Judging others hurts us not them...

Luke 6:37-42 New International Version (NIV) Judging Others 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. 41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

God doesn't want us to judge because it hurts us. It does nothing to the other person, but it makes our heart dark. Lord, help me to catch myself when I start going down the Judgement Road. Let me continue your motto....LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

Jesus commands us to love our enemies!

Love for Enemies Luke 6:27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. I think Jesus understands that hate and resentment is poison to our soul. My sister had a great line from a 12 step program. Resentment is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die. I am amazed by the Amish story where the man shot children in their school and they forgave him. Wow! I am amazed at their obedience to God's Word. If they can forgive, can I not forgive much more minor offenses?

A prayer...

How can I let God's love flow through me? How can I deny myself, and take up my cross and follow Jesus? How can I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit? Dear Lord Jesus, my heart wants to love, love, love, but my flesh is weak. As I read your Word, it states You were filled with the Holy Spirit. Help me to be sensitive to the quiet, still small voice You gave us. Teach me how to renew every morning. Let me see each and every interaction is an opportunity to share Your Love in a world starved for You. Dear Lord Jesus, I submit myself to You truly being my Lord. Give me Your wisdom to do Your will in my life. Amen.

Why I love The Lord's Prayer

I love The Lord's Prayer from Matthew chapter 6. Maybe my Catholic upbringing, because it was prayed every day at school and in the Mass and 5 times in the Rosary. I pray it before I pray my prayer list with a few changes. I pray Oh Father, up in heaven, I praise and worship you and Your name. I pray your kingdom to come, your will to done in my life as it is in heaven. Give me this day my daily needs, and forgive me of my sins as I forgive those who have sinned against me. And lead me away from things that would tempt me and keep me away from the evil in this world with your love and protection. I kind of re word it freestyle as I pray. What I love: Worship Obedience in my life to God's Will Faith that God will provide what I need to get through today Forgiveness of my sins My forgiving others in the love of Jesus Guidance to keep me from being tempted to choose poorly Protection from evil on this fallen earth. What a wonderful prayer.

Temptation and Life Choices

The temptation of Jesus in Matthew chapter 4 has always interested me. Jesus who was with God from eternity becomes human. That in itself must have been such a sacrifice. Now in this human flawed body, he is hungry. One of the acronymns for alcoholics or anyone who is struggling with behavior change is HALT. Be careful when you are HUNGRY ANGRY LONELY TIRED. So Satan starts with physical hunger. How often Satan waits until something in our life is just a little off to tempt us. Jesus gives us the pattern for resisting temptation. He responds to choices in life through his filter, The Word of God. Satan knows His Bible too and tries to tempt Jesus by skewing the scriptures by tempting his pride (throw yourself down off the pinnace of the templeand angels will bear you up) and greed (I will give you all the kingdoms of the world). Jesus answers every choice with scripture. As a therapist, I use the word choice because the word temptation seems more sinister. Our lives are filled with daily choices. We don't even realize how many choices a day our freedom give us. Not all choices are bad. Coffee or tea, orange or apple, black shoes or brown. With life so full of choices, we have many more altering choices, positive attitude or negative, worry or faith, selfishness or giving. Lord Jesus, help me each day to use how You handled choices in life, through the filter of the scriptures. Help me to surrender my will to Thy Will be done in my life, as it is in heaven.