Do Not Judge

Do not Gossip

           

        Not one person walking on the face of the earth isn’t guilty of judging another person because we are a people who have taught ourselves to assume. We assume the car will once again start up and get us to the store, or assume our friend will take us to the Doctor when we need it or we assume a person is no good because of those who choose to uncaringly blast away; defiling a reputation online, on the telephone or by night together with a friend. Do you know what actually happens when we choose to tear someone’s reputation down? We may as well as shoot them, instead of killing them slowly by our words because that is what we are doing to their character. When we choose to agree with those who wholeheartedly tear another person down, we become what they are. Your response could be, “well it is true.” Who said this and did you ever ask why would they choose to defame another’s character? -And-  Does this mean the people who are exposing scandalous truth or lies are innocent themselves? In that, they haven’t ever done any wrong that they can point and whisper nuggets of filth ?  Does it really matter if it is true or not?  Aren't we supposed to believe in the best in others and love and pray for our enemies? Are we not supposed to “overcome evil with good?”  Not evil for evil!

            Every single word that we speak against another person is being recorded and will be brought back upon your head. The Bible is true when it says “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And, why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam in your own eye? Or, how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold, a beam is in thine eye?  Thou hyprocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”  Mt. 7:1-5KJV

           Who is faultless, that they can throw stones at other people? 

            

            So many times what we seen in another person is only a reflection of our own accusing evil heart. Do you remember who is the accuser? When we accuse, do you realize who you have aligned yourself up with? You are your own worse enemy. As you speak you sentence yourself.

            If you have a colorful reputation and if you are speaking against others you are only throwing kindling for fuel upon your own character. 

            As if that isn't enough warning, St Paul says: “Therefore you have no excuse or defense or justification, O man, whoever you are who judges and condemns another. For in posing as judge and passing sentence on another you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practicing the very same things (that you censure and denounce).  But we know that the judgment (adverse verdict, sentence) of God falls justly and in accordance with truth upon those who practice such things. And do you think or imagine, O man, when you judge and condemn those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment and elude His sentence and adverse verdict? Or, are you (so blind as) to trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long enduring patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant ( of the fact) that god’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent-to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will? But by your callous stubbornness and impenitence of heart you are storing up wrath and indignation for yourself on the day of wrath and indignation, when God’s righteous judgment (just doom) will be revealed. For He will render to every man according to his works-justly, as his deeds derserved: (Ps.62:12)  Romans 2:1-6 Amplified.

             

            No matter how you put it, “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”  Mt.12:35-37KJV

            What in the world are we putting in our hearts for others to see and hear such slanderous overflow? Jesus was talking to the religious people of the day because He hated their hypocrisy. They felt threatened of Jesus and the miracles He preformed. They criticized everything that He would do, and twisted his words and miracles, speaking evil of Him because of the jealousies that over flowed from their hearts. You may say you aren't “religious” but does that omit you from tearing up others by what you are allowing to come into your heart? As I see it; whether a person is guilty or not guilty happens not to matter because we haven’t been given the right to have a gavel in our hand and pass judgment over them.

            When a person passes judgment they become both Judge and jury as they declare their words to be true and pass sentence upon another. It is automatically assuming the person is guilty. There are many websites that exaggerate the truth about a person, because they have learned the depths of the perverted cravings of an evil heart. You could say, “They embellish the truth” a little bit.  Then, we have the sensationalism of the media on television that have discovered that hyperbole and false implications bring higher ratings and that means more money at the expense of another’s character.

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            Every time a person opens up their mouth, whether it is in writing like I am doing now or texting another, email or using a telephone will bring a blessing or cursing upon their own head. Our words are extremely powerful, they change lives; our own lives as well. I choose blessings not curses. We have a choice.

            When a person is continually passing judgment, they envelope an “angry heart” and walk in un-forgiveness and bitterness. They cannot see the light from the shadows from where they are encased. Many have chosen to leave their first love and seek after other gods. Other gods cannot bring you joy but a curse that imprisons you and becomes locked by the words you have spoken to others. 

