Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye”

Those are some haunting verses. I was reminded of them today when I received an e-mail from someone after asking for prayer over an opportunity I have. As I read their response, my first response was anger and my second was reflection. Where is the heart of compassion Christ called us to have? Why do we look at other’s sin and immediately place judgment on them? Is our sin any different? Does Christ pour out His love conditionally based on the degree you have sinned? NO!! And for all our sakes, we should be very thankful. You see, it’s easy to spot the sin in other people’s lives. But as Matthew says, it is only a speck compared to the plank of our own.

I am thankful for the way my parents have raised me. My dad is the most compassionate person I have ever met. I don’t remember very many times he has judged someone based on something they have done or failed to do. He always assumes the best and has always impressed upon me the need to love people where they are. He has always encouraged me to love those people in my life who to others seem unlovely..to encourage those who seem to be on their last straw…even when everyone else is placing judgment. I have seen him go out on a limb, risking his own reputation to help someone in need.

So why are Christian’s so judgmental? Why do we have that reputation? Why do we instantly look at someone and pass determination of their lives, future, sins etc. Does not Christ say, “I wish that none would perish.” Should not we be like Christ and eat with the sinners and tax collectors? If Christ were to visit us today, would He be ashamed of the way we treat those around us who have fallen or who are lost? Do we get caught up in our bubble of life and fail to see the needs around us? Yes, we have to call sin by it’s name-but we are to hate the sin, not the sinner.

Just a thought..
Amanda

I just have to say that God is awesome! He really does work everything out to the good of those who love Him. I have seen God orchestrate so much in my life lately-it’s amazing! I learned that as soon as I gave things over to God-He took control and took over! And honestly, I am so glad I did it. I couldn’t have planned things out as well as they have turned out. More on that later..but for now God is so good!

Just a thought..

Amanda

She didn’t say hi. He gave me a weird look. She brushed me off. He said something rude. Does it ever seem like life is all about the little things? The unimportant things in life get blown up, while the important things get watered down to nothing. How often do you get mad because you sinned? How often do you have a passion for saving the lost? How much time and energy do you put into your bible study? Do you talk to God as much as you gossip about someone else? Do I?

I sometimes wonder what would have happened if Christ had gotten mad over the little things. Would He have let a comment from Peter anger Him to the point of giving up His mission? Would He have let His desire to find out dirt on someone cloud over His desire to please God? I know..Christ would never do that. But it says that He was tempted in all things, but was without sin. So Christ struggled with the temptation to do it, but He had His eyes on the bigger picture. He knew one little sin could prevent Him from saving the whole world. What if you could look into the future and see the effects of one sin on someone else? What if you knew that one sin would mean someone else would spend eternity in hell? Would you think twice about doing it? I know I would..but we don’t think like that. We want the enjoyment of being mad at someone over the desire to please God. In a world that looks out for # 1, it’s hard to have a Christ-like focus. How do you focus on the big picture with everyone telling you it’s all about today and now? I think our world would be radically different if Christians would take up the challenge to really be like Christ. Not just in church, not just in some areas..but in every single aspect of their life to be like Christ. See, sometimes we spend so much time arguing with the people on our team that we lose the sight of the goal. We are all on the same team! Isn’t that a cool thought? Every Christian is part of the body of Christ! And that body is big and can have a major impact. But American Christianity is shallow. People get more fired up over the kind of music played in church then they do over winning people to Christ. Somehow I find something wrong with that picture. And I know, I need to work on this too. God has really been challenging me to broaden my horizons and realize life is so much more then the bubble I live in now. There are people out there that need Christ. So I guess I want to challenge you to take a look at your own life. Are you really on the same team with the Christians around you? Or are you letting little things get under your skin and cause friction? The world needs to see that we are different. They need to see that we love each other. Christ said, “This is how they would know that ye are my disciples, that ye have love one for another.” So go ahead..love someone and focus on the big picture!

Just a thought..

