Friday, July 29, 2011

Food for Thought Friday: Are You Judgemental?

Sometimes my friends & family ask  me ..."Was that last blog post directed towards me?"  Ha ha! That is only funny to me because that can't be any further from the truth. I write my Food for Thought Friday posts for ME, ME, & ME!!  It's usually things I struggle with, or things the Lord has been dealing with me about and revealing to me. I have realized over the past year how much being judgemental truly pushes away non-believers. I'd say it's probably one of the biggest factors that turns people away from Christianity, along with hypocrisy. We live in judgemental times. Everyone is comparing him or herself with others, categorizing sin, and judging others for their sins and choices, rather than focusing on our own life and walk. It is human nature to judge, and that's why God addresses it for us in His Word. He tells us in Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:37 says "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."  I know that I fall short way too often myself to worry about what others are doing wrong. The rest of that verse in Matthew says "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..." (Matthew 7:3-6)

Can you imagine if we all just focused on ourselves?? If people didn't have to be concerned with people judging them and could worry about the only One who will actually place any judgement on us? 2 Corinthians 5:10 says "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

My prayer is that people, especially believers, can stop being so judgmental. Starting with ME.

Check out these other Scriptures about judging others....
"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?" ~Romans 2:1-3


"Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?" ~James 4:11-12



"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."~ Ephesians 4:29



"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." ~Matthew 7:5


"There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?" ~James 4:12 

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Knee Deep in the Water Somewhere

Last year we started our tradition of going to the beach with our dear friends, the Hall's! They also happen to have three lovely children, and are smart enough to bring two fabulous babysitters.  We headed back to the same condo as last year in PCB, FL. We left on a Sunday after church, ate some Arby's and filled up with gas, and were on our way! We had to stop quite a few times on the way down. I'd like to blame it on the babies, but the truth is me & Chels both have to potty a lot. :) We finally made it to our condo around 9 and unloaded the cars. Brian, Chels, Jon & I all headed to the good ole WH to eat dinner & then to Wal-Mart to stock up on breakfast, lunch, snacks, water, and ice cream for the week. We love establishing traditions.

We enjoyed our week full of laughs & memories.  We shopped, ate some delicious seafood, relaxed, worked out, & I trained for the marathon. Apparently running at sea level is much easier (duh!) so I wasn't really doing as awesome as I thought I was! Ha!! 

I really think the best way to represent our trip is through pictures, so check out our second annual beach trip with the Hall family!!
Meet the crew:
Brian, Chels, & Brock
 The fabulous babysitters- Abbey & Caitlin
 The twins....Coop & Andi
 And the newlyweds, who aren't really "new" anymore, but still totally living the dream!
I love her sweet little bathing suit....
 Look at these little smiles!!
 Hello, gorgeous!!
 Abbey being goofy.
 Caitlin gettin' her tan on.
 No wonder she can do so many pullups!!
Thanks, Gigi, for the boogy boards!!
 Big Jon played with the babies NONSTOP. Think he's ready?? ;)
  We laid out & read while the boys played in the pool with the kiddos. Ha!
Cool pose, Jon!
Um, I wanna look like Chelsea when I grow up! 3 babies later and she still has this rockin' bod!!
 Sweet.
 I LOVE this pic!
 Jumpin' in like mom....
Dinner!
 The Hall's....hahhaha!!
Our balcony view. Don't the clouds look 3D?? 
  My other fave. We have one from last year too. Brock & JonDean are BFF. It's so sweet and makes me excited for him to be a daddy.
 Brock's new face when I take his pic...hhaa!
 Cooper's serious look.
 So sweet....till I realized I had pee all over my hip! Good practice, right?
 Toilet paper thieves....
 Mission accomplished!
Haha, lovin' the arms crossed....(yes, intentional)
 Who even knows.
My FAVORITE restaurant!!!!!
 Brian is all into the African accessories after his mission trip!
 But Chels prefers normal fashion statements, like this hat.  
 I don't have a pic cuz Jon just hit me in the head with an African rainstick!!
Sweet mom & son pic.
 Wouldn't come on the beach during the photo shoot.....didn't want his feet to get sandy. 
 We are so thankful for precious friends!! We love serving in the ministry with them and are so thankful for their family and friendship!
And here's our song for the trip....
 
Ready to go back!! Next year is gonna ROCK!