            The jealousy of school bullies pass judgment over a newcomer and they begin to spread vicious gossip or beat them up in the school bathroom or on the way home. Many times the victim cannot deal with such persecution and commits suicide. Jealousy kills in more way than one. Instead of seeing a good in a person, they pick on another individual and magnify anything inside the innocent party that they can deem as wrong, when it is their own jealous hearts that need correction. Their own insecure hearts betray their low self image and their own self hatred, yet;  they are not able to reprogram their minds into a better way of life, one of love and kindness. 

       

I congratulate you if you have read this far of my message. I hope I have struck some kind of cord inside of you so that when you speak, you speak blessings upon those who you disagree with [that can be a challenge at times ]  and take the time to see their side of the situation too.  Life is just too short to continually see the negatives in life. Someone like that reminds me of a mule I met a long time ago. Mules are made by a horse and a donkey. Two mules cannot make another mule because they are hybrids and cannot procreate  “after their kind” according to the book of Genesis. Therefore if you wanted another mule, you go back to breeding the horse and donkey. Besides all of that yarn, this young mule we were looking at was the most ornery, stubborn brat I had ever seen in my life! He would nurse his mother then kick her. She was just too patient with him. The owner said, “Everyday of my life when I walk out to the barn I know I’m going to have a fight on my hands.”  How would you like to live every day knowing that you will have a battle on your hands because of the stubbornness of someone who demands their own way like the mule? We walked away that day and never considered bringing that brat home to live with us. The mule was determined to get control and stay in control from the owner and his mother. That is what disobedient people want, they want to get control of all those around them and run their lives by what they have gathered up in their hearts and by what they “know” is right. God’s Word does not enter into the picture, because they give no heed to it. Unless there is a time of trouble and then; everyone wants prayer. 

            Like I said from the beginning there isn't anyone who is not guilty of assuming and then passing on unjust words about another person. Not one of us are innocent, but we can repent and turn from a habit that we have nurtured and left to grow like weeds for many years. It is up to you and anyone else who has chosen this lifestyle. 

            Judging is related to jealous gossip and we know that gossip kills character. Believers are not to have the character of gossip or be named as such. 

            If I knew that everything I said against someone would come upon my head and be spoken about me, I would race to get right with God and ask for forgiveness and help to change and clean up my grubby jealous heart.

            As for when a leader has fallen into sin [whether it is in an unknown church or a worldwide known assembly] ; most believers are aware that, this is why we have those whom their actions must be held accountable and it is dealt within that particular Body of Christ [ church ]. They deal with the problem scriptually, not those who have written the worldly tabloids who exaggerate for monetary gain. Unfortunately there are those who believe every bit of garbage that is printed and cannot wait to repeat the scandals. This is not of God. 

            I believe the Body of Christ needs to use wisdom especially in this area. Let those who are held accountable, be held accounted!  But, do not slander their names. Gossip is slander. Who of us haven't tripped along the way in this walk? I can throw scriptures twice as quick as anyone, but that does not make me righteous; it is only by His grace that I am here. As we judge, we will be judged because we really do reap what we sow. 

            The power of God changes hearts, there isn't anything you have done or said that cannot be forgiven and reversed. Nothing is too small or too big for our God. He cares for every speck of worry that you deal with day in and out. He sees it all and just waits for you to call upon Him. If you have fallen, pick yourself back up and repent; ask forgiveness.  

            It is good to know, we still have a chance to get right, do right and think right while we are still  drawing our breath. 

  

              

The Assurance of Passing from Death into Life

The Assurance of Passing from Death into Life

            1 John 3:14 says “ we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” KJV

            
Again, in the Amplified version it says “We know that we have passed over out of the death into the life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides – remains, is held and kept continually – in spiritual death.”