Amanda

This week at my school, we have has a leadership camp and it has been awesome! But today was the last day, and one of our speakers, Kevin Brownfield, spoke on prayer. Let me tell you, I have never heard a sermon so good. But there was something different about his sermon. See, it convicted the fire out of me, but it also inspired me-it gave me a passion and a desire to make a change. He spoke on having a dynamic prayer life. Now, I can honestly say my prayer life is anything but dynamic-in fact, it is more stagnant. So we he said he was going to be speaking on prayer I was already convicted. But I think the thing that stuck out to me the most was one statement he made. He said, “I believe nation-wide revival can start right here in Faith Christian School.” Now, I was thinking maybe we could revive our school, and maybe even our town..but I never thought about nation-wide. However, prayer is a powerful weapon and I truely believe that if each and every one of us will desire a dynamic prayer life-we could start a revival. Yeah, it’s gonna cost us something, it’s gonna take time, effort, sacrifice-but wouldn’t it be worth it? And even if we don’t start a nation-wide revival, I am definately changing my prayer life..no more stagnant pond..it’s gonna be a rushing waterfall.:) I am so on fire and ready to tackle Satan head on. I have God on my side, and the best friends anyone could ask for. And I hope and pray that you will tackle this whole issue too. Look at our own prayer life-is it what it could and should be?

Just a thought..more to come later..

Amanda

Over my Christmas break, God has really challenged me with this whole idea of contentment. And it has not always been easy. I think the biggest area it shows up in is the whole relationship arena. It seems like all my friends are hooking up, and quite frankly being single and hanging out with people who aren’t just isn’t as much fun. Yet, finding a relationship seems to have eluded me. Someday I will, I know it. I know God has someone out there. But it’s hard right now. I sometimes wish God would drop him on my doorstep tomorrow so I wouldn’t have to agonize over this.:) But that isn’t going to happen, so I am just going to have to learn to be content with where I am now. I read a quote in a book the other day. It happened to be on this subject, but the author said something like being content is not about not wanting a boyfriend, but about being ok with the fact that you don’t have one. I never thought about contentment like that. I always thought if I wanted it then I must not be content-and to a certain extent that is true. But God wired us as relational beings. Its only natural that I want that. In fact, it might be more unnatural if I didn’t want it. (but that’s besides the point). It’s a whole timing thing. Anyways, I decided I was just going to be ok with the fact that I didn’t have a boyfriend. I don’t need one, and while yes-I do want one (I will admit it), I don’t need one. I was going to be content with where I was. That didn’t mean my desire changed, but slowly God has been changing my desire. He has shown me that He has a plan and if I will trust Him-things will all work out. If I will be content with where I am, He will provide far better then I ever could on my own. So who knows what will happen-I’m leaving things in God’s hands.

Just a thought..

Amanda

It’s a new year..the time when everyone makes out their list of resolutions..things they hope to accomplish in the upcoming year. Yet many times, at least in my life, by mid-January my list has found it’s way under my pile of stuff and I have forgotten about it. So this year, via something I heard from a friend I have decided I am not going to make any resolutions. Instead, I am going to make a covenant with God.

Psalm 89:34 says, “My covenant I will not break,

Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.”

God is talking to David here, and He promises David that He will not break the covenant He set with him. In God’s eyes, a covenant is a promise-something that is not meant to broken. David made a covenant with God to set no wicked thing before His eye. God made a covenant with Noah to never flood the earth again. And the scripture is full of more examples. So this year-2005, I am not going to write out a list of resolutions..I am going to make a covenant with God. And I am only going to make two. Perhaps you may think less of me because I only have two, but perhaps by my only having two they will not be so quickly forgotten.

1. I am going to establish a daily habit of spending time in His word and in prayer. This has been lacking in my life lately and I am going to work very hard at making this something I desire, not something I do. I am going to find my daily sustenance in His words and my joy in Him.

2. I am going to work on having an overflowing of love for others. Christ modeled love for others in everything He did and that’s how I want others to view me, but more importantly, that’s how I want God to view me.

So, there ya go. My two covenants with God. Right now-day one of 2005 I commit them to God with those of you who actually read this blog as my witness. My prayer is that come this time next year, I won’t look back and wonder where I went wrong, but see growth and change in my life. And I pray that as you make out your list of resolutions you commit to following them.

Just a thought..

Amanda