There are many drawbacks...

to living the distance we live from church. What I treasure about the distance, and my kids may treasure one day too (thanks for the hope Mary Lea), is that we have one hour and half (45 minutes each way) in the car twice a week together as a family. That's three whole hours. Why is being locked up in the car together a blessing? Well, your right some days I just wish my husband would pull over and let me walk the fifty miles, but that's rare and usually because I'm irritable.

This morning on the way to church Luke asked "Mom, how can the devil change from one thing to another?" Wow! He's heard us talk about satan taking on the form of different objects and even using other Christians, family members and things to tempt us to sin.

We had a discussion about Satan's fall from heaven because of his greed. Luke said "Can satan change his mind and turn back to God?" I wasn't sure how to answer him at that moment. My first inclination was NO WAY, satan can't go back. But was that because I know that from scriptures? One of the other boys piped in "satan is too selfish to turn back." Luke replied "Oh, I hope he does, maybe we should pray for him?" I was speechless. Pray for satan? Mmmmm... I had initial responses to both of his questions, but I couldn't give him a definitive answer.

My initial thought was that God gave satan every opportunity to turn back and he chose not to, that's why he was kicked out of heaven. But is it a sin to pray for satan to turn back? I would think that praying for satan could be dangerous. A person might develop sympathy for him, which would give him an opening in your life. I'm excited and nervous about studying about it. Satan is tricky! I need to restudy satan's fall so I can seperate biblical fact, from sumation of scripture through the years.

All of this is churning in my head because on Friday the boys and I had a conversation about a boy in our neighborhood. Wesley likened the boy to satan. I said "We can't limit God. God can do anything. Maybe God put us in this child's life to help him?" Wesley said "No, he'll never turn back. People like that don't turn back."

The boys and I agreed to pray for the young man in our neighborhood. We also discussed the responsibility we have to react to him in a Christ like manner. Really? Isn't that what God expects of us when faced with sin? Just react in a Christ like manner. Why is that so hard in our weak areas?

Now, I'm not saying the child is like satan. He's not had the opportunity of a christian up bringing or any spiritual direction. All this child knows is the world. I struggle with allowing this boy into our lives because he's influencing Wesley, more than I believe Wesley is influencing him at this point.

Like Wesley, I've been guilty of saying "Oh, they'd never become Christians." I'm ashamed that I've been too judgemental and not prayerful on their behalf.

But pray for satan to turn back? Hmmm... If you have any thoughts to help in my bible study, they would be appreciated.