Tina-”Our Father which art in heaven...”
Jimmy-Yes!
Tina-Don’t interrupt me. I’m praying.
Jimmy-But you called me.
Tina-Called you? I didn’t call you! Where was I? Oh, yea...”Our Father which art in heaven.,.”
Jimmy-There you did it again!
Tina- What?
Jimmy-You called me, you said, “Our Father which art in heaven...” Well, here I am...What’s on your mind?
Tina-But I didn’t mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord’s prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like getting a job done.
Jimmy-All right. Go on.
Tina-”Hallowed be thy name...”
Jimmy-Hold it! What do you mean by that?
Tina-It means...It means...Good grief, I don’t know what it means. How should I know? It’s just part of the prayer. What does it mean?
Jimmy-It means honored, holy, wonderful.
Tina-Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what “hallowed” meant before. Now where was I...Oh, yea, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Jimmy-Do you really mean that?
Tina-Sure, why not?
Jimmy-What are you doing about it?
Tina-Doing? Nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control of everything down here like you have up there.
Jimmy-Have I got control of you?
Tina-Well, I go to church.
Jimmy-That isn’t what I ask you. What about your bad temper? And then there’s the way you spend your money...all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read?
Tina-Stop picking on me! I’m just as good as some of the rest of those people at the church.
Jimmy-Excuse me. I thought you were praying for my will to be done, If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones, who are praying for it. Like you, for example!
Tina-Oh, all right I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
Jimmy-So could I.
Tina-I haven’t thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things.
Jimmy-Good! Now we’re getting somewhere. We’ll work together, you and I, Some victories can truly be won. I’m proud of you!
Tina-Look, Lord, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. “Give us this day, our daily bread.”
Jimmy-You need to cut out the bread, you’re getting a little overweight as it is.
Tina-Hey, wait a minute! What is this, “Criticize me day?” Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.
Jimmy-Praying is a dangerous thing. You could wind up changed, you know! That’s what I’m trying to get across to you. You called me, and here I am. It’s too late to stop now. Keep praying, I’m interested in the next part of your prayer (pause). Well go on.
Tina-I’m scared to.
Jimmy-Scared? Of what?
Tina-I know what you’ll say.
Jimmy-Try me and see.
Tina-Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Jimmy-What about Kim?
Tina-See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why, Lord, she’s told lies about me, spread stories about my family. She never paid back the debt she Owes me. I’ve sworn to get even with her!
Jimmy-But your prayers! What about your prayer?
Tina-l didn’t mean it!
Jimmy-Well, at least you’re honest. But it’s not much fun carrying that load of bitterness around inside, is it
Tina-No! But I’ll feel better as soon as I get even. Boy, I have some plans for that neighbor, she’ll wish she never moved into this neighborhood.
Jimmy-You won’t feel any better. You’ll feel worse. Revenge isn’t sweet Think of how unhappy you already are. But I can change all that.
Tina-You can? How?
Jimmy-Forgive Kim. Then I’ll forgive you. Then the hate and sin will be Kim’s problem and not yours. You’ll have settled your heart.
Tina-Oh, you’re right You always are. And more than I want to revenge Kim, I want to be right with you, I want to be right with Kim...(pause)....(sigh). All right All right I forgive her. Help her to find the right road in life, Lord.
Jimmy-There now! Wonderful! How do you feel?
Tina-Hmmmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all. In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don’t think I’ll have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first time since I can’t remember. Maybe, I won’t be so tired from now on, because I’m not getting enough rest
Jimmy-You’re not through with your prayer. Go on.
Tina-Oh, all right “And led us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Jimmy-Good! Good! I’ll do that Just begin to watch how often you put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.
Tina-What do you mean by that?
Jimmy-When you’re talking with your friends and they begin to gossip, say something good about that person instead of something bad. And please don’t use me for an escape hatch.
Tina-I don’t understand the last part?
Jimmy-Sure you do. You’ve done it lots of times. You get caught in a bad situation. You get into trouble and then you come running to me, “Lord, help me out of this mess, and I promise you, I’ll never do it again.” You remember some of those bargains you tried to make with me?
Tina-Yes, and I’m ashamed, Lord. I really am.
Jimmy-Which bargain are you remembering?
Tina-Well, there was the night that Bill was gone and the children and I were alone. The wind was blowing so hard I thought the roof would go at any minute and the tornado sirens were sounding. I remember praying, “Oh, God, if you spare us, I’ll never skip my devotions again.”
Jimmy-I protected you, but you didn’t keep your promise, did you?
Tina-I’m 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 expect anything to happen like this.
Jimmy-Go ahead and finish your prayer.
Tina-”For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.”
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The Look Into The Mirror Jan. 23, 2011
James 1:22-25
I want you to look in the minor. I want you to take a good look at yourself and see how you measure up, not by my ruler, not by yours, but by God’s.
We don’t really like to look in the mirror.
You see all sorts of things you usually do not notice.
Little scars, blemishes, fat, and wrinkles to name a few.
Sometimes you look in wonder who in the world that person is or what happened to make you look like that.
But James says to really look in the mirror.
Verse 25-What is he talking about? He wants you to look intently into the spiritual mirror.
Your spiritual mirror is God’s word. It will show you how you really look, if you will allow it to do so.
The way to stare intently, is to do what it says.
If you never, do what the word says.
If you never apply a bible passage, a sermon, or a Sunday school lesson to your life, you have no idea what you look like spiritually.
Most likely your spiritual appearance is distorted.
Take a good long hard look
Look in the mirror like a woman looks in the mirror (Mirror with all the lights around it!)
Are you doing what the word says?
1-Knowing God’s word-Deuteronomy 6:6-9-“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
2-Going to Church-Hebrews 10:25-not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
3-Prayer-Ephesians 6:18-praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
4-Putting God first-Deuteronomy 6:5-You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
5-The way to treat other people-Matthew 22:39-And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
6-Our lifestyle, our attitude-Mark 7:21-23-For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
7-Being a good example-Matthew 5:16-Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
These are all things you should be doing.
When you are obedient to the word, you’ll know exactly what you look like spiritually.
Sunday’s Talk Must Be Monday’s Walk!!
How about yourself?
What does Christian walk look like outside of the church?
Maybe, you should look in the mirror of God’s word!!!!!!!
