In his book The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren states, “When we criticize what another believer is doing in faith and from sincere conviction, we are interfering with God’s business.”

That statement prompted this essay.

Actually, it was more than that one statement. In his comment, Mr. Warren put into words what I’ve felt for years.

I’ve heard professing Christians judge and criticize other believers for so long that at times, I’ve no desire to be around them. If having a haughty, judgmental, critical attitude toward another for their beliefs or ways of worship is mandatory for being a Christian, then I want no part of it.

But that’s not how it’s supposed to be!

In Matthew 12:25, Jesus said, “every Kingdom divided will fall.” 

The apostle Paul said in Romans 14:10, “why then, criticize your brother’s actions and make him look small?” 

In one of her messages, Minister Joyce Meyer said, “hurling words of judgment is equivalent to stoning in biblical days.”

The Bible says that blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is the one sin that will not be forgiven. Now, I believe that if it’s done in ignorance, God will understand and forgive once understanding comes and repentance is articulated. However, if it’s done maliciously, as a way to puff up yourself or put another believer down, I believe it’s blaspheme at its worst. 

Keeping these things in mind, I’ve created my own motto for dealing with critical, judgmental people; “Don’t mock what you don’t understand and Judge not lest ye be judged.”

Who are we to point at another Christian and say what he or she is doing in worship is not of God? Who are we to judge and criticize another for dancing before the Lord, speaking in tongues or saying a rosary?

I don’t remember who it was, but it’s been said that if the Body of Christ would accept our differences and embrace our similarities, there would be no stopping us! Everyone would be amazed at the power the Church would have for reaching the lost, healing the sick and casting out demons. To do this, we must come to realize that no matter what denomination we are, Christianity is based on five core beliefs:

There is One God, who is the Father Almighty. 
Jesus is the Son of God. 
By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man. 
He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered, died and was buried. 
On the third day, He rose again and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 

Period. 

Now there are other universal truths that bind us together, such as: There is one Name only by which we are saved. We are not saved by works, but by Grace, etc. 

Jesus hates division! Which is why He gave us the “new” commandment to love one another as He has loved us. Love without prejudice, without judgment or criticism.  Judge not and we will not be judged, condemn not and we will not be condemned.

Nor will we be divided.

Faith is a heart issue. How are we going to be one Body if we’re not of one heart? Why do we allow division in our hearts, in our homes and in our churches? Why do we condemn those who worship Him in ways not our own? 

In John 17:21 Jesus prayed for us to the Father saying, “that they all may be one, as You, Father are in Me and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe.”

How is the world going to accept Jesus and accept us as His ambassadors if we can’t even accept each other?

We are called to be peacemakers. So, let us temper our hearts, open our minds and soften our wills toward our brethren. Let us respect our differences but celebrate our similarities. Let’s consider the words of our Lord and realize that no matter how we worship, in the heart of our worship we are one. One Body, one Spirit, one Church. As Jesus prayed we’d be.

Something to think about!
PamT
"Inspirational with an Edge! ™
"Coaching in Pjs" ™

I know, I know, it's not Thanksgiving. But shouldn't it be?

Why do we take one day out of the year to give thanks, when gratitude should be a lifestyle?

But that's not what this article is about.

Or is it?

You may wonder at the title as much as the photo attached to this message, but I'm here to share my thoughts on GIVING with you. 

Luke 6:38 exhorts us to, "give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down and shaken together."

Most people look at this scripture in terms of money, but what if we look at other aspects of our life and see how much more we can give. Or, better yet, what we can give besides money.
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We're also taught through scripture that we reap what we sow.  

So let's think about this...

Sow (give) love, you'll reap love. Give grace, you'll receive grace in abundance. Sow peace and you'll live a more peaceful life. Offer forgiveness... We all know what Jesus said about that. 

Am I saying you'll never have a bad day or unhappy circumstance?

Not at all.

What I AM saying is that by consciously giving of yourself--Your time, your energy, your blessings, your attention and yes, your money-- You are setting yourself up for a beautiful harvest and a blessed and abundant life. JMHO!

Something to think about!
PamT
“Inspirational with an Edge!” ™
"Coaching in Pj's" ™

As I sit here and ponder what to share with you today, I am reminded of the old adage, “Life is what you make it.”

If you are a firm believer in the Law of Attraction, then this statement is true in a very literal sense. (Uh, oh, many of you tuned out with the mention of LOA – thinking I’m going off on a new age, mumbo jumbo tangent, but bear with me LOL!)

The Law of Attraction states that what you focus on, you attract into your life. Not necessarily the same thing, but similar situations and circumstances that keep you trapped in that cycle of living - whether good or bad.


​The Bible says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, therefore he is.”

