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The Lord's Prayer Wednesday

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#1 · November 1, 2006, 8:07 am

Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

"The Lord's Prayer"
 
 
(person): 'Our Father who art in heaven ...'

(God): Yes?
 

(person): Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.
 
(God): But you called me.
 
(person): Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying. "Our Father which art in heaven..."
 
(God): There you did it again.
 
(person): Did what?
 
(God): Called me. You said, "Our Father which art in heaven. " Here I am...What's on your mind?
 
(person): 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 duty done.
 
(God): All right. Go on.
 
(person): "Hallowed be thy name..."
 
(God): Hold it. What do you mean by that?
 
(person): By what?
 
(God): By "hallowed be thy name"?
 
(person): It means... it means... Good grief, I don't know what it means.How should I know? It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?
 
(God): It means honored, holy, wonderful.
 
(person): Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what "hallowed" meant before. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
 
(God): Do you really mean that?
 
(person): Sure, why not?
 
(God): What are you doing about it?
 
(person): 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.
 
(God): Have I got control of you?
 
(person): Well, I go to church.
 
(God): That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money--all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read?
 
(person): Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at the church.
 
(God): 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.
 
(person): Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
 
(God): So could I.
 
(person): I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free.
 
(God): Good. Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together, you and I. Some victories can truly be won. I'm proud of you.
 
(person): 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."
 
(God): You need to cut out the bread. You're overweight as it is.
 
(person): 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.
 
(God): 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.
 
(person): I'm scared to.
 
(God): Scared? Of what?
 
(person): I know what you'll say.
 
(God): Try me and see.
 
(person): "Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."
 
(God): What about Ann?
 
(person): 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!
 
(God): But your prayer? What about your prayer?
 
(person): I didn't mean it.
 
(God): Well, at least you're admitting it. But it's not much fun carrying that load of bitterness around inside, is it?
 
(person): No. But I'll feel better as soon as I get even. Boy, have I got some plans for that neighbor. She'll wish she had never moved into this neighborhood.
 
(God): 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.
 
(person): You can? How?
 
(God): Forgive Ann. Then I'll forgive you. Then the hate and sin will be Ann's problem and not yours. You will have settled your heart.
 
(person): Oh, you're right. You always are. And more than I want to get revenge on Ann, I want to be right with you....(pause)...(sigh). All right. All right. I forgive her. Help her to find the right road in life, Lord. She's bound to be awfully miserable now that I think about it. Anybody who goes around doing the things she does to others has to be out of it. Some way, some how, show her the right way.
 
(God) There now! Wonderful! How do you feel?
 
(person): Hmmm. 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 remember. Maybe I won't be so tired from now on because I'm not getting enough rest.
 
(God): You're not through with your prayer. Go on.
 
(person): Oh, all right. "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 where you can be tempted.
 
(person): What do you mean by that?
 
(God): Don't turn on the TV when you know the laundry needs to be done and the house needs to be picked up. Also, about the time you spend coffeeing with your friends, if you can't influence the conversation to positive things, perhaps you should rethink the value of those friendships. Another thing, your neighbors and friends shouldn't be your standard for "keeping up". And please don't use me for an escape hatch.
 
(person): I don't understand the last part.
 
(God): Sure you do. You've done it a lot 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?
 
(person): Yes, and I'm ashamed, Lord. I really am.
 
(God): Which bargain are you remembering?
 
(person): Well, there was the night that Bill was gone and the children and I were home alone. The wind was blowing so hard I thought the roof would go any minute and tornado warnings were out. I remember praying, "Oh, God, if you spare us, I'll never skip my devotions again."
 
(God): did you?
 
(person): 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 it did.
 
(God): Go ahead and finish your prayer.
 
(person): "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever." Amen.
 
(God): Do you know what would bring me glory? What would really make me happy?
 
(person): No, but I'd like to know. I want now to please you. I can see what a mess I've made of my life. And I can see how great it would be to really be one of your followers.
 
(God): You just answered the question.
 
(person): I did?
 
(God): Yes. The thing that would bring me glory is to have people like you truly love me. And I see that happening between us. Now that some of these old sins are exposed and out of the way, well, there is no telling what we can do together.
"An Interview With God"
 
 
I dreamed I had an interview with God.
"Come in," God said. "So, you would like to interview Me?"
 
"If you have the time," I said.
 
God smiled and said: "My time is eternity and is enough to do everything; What questions do you have in mind to ask me?"
 
"What surprises you most about mankind?"
 
God answered:
 
"That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.
 
"That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health.
 
"That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live neither for the present nor the future.
 
"That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they had never lived."
 
God's hands took mine and we were silent for awhile and then I asked...
 
"As a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?"
 
God replied with a smile:
 
"To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. What they can do is to let themselves be loved.
 
"To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but who they have in their lives.
 
"To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others. All will be judged individually on their own merits, not as a group on a comparison basis!
 
"To learn that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.
 
"To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love, and that it takes many years to heal them.
 
"To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.
 
"To learn that there are persons that love them dearly, but simply do not know how to express or show their feelings.
 
"To learn that money can buy everything but happiness.
 
"To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it totally different.
 
"To learn that a true friend is someone who knows everything about them...and likes them anyway.
 
"To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others, but that they have to forgive themselves."
 
I sat there for awhile enjoying the moment. I thanked Him for his time and for all that He has done for me and my family, and He replied, "Anytime. I'm here 24 hours a day. All you have to do is ask for me, and I'll answer."
Author Unknown 
 
Have a Blessed Day
Dave and Barbara
 
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