Good morning, DearHeart.
If these were normal days, I’d be driving to Texas today to facilitate a weekend women’s retreat. My mom would be in the car with me. And, my BFF from childhood would be waiting there – actually, several of my role models would be there … at a retreat center/campground with neat little cabins on a river. I’m bummed this morning to be here instead of there.
Like we always do, whether we’ve not seen each other in 4 days or 4 years, Nancy Buzbee and Angie Coon would pick up where we left off.
Our theme was, is, will be “Mission Impossible”. Ironic – at the time selected who could’ve known that getting to the retreat would be impossible?
We carry deep our missions impossible, don’t we??
• The one in an affair. Adultry.
• The one who ends a pregnancy. Abortion.
• The one who drinks too much. Alcoholism.
• The one who steals money. Embezzler.
• The one who ends a marriage. Divorce.
• The one who lies on a test. Cheat.
• The one that is left in a broken relationship. Unwanted.
• The one fired from a job. Enemy.
• The one raising a rebellious child. Bad parent.
Do you see what I mean? If we are honest, we all do it, to some degree or another. But what about if we were to remember these words of Jesus:
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” (Matthew 7:1, 2 NLT).
That should stop us dead in our tracks! The same standard we judge with, will be the standard by which we are judged. Whoa! May I walk in grace & mercy towards others. That is the standard by which I want to be judged. The Message puts it this way:
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults-unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.”
I do not think that any of us would sign up to be picked on, jumped on or criticized. Yet that is the same treatment we will receive if we treat others in that manner. Sign up to sow seeds of love, instead.
Even as we are stuck at home, reach out in love.
May we remember that, in Christ, we have been forgiven. Not only that, but He has far removed our sins,
“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12 NLT).
God loves impossible situations. Especially those that we have assigned a label and sewn on our heart. Those ‘impossibles’ are where He does His finest work.
Wake up.
Postponed is not cancelled.
Trust God’s timing for your finest hour.
Go.
