I've decided to blog daily about my devotional and to share it and my thoughts and experiences with you all. It should be a real adventure especially trying to find time on the weekends to do this! Enjoy the Ride!
Scripture: John 7:24 - Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgement.
Devotional: The devotional talks about having her kids watch Susan Boyle's first appearance on Britian's Got Talent. "A frumpy, small-town, middle-aged woman takes the stage. Her hair is graying and frizzy and she's wearing a lumpy housedress with bad shoes..." This sets the stage. She says she wants to be a famous singer.
Picture what Susan looks like based on the above description. What goes through your mind? I can tell you that in mine, (without knowing how great she is)I thought she was aiming high. She should go home and clean house. What do you think?
Now, hear this! "It's as if an angel overtakes her, and the heavens spill out of her mouth. Her voice is sublime, rich, and resonant and perfect." Imagine the surprise of the judges and the whole audience as she sings beautifully! Does your initial judgement match the outcome? Mine didn't. I thought after watching the video..."I bet she sings Amazing Grace beautifully and I'd like to try and find it online!"
"Amazing talens lurk in the most unlikely packaging." How many times have you been wrong judged by others? I've been judged much of my life and it's has taken a hard toll on me. I mean, growing up in a small town being pudgy with red hair, freckles, and a gape in your front teeth wasn't exactly easy. I was teased by my brother, friends, and classmates daily...sorta like Dumbo.
Being teased throughout much of my life has made me tough (last blog was Bloody Bess Flint) and a fighter. I can remember wanting to fit in with the others, but knowing that I was different. I would never look classy like them or be popular like them. At least that is what I thought...I had low self-esteem on the inside, but portrayed a huge since of confidence on the outside.
As I got older and learned more about God and his relationship with me, I realized that I had a lot to offer and that God didn't want me to be like everyone else. He made me different for a reason. For those who know me today, you know I have talent and it tends to be on the artsy fartsy side I would say. I'm creative, funny, intelligent, and quick-witted.
One would think that as someone who was judged daily, I would know not to judge. But judging others gives us justification and makes us feel important in our own sphere. We've all judged. The first time this was thrown in my face was on my last trip to Glorietta, New Mexico. It was the first time our group had participated in CenterFuge and it was a crazy great blast! There was college preacher for us and he discussed how we needed to befriend "Mingo". He talked aboug judging others and how looking at Mingo you'd want to run the other way. It wouldn't be cool to be his friend. It wouldn't look good to your friends and what could he possibly offer that your current friends didn't already offer? Then he paused for a few minutes and asked us again to picture Mingo - that kid that no one likes...wears funny clothes, has a lop-sided smile, thick glasses perhaps, a knitted sweater...whatever you picture as "untouchable". He asked us, "What could Mingo offer you, that your other friends did not currently offer?" Several answered "Nothing". Then he said, "How can you know, if you don't get to know Mingo?"
It's really amazing to think about everything you can miss if you don't take a chance. Many people don't want to befriend Mingo because they know they will be judged. Funny, we jugde, but don't want to be judged! Don't fear though! God does not judge us by our looks! Could you image only being admitted to heaven if you met God's judgement gaze...would any of us be good enough then? Think on this verse for the day as well: 1 Samuel 16:7 - But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
You may see the debut of Susan Boyle on Britian's Got Talent via YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk - Be warned, this brought tears to my eyes...
Good luck not judging today!
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