Roasted Duck

The Duck & the Devil

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on a farm.

He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods.

He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target.

Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.

As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.

Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day, Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes'.

But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.'

Then she whispered to him, 'Remember the duck?' So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.

Sally just smiled and said, 'Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help.'

She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer.

He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.


Thought for the day and every day thereafter...

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) ..whatever it is...

You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.

He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets.

It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.

Did you read the story above?? R e a l l y read it??

The Lord showed me through this story that I act like "Johnny".

I confess... I "beat myself up" almost daily. My reasons... I wasn't patient with the children, or I wasn't loving to my husband, I was unkind, or selfish, or I didn't make a "decent" meal before practice, I didn't say the right thing, I didn't serve someone the way I should have, I was rude, or... the list goes on.

I am letting the "ducks" pile up. I am LETTING the enemy use this stuff to keep me in mediocracy. I am LETTING him keep my mind on the person I used to be, and on what I can not accomplish. The TRUTH is "I can do all things through Him that strengthens me." Phil 4:13

H E L L O!! I belong to Jesus! When I stop LETTING the enemy tell me what I can't do or how I fail daily because of all my weaknesses... and I remember the TRUTH, that I belong to the Lord, then I am effective for His kingdom. Because the TRUTH says "...greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world." 1John 4:4 When I stand on the TRUTH, I remember "if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

Thank you, Jesus. I don't have to hide the "ducks". I can bring them to You, and ask You to forgive me, and You do. The TRUTH is "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1John 1:9 Thank you, Jesus.

So I ask you... what do you do with your "ducks"? Let's give them to Jesus and have roasted duck for dinner.