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Why Are You Doing That???

Eating the last piece of candy is not, in itself, wrong. BUT eating the last piece of candy just so that your little brother can't have it, definitely IS WRONG! Our MOTIVES usually determine the SIN as far as what is right or wrong!! By the same token, if we hang a flag, post a picture, or use a meme or phrase to show our Patriotism, our Belief, our Gratitude, our Love, or our Unity in something, that IS, again, IN ITSELF, perfectly fine. This is a land of free speech and we (most of the...

Eating the last piece of candy is not, in itself, wrong. BUT eating the last piece of candy just so that your little brother can't have it, definitely IS WRONG! Our MOTIVES usually determine the SIN as far as what is right or wrong!! By the same token, if we hang a flag, post a picture, or use a meme or phrase to show our Patriotism, our Belief, our Gratitude, our Love, or our Unity in something, that IS, again, IN ITSELF, perfectly fine. This is a land of free speech and we (most of the time) have the freedom to do so. But to do something DISGUISED as those things, when in reality it's being done JUST TO OFFEND another class, race or person...THEN it BECOMES WRONG. Having said that, I realize many people are getting "offended" by things just to "flex their muscles" and to rationalize omitting these "offensive" and usually proprietary items/situations/traditions. But if there is even ONE person who is GENUINELY hurt by something I am doing, personally, I GENUINELY WANT to stop doing it! Romans 14 explains this general principal in detail (using primarily Jewish traditions as an example). Of course, we need to demonstrate our COMMON SENSE and exercise BALANCE when discerning what is and isn't important, and what does and doesn't need conforming to. Bottom line... Don't do things PURPOSEFULLY that offend or hurt someone else. AND don't be so quick to be OFFENDED when others do something you don't agree with! Yesterday I saw many beautiful postings of the Twin Towers, The American Flag, and lots of heartfelt condolences memorializing 9/11. But I also saw a few which, like most of the others were, SHOULD have been posted as a tribute to commemorate a horrible event that we, as Americans will never forget. But this particular caption was specific in mentioning that everyone should "share this post to offend a certain group of people". To me, that's definitely NOT HONORING those 3,000 people that perished on that sad, sad day!!! No. They were simply "EATING THE LAST PIECE OF CANDY" to hurt their brother!! (FYI: I don't even think the people who "shared" it realized what it said and were just using the beautiful picture, but the person who produced/wrote it, surely did!) My niece made an observation the other day mentioning that she thought all of the strife and conflict in our country today, namely the racial issues, law enforcement, lion killing, the abortion clinics, the presidential election, the rebel flag, gay/lesbian marriage, Caitlyn Jenner, immigration/border crossings, the pledge of allegiance, Winter/Spring Break vs. CHRISTmas and Easter Vacation, (and the list goes on and on) was a "generational" problem. But unfortunately, this is NOT just a generational problem. It's literally a problem of biblical proportions. We are so consumed with judgement and opinions about almost everything that shows up in the news, that it seems we may be spending MORE TIME fighting about these things and TEARING PEOPLE DOWN for their actions and/or beliefs, than we do BUILDING PEOPLE UP or helping others in need. Mark 3:24 warns us: "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand!!" We don't need to worry about other countries with missiles destroying America...we're DESTROYING IT OURSELVES!! James 10:10 says that "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy..." This is EXACTLY how the devil works. He will cause strife, conflict, and differences using US HUMANS AS HIS PAWNS within communities/countries/continents and ultimately the entire world, in order to start division and war. Yes, it's true that Bible prophecies foretell ALL of this happening within the pages of both the Old and New Testaments, but my point is simply this: While the Enemy CAN control what/who/how to "STIR THE POT" in whatever way he can, whether He uses the Traditional Media, Social Media, You Tube Videos, political lines, or the ever-increasing "random" controversial current events, He CANNOT control how WE, as HUMAN BEINGS (which consists of all; Christians, Muslims, Jewish, Atheists, Blacks, Whites, Mexicans, Asians, Indians, Heterosexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, or whatever you consider yourself to be) react to His strategically timed "DRAMA BOMBS"!! "For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and SEEK THE BEST FOR ONE ANOTHER. --Galatians 5:13 If you check your Posts, Tweets, Instagram, or whatever else people use today and whatever will be available tomorrow, understand that God reads them too! Beyond that, not only does God SEE everything I DO, He also knows what my MOTIVES are and WHY I do/did the things I did in this life!! So if we DO eat the last piece of candy, it should be because our little brother turned it down after we offered it to him first! Look, I don't pretend to have all the answers to every controversial situation going on in our world today, and yes, SOME people are called to be politicians and world leaders, lobbyists or protesters who will stand in front of a wrecking ball to save a building, BUT MOST OF US were NOT! I DO, however, know EXACTLY what I will be accountable for when Jesus comes to take me home: My own behavior and reactions to what the devil TRIED to put in front of me, in order to tempt me into losing my peace, my grace, and my faith in God! Did I spread the GOOD NEWS as far as I could in my little neck of the woods? Or did I contribute to the devil's work of causing havoc and strife; judgement and hate? You don't have to jump on every DRAMA BANDWAGON just to express how you feel about something! How about we get our OWN HOUSES IN ORDER before condemning what others have done or how they live THEIR lives. For those of us that are Christians, Jesus died for us to be forgiven and gave us the responsibility of "spreading the GOOD NEWS" from east to west and to all corners of the land. Through today's technology, He has actually given us the ability and opportunity to reach more people than we ever thought possible as members of the private sector. This is just an example but it's amazing to me when I see posts from someone one day quoting scripture, and then on another day bashing another religion for not believing the same way they do. That's not showing love and/or compassion and it surely is not "doing to others as you would have done to you!" Why worry about another religion's "wrong doctrine" when you don't even know your own? YES, we ALL have some wrong beliefs!!! But God accounts for this and tells us that whatever WE believe to be true is what we will be held accountable for in the kingdom of heaven! --Romans 14 (Again, exercise BALANCE when interpreting) I recommend to everyone: CHECK YOUR MOTIVES OFTEN!! Simply and quickly just ask yourself: "What am I doing this for?" Or "What is my reason for posting this?" Or "What is my point in saying what I am about to say?" It may just surprise you (as it did me) to see what you find when looking within yourself and actually searching the makings and derivatives of your own heart! You know the old cliché but it is true: WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!! If you're an Atheist, be a good person and love your neighbor as if he were your own family member. If you're a Christian, FOLLOW the example of Jesus Christ, read The Word of God to learn just HOW that example LIVED and what He taught us. Finally, BELIEVER OR NOT, decide if you want to be a "POT STIRRER" or a "PEACEMAKER" when "SHARING" YOUR opinions and memes! Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will be called the sons of God." Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses." 2 Timothy 2:23-25 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil," God is Love! Be the Light! Xoxo Wendy

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