OH MY! What a week!

This past week was one hectic week. One crazy week. One tiring week. I am so glad that I am past that week! But it seems that this week may be following in last week's footsteps. I find out some big news in the next couple of days and it could be good or bad. I will be posting later on in the week about it, don't worry!

Eager to get this news I could not sleep at all last night. I just flipped and flopped until I finally passed out. And then after only sleeping for about 5 hours I got up and cooked Andrew breakfast before he went to work... I'm an excellent wife... I know. :) Other than the fact that I am stressing about the next couple of days, I am tired, I am sick, and smell like breakfast sausage, there is something that the Lord has been putting in my mind and on my heart and I need to share it with you, RIGHT NOW!

Why do we judge people in haste thinking that we should just go ahead and judge them before they can judge us? I know, I know, you are thinking, "What a way to change subjects!" But this question is something that I have been thinking about a whole lot lately. Why do we judge everyday people walking down the street? Why, as women, do we size each other up and pick each other apart in our minds? Why do Christians judge non-Christians and why do non-Christians judge Christians? I don't know about any of you women out there, but I know for me when I say that when I am not only talking the talk but also walking the walk, it almost seems that people are very quick to think that I am going to judge them. My friends that are doing things that maybe they are ashamed of, try to keep me in the dark and always are surprised when I don't judge them. I can honestly say that I am the type of person that is going to love the person. I may hate the sin, but I will ALWAYS love the person. I mess up numerous times a day, we are all sinners in the sight of God. I think that it is funny how we can put someone up on a pedestal that we think has it all together and then we are shocked when we find out that they don't have it all together. The girl who is pretty, that always wears a smile, and tries to be kind, will always be judged more than you think. God calls us to look beyond the appearance of a man, beyond their flaws, and just love them as you would love yourself.

I have decided in recent years that I am tired of taking things so personally. When someone judges me before they think that I will judge them, I just remind myself that this battle is not against flesh and blood but it is against all the powers of darkness in this world. Scripture tells us that committed Christians will run into resistance. John stated plainly, "Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you" (I John 3:13). Hates you. That's strong language, and it's an echo from his Gospel, where he quotes Jesus as saying, "If you belonged to this world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world … That is why the world hates you" (John 15:19). Hates you. Even stronger language is the Greek word that underlies Jesus' prophesy: miseo. The word connotes an active hatred—that is, a hatred that is not content to remain inside a person. It is a hatred that culminates in external action, namely, persecution. It's no wonder that Jesus continued his warning: "Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also" (John 15:20). Persecution in some form or another is a thermometer of Christian commitment.

So before you are so quick to judge, think about who your actions are glorifying. Are they glorifying God? Paula Rinehart states, "In the inner chambers of your heart, God steps past all your talents and hard work-- all that you think he values. He goes straight for the messy broken places in you."