            Grab a hold of this concept for just a minute if you can. Think upon the incredible confidence that you have inside of you that assures you of eternal life, knowing without any doubt that you will not die, but live forever. How can you have this gift? Oh yes, definitely by accepting Jesus, but once you have done that you are filled with His love and then a miraculous growth happens inside of you; you have God’s (remember, God is love) sperm inside of you. A sperm conceives and grows!  It is this very love of God that equips you and enables you to give His love away to those around you. Those verses talk about other believers. I am not talking about the Hollywood love that is dramatized in the movies and on TV every day, but the type of love that takes time to understand one another and to help each other. It is called “Agape.”   If you truly have God’s love inside of you, your faith is going to work with this love and create quite a student, servant and worker in every area of your life. And, it is all because you personally met God the Father through His Son and allowed the Holy Spirit to do a love work in your life.

            A love work that passes from death unto life!

            You will be pregnant with kindness and want to be kinder to those whom you meet because you will know that you have a type of badge now that is representing The Church or Body of Christ. You will learn patience and catch your tongue, even when you feel like lashing back at times and while going through life’s trials; you’ll know without a doubt that The Holy Spirit will continue to guide and direct you through the whole ordeal. Sometimes, you’ll feel so full of joy, you will have to skip or dance if you can, other times you will see God’s goodness while a friend quietly gives you counsel or hear the morning bird sing a song just for you. You will see God’s goodness and gentleness everywhere you go. Because of His great love; you choose to be humble, grateful and thankful and continually in awe while you walk on in your journey and you have a peace and it is His peace that the world cannot understand.

            You see, when a soul humbly comes to God through Jesus Christ and says “yes Lord, I don’t understand it all, but I believe,” it is He who takes you the rest of the way. The Holy Spirit woos and courts you in the beginning. First you get curious about the Bible and what it says about who you are or about what kind of God the Bible talks about, therefore; you begin to read. If you are guided wisely, you will begin in the book of John with a prayer and if you are sincere, the Holy Spirit will open up rich treasures that will satisfy your heart for a lifetime and as you continue to get your strength, in the Word.  

             

Survivor Psalm

Survivor Psalm


I have been victimized
I was in a fight that was not a fair fight.
I did not ask for the fight.
I lost.
There is no shame in losing such fights.

I have reached the stage of survivor and
am no longer a stage of victim status.
I look back with sadness
rather than hate.
I look forward to hope
rather than despair.
I may never forget, but I need not
constantly remember.
I was a victim.
I am a survivor.

unknown author

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Have you ever thought about exactly what is evil? Webster’s Dictionary says a few things that would spark our interest:
1. Morally reprehensible. In other words, they are guilty or blameworthy.
2. Sinful, Wicked
3. Arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct ( a man of ~ reputation)
4. A archaic: Inferior
5. Causing discomfort or repulsion: OFFENSIVE (an~ odor)
6. Disagreeable (woke up late and in an ~ temper)
7. Causing harm : PERNICIOUS (the institution of slavery)
8. Marked by misfortune: UNLUCKY.
9. Lastly ~ the fact of suffering, misfortune and wrongdoing, a cosmic evil force, something that brings sorrow, distress or calamity.

We can be enslaved by evil in so many ways that are too numerous to list here in this writing, but we all have a choice to overcome evil with good. Have you ever thought about how to do this?
I personally believe there are three wise ways to overcome evil with good. The first way is to:

1. Begin to train your mind to think good.

In the last chapter of Philippians 4:6-9 we are told what to think upon. In the New Jerusalem Bible it says “Never worry about anything; but tell God all your desires of every kind in prayer and petition shot through with gratitude, and the peace of God which is beyond our understanding will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, let your minds be filled with everything that is true, everything that is honorable, everything that is upright and pure, everything that we love and admire with whatever is good and praiseworthy. St.Paul continues to say: Keep doing everything you learned from me and were told by me and have heard or seen me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.“

We worry in our minds about all of the “what if’s” and most of the time these things never come about. When we worry we invite doubt and unbelief into our life and reap the wages of unrest and lack of peace. Today we call it stress. Stress can bring on high blood pressure and that can bring on dis-ease. It isn’t God that brings these things around in our lives, it is our own seeds we’ve planted in our minds that we've allow to fertilize and grow and produce into fruit that is so unsettling.

