Thursday, December 18, 2008

A Realization

"Things don't last...but God's love will always last. Don't live for things that could break tomorrow. What is first in your life?"
It's one of people's biggest fears-loneliness. No one wants to be alone-and who can blame them? But going from relationship to relationship is never going to work. Let's just say that you do finally find someone to marry and you put all your energy into this one relationship and then it bombs.
Nothing lasts. Even relationships break up-even 20 to 30 years of love can break or fade away. When you shove all your love into a HUMAN the only result will be disappointed. Humans will never be perfect. Someone is always going to be disappointed in you. You have to learn to expect it.
We need to put our love in God. Don't worry, He will leave plenty of love for the rest of the people in your life. No worries.
"Don't put all your trust in a relationship. You will be disappointed."

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Too Judgemental

So I wanted to approach a topic that most people don't like to talk about. But it's been bugging me for a while.
I used to be really judgemental. I mean, seriously, I always looked at other people and thought that I was so much better than them. But it was really wrong of me. That was who I used to be, not who I am today. It took a lot of growing on my part, and seeing people as God sees them. I used to walk around with these rose-colored glasses on. And when people showed who they really were-when they showed their soul with me-I kind of turned them away. I thought I was better than them, and they only made me feel better about myself. How horrible is that?
Now, years later, I still have a little bit of pride. But I've gotten so much better about it. I see people for who they truly are, and I care for them as they are. And now, as I have passed over the judgemental bridge, I'm starting to see Christians on the other end. And it's scary, because they have the faces on and the thoughts are already crossing their mind. If there is one thing that I want to stop, it's all the Christians who think they are better than everyone! God came here to love everyone!

Matthew 7:1-5 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

For example, when people tell me that I am such an amazing person because I don't judge them as a Christian, that scares me. Because I know how I used to be, and I know that it wasn't easy getting to the place I am today. I am FAR from perfect, and everyday I try to work on becoming more like Christ, but I look at these other Christians, people I respect, and I hear them talking about being such a good Christian. And then I see them turning away non-christians because they have made some mistakes in their lives. No one is perfect. Christ came to save all-we are all sinners. And no sin is worse. I lie. That makes me a sinner. That makes me just as bad a person as the person who slept with someone other than their husband. I am just as horrible a person. But you don't see me that way. You think I'm pretty amazing cause all I do is tell a "white" lie. Not true. I am not such a great person. I am a Christ person. That means only Christ is perfect.

From gotquestions.org: In Matthew 7:2-5, Jesus warns against judging someone else for his sin when you yourself are sinning even worse. That is the kind of judging Jesus commanded us not to do. If a believer sees another believer sinning, it is his Christian duty to lovingly and respectfully confront the person with his sin (Matthew 18:15-17). This is not judging, but rather pointing out the truth in hope—and with the ultimate goal—of bringing repentance in the other person (James 5:20) and restoration to the fellowship. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We are to proclaim what God's Word says about sin. 2 Timothy 4:2 instructs us, "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction." We are to "judge" sin, but always with the goal of presenting the solution for sin and its consequences—the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

On on that note, I am going to try and find an accountability partner. Because I think I need one. And I think God would approve. :)

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Short but Loving It

Who we are can be seen in so many ways. We express ourselves in colors, emotions, items, pictures, paintings, and words. We want people to appreciate us as we are. When people don't accept us, we become down on ourselves and depressed. We become jealous of people who we feel have everything we could need. The jealously can sometimes consume us or it can make us stronger. If you use the jealousy to bring yourself back to God, and ask Him help you figure out what you are jealous of and how you can overcome it, you will become a better person.

However, if you let the jealousy eat you alive, and all you think about is how much you hate yourself and wish you could live a different life, you are only bringing yourself down. By holding yourself down, you are no longer allowing youself a chance to grow. As a result, you are only dwelling in worry and consuming yourself in thoughts about something you can not control.
For example, I used to be really bummed about being kind of short, but now I look at it as an advantage. I can date short guys as well as tall guys, and I can wear heels and not be taller than them. My friend used to hate her face, but then she realized that we are all going to look old and wrinkly one day and it didn't matter anymore.

Discover a way to use your "bad quality" for good. In my example, I always looked up to tall people and wondered what it would be like to look over people's heads. One day I was talking to my tall friend and I asked him if he liked being tall. He said it had good days and bad days. Sometimes he wished he could be short so people didn't always point him out in a crowd. He said he could never be a thief because they would always see him coming. Okay, he didn't really say that. But he did say he finally got over it, because he could play basketball and dunk, and he could slap the volleyball around. My bad quality allows me to be able to hide under the bed, crawl into insanely small spaces, and look younger when I'm old.

Where am I going with this? That's for you to figure out. But I'll leave you with one final thought. "Sometimes it has more to do with attitude than height."