Monday April 10 2017  EACH MIND, HIS OWN

Who can know the mind of another?  No one except God, who is all Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent, knows the thoughts of another.  Personally I know no one who is an accurate mind-reader.  Some people are more open and “speak their mind” more often than others.  But even then, do you really know and understand what takes place in another’s thoughts?

My answer to the above question would be a resounding “NO”.  Dave and I have been married for 44 years in June.  Do our thoughts in certain situations align occasionally?  Yes, that happens, but I can never become too comfortable believing that he always interprets what I say to align with what I mean, and vice versa.  We each think differently, comprehend differently, and interpret from our own experience and knowledge.  

If the people I know and love and have lived with for years do not know my thoughts, then how can I expect an outsider looking in to know what is going on in my heart and mind?  When we meet someone we don’t know we immediately form our own thoughts about them; how they look, what are their characteristics, how they present themselves, what is their age bracket, why do they have a scowl on their face, why do they talk so much, etc…And when we spend time getting to know them we often discover that our first assumptions and “judgments” take on a different slant.

What I have learned over the years is that I truly can’t judge a book by its cover.  Sometimes what we see is just a surprise package for what lies between the pages.  And those pages of people are called life.  Experiences, both positive and negative affect each individual in different ways.  Thus, we each respond differently as far as what impact the outcome of like circumstances will be manifested in the way we think.

I have also learned, sometimes many times over, not to judge others.  At least I try to not make judgments about another and do a pretty good job of it until it happens again.  Then, when I know the reasons and truth behind the circumstances I am again chagrined at my narrow, judgmental attitude.  And so I ask for forgiveness for that judgmental attitude.  And God forgives me and I learn something from each of my blunders. 

As the old saying goes, “Unless we walk in another’s shoes we do not know what they are going through”.  So I choose, once again, to not criticize.  Instead I choose to ask if there is anything I can do to help their situation.  However, sometimes I blow it by jumping in too fast with remedies, and suggestions, on how to do it differently.  And most times that is not what is needed.  I have found that what is sometimes needed more is for another to know that someone else cares, is listening, and perhaps doesn’t have all the answers either.  At times we must simply stand back, and allow others to make their own mistakes and learn from their own consequences. 

Living and learning; that is my best teacher.  I am so clueless of so many things and sometimes speak (or write) what might best be left unsaid.  I just want everyone to know that I’m working on that “failing”.  Am I there yet?  Definitely not!  Will I ever arrive at that level of maturity?  Only God knows.  It is never my intention to write or say anything that is hurtful.  I speak with good intentions in my heart.  I bare my soul (as others have informed me), and sometimes it comes back to haunt me.  Daily I learn.  The words of a song from my childhood years have come back to remind me: “Be careful little mouth what you say, Be careful little mouth what you say, There’s a Father up above looking down with tender love, be careful little mouth what you say.”  And so I’m trying.  The power of words is sometimes stronger than I intend it to be! 

Yes, we each have a mind of our own.  And that is our biggest problem.  Once we have given our heart to the Lord we are then instructed to have the mind of Christ.  As we walk with the Lord He renews our mind and it is continually renewed.  Our mind then belongs to God.

Romans 12:1-2

“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-which is your spiritual worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

 

TO CONGREGATE AT HIS THRONE

Kathleen Martens

April 10, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

 

I am so content

That God is the Judge

And that deep in my heart

I need carry no grudge.

 

I need not be judgmental

Against my fellow man,

But look only inward

And do the best I can.

 

And I need not flounder

On this journey I tread

Because I have a manual

Which daily is read.

 

God loves EVERY ONE

And all He’s created!

And when we eat at His table

We are more than sated.

 

He offers peace and joy

And changes hearts of stone

So all can be transformed

To congregate at His throne.

 

Matthew 7:1-5

“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 7:7-8

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

 

My prayer for today:

Lord, thank You for Your ever present Spirit within me.  Thank You for opening my eyes to so many things.  Lord, I pray that You would remove from my heart any judgmental thoughts I have toward another. Teach me to see others through Your eyes.  Forgive me of all judgmental thoughts and cleanse my heart and mind from such thinking. 

Thank You God that it is You, the Creator of the universe, WHO IS THE ONE AND ONLY JUDGE OF ALL MANKIND.

Thank You Lord that when I ask, I receive.  Thank You Lord that when I seek I will find.  And especially thank You that when I knock You always open Your door and allow me to come into Your presence.  Thank You for Your forgiveness.

GOD BLESS YOU ON THIS GLORIOUS SPRING DAY!

 

P.S. The following thought was sent to me yesterday and I thought it worth passing on.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

“Today recall some of the people who have profoundly influenced your life.”  Helen Steiner Rice.

And I add my own thought to Helen Steiner Rice’s statement:

“If you still have contact with the people who profoundly influenced your life for the positive why not write a little note to them and let them know how much you cherish the positive input that their life had on yours.”  Kathleen Martens