Give Me a Sign

I've been having lots of conversations with God lately regarding this upcoming move. I spent a lot of time asking how things were going to happen. He gently told me to wait. One morning I asked Him to show me if that still small voice was from Him. During my devotion that same morning, I read, "Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for Him," Psalm 37:7a. I was all caught up in praising and thanking Him for confirming and He said, "Now, trust." I said, "Whoa...really? I got that wait part loud and clear. Do we really need to take this a step farther?" I knew the answer. I've spent several weeks thinking about what it means to truly trust God, but I've also continued to whine about how things have gone in the past and how I really have no desire to walk that road one more time. I guess He had enough of using that still small voice and listening to me whine about the way things have happened, because this morning He gave our pastor a full blown sermon accompanied by the words on the big screen. I really wanted to ask the pastor if he had been eavesdropping on my prayers. LOL! Our pastor ended his sermon with these words, "We can have a whining party or we can walk in faith." Message received.

What Love Looks Like

In our Sunday School class, we have been talking about judging other people.  I have a strong personal sense of right and wrong, and I think everyone on the planet should live their lives according to the Gospel of Jody.  However, I am trying to get a handle on that because I easily slap on my J badge and judge the world.

We immediately make observations when we see people...man, woman, poor, well-dressed, homeless, old, young, black, white, Asian, and the list goes on and on.  We make these observations without even thinking about it.  Where the problem arises is what we do with our thoughts next.  Do we linger on what we think the person should be doing...That person should get a job. Those pants are too tight.  Is she really wearing her pajamas in public? That person could do without eating that donut and pick up some carrot sticks.

There is a fine line between making an observation or practicing discernment and crossing the line to passing judgement.  God gives us wisdom and we should use that.  I often see people near a local shopping area holding a cardboard sign that either says, "Homeless," or "Please Help."  I can't help but notice the person standing there.  It is an automatic observation.  By the person's own admission, he is homeless.  The minute I allow my mind to go to, "Why isn't he out looking for a job, instead of spending time holding that sign?" or "I don't want that riff-raff hanging out on my side of town," I've crossed the line from observing to judging.  I know we all wonder if the person is really homeless or just out to scam people.  This is where we practice discernment.  If you feel that God is telling you to give to that person, then reach in your wallet and give or grab that ready-to-go bag of goodies that is popular right now and pass it out the window.  Don't allow yourself to worry about whether or not that person is going to use the money wisely.  Your job is to be obedient to what God tells you to do.  Maybe you don't feel like God is telling you to help, so gone about your business.

But how do we keep go from making an involuntary observation and crossing the line to passing judgment?  We need to know that it is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict and God's job to judge.  Unless you fall into one of those two categories, it's not your job.  As Christians, we are called to love.  We have to train our minds to go from making an observation to thinking, "How can I love that person?"