Sunday 24 August 2008

God is gonna get ya! Gotcha! Howwwwwlllll !

This is papa's cookie jar! As you can see it is a wolf! Papa is a collector of wolf memorabilia. A friend several years ago got this for papa. I have had fun with it. When you open the lid to take out a cookie it howls - and you are now caught! Have you ever got caught with your hand in the cookie jar??

The funny thing about cookie jar's - when we get caught, usually we are sorry. Sorry we got caught - "phooey! I sure would have liked that cookie!" We are not really sorry for putting our hand in the cookie jar. We are just not too repentant!

I think sometimes we treat acts of sin the same way - we get caught, kind of with our hand in the "cookie jar" - but not really repentant. Our intent was to have that forbidden cookie, but not get caught. the irony is; God knows before we even commit the deed - and He warns ( a silent howl) but we ignore it and continue on. When we get in trouble do we really repent? Do we change our ways? Or do we look for another opportunity to sin - totally unrepentant?

What bothers me is that many a time we see the forbidden cookies and rather than quickly get away from the temptation we start to see how we can get that cookie and how we can get away with it.

No - no - don't do it! Keep your hand out of the cookie jar!

28 comments:

Keetha Broyles said...

That's one mean cookie jar!!!!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hi Keetha! Ha - its growl is worse than its bite!

Anonymous said...

Great post! too often we are not as repentant as we like to think. I am praying for repentance to be real and break my heart..I think sometimes..I (we) don't get away from that temptation fast enough, we kind of linger and flirt with it, and before we know it..we are in it...I think that what HE means when HE says flee sin...run get out of there...wow, you gave me lots to think about tonight. Love you!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Darla - you have papa's permission to get into his cookie jar - its okay! lol

Kimberly McKay said...

Isn't this the truth? You're so right. God does warn us before hand. Through the holy spirit's guidance....He taps on our heart and mind. IF only most would listen huh??

Indian Lake Papa said...

Kim - I think I am just suddenly realizing how much the Holy Spirit wants to guide us. If only we will listen --

linda said...

Awesome thoughts, Papa! Thanks for posting that! :)

Yes, I think we sometimes "reword" it in our thinking and hearts, to what sounds good, repentant and right. Then we look for ways around the situation that are convenient for us, many times still resulting in the same sin, only maybe from a different angle.

To truly repent, probably would be to stay away from anything that would lead to that sin, completely.

But....then that human part of us hangs around....

I guess we cling to that old man too much instead of letting go completely and hanging out "all" the time with the new man.

I speak in opinion and only for myself, not anyone else. :)

I'm really glad you posted that, it was a great reminder, and encouragement...to stay out of the cookie jar! :)

Have a great night!
Linda :)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hi Linda - we need to be so careful with temptation and being quick to repent. Darla has it summed up with one word - flee! if you see a "cookie jar' and you are to leave it alone - GET OUT OF THERE! Don't go look at it, don't pick up the lid - just flee!

linda said...

That's right! Amen! :)

Unknown said...

and what a home run here papa! theres not one thing i can say to add to this. i am the one you are speaking to.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Linda - Amen is right! i tend to hang around way too long sometimes!

Indian Lake Papa said...

HI Tam - see !! I told you we are related daughter! lol Love you - papa

Life Adapted said...

Well, what kind of cookies are we talking about here?? Chocolate, chocolate chip??? Don't tempt me too much. I think, Papa, that we must know what our temptations are so we can be aware of what we need to stay away from. Too many of us (me included) don't spend enough time recognizing our fleshy desires. If we can spend time in prayer, asking God to give us only desires that He has set out for us, we'd be better off. What do you think?

Indian Lake Papa said...

LA - I am thinking about your comment - whether we know our temptations or not. I think the closer our walk with God is, the less trouble we have recognizing temptations. The other thing we must recognize, Satan knows our weaknesses and works mostly on those. You gave some good thoughts.

Life Adapted said...

You're right again, Papa. It all boils down to our walk with God. The closer we stay to Him, the better off we will be.

Indian Lake Papa said...

LA - Adam & Eve got in big trouble when they were not fellowshipping w/God. If they had asked him for help and obeyed what they knew they were suppose to do - life would have been a little simpler. It appears they were familiar with Satan previously - he did not frighten them - familiarity?

CrossView said...

Cute cookie jar! I have a cow that moo's when you open it. Used to scare my youngest when she was little! =D

God has said that He will never tempt us. And that He will always give us a way out before we sin... Too often we do choose to ignore Him.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - You are oh so right! God NEVER tempts us - but Satan has a field day if we let him! God allows us to be tempted - He has given us the power of choice. I think you are right - He does not just let us go - He warns us! He gave Adam & Eve verbal warnings - she even repeated the warnings to Satan!! :o( !!

Robin said...

I like it - cute pictures to go with great application!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hi Robin! I like to add pics once in awhile - they help make the point. Have a great day!

Anonymous said...

That is a great cookie jar to have when there are kids, of all ages, in the house. Forbidden cookies are the test of our morals . It is a test I have failed on more than one occasion. I would guess Mama does not let you get away with too many cookies.

Sometimes we need to face down our temptation just to find out of much moral character we really have.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Ed - mama has given up hiding the cookies. Mama has a weakness that i exploit - she can not lie!! lol If I ask her; 'do we have any cookies in the house?' Her evasive answer gives her away !! heh heh! Papa wins again !!

Anonymous said...

Papa.....Is there anything that you cannot make a life lesson about? LOL You amaze me. Yes, the cookie jar has howled at me...sigh...

How about if I make you some cookies while you're here..and uh, we'll put them in a ziploc???

Love you!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Deb - I am a little scary at times! ha! You can put the cookies in a ziploc - just don't hide em! lol Mama tries to hide em!

Anonymous said...

Papa~I agree that we are nowhere near repenting as genuinely and honestly as we should. I think we're so used to hiding behind a mask, we tend to think we can do that with God as well but like you said, He knew before we even committed the deed so we need to stop running. I like what Darla said about praying for a repentive heart. I know I have in the past. If I have done something displeasing to God but I don't "feel" bad about it, I tell God that I know I messed up but for some reason it's not bothering me and that is bothering me so could you help out. And He is faithful to respond. Love you!

Indian Lake Papa said...

GCH - so very true - a repentive heart is so very important. I have really been working on mine - it needs work! But as you say, God is so faithful!

Anonymous said...

I like it!

Blessings!
Lacy

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hi Lacy - thanks for stopping by!