMISE I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN," YOU DO REMEMBER SOME OF THOSE BARGAINS YOU TRIED TO MAKE WITH ME, DON'T YOU?
We‐l-l‐l yes… and I'm ashamed, Lord. I really am.!
WHICH BARGAIN ARE YOU REMEMBERING?
Let's see, oh yes, there was the night that my husbandl was gone and the children and I were home alone. The wind was blowing so hard I thought the roof would blow off any minute - the tornado warnings were out. I remember praying, "Oh God, if you spare us, I'll never skip my devotions again."
I PROTECTED YOU, DIDN'T I? BUT YOU DIDN'T KEEP YOUR PROMISE, DID YOU?
I'm so sorry, Lord, I really am. Up until now I thought that if I just prayed the Lord's Prayer every day, then I could do what I liked. I didn't know you really cared about what I was saying. Wow . . . and you are leading me away from temptation . . . thanks!
GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR PRAYER. . .
(to be concluded at next blog)
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