What if...

What if... What if we all loved as Jesus did? What if we saw everyone as Jesus sees them? Laying down our self righteous judgements, pre conceived notions and religious "rules"... And merely saw people through the eyes of Christ? I mean, really.. Who are WE to judge anyone? Who are WE to point out someone else's "sin"... When we have "sins" of our own? Just because in "our" eyes their "sin" is bigger and worse than ours.. Who are we to judge? When did we become so self righteous that we can look past our own sins, mistakes, short comings and failures... But can't look beyond those of our neighbor.. When were we given the title of Judge and Jury? Why do we put sins in categories and give everyone a label according to their sin... When we have probably done worse but we choose to ignore our own to make others look worse than us.. In return making us feel better about our own "sin"..

The Jesus I know and love dwelt among the "sinners".. He loved them (he loves me, a sinner) and never talked down to them making them feel unworthy.. Even though we all are.. Unworthy. He was the ultimate example of Love.

There is a phrase that I've heard numerous times in church and I have even used it myself.. Hate the sin but love the sinner... Here recently this phrase has been bothering me. When we use this, we are making ourselves sound so self righteous.. Like we are without sins of our own... To be honest.. We are like filthy rags compared to Christ. Sin is sin... We all sin have sinned and will sin.. The good news is we have a Father who loves us unconditionally, regardless of our sins, mistakes, short comings and failures. When we say that phrase we are actually stating (in my opinion) that WE are without sin and that those that sin differently than us are scum. When we get to a place that we are without sin of our own.... THEN we can use that phrase and not sound self righteous.. Good luck getting there because as long as we are living on this earth... We are gonna be sinners.

8 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

11 “No, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
John 8:1-20

A Letter To My Daughters...

Dear Babies,

When the time comes for you to choose a man to marry, I pray you find a man like your Father.

You see, your daddy is a great man, a man whom I admire greatly.. A man of great integrity, wisdom, courage and strength.

I watch this man, my husband, whom you call daddy, tirelessly work day in and day out to provide us with the best life possible, all the while never asking for anything in return.

He never complains about our many shopping trips (the ones he knows about anyways), our exciting mostly crazy adventures (which usually end up with him bailing us out of some sort of a mess) or our lovely monthly sometimes daily mood swings (which is when he leaves to go to the deer lease).

I sit back and silently watch this man, your daddy, put his heart and soul into everything he does and pour himself into those around him... Family or not, he shows no favoritism.  His heart is pure and his actions show proof.  Just watch him with our dog Fergie... Before leaving the house or going to bed he must make sure that the TV is on and on something that she would enjoy... He usually ends up choosing Animal Planet because.. Well.. "She loves to watch other animals!"

He is a God fearing, God loving man and he lives his life accordingly. He is a true example of what Christ designed a husband and father to be.

"Love never gives up."
    He never gives up.. Quitting or throwing in the towel is not in his vocabulary.. It's just not an option.

"Love cares more for others than for self."
    He proves this daily... He would go without to make sure we were provided for.

"Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have."
    He would rather work to get it

"Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
    He is the total opposite.. He puts everyone before himself.. Family or not. He never brags, never boasts but instead lifts others up.

"Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel"
    He is the most patient, kind hearted man I know. He easily forgets wrongs and hurts done to him (something I wish I could do) and never gives them another thought.. He literally "turns the other cheek". I admire that about him.

"Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end."

   Girls, these last few words describe my husband, your father the best. He is truthful and full of integrity. He continues to make God the head of our household and the head of our lives. He always looks for the positive in everything and everyone... He does not see the bad in others (this trait sometimes drives me insane) and always forgives, forgets and moves forward.  He never gives up.

In closing, I pray that you girls will find a man half as amazing as your father. I pray you find a man who loves God and others more than he loves himself and a man who can put up with someone like me.... Because we all know, you girls are a clone of me!

I pray that you adore this man as much as I adore your father and that your love for each other radiates through you both for others to see. I pray that when you or he messes up (because I promise you, you will) that you forgive each other quickly and move on, never looking back. Keep your heart, soul, spirit & mind focused solely on God and make Him the center of your life.

I love you girls and I pray you let God direct you to the perfect man when the time comes. Merry Christmas 2013 babies...

Love Your Momma