Run to the place you feel judged…

I have found, that everything I’ve ever judged, God has brought back full circle, as a blessing in my life.

From people to places to things..

In my life, I judged the very church that Saved me. I ridiculed the “rocking band”, mocked the casual atmosphere and vowed to “never go there”.

Thank you Jesus for building that tiny little white church across the street from me.

Thank you Jesus for positioning that church and those leaders in the exact place I needed, to catch me when I fell.

Thank you Jesus for the sanctuary of safety that comforted me during a scary and turbulent time in my life.

In my life, I judged the people that later walked me into salvation. I judged them for their “spiritual vocabulary”, appear-ant perfection and I vowed to keep my distance and “never be friends with them”.

Thank you Jesus for positioning those friends that later became a thread in my healing and made up my first Christian community.

Thank you Jesus for the help and support they offered when resources were scarce.

Thank you Jesus for strong Christian women that go ahead of the novices to direct them with wise counsel.

In my life, I judged the very music that I later felt deep in my bones, as the lyrics were thread into my heart. I judged the music for its “cliched phrases”, repetitive words and hymns of praise. I vowed to “never listen to THAT station”.

Thank you Jesus for giving us artists that create music that heals, encourages and inspires.

Thank you Jesus for music that speaks of your living Word and helps me worship even when I am driving down the road.

Thank you Jesus for musicians that are not afraid to go against the world and give us songs that entertain us, while glorifying you.

In my life, I have judged the very area of town that would later become my haven away from the fast paced world. I judged this place for what I perceived to be, a town full of people who “compared” and who “kept up with the Jones”. I judged it for excessive pressures and excessive opportunities. I vowed to “never move there” and resisted it for many years.

Thank you Jesus for a community that loves and accepts me and my family for who we are.

Thank you Jesus for a network of friends who study the Bible together and who challenge me spiritually.

Thank you Jesus for a community that gets on their knees in prayer when anyone is affected by tragedy, whether you know them or not.

Thank you Jesus for a community that outstretches it’s arms and wallets when any family is in need.

In my life, I judged the 4 legged friend that would later become the heart of my home. I judged the “strange gait” and the overall appearance. I vowed to “never own that kind of dog”.

Thank you Jesus for my dog Brita who ties the hearts in my home~ together.

Thank you Jesus for her chestnut eyes, her loyalty and protection and the exceptional pet that she is.

Thank you Jesus for the love and companionship she brings to our lives.

I did not know that I was judging because I was blind and narrow. I limited my options by closing myself off from anything unfamiliar.

When we judge, we are usually uninformed. So… in an effort to shield ourselves from the unknown, we criticize or condemn… we hide away and reject. Ignorance becomes bliss.

But when we allow Jesus to open our hearts and minds, realizing that he is our constant, even when we fear the unknown—we GROW. We open ourselves up to be touched by new experiences, new places, new people and new things. As we grow..we thrive, we give, we live, we receive, we gain, we serve, we love, we forgive and we are Transformed.

In my life, each of these things have had a significant impact on my spiritual growth.

So I’ll say…

run to the things that scare you. Make room in your life to assimilate those unfamiliar things, because when you do, you give God an opportunity to bless you and grow you. He can stretch you beyond the confines that you build around yourself, and then you won’t need shelter from judgment or rejection.

Because when we have HIM, we know we are GOOD.

Do not judge or you to 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. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye’? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.    Mathew 7:1-5