#44 Rat-L-Traps. Thoughts from the Back Deck...


Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart STOP! Just STOP! No need to go any further so let's just STOP right there!

I'm a dead man! 

My mind is like a Rat-L-Trap. Not a rattle trap (but that works too!), but a Rat-L-Trap. Don't know what that is? It's a well-known fishing more for bass.

The Rat-L-Trap is a fishing lure that when cast, will sink until you begin the retrieve. The lure makes a very distinctive and loud rattling noise as it moves through the water. It is also a lure that has to be used carefully as the 6 exposed hooks will latch onto every piece of weed, twig, limb or rock that it passes by underwater becoming snagged, running afoul, or knocking the lure out of the optimal rhythm.

Some of you recently witnessed my Rat-L-Trap tendencies a few weeks ago when I was preaching at the 8:30 service. I happened to look up and see the time stamp count down on my sermon. Normally that is no big deal but right in the middle of a thought, I was knocked out of rhythm along with the noise in my own head all of a sudden found myself announcing to all of you what I was thinking which was: I better hurry up, as I am running out of time!

Maybe that should be my new nickname: "Rat-L-Trap, the distracted preacher"!

So much for the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart...

Let's be honest, that is a benign example!

I don't always think well of people. 

I don't always put the best construction on people's words or actions. 

I am inappropriate at times.

I am completely wrong about things at other times.

I talk more than I listen. 

My mind sometimes drifts when reading scripture or a devotional thought (like maybe yours is now). 

When I pray... Well like I said, I'm a dead man!

Yes, my mind is like a Rat-L-Trap: Full of all kinds of noise and seemingly always hooked or running afoul of something.

Ever feel that way?

Yet again...
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

My words and thoughts are not always and never will be acceptable to the Lord apart from Jesus.

There is no noise, no useless rattle from Jesus, only perfect truth and Jesus ran true from first cast- all the way back to the boat- each and every moment of His life! Something which we are unable to do!

Oh Lord, my Rock, my Redeemer...I humbly thank you and... may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer! Amen. That is a pretty good prayer right there! Short, sweet, and to the point! (To "the point"... Get it! Very punny!)

Three Cheers for Jesus who loves the different Rat-L-Traps out there!!! 

Peace out, 
Andy
P.S. once again, if this was meaningful or just made you laugh... Feel free to share with someone you love.

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