And Let the JUDGING Begin

As in every year since I was a little girl, I'll be watching the Miss America Pageant tonight when it is broadcast live on ABC. I still love getting caught up in the pomp of it all -- seeing those young women vying for scholarships, and finding out who will take home the crown of Miss America 2019. I was always starstruck by those beautiful, smart and talented young women. I'd watch and "judge" from my sofa, choose my favorite, and hope she'd be the winner. With great anticipation, I'd hear the names of the runners-up and hope I had "judged" accurately. What an adrenaline rush it was when I was right and heard Bert Parks sing "There she is...Miss America. There she is....your ideal."

In 1995, my husband and I were cheering so loudly for that adorable redhead from Oklahoma who was radiant, poised, articulate, and confident. We never imagined that just a few years later THAT GIRL, Shawntel Smith, would become "the love of our boy's life"! She won our hearts in the 1996 pageant, and soon the love of our hearts forever!

I understand that those young women are scrutinized to the nth degree by the judges who carry such huge responsibilities. They will determine the results which means dreams coming true for many who will receive sizeable scholarships, and of course, the one crowned Miss America.

"Judging" has become a way of life in our world. I thoroughly enjoy watching "reality shows" that offer talent and sports competitions where judges play a huge role in whether or not the competitors win or lose by just the smallest margin. Speaking of judging and being judged, many of us feel judged daily. People can, and