St Paul goes further to instruct us to tell God about it. Tell him about our weaknesses and desires. Petition our prayers up coupled with gratitude. If we have gratitude and thanksgiving in our heart; God will always hear your prayers because he sees the sincerity and hears your cry. We have no reason not to believe in the promises of a loving God, all He asks is to communicate to Him from our hearts. If you are struggling in your mind thinking about things you shouldn’t be thinking about; we are told what to think about. If you cannot even think of one thing that is true, good or praiseworthy, then; you need to read about God’s great love for you in the book of John and then think and meditate about it afterward. Begin a new habit, a good habit; but it will take time. The more you retrain mind, the better you will feel about yourself inside. Ask God to help, there are some things that we need help with.
Something to remember is what happens in our minds when we look at something, for example; if you are trying to lose weight and you see a pizza. Then, we begin to think about wanting it. If we know we are going to see this on TV, turn it off; so we won’t think about the temptation, whatever your temptation. Everyone has them.
If you are having a pity party in your mind about how you messed up your life or made the wrong decision, have your party for about 15 minutes and then start to think about how it will all work for you, not against you. Can you really believe that all things work for the good to them that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose? Give it all to God and just let it go and trust in Him. We have a choice to think negative or positive thoughts. We have a positive God who cares for your best interests, but you have to believe that too.

2. Do Good. We always feel better about ourselves if we do something good for someone else. The world says you are number one, take care of yourself first; because if you don’t, no one else is going to do it. And, there is some truth to that. We have to keep ourselves healthy by eating, drinking and exercising right. What good would we be to those we love, if we just let ourselves go? But aren’t you glad that Jesus didn’t put his self first? What if he would have backed away from the cross and said no way and called those angels to help him? Instead, he put the wishes of his father over his own and obediently laid down his life for you and me, so we would have forgiveness from our sins. Giving is where it is at in our lives if you want to really feel good about yourself. Give yourself to your neighbor, feed the poor, volunteer, babysit for a single mother who never gets out, Give an encouraging good word and become an ear to someone who needs you to listen to their heart and most important do not judge when they open up to you. There are so many things you can “do good” at. Use your imagination. You will discover that every time you do good, you will feel good inside.

A spiritual cleaning seems to take place inside.

If you walk around the block to help keep off your weight, that is a good thing and you will feel good. If you resist that drink or second helping of food, you will feel good because you’ve done good. Make a small list in the mornings of the things you’d like to accomplish and check them off as you do them. Accomplishing good things will make you feel good inside. See how many good things you can do a day. Smile at others. Smiles are good.

My mother once worked in a nursing home and would come home and tell me about the patients in there. There was one particular woman who used to be a teacher but was now an invalid. She couldn’t move any part of her body, but she had the sweetest and kindest disposition for such a person who was suffering her life out until her end. Her gentle words ministered to my mother who would come home in total awe over her godly character and share them to me. She chose to do good right up to the end and she could smile at the ones who came into her room.

3. Look Good. Even if you are overweight, there are certain things you can wear to help you feel slimmer that will give your moral a boost. Put on some makeup and make sure your nails are painted when you leave the house and stand up straight when you walk. Get a new hairstyle, one that makes you look younger and slimmer. You will develop a bounce in your step and be more cheerful because your confidence will go up a few knots. Looking your best no matter your age will give you a high rating and will help combat and overcome any depressive thoughts that you’ve fought against in the past.

