There we were sitting in the waiting room at the dealership waiting for an oil change and doing what most people do as they wait. We were reading and watching television. That is until another form of entertainment entered the room.

The entertainment came in the form of a little boy. He was probably around 7 years-old and about as curious as they come. Upon entering the waiting area he went directly to the vending machines. At first he just looked at all the candy and chips. Next, he began to swish his fingers inside all the coin returns hoping to find some change. No luck!

He once again gazed longingly at the sweet treats just beyond his grasp. And then he cupped his hands around his eyes and smushed his face against the glass, almost as if he needed a closer look at all those wonderful treats calling to him. I have to say I thought this behavior was a little odd but soon learned he was capable of much more.

He didn't have a shy bone in his body. He looked over at us, gave a deep sign and said, "I need a dollar so I can get some candy but I don't have a dollar." We responded with only a smile and returned to reading. But he wasn't going to be dismissed that easily. He continued with, "Sure wish I had a dollar." When we gave no response to that he said it a couple of more times. But the lack of a response did not dissuade him. He walked right over and tapped me on the shoulder and said, "You got a dollar?"

I tried desperately not to laugh but his determination was kind of cute. However, not wanting to encourage him to approach strangers begging for money, I asked, "Is your mother here?" When he told me that she was I suggested he might want to express his dilemma to her. He turned and ran out of the room just as if he had never even thought of such a grand idea. Of course, he could ask his mother! But he wasn't gone for long. It seemed his mother wasn't too keen on putting money into the vending machine for candy. So he returned, looked at us and once again gave us a deep sign and then returned to gaze into the machine saying, "Sure wish I had a dollar."

Since asking for a dollar hadn't been successful he decided to change his strategy. He walked over to us again with a really sad look on his face. He got just as close as he could without sitting in our laps and said, "My mom said no." He gave another big sigh and said, "You got 50 cents?"

It was so hard NOT to give him money but I knew his mom wouldn't appreciate encouragement to approach strangers asking for money. And judging by his level of energy sugar was probably the last thing he needed. So I had to respond, "I'm sorry, but your mom said no." I guess he was used to that kind of a response because he smiled and walked away. But not without one more lingering look into the vending machine.

Temptation is tough, isn't it? And not just for kids either. However, 1 Corinthians 10:13 encourages us with these words, 'But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.'

Now don't be mistaken by thinking that God is the one tempting you. James 13 tells us that God doesn't tempt anyone. And we are told in James 1:14 (NLT) exactly where our temptation comes from, 'Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires.' Makes sense doesn't it? We can't be tempted by something we don't want.

So how do we rid ourselves of those 'evil desires'? Well, I suppose we need to focus on something else we want more than the temptation set before us. Something like a closer walk with Jesus. James 4:8 says if we draw close to God, He will draw close to us. And then I guess we need to be always looking for that way of escape we are promised.

Sometimes that way of escape comes in the form of a good Christian friend. I hope you have someone in your life to encourage you in Christ during your times of weakness and discouragement. That may be the very thing that keeps us from releasing a deep sigh, looking into the face of someone other than our loving Father and saying,

"Sure wish I had ____________." (you fill in the blank)