You'd think that a human being could easily overcome the strength of a mousetrap! After all, they are designed to catch small, furry creatures who don't even weigh in at half a pound.

But, I found out this weekend that the devil is pretty sly! He not only allowed a mousetrap to catch me, he allowed it to, in many ways, ruin my Mother's Day!

See, one of my son's was given the assignment of making a motorized car that was only powered by the energy of a mousetrap. So, after weeks of looking at various YouTube videos on the subject, Todd and I ventured out to get supplies.

Irritation sat in very early when my husband arrived on the scene knowing nothing about all of the research we had already completed. Now my husband has many gifts. He can do the most difficult tax return you hand him; he can write and deliver eloquent sermons that touch even the hardest heart; he can assist college students in grasping difficult concepts in finance, accounting, and marketing. But he is not a carpenter.

So, one thing led to another and after three days of "pretending" we could pull this project off, I set out in search of a true carpenter. By this time, though, I was angry. Childish, I know, but I was feeling all sorts of ugly things that were not from God.

As I look back on this project, I see so many traps we all fell into. I fell into the traps of stubborness, insecurity, and anger. My husband fell into the traps of pride, impatience, and defensiveness. Todd fell into the traps of procrastination, impatience, and laziness. Put all of these traps together and you can spell....DISASTER!

Fortunately, we have a merciful Father who truly causes each day to be NEW! And just as He is our answer in times of need, such as the need to be freed from our traps, our friends were there for us to help us pull together our research and supplies and create a very awesome race car!

I guess I am writing this as a confessional. I hate when I fall prey to the "wiles of the devil!"
Ephesians 6 says,
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

My prayer today is that I can store this memory away the next time I feel that I am being set up in some sort of "trap!"

Next time, I hope that I am fully clothed in the armor of God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Praying "trap-freedom" for all of you who read this!