ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   Have you ever regretted a decision that sounded good at the moment?  I have more than I can count.  But with each one I’ve learned a valuable lesson.  I had an uncle that was a great spiritual mentor.  When I made one of those bad decisions and was caught in it, he would say, “Satan snookered you, didn’t he?!”  And then he would laugh a wheezing hee, hee, hee. 

   Deception is one of Satan’s favorite suits he wears.  He makes it sound good at the moment, but it has a bitter end.  See if you’ve been snookered by any of these tricks.

   “This marriage isn’t what I bargained for, so scrap it.”  It hardly ever turns out as we initially dreamed it.  People change, bills mount, frustrations arrive one after the other, and soon the fairy tale castle looks more like the Simpson’s arena.

   “I’m entitled to more happiness than this.”  You work hard and it’s not appreciated.  Sometimes our family puts more burdens on us than we want.  You find yourself escaping…via selfish activities or someone else that tickles our fancy.

   “Just one indulgence won’t hurt me…I deserve it.”  If it’s wrong two times…what makes it right to do it one time?!  Indulgences are often in that green grass on the other side of the fence.  You know, the fence that God put there for your own protection.

   “You won’t hurt me again…I’m out of here!”  Running away doesn’t pay the rewards you think it would.  The problem is still there when you come back.  They became more bitter in your absence, and you became more determined to not let them do it again.  Everyone has a bad moment, but it’s what we do for them and in spite of them that can bring healing instead of more fighting.

   Look back over that brief list of snooker bait.  Notice anything common?  They are all in the first person voice.  Satan makes it sound like it’s your thoughts.  But when you catch him in the deception, you expose the lie!  Be wise, catch the lie, and throw TRUTH back at him!

A Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry

ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   Have you ever regretted a decision that sounded good at the moment?  I have more than I can count.  But with each one I’ve learned a valuable lesson.  I had an uncle that was a great spiritual mentor.  When I made one of those bad decisions and was caught in it, he would say, “Satan snookered you, didn’t he?!”  And then he would laugh a wheezing hee, hee, hee. 

   Deception is one of Satan’s favorite suits he wears.  He makes it sound good at the moment, but it has a bitter end.  See if you’ve been snookered by any of these tricks.

   “This marriage isn’t what I bargained for, so scrap it.”  It hardly ever turns out as we initially dreamed it.  People change, bills mount, frustrations arrive one after the other, and soon the fairy tale castle looks more like the Simpson’s arena.

   “I’m entitled to more happiness than this.”  You work hard and it’s not appreciated.  Sometimes our family puts more burdens on us than we want.  You find yourself escaping…via selfish activities or someone else that tickles our fancy.

   “Just one indulgence won’t hurt me…I deserve it.”  If it’s wrong two times…what makes it right to do it one time?!  Indulgences are often in that green grass on the other side of the fence.  You know, the fence that God put there for your own protection.

   “You won’t hurt me again…I’m out of here!”  Running away doesn’t pay the rewards you think it would.  The problem is still there when you come back.  They became more bitter in your absence, and you became more determined to not let them do it again.  Everyone has a bad moment, but it’s what we do for them and in spite of them that can bring healing instead of more fighting.

   Look back over that brief list of snooker bait.  Notice anything common?  They are all in the first person voice.  Satan makes it sound like it’s your thoughts.  But when you catch him in the deception, you expose the lie!  Be wise, catch the lie, and throw TRUTH back at him!

A Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry

ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   Have you ever regretted a decision that sounded good at the moment?  I have more than I can count.  But with each one I’ve learned a valuable lesson.  I had an uncle that was a great spiritual mentor.  When I made one of those bad decisions and was caught in it, he would say, “Satan snookered you, didn’t he?!”  And then he would laugh a wheezing hee, hee, hee. 

   Deception is one of Satan’s favorite suits he wears.  He makes it sound good at the moment, but it has a bitter end.  See if you’ve been snookered by any of these tricks.

   “This marriage isn’t what I bargained for, so scrap it.”  It hardly ever turns out as we initially dreamed it.  People change, bills mount, frustrations arrive one after the other, and soon the fairy tale castle looks more like the Simpson’s arena.

   “I’m entitled to more happiness than this.”  You work hard and it’s not appreciated.  Sometimes our family puts more burdens on us than we want.  You find yourself escaping…via selfish activities or someone else that tickles our fancy.

   “Just one indulgence won’t hurt me…I deserve it.”  If it’s wrong two times…what makes it right to do it one time?!  Indulgences are often in that green grass on the other side of the fence.  You know, the fence that God put there for your own protection.

   “You won’t hurt me again…I’m out of here!”  Running away doesn’t pay the rewards you think it would.  The problem is still there when you come back.  They became more bitter in your absence, and you became more determined to not let them do it again.  Everyone has a bad moment, but it’s what we do for them and in spite of them that can bring healing instead of more fighting.

   Look back over that brief list of snooker bait.  Notice anything common?  They are all in the first person voice.  Satan makes it sound like it’s your thoughts.  But when you catch him in the deception, you expose the lie!  Be wise, catch the lie, and throw TRUTH back at him!

A Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry