“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.” Matthew 7:1-2 NIV

I just skimmed, instead of diving into Mathew 7, because I already know I shouldn’t judge. But wait…what good is reading the Word if you don’t constantly apply it to your life? Pastor Shannon spoke on that yesterday and it’s true! So, I just read verses one and two several times and I see some things in my heart. I am struggling to let go of a past hurt. Until now I didn’t realize I was holding onto it! Why am I doing this? Am I holding on in judgement of them, to declare someone did wrong? What would an objective reporter say? Bear with my imagination…

If there was a reporter in my heart, they would report something like this…” We have a quick-developing situation here that needs monitoring. It appears Tina is leaning toward pronouncing judgement on others who hurt her. Will she follow through with her heart’s desire to punish them by holding on to the wrongdoing or will she turn it over to God, trusting Him to make it right? Let’s have a word from her sponsor, Jesus…”

I do not mean to make light of our decisions, but I do want to highlight the fact that I/we act the way we do because I/we want to please ourselves or please God. It really is that simple. Forgetting social media and following other humans, we follow someone supernatural, either the enemy or or the Savior. I personally want to right my own wrongs when I get hurt, but that would require me judging someone to be guilty first, as a reason for holding a grudge. So where do I go from here?

I will start forgiving and stop judging. I am no judge because I am not perfect. Only a perfect God can judge. Because I want to please the judge, I will do this. So…this is a most personal post but I hope you can relate to the struggle. Often, well-read verses are skimmed over, because we think we have learned the lesson already… but they are Jesus’ words! They are meant to constantly keep us humble and transparent as we are still in training until we meet Him in the sky:)

With love from the Father to you and absolutely no judgement,

Christina

How about a poem this morning? Happy Saturday! Love to all!

All that’s good comes from my Father.
Ev’ry prayer His ears have heard.
As parents love their little ones,
I am my Father’s little bird.

When life hurts and I’m complaining,
Focusing on what’s occurred,
Then I remember, I forgot,
I am my Father’s little bird.

I choose you Lord, so I won’t stress,
because you love me with Your word.
When I am hungry, You provide.
I am my Father’s little bird.

©Christina Crute, 2021

With love from the Father to you,

Christina

Individually, we like things in abundance. Collectively, as a nation, we like things in abundance. Interpersonally, what we need is love in abundance. This is a song and declaration to the Lord to love others abundantly.

Count Me In

Where there’s hunger or there’s hurting, count me in.
Let me be the one to help the hurting end.
When there’s need, let me go.
Let me be the one to walk the way you show.
All my things are not my own.
They’re to help where there is none.
Where there’s hungry or there’s hurting, count me in.

Where there’s loneliness or loss, count me in.
Let me be the one to be another’s friend.
Giving up my time for me,
Grant me visions of how lonely one can be.
All my time is yours to own.
It’s to help where there is none.
Where there’s loneliness or loss, count me in.

Where there’s illness or a trial, count me in.
Let me be the one to help another mend.
Help me serve a meal or two,
Loving others like I know that you would do.
My food is not my own.
It’s to help where there is none.
Where there’s illness or a trial, count me in.

Where there’s anyone needing love, count me in.
Let me be the one to ease their suffering.
Make my heart a tender tool,
and use it to obey the Bible’s rule.
My life is not my own.
But Yours to use until I’m gone.
Where there’s someone needing help, count me In.

©Christina Crute, 2021

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

With love from Our Father to you, have a great Wednesday!

Christina

 “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” “I do not receive honor from men.” John 5:19, 41

My children, who are now adults, strived so hard in their sports. Back then, there were no participation awards, so it was a huge deal when they earned a trophy or medal. If they did win, it was because they pushed themselves as far as they possibly could, especially in gymnastics. Whether they did as well as they wanted or had a tough meet, I always reminded them, “Hard work pays off.” Even today, if they call me about a struggle, I can say “Hard work” and they will answer, “Pays off.” Have you ever gotten an award or recognition for your hard work? Doing all the work to get that honor, didn’t it mean so much?

Jesus strived too; He wanted to do something no one else had ever done, something that He could only do with God. He had to push Himself as far as He possibly could. He kept His eyes on the prize, which was not for Him. Yes, that’s right! His hard work on the cross was not even for Him! It was for us. He wanted no recognition either, but glory to God. Jesus did what is often hard for us to do, He deferred all earned glory to His Father.

May we glorify all that God has done through Jesus, and may we always strive to glorify Him more than ourselves,

Christina

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1

No matter how our emotions change, on any particular day according to our circumstances, I am so glad that God never changes. He is holy, unchangeable and loving. I re-discovered and appreciated that yesterday. Feeling the effects of a Covid vaccine in my body, I was in a bad mood, not wanting to be slowed down by a temperature and dizziness. I had so much I wanted to do that it was hard to sit still but I had to because my head was spinning. All my emotions revolved around being irritated that I was wasting a day. I felt bad about my attitude but I could not shake it. Eventually, I prayed about how I felt. I felt like an unhappy child.

Just like a child will come to the end of themselves before asking for help, I did that. I did all I could do to comfort myself and THEN I turned to God. He showed me that He was there the whole time I was wallowing in pity, waiting for me to ask for His help. He reminded me, like a parent, that I can come to Him for, what seems to me to be the silliest of reasons. He tells me we are still His children, no matter how old we are. He tells me He has His own reasons for what He allows us to experience, even being sick. I love that He is like this all the time, holy and in control. Unlike us, He never has an unholy moment. He is in perfect control even when we are not, and that’s perfectly okay.

With much love from the Father, and praise to the Father,

Christina

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation.

But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ESV

Do you have a precious Momma that you miss? If not a Momma, do you have someone whose presence you desire when you are going through a hard time? Did they always have the right advice or comfort and make you feel like everything would be okay? Jesus told us we would have difficulties on earth, but it still kind of throws us when it occurs, doesn’t it? We feel like we do not want to be alone in our crisis. We want to be loved in our brokenness.

The Good News? Though we may feel lost, Jesus finds us. Though we feel hurt, the Holy Spirit comforts us. Though we don’t know which way to turn, God is full of light, to show us there is hope in Him. Though we get discouraged, we are never alone. The love and comfort you need, He has. I feel Him saying this to all of us, to me too.

“My child, why are you scared? What makes you that way? It is not me. I do not want you to be afraid or burdened and I will comfort you for as long as you need it. Though you will go through storms in life, you will never go alone. I am here. Do you feel me near? Please try to trust our Father. Please hold onto me in the meantime. I promise I can carry you and I want to. Together we can glorify God. There is no shame in me carrying you. I carried you on the cross, though you didn’t know it. As you carry your own cross, I will help you. I love you.”

This is who He is. This is what He does for us. He does what He said He would do. Praise Him! He is with us and brings us His peace. We will actually see the peace-giver someday!

Have a great day in the Lord,

Christina