Thought yawl might like this one!
Rhonda
----- Original Message -----
From: "vicki howell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Rhonda" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2003 6:12 PM
Subject: I liked this


> Praying The Lord's Prayer "Our Father which art in heaven,"
>
> Yes?
>
> "Don't interrupt me.  I'm praying"
>
> But you called me "Called you?  I didn't call you.  I'm praying.
>
> "Our Father which art in heaven,"
>
> There you did it again "Did what?"
>
> Called me.  You said, "Our Father which art in heaven." Here I am.
> What's on your mind?
>
> "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."
>
> All right.  Go on.
>
> "Hallowed be Thy name."
>
> Hold it.  What do you mean by that?
>
> "By what?"
>
> By "Hallowed be Thy name?"
>
> "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?"
>
> It means honored, holy, wonderful.
>
> "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."
>
> Do you really mean that?
>
> " Sure, why not?"
>
> What are you doing about it?
>
> "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."
>
> Have I got control of you?
>
> " Well, I go to church."
>
> That isn't what I asked you.  What about your 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 kinds of books you read and what you watch on TV?
>
> "Stop picking on me!  I'm just as good as the rest of those people at
church."
>
> 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.
>
> "Oh, all right.  I guess I do have some hang-ups.  Now that you
mention it,
> I could probably name some others."
>
> So could I.
>
> "I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I'd really like
to cut
> out some of those things.  I would like to, you know, be really free."
>
> Good.  Now we're getting somewhere.  We'll work together, you and I.
Some
> victories can be truly won.  I'm proud of you.
>
> "Look, Lord, I need to finish this up here.  This is taking a lot
longer
> than it usually does ...  Give us this day our daily bread."
>
> You could cut out the bread.  It would help you lose weight.
>
> "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."
>
> Praying is a dangerous thing.  You could wind up changed, you know
  ---
> That's what I'm trying to get across to you.
>
> Keep praying.  I'm interested in the next part of your prayer.
>
> -- (Pause)
>
> Well, go on.
>
> " I'm scared to."
>
> Scared?  Of what?
>
> "I know what you'll say."
>
> Try me and see.
>
> "Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."
>
> What about Ann?
>
> "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
money
> she owes me.  I've sworn to get even with her!"
>
> But your prayer?  What about your prayer?
>
> "I didn't mean it."
>
> Well, at least you're honest.  But it's not much fun carrying that
load of
> bitterness inside you, is it?
>
> "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."
>
> 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.
>
> "You can?  How?"
>
> 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.
>
> "Oh, you're right.  You always are.  And, more than I want to get
revenge
> against Ann, I want to be right with you.
>
> But...  (Pause)....  (Sigh) ...  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.  Someway, somehow, show her the right
way.
>
> There now!  Wonderful!  How do you feel?
>
> "Hmmm.  Well, not bad.  Not bad at all.  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."
>
> You're not through with your prayers.  Go on.
>
> "Oh, all right.  "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil."
>
> Good!  Good!  I'll do that.  Just don't put yourself in a place where
you
> can be tempted.
>
> "What do you mean by that?"
>
> Don't turn the TV on when you know the laundry needs to be done and
the
> house needs to be picked up.  Also about the time you spend 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 as an escape hatch.
>
> " I don't understand that last part."
>
> Sure you do.  You've done it a lot of times.  You get caught in a bad
> situation.  You get in 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?
>
> "Yes, and I'm ashamed, Lord, I really am."
>
> Which bargain are you remembering?
>
> "Well, there was the night that my husband 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 saying, 'Oh God,
if
> you spare us, I'll never skip my devotions again."
>
> I protected you, but you didn't keep your promise, did you?
>
> "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."
>
> Go ahead and finish your prayer.
>
> "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.
Amen"
>
> Do you know what would bring me glory?
>
> What would really make me happy?
>
> "No, but I'd like to know.  I want 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."
>
> You just answered the question.
>
> "I did?"
>
> 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, there is no telling what we can
do
> together.
>
> "Lord, let's see what we can make of me, OK?"
>
> Yes, let's see.
>
> Don't Repeat The Lord's Prayer, Pray The Lord's Prayer.
>
> Be Blessed
>
>
>