March 16 "Who Do We Judge"

OPENING PRAYER. . .Loving God, Creator of all that is, here I am--today in this place that you have given me, with all the senses you have given me. Help me to use them to experience you on a deeper level. May I experience you all around me, open me to know more of your ways and know that your goodness surrounds me. Thank you for this time to be with you and to just listen. Amen

CONSIDER. . . “Do not judge, or you too 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." (Matthew 7:1-5)

SO WHAT. . . A simple message on this Sabbath Day. Please don't discount it because it is short and simple. Read it and ponder who it is in your life that you judge or make assumptions about.  Is it the co-worker in the next cubicle? Is it your neighbor?  Is it the person who cuts ahead of you at Wal-Mart?

Can this Lenten season be about opening your eyes and hearts to the ones that God puts into your life?  Can it be about those who God is calling you to lift, to restore and to heal?  Today think about those in your life who know it or not, need you to lift them up after they have fallen, who need you to restore there brokenness, who need you to heal their hurts.

PRAYER. . . Dear God, on this day help me to suspend judgment and to not struggle to be in charge of who needs help or not. Guide me to those who I may lift up. Help me to restore broken lives in my midst and help me to be the voice of healing in this hurting world. Help me to be more like you. Amen