We are all like fruit bearing trees, some of us aren’t ready to be picked yet. In the meantime, we strive to learn to become that perfect round apple or orange that we are meant to be. Others of us have become ripe, and are in the prime of our season, still learning and want to be the best fruit for others to enjoy. Then others have become over ripe and ready to fall to the ground because they have refused to be used or to use the knowledge that was given to them. It could be like someone giving you the key to freedom from evil (where all worms gather); but instead of accepting the key, you just sort of hang on to the branch while all the time rotting your life away.
What can you lose by trying to:
Think Good
Do Good
and
Look Good?
Little by little your life can change for the good!

Only a Mother Understands

Only a mother’s heart would understand how others feel when their grown sons of 18 years enlist in the military and then go off to fight an unjust war. Do you know what a mother sees during this time? She sees the baby that suckled at her breast in the middle of night and remembers him smiling at her when he was full. She sees him splashing in a bath, the one she nurtured, loved and sang songs with together. It doesn’t matter how old the children become, the emotions and feelings in her heart are quite alive and sometimes the world can see them on her sleeve because there isn’t anything quite so deep as a mother’s love.
Think about it. When a young girl finds herself without her husband and is forced to raise her sons alone, the whole process becomes more than an adrenalin rush, it becomes a calling; a holy ministry. She realizes that there isn’t anything in this life as precious as another life, a prized gift from God Himself. We then discover the power to mold this life into a powerful, confident individual filled with his love. Is there really anything so powerful or important? Not in a mother’s eyes.
My Pastor jokingly once said that mother’s believe that their son’s can walk on water. Well, he was right. He was right because mothers know their children’s weaknesses and strengths and have an unconditional love for them anyway. They automatically know that their strength will over power their weakness because their power is in God’s Spirit and they know the one who has the power to forgive our sins.
It has been said that the most powerful love on earth is the love of a mother bear that protects her cubs. She can smell you hiking miles away and if you get too close she will instruct her cubs to climb a tree while she wards off that “evil” smell that could cause them harm. A mother hen covers her chicks protectively under her wings and would give her life to protect them.
A mockingbird will dive bomb you or any animal that unknowingly gets too close to her nest.
A mother eagle will nurture their young and bring them fresh food every day as her young birds begin to sprout their silly looking down feathers, then when it is time for them to leave the nest the mother begins to make them uncomfortable by taking out the nesting’s feathers and the brush that it was built with. Then, all of a sudden one of the brave eaglets starts flapping his wings; flip flap, flip flap and begins to jump all around the area. He’s got stars in his eyes and a surge of ambition that was long ago bred inside of him. The other siblings watch him in wonder. He looks out into the broad heavens and sees all those mountains that he yearns to glide over and then, one early morning right before the sun breaks, he looks back at his mother and his siblings and leaps into space. He stretches his wings wide and soars ever so graceful, over those mountains, over the cliffs, over the rivers, the waterfalls and over the treetops of forests. Oh, the delight of it. He then tests his drive by tilting to the left a little and then to the right, he’s a young eagle and wonders if “he can really walk on water.” He discovers how to dive in a smooth rocket fashion that would barely break water, after a few clumsily attempts.
The mother eagle watching, knows he can “walk on water” and while being wrapped up in emotions she knows, this is his time. He has a mission and a purpose that was given before he was even born. The father eagle looks on admiringly and having a wing span of 72 to 85 inches himself, knows that his eaglet will rule over the earth by diving for fish, snatching rabbits in a split second, vermin and rats, court a female, help build a nest and keep predators away. He will be the king of the sky and his eyes will see it all and know everything that goes on in his territory and it is with this fact that the father knows that his son will be full of confidence as he fly’s towards the new horizons that are waiting for him to conquer. He carries an inheritance and the power of the Spirit with every flap towards the Son.

Gotta Vision?

