Stage217

“a promise is a strong word….” that is what my sister put as her facebook status last night.  As i read it on my phone while lying in bed, I pondered for a second and realized how correct she is.  Breaking that statement apart I notice two things.  First that the word “promise” itself is a strong word.  Usually we understand it to mean, as defined quickly by dictionary.com ”an express assurance on which expectation is to be based”.  When we promise something to someone, we are giving them a certainty that something will be done, completed, or not happen at all (i.e. I promise the Browns won’t win the super bowl this year).   The person receiving the promise is then charged with trusting the person who made the promise so that they won’t be deceived in what they have been told.  When we make a promise, its sometimes taken as a law that whatever we have proclaimed is absolute truth.  Sadly though, sometimes we “break” our promises.  We fumble the promise, let it go or forget about without realizing the pain and hurt that it has caused the person we made the promise to.  Secondly, a promise, or the statement we make as a promise is seen as such, an unbreakable word that one wouldn’t ever think of taking back or letting pass by.  Again, sometimes we forget the words we say even when we don’t use the words “I promise”.  We must be careful of the words we say to those around us and the things we say will or will not happen.  We do have a hope though!  We know that God’s word is truth and that He promises us so many great and marvelous things in His word, which is truth… John 1.  We also know that God never goes back on his word or any promise he makes Numbers 23:19.  So becareful of the strong words you speak and the promises you make.  Be integritable and keep them…

A word for myself…

So to attempt to sum up what I have learned yesterday and recently feeling the need to start writing these things down…

Every piece of a puzzle is needed to complete the whole puzzle and make complete the picture the artist intended to display.  When you put a puzzle together and you get the end and you notice a piece is missing, how do you feel; frustrated, anxious, annoyed?  That’s how I would feel. Angry because I have wasted all of this time putting something together only to, in the end, have to stop with my project unfinished!

At times I find myself thinking that what I do in not important; thinking that anyone could do what I do and probably do it better.  I have to keep attempting to exceed expectations to combat that thought. Yesterday though, I was reminded that I am needed and the work being done can’t be done with out me.  It reminded me of a puzzle.  A puzzle as bunch of pieces, all designed with different shapes, sizes, colors, edges, all come together to make the masterpiece look like just that… a masterpiece.  In our life, no matter how large everything seems to be around us, we have a job to do.  We might feel like the smallest and insignificant piece to the puzzle but the puzzle wouldn’t be complete without us.  Our job is to add to the puzzle in the way we were originally designed to since no other piece to that puzzle will fit in our place.  When that puzzle is completed, we should move on and start adding to the next puzzle we have become a part of.

Either way, every piece of the puzzle, no matter how big or small is needed for its specific purpose since no other piece fits its part.

This morning i have been thinking about the power that Abba father gives us. He has sent his only son to die the death we were suppose to die. HE then rose again to live the life we are to live. Then Jesus left and sent His Holy Spirit to be with us every single day, every moment, even when we don’t feel his presence! Today I am grateful for my relationship with the Holy Spirit! He is amazing! His love is nonjudgmental, it is unconditional. Where would I be without The cross of Jesus, the Power of forgiveness, the relationship with the Holy Spirit! Thank you today God for being to grand yet desiring to rescue me and give me the power of your presence! I am in love with you with an undying love.
If you find yourself surrounded by fear, take the time to really thank God for what he has done in your life and how he has pulled you through before he will do it again! God wants an intimate relationship with you. Talk to Him today!

What do you think a judge is?

To judge-to issue a decree, an opinion about someone or something; to decide (mentally or judicially), to try, condemn, punish, avenge, conclude, damn, determine, esteem, judge, call in question, sentence to, think, a decision.

Matthew 7:1-5

1) Quick judgment invites more judgment
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you”.

Have you ever judged someone really fast without really getting to know them? Why?

Have you ever been wrongly judged? Set on trial by someone?

2) Quick Judgment is distorted
a. And why do you look at the speck of saw dust in your brother’s eye, but you don’t consider the plank in your eye?
b. Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
c. Hypocrite! First remove the plank in your own eye, and then you will clearly see to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

When someone judges people w/o checking themselves first there judgment is distorted.

Have you ever judged someone for the same sin you struggle with?

Have you ever been judged by someone who you know has issues too? How did that make you feel? Why?

3) Careful Judgment is Necessary
“Don’t give what is holy to the dog; nor cast your pearl before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you into pieces”

Proverbs 9:7-8

I am not saying that judging others and programs, or things is wrong. Actually we are supposed to do so. But there is a difference between judging w/o discernment and judging with it. Sometimes we need to slow down and calculate, take a look at, think about it, before we do, say, or act on something. That period of calculating and looking is at is called discernment.

Two kinds of Judgment:
Condemning Judgment versus Discerning Judgment
Quick versus careful
Focused on other’s faults v.s. Examining self
Legalistic v.s. Gracious
Motives v.s. actions

When someone new comes into our cell, or circle of friends, do you focus on what is wrong with them or what is right with them?

When someone is dressed differently then most others, do you accept their style or judge them as not cool?

When a new leader arises, do you look at what is wrong with them, or do you look at what gifts they have and how they are going to bless the body of Christ?
“Discernment is a helpful skill and a positive contribution. Good Judgment is a valuable quality. But some people miss the distinction between discernment and condemnation. They elevate fault finding to a ministry-as if they were doing the church a favor, or doing society a favor, or doing their spouse a favor-by making it their goal to find out what is wrong”. –Lewis B. Bell

Are you a condemning judge or a discerning one?