We're not suppose to be Judgmental

Tonight I am chatting with my daughter Rebechia on Facebook and we are discussing the topic of tonights blog... We are not suppose to be judgmental, however that is easier said then done, or atleast for me it is... 

1 Samuel 16:7

"Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, `Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye, then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye."

You know people who do that kind of thing, right? And many of us – maybe most of us - know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of people who judge others. Jesus says that we need to  be careful. Whether it has to do with people’s actions, or lifestyle, or children or weaknesses or sins or worship preferences. Be careful, Jesus says. Jesus knows that we have a tendency to bring out the faults of others and down play our own sins. We tend to have a better view of our own opinions and a more negative view of anyone who thinks differently. 
    
Jesus calls us to work with each other, speaking the truth in love and encourage one another. We have a responsibility for each other, and if we see sin we have to deal with it – Jesus says that too. But it’s our attitude, our motivation... it is the condition of our heart that really determines if we are building and discipling in love for the other person, or if we are just being judgmental.
   
My daughters pastor brought up a good point when he was saying that when we look at someone who looks differently or are doing something that we feel is wrong, we don't know personally what they are going through and we should not judge someone else based on what we observe only. For many people judging others are their favorite past time. The prettiest girl, the jock, tattoos, too fat/thin, not dressed appropriately,  the wealthy or other favorite people, often become the targets of hateful tongues and thoughts. I guess you would not even have to be in a favored position to have others "bad mouth" you. It is very easy to take part in judging those around us if they do not come up to our expectations.

Skillet

One example that I think on is Christian Rock bands such as Skillet. By looking at them, you would think they are far from being a Christan and more than likely worshiped someone else or nobody at all... I did not believe it when my daughter Jessica told me they were until I actually read the words and more about them. I thought they were just another rock band that was way to loud and taking up too much air time :) I was wrong and that showed me that I need to not judge people because they don't look like I do or how I think they should look to be a Christian or part of a certain group.  Then you have my daughter who has a tattoo, many people think that if you are a Christian you should not have tattoos. It is of a cross on her leg  with roses. For myself I would never want a tattoo, but she got it for the right reason and a demonstration of her faith.  I have been guilty of judging others based on the tattoos that they have on their body. I personally believe that they reflect what you feel and believe. Then I think about how people change from what they once were, even though they have made mistakes, which we are all guilty of. 


In Closing: THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH CALLING A ROTTEN APPLE . . . A ROTTEN APPLE! God is the only one who can judge another. Jesus was very clear about his admonition to "not judge others". But never take that to mean that we should turn our heads to sin, and not speak out about what GOD SAYS is wrong! The Bible clearly says, "You will know a tree by the fruit that it bears"

What Motivates Us?

Ok... I will be the first one to raise my hand in the air and maybe in wave it when asked was I motivated to do something because I wanted something out of it. Or I wanted to benefit in some way... I think that is something that if we are honest about ourselves, we all have done... We look out for numero uno...

But tonight I was studying for m a Bible Study I am doing. It is in the Book of Ephesians. Its pretty indepth and alot of it I haven't grasped. Well, I probably do a good part. But I got to one part and it was Eph 1: 13-14 and was talking about our reward in Heaven and how we are children of God.

What came to my mind though is how people are motivated if they know there is a reward in it for them. I posted on Cafemoms about an experience with my daughter and how someone she knows got baptized just because he knew she wouldn't date someone who isn't a Christian. But he obviously didn't get baptized because of his faith in Christ... He was motivated by his own desires or feelings. Which I won't go into that at all. She has an awesome husband, so God took care of that matter.

But what about some people who get to know people because they have alot of money or power. Do they get close to them because they think they are gonna get something out of the relationship/friendship/partnership, or are they sincerley wanting to get to know that person. Are they hanging out with someone that they never did before because they have something they want? I was thinking about this lately when my brother in law Craig and I were talking about how it is terrible how when people die, then family or others will fight over what is left when they die. They don't think about how much they will miss that person, but what they get... Forutunalty, we don't have to worry about that when it comes to my mother in law, she didn't have anything. Besides we would all rather have her then any amount of money. And I feel that way about anyone I am close too. Although there are a few people, in the back of my mind I wouldn't mind if they feel off the side of the earth. But that is for another blog and another time in space, lol.

I often have to check myself and see what my motivations are. Is it motivated by human desire and greed or is it motivated by love and kindness. I would hope I would be motivated by love and kindness...But there are times the human side tries to win out and I need to slap it down and keep it in check.

Ok. I will stop thinking out loud now or stop typing out loud,lol. You all have a good night and sleep well. I have a early day and dang blasted it, I am still on here doing things for the Community Expo and thinking about moitvations...

Oh... On a topic that is unrelated... I am thinking about cutting my hair... Not sure how or what style.. But pondering the thought :)

What Happens Right When We Die???

Even though I am a Christian, I have mixed thoughts on this topic. I have had wonderful dreams about what I call "My Meadow". Well my friend Nancybratt and Donna are there too and we are hanging out by this tree and there are all kinds of animals and you can hear the sound of the brook. I am sure that Heaven is gonna be a a wonderful place that is beyond imagination.

Yesterday I was talking to a friend on the phone about what happens immediately after we die. In the Bible we are led to believe a couple things. One is that we are going to be in a state of sleep. And the other is that we immediatly go to heaven to be with Jesus. I am hoping that we immediatly go to heaven. If we are in a state of sleep, won't it seem like we are going to heaven right away. It won't seem like there is a time lapse at all. We go to sleep and there we are...

Many conservative Christians believe that when a person dies, they enter into complete oblivion - a state of non-existence. They remain unconscious; they have no self-awareness. Their body decays. At the time of the second coming of Jesus, the dead are called from their graves; they will be resurrected and judged.

Some of the other thoughts on life after death are these... I don't really buy into them, because of my faith in Jesus Christ. But I will post them here.

Heaven: Eternity is spent in Heaven or Paradise with God, in a state that is beautiful beyond our ability to conceive.
Hell: Eternity is spent in Hell with Satan and his demons. All are tormented and tortured, in isolation from God, without any hope of mercy or relief.
Annihilation: The body rots. One's soul, spirit, memory, personality, awareness, body, and mind disappear and are no more.
Transmigration of the soul: Our soul and spirit are reborn into a human fetus or newborn child.
Reincarnation: Our soul and spirit are reborn into another living entity - not necessarily human.

What the Bible Says about death is;

All people who are alive on earth at the time of the second coming will be assembled together (Matthew 25:31-32). "Those who have rejected the Lord in this life, who have sinned mortally, who have no remorse for sin and do not seek forgiveness, will have condemned themselves to hell for all eternity."

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live - John 11:25

"The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the
grave and raises up. 1SA 2:6

Luke 43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in
paradise."

Revelations 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The
dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

My Personal Thought- Whatever they put in my obituary some day, I hope those words will accurately describe where I will be the moment after I die - safe in Jesus' arms.

Let me add this too.. I don't even want to think of the possibility of reincaration... I just can't imagine coming back as a chicken or goat, lol