My response to Harvey's "If I were the Devil"

Here are some warning signs I've created for myself based on MY lifes experiences

The devil will try to trick you; his false promises will ultimately leave you in isolation.

 

Growing toward the Lord, and letting him know you need him, will bring you happiness, but first you must form a bond with him and him only.

 

Once you've formed a solid relationship with the Lord, through prayer and worship, and letting him fill your life, you will find love in your heart again.

 

Your spouse will adore and cherish you, but he too must stay constant with the Lord; pray together.

 

You will experience sudden bursts of joy and share love with your children once again.

 

When feeling doubtful, ask the Lord to get you through it. Ask him to walk you to where you are going (even if it's your mailbox).

 

The job that's meant for you will be given to you and you will prosper.

 

Never give up!  Remember the Lord walks with you, the Holy Spirit lives in you, Jesus Christ stands beside you at all times.

 

Hang Rosary Beads in your car, the one you drive the most! The Lord will be watching over you and people will understand you better.

 

Think of the things that made you happy as a child and mimic those things from time to time

Take out a photo album and look at pictures of a time you were most happy  

 

My last words: a quick blurb on the radio quoted this scripture from Timothy and it hasn't left me since.......'people examine acts of others, but the Lord examines the Heart"

 

Can you imagine devoting your entire life to a specific cause or ministry only to appear before Christ empty handed because your motive or attitude in carrying out that ministry was wrong? In eternity, everything we did for self will be abolished. Only what we did for love of Christ will remain.

When we give, we must learn to see ourselves as doing these things to Jesus and for love of Him. This is the only motive that will be rewarded by God in Heaven.

 

In the days when Jesus walked the earth, He clearly warned us about doing what we do with wrong motives. "Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven." [Mt 6:1]. This principle applies not only to fasting, prayer, and giving, but to anything we may do in this life.

 

In case you're wondering, The only two things I could think of that I did out of pure selflessness was go into education, where I spent time helping students that were classified as at-risk, eventhough I received no pay for my first two years. The second thing was.......I spent a candid day with someone who, for a second in time, I didn't want to be alone. 

May the Lord be with you.

Sharon Maria Perrotta-Thourot

Paul Harvey's "If I were the Devil"

A close family member recommended this article to me. A culmination of what people

could do to the world out of selfishness and greed. Paul Harvey Radio Commentator wrote this article in

1965, maybe earlier.

PAUL HARVEY’S ‘IF I WERE THE DEVIL’ TRANSCRIPT
If I were the devil …
I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree — Thee.
So I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first — I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: ‘Do as you please.’

“To the young, I would whisper that ‘The Bible is a myth.’ I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is ‘square.’
And the old, I would teach to pray, after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’

“And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

“If I were the devil I’d soon have families that war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed, and with promises of higher ratings I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.

If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions — just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

“Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography — soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money.

If I were the devil I’d make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

“If I were the devil I’d take from those, and who have, and give to those wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.

And what do you bet?
"I could get whole states to promote gambling as thee way to get rich?

I would caution against extremes and hard work, in Patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on the TV is the way to be. And thus I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure.

In other words, if I were the devil I’d just keep right on doing on what he’s doing. Paul Harvey, good day.”




People judge actions, but God examines the heart; only he is able to judge fully and fairly.