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Written by James M Sandbrook of Tokoroa, New Zealand.
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Since becoming a believer in God and His ways I have learnt a lot about
people, about their trials, and sufferings, and to my great surprise I
found that they had suffered as I had suffered, and that they had many
of the same trials. We all acted differently or some reacted the same.
But the end result for me was that I learnt that people are people and
that I have no right to judge anyone and nobody has the right to judge
me (if they do judge me then I forgive them for that because they know
no better, yet).
God is good... all the time, so let us do the same. Wake up with a smile on our face. Walk the walk of the good. Greet people all the time with a happy smile and bring joy and happiness into peoples lives. This is what God wants of you. This is what the world needs today is you, a smiling happy you! Spread that sunshine. Matthew Chapter 7, verse 1: Judge not, that ye be not judged.
I know better about people now than before. When they suffer, I know what this feels like because I have suffered, I feel for them. When they cry, well I too have cried, I want to dry away their tears, I know what it feels like to feel downtrodden, miserable, and sad - I too have lost people, lost love, feel physical pains, so yes I know what it is like to cry. Even when people get mad at me I know what that is like, because I have lost my temper at people as well. I know what it is like to be on both ends, losing my temper at somebody and somebody losing their temper at me. One of the great joys I have is apologizing for losing my temper (I am slow to anger these days because it is the right thing to do and I am more relaxed about life and people), it is a nice feeling to let go and say "Sorry" - and the feeling afterward is good, sweet. And more often than not the person you say sorry to will admire you and become much more friendlier to you than before when they held hurt from you in their heart - you release that hurt when you give them a heart-felt "Sorry!" I have been through hard times, and realizing that I also realize that people are different than each other and that each one reacts to life in a different way - I may not like the way that they have reacted, or who they may have hurt or what they have done - but that does not give me the right to judge them or cast the first stone. I am very happy to leave the judging to God. But for the Grace of God goes I. We just don't know that if we grew up in that guys home or that woman's home if we would or wouldn't have become the same person reacting to life the same way. Males may look at women and judge them, but if he was born a woman then would he still be judging females the same way - and the females judging the men, what would they be saying if they were born a male! They would not judge the opposite gender because they would have been brought up as that gender and acted as they now judge. It is all complicated but easy to understand once it is thought about. There would be much less judging if there was more understanding of one another. I have no idea what truly has gone through the other person mind throughout their life - nor do I know what they have suffered, what joys have passed their way, what temptations have tortured their blessed souls. For these reasons alone I should not judge. No person can condemn another, because indeed no person truly knows another. Have sympathy for the opposite gender if they fail, if they fall, if they judge or do wrong, just as you were to have sympathy for all people - remember to love thy neighbour. Empathy. There is no gain in judging others, except at your own loss. Who judges others condemns himself. Loving our friends and even loved ones as we love ourselves can be a trial in itself. Especially if we are not getting on well with that person. But we must realize that even if a person lives in the same house as us that person still had different trials, sufferings and temptations than you. An example would be some young person who was badly treated while young, but no the other members of the family were badly treated. The brothers and sisters would view that child as strange as that child grew up together and didn't know of the suffering child's abuse or the full extent of that child's suffering. Maybe all the other members of the family are very confident and out-going and cannot understand while the other is shy and withdrawn. They may judge this person and hurt feelings by doing this - what they need is understanding. Try to show kindness to all, at all times. That is what God wants of you and you know that this is a righteous and good thing to do. We need to understand others and their lives, and if you cannot understand the situation then remember that God does feel sympathy and does not judge the other person because He wants to see that person saved from their pain and suffering and to learn a new life (like Paul in the Bible). Once a person is understood, re-taught life, then that person can be a blessing to the world. What a blessing it is to have a way to live shown to us by God and to abide by it. Instead of judging your brother and sister in the world, stand next to them and guide them. If they refuse your help then pray for that person and hope that one day they will let you help them, and then do as always and be a blessing to all those that know and love you. Those that will let you help them. Do to others as you wish others to do to you! How rarely we weigh our neighbour in the same balance in which we weigh ourselves -Thomas ä Kempis. Romans Chapter 2, verse 1: Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. You will not become a saint through other peoples sins - Anton P Chekhov. Romans Chapter 14, verse 13: Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. A man's judgement of another depends more on the judging and on his
passions than on the one being judged and his
The quotes and verses are to show that both God and people can at times
agree on the wise, humble and good thing to do. And many people look to
the Bible and see that there is some very good and wise advice there to
live by.
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Joy, the Greek word is chara, and the characteristic of this word is
that it most describes that joy
which has a basis in religion, and whose real foundation is God ...
It is not the joy that comes from earthly things or cheap triumphs;
still is it the joy that comes from triumphing over
someone else in rivalry or competition. It is a joy whose basis is
God - Barclay.
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Joy is the affect which comes when we use our powers. Joy, rather than
happiness, is the goal of life,
for joy is the motion which accompanies our fulfilling our natures
as human beings. It is based on the
experience of one's identity as a being of worth and dignity, who is
able to affirm his being,
if need be, against... all other beings and the whole organic world
- Rollo May.
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"Often we set out to make a difference in the lives of others only
to discover we have made a difference in our own."--Ellie Braun-Haley
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Improvement begins with “I.”
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Tomorrow you have the choice of rolling out of bed complaining of being
tired or the joy of
bouncing out of bed and getting ready to have a good day. Like with
all things we have options, we choose our positive or negative nature.
But a joyful start to the day is a good habit to get into. So consider
starting your day ...being happy that you are alive.
Smile, and the world smiles with you!
- J M Sandbrook
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"Each day is a new canvas to paint upon. Make sure your picture is
full of
life and happiness, and at the end of the day you don't look at it
and
wish you had painted something different."
~ Author Unknown
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A wife is a person that is your soul partner for life.
(As God made her to be). She is not your cook, but a gift, your second-half,
someone to share your time
with, to love in the truest sense of the word. Two notes make harmony,
she is yours, with her you will make music
together in each others hearts. Together you will want to be, together.
The greatest gift that God could ever give a man other
than breathe the gift of life in him, is to give him a wife.
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