Given these two examples, could there be some truth in that old adage? Can we really make life be what we want it to be, what we wish to experience?

“If these statements are true,” you may wonder, “then why is my life such a mess?”

After all, you didn’t ask to be born into the family you have, or don’t have. You didn’t ask for the layoff or divorce, illness or death that knocked you down, rocked your world, and trampled your faith into the dirt.

We all know those folks who are living examples of the old Hee Haw song about gloom, despair, and misery but what makes them different from others who have suffered a similar (or worse) fate?

Why is it that some can wallow in the negativity of their life for years while others simply deal with it, let it go and move on? Now I’m not saying that those who have the ability to move on don’t suffer. Far from the truth that is!

What I am saying is that they choose a different path–a way of thinking and behaving that brings peace and joy into their lives despite the circumstances.

If you talk to many people you’ll begin to realize one of the things that separate the winners from the whiners is the words of their mouth and meditation of their heart (mind).

In other words, their stinkin’ thinkin’.

Here’s a clue: If you want to change your life, you must change your thoughts and then change your words!

Even the bible backs this up with scriptures like… “I put before you life and death, therefore choose life,” and “the power of life and death are in the tongue, and he that indulgeth in it shall eat the fruit thereof,” oh and let’s not forget “you reap what you sow.”

Jesus said that it is not what goes into a man’s mouth that defiles him, but what comes out of it.

We’ve all heard the saying, “you can’t live a positive life with a negative attitude” and that is so true! If whatever “it” is that happened to make you so miserable transpired years ago – Get Over It Already!

Now I know that sounds harsh but be honest….Do YOU like being around a dark, nasty cloud all the time?

I know I don’t. No matter how much I love or care for someone, after a while it gets old hearing the same old poor, pitiful me stories.

We all have experiences in our lives that are far from blissful. Sometimes I look back and wonder how I ever made it through some of the circumstances that threatened to get and keep me down. I’m not better than the next person, so I guess what makes me different is that I chose to rise above those things, to think and speak victory over my life instead of wallow in a victim mentality.

Here’s the good news…You Can Too!
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Something to think about…..
Inspirational with an Edge! ™

*Originally published as Pamela's Ponderings © July 2017

In Matthew 7:14, Jesus said, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

I wonder what He meant by this statement?

Ask most preachers or Christians and they’ll probably tell you that if you don’t follow the letter of the law, you’re missing the mark and sinning and just might end up in the place of “wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

I’m not sure that is what He meant though.

Jesus came to fulfill the law and in doing so, left us with only two commandments….

Well three….

#1: Love the Lord God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength (Mark 12:29 -30)

#2: Love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31)

#3: “That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34 & 15:12)

He also exhorted us in Luke 6:37, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”

If our only instruction from the Lord was to LOVE, to forgive and to judge not – why is it that most attempts outside of traditional Christian thought and doctrine are judged and condemned as heretical?

You may wonder where I’m going with this…just bear with me.

I have some very dear friends who are stout believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. So stout they will not entertain any concept beyond that taught by their pastor and his/her (or even their own) interpretation of scripture. They won't listen to anyone else, read books by anyone else and heaven forbid anything that is not 100% word-for-word in the bible! This they discount or shun and then judge people who dare to question or search.

Is this an example of the narrow way or a narrow mind?

I have other friends who love God and Jesus with all of their heart, soul, mind, body, and strength, but have never set foot in a church and have not read the bible. Are they wrong in their interpretation of God and who He is? Are they less a “Christian” because they are more open to the SPIRIT of God than the doctrines of men?

Scripture was given to us for among other things, instruction (see 2 Timothy 3:16). Ask thirty preachers to read the same scripture and I promise, you’ll get at least twenty different answers.

How then, are we to know the right one? Why is it that we are so sure ours is not only the right way but the only way to God? To Jesus?

Now I believe whole-heartedly in the Lord Jesus Christ. HE is my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer, the lover of my soul and I respect His sacrifice as ransom for my life, and never, in all of my reading and searching do I deny HIM as such. But I believe God is so much more than any book (including the bible) can explain, clarify, illuminate, describe, or express.

As I mentioned in About This Blog, I have been on a spiritual journey since I recommitted my life to Christ in 1989. I read voraciously and I commune with Him daily through prayer and meditation, not only speaking to Him but listening for His voice and instruction. Do I always get it right?

Not at all!

But He and He alone knows my heart and how very much I love and adore Him.

In John 17:11 & 22, Jesus prayed that we would be one as He and the Father are one. 

How can we accomplish this?

One way might be by opening our hearts and minds to a fresh anointing and interpretation of Scripture, by seeking above all things LOVE, peace, and joy, by sharing those things with our brothers and sisters and by allowing people to seek HIM in their own way.
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JMHO
Something to think about…
 PamT