Do Not Judge...

We must never judge.....a very hard thing to put into practice....the Word of God is clear in Mt 7:1-5:

“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.2For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.3Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye?5You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.
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i was watching a religious show last night and they had an author talking about her book about clutter.  They labeled people who clutter with so many sins it was very sad.  

As i have journeyed, i have learned much and supported many.  How easy it is to say or imply with looks of disgrace and shame to someone who has clutter that there is no reason for that.  Let me give you just a few reasons i have found over the yrs....homelessness, marriage problems, domestic violence, caring for elderly parents, abuse, disabled children, financial difficulties, job issues, divorce or separation, illness, disabilities, death...etc....the list is endless and we all fall into a catagory.  i use this example because most of us have experienced this with ourselves to some degree or others.  

The Love of Jesus Christ is beyond anything we could ever imagine.  Healing....Growth....Evolving happens slowly over an entire lifetime and just because we may not understand or know the whys behind someone's behavior, we better be cautious in listening to our own opinions about others, for we never know what someone is living with until we have lived it ourselves.  

This show cut deep and made me very sad to know that people in my own religion had such legalistic approaches to life.  Yes someone with clutter might have an opportunity to grow with time management....being less materialistic....sharing what they have....or even asking others for help, but we have no right to tell another there is a weak area of sin when we never have the full picture.  God will mercifully reach out and help them discover over time whatever they need to know and how to promote their own healing.  All we need to do is pray....and God will show up in a Big Way...and also send His Workers who really know how to Love someone thru to assist.  

Maybe next time we see a mess, we can easily ask how we can serve....if visiting and they are washing their dishes, pick up the towel and dry....if they are folding laundry, offer a hand....if they are alone, offer to baby sit....bring a meal....i have been very fortunate to have a dear friend for many years who taught me first hand what it is to Love someone thru without judgment ...Her name is Estelle.  Estelle served me, my son and my parents with the Love of Jesus Christ for many years after my husband left.  More than any family or friend, this woman reached out and nurtured us thru the hardest of times.  

Our prayer is that we could become an Estelle for someone else.  That we might look for extraordinary ways to Love everyone and help them thru.  We all need someone to help us at various times of our lives.

til next time....let's look for someone we have judged as less than and reach out a Loving helping hand instead....eventually we will all realize that we are all the same....we change this world one soul...one person at a time and it starts with me!  

FRUITFUL AND LIFE CHANGING LENT TO ALL!  ang