Judge not, lest ye be judged...

Matthew 7:1-5
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you..."

Ryan Detzler, author of the very popular blog "this is reverb" asks his readers this - "what frustrates you most about Christians?" Well there is a loaded question right there. I know lots of people that have lots of reasons for being frustrated with Christians. (This includes believers of other faiths, atheists, agnostics, and other Christians alike). One of the recurring themes I noticed as I read the comments of others was "judgement" so I will start there.

This is a big area that causes me to feel embarrassed that I am a Christian as I hear this complaint from so many. I'm not perfect by any means, I try not to judge others, but I am human... what I do NOT do is judge anyone from a place that says I'm better than them BECAUSE I am Christian... "and if I am a Christian, I am the least of all". I am in no position to make others feel bad because they are not. I believe Christianity and having a personal relationship with Jesus is about showing others love, nothing less than love.

Jesus spoke of love the most, and SHOWED that love to EVERYONE. So many are turned from even exploring the faith, or chased from faith, because Christians have told them they are bad people... Where is the LOVE?!?... It is one thing to approach someone lovingly because you know of blatant sin that may separate that person from God... It is quiet another to tell them they are going to hell just because they listen to a certain style of music, or whatever... ughhh, I could go on with this soapbox but it frustrates me so much I don't even know where to start.

My other, "pet peeve" of Christians, if you will, is those that have lead perfect, sheltered Christian lives and have no understanding of those that have gone through hell on earth and back... (this behaviour stems, I feel, directly from the place of standing judgement over others)... I was not raised Christian, I do not have Christian parents... I knew about God, I was introduced to Jesus by a very loving neighbour/landlady, but I did not know the Truth... I had faith, but knew nothing, and had to downplay even that...

My life was painful, wrought with molestation, abuse, neglect and rape... but I found comfort, even then, in a God I did not know... But when those that grew up Christian look down at those of us that are "baby" Christians, from their ivory tower and act like they do not have sin because they grew up in Christian homes, with holier than thou parents... when they look down their noses at those of us with less than perfect backgrounds... when they treat us as though we are not quite "as" Christian as they are...

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?"

...then I get frustrated, hurt and yes, sometimes even angry... and if you are not Christian at all, forget it, you are completely hopeless in their eyes... No, I have to agree with Ghandi at times, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” But, I am not perfect...

When I was a seeker
I sought both night and day
And I asked the lord to help me
And he showed me the way

Oh, go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

He made me a watchman, upon the city wall
And if I am a Christian
I am the least of all

Is there a time when you felt judged by a Christian? Or that you weren't as "real" a Christian because of your past? Or has there been a time when you were embarrassed to admit you are Christian... not because you wanted to deny Christ, but because of the way other Christians behaved?

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,..."

"... for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
~Matthew 6:34

So I've been browsing around the blogging world, it's alot of fun, finding new Blogs to read, learning about people, and their passions. I kinda collect Blogs and enjoy reading those of my friends the most. Yesterday, I came across Ryan Detzel's blogger "this is reverb...". Now I don't know Ryan at all aside from being a brother in Christ, but found that I really enjoyed reading his stuff... it wasn't anything significant that I can pinpoint that attracted me other than his obvious love for God & his lovely family, his zest for life and his sense of humour... funny guy :D! Gotta love, Me First and the Gimme Gimme's... lol. Ryan's writing is excellent and interesting... but his teaching? Wow!

Now I really know how I ended up on his blog, I was lead there by God, because God wanted me to hear what He was talking to Ryan about. All I can say again is, "WOW"! God's timing never ever ceases to amaze me... The message Ryan linked to from today's post was the most significant message I've heard for a long time for me personally and I so seriously needed to hear it. I needed a reminder, and I needed that reminder right now... today. That I am a Princess in the Kingdom, daughter of God, loved by Christ, my King. Take a moment now, or when you're done reading to listen for yourself this life changing lesson.


I have been living in a spirit of poverty, believing that I am insignificant, that I don't really have any value, that I am not good enough; not good enough for my family, for friends, my life partner or for God. God made us in His image - in order that we may love Him. Yet we don't like ourselves very much, sabotaging relationships with ourselves, those close to us and with God, becoming what we believe ourselves to be (self-fulfilling prophecy). Until we can love ourselves as God does, we cannot properly and unconditionally love others or God.


I am going to join Ryan, I'm "giving it up"... giving up focusing on my downfalls; "taking off the spirit of poverty, taking off the spirit of scarcity, taking off the spirit of not being good enough". He who knows the number of hairs on my head**, loves me, chose me, a daughter of God, descendant of Abraham. I will still come up short, I am not perfect, but my true identity, the ultimate truth, is proclaimed by the most High King, I am His Princess in the Royal Kingdom of Heaven. Who am I to disagree with my maker, my Saviour, the God of the Universe, Creator of all? How can I tell Him, "you're not right about me"?

I am going to set my worries aside; for if God feeds the birds in the air, if He clothes the field's in lilies, then what more can and will He do for me? He knows my needs and the desires of my heart, He will be and has been, there for me, moulding and creating me for His purpose; His fingerprints there to remind me He's not done with me, that I am a work in progress...

"Fashioned by God's hand
And perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what hes been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living breathing priceless work of art"
~ Steven Curtis Chapman

Take time to see yourself through the eyes of God... God don't make junk! You are a masterpiece, made in His image, "covered with the fingerprints of God."

*Matthew 6: 25 - 34
**Matthew 10: 24 -31
listen to Ryan here -- and to think this is only part 1... can't wait for part 2 :D
find the book Ryan mentions here -- "The Supernatural Ways of Royalty: How Living Supernaturally Will Take You from the Prison to the Palace"