Have you been thinking about what you’d like to do but that day is always “someday” or “maybe next year?” Don’t wait too long to follow your heart’s desire because it may not be here. I would like to encourage you that if it is a farm you’ve been thinking about and now you feel you are not as young as you used to be and wonder if you’d be able to do all of the exercise farm life requires. Do not fear. Of course you can do it! First of all exercise is where it is at, if you want to stay healthy. Yes, you will have the occasional sprain and pulls in your back and other places, but you do not have to lift, use a dolly and push those things around. Use crow bars instead of trying to pry up things with your arms and hands. Always find a tool to use because there are ways to do everything easier. Instead of bringing in all those bags at once, take the time to walk back and forth from your vehicle caring one at a time. Remember, anyway you can get more walking in is good for you, no matter your age.
Maybe you have a dream of traveling and never had the time or money. Why not just sell everything you have and go? We cannot take our homes or things with us when we pass over and if you have your heart set on seeing new things and have that adventurous heart, why not! Besides, if you get rid of a lot of your things now, it will be that much easier for your children when you do go to glory. If you refuse to give up the homestead, maybe you could aggressively begin to save up more money through garage sales, bake sales, baby sitting or pet sitting. You have heard the phrase “if someone wants it bad enough, they are going to get it.” Well that is true. If you think about something long enough, you are going to get it.
Maybe you want to go back to school. Excellent idea! Why not! We have to keep our brains alive and working; remember it is a muscle too. What would our brains look like if we went to a gym that made us work out with your brains? Fit brains or mushy brains. Today you can go back to school online and get your Doctorate in anything as long as you are willing to study your “brains” out.
Everyone has something that they want to do, now is the time to get going on that idea you’ve been stewing about for so long. Maybe it is a business idea. If so, do your homework and research it all out legally. Get everything in writing. Ask the pros to help you out. By this time next year, you could be a multi-millionaire and finance everyone’s trip abroad.
Want to help those less fortunate than you? There are so many organizations that are just waiting for your help. Again, do your research with a fine toothed comb and then, get to work.
The more you think about your dream, the closer your adventure comes to you and brought into reality. Then, you will see it all in the physical realm. Write it all down and take plenty of pictures along the way.

Friends

There are those who say that loneliness is simply a state of mind and I think that could be an important contributing factor. If we are not reaching out and meeting people, we will be lonely. If we are not people oriented, then you might have to push yourself to get out there and smile and make a few friends. No one is going to knock on our door or call you if they do not know that you exist, right? So, if you are finding yourself sitting home and having a pity party you will find that you are the only one coming to your party. Hey, we’ve all been there a few times, so you really aren’t alone. I personally do not like crowds and tend to be an enigma to those who do not know me, because I do not care for small talk or negativity and won’t stay around anyone who whines or talks about the weather for too long, unless it was about that tornado or hurricane that made everyone’s heart skip a few beats.
They say that if you can count a true friend on one finger, you’ve found a gem and that you will never need a counselor or therapy because a true friend won’t judge or reject you when you confide in your deepest secrets. She knows that she is loaded with them herself. A true friend is someone who will drop everything she is doing and be by your side through thick or thin. If you have done something wrong, she will take your side; accepting you in your wrong. She will listen to your whining and complaining until you have a cauliflower ear over the phone. She will give you unsolicited advice about whether your hair is attractive or if you are wearing too little or too much makeup and you will hear about the extra weight you put on because she wants you to be around for awhile longer, maybe she will just accept you just the way you are, because in truth; none of those things are really important in your friendship. Are these friend’s angels or devils? I think they are just what we need at the right time to help us pass through our journey. There is nothing like a good friend to come in and smash our own righteous self image from time to time and bring us back to reality and where we should be in the first place. That can be a humbling experience. More than ever, you don’t want to hurt your friend in anyway, but we do. We end up taking them for granted, thinking they will be around forever and that is a big mistake, because we might not be here tomorrow to tell them how important they really are to us.
Every woman needs another woman to talk to from time to time. Although you may be married and feel he’s your best buddy, you still need a crony who will cry with you and laugh hysterically over your yesterdays, today’s and we hope your tomorrows.