If You Can't Something Nice

Today's sermon has nothing to do with what is on my mind. Yesterday was a day of fun and uplifting with my daughter and I spending the day out. I made a concerted effort to say something encouraging to everyone I encountered that day. Let me rewind for those who have just joined the program. My name is Dana and I am a sarcastic-wicked witted-smartmouth. It's a disease. Part of it comes from being the youngest and having to defend myself, also from being bullied mercilessly, and it's also genetic. I come from a long line of smart-alecks. I used to be quite proud of how quickly I could retort, and often with a laugh from the peanut gallery.



As I have grown older (and wiser?) I have been instilled with the knowledge that not everyone appreciates this gift. Looking back, it has been a curse more often than not and that I should hone the ability to encourage those around me instead of hurting those around me. It is irrelevant the pain inflicted as I cannot control others actions. I can pray they come to their own epiphany they need to change. I can pray I react in a way they see the folly of their actions, but not so I hurt them in the process. It isn't mine to make others to bend to God's will. I don't know what His plan is for them. I have only my own log in my eye in which to remove. I can't judge others and I can't make them behave, no more than I can make someone else's kid stop acting like a heathen. I am not their parent and I can't discipline them, only intervene if bodily harm might befall them. Do my nerves scream bloody murder every time they do, oh you betcha! But I will not intervene again.

God's children are his to discipline, not mine. If you are not walking, or talking, with God, only you and He can decide that.

Judging Others

7:3-5pp -- Lk 6:41,42

1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

Psalms 1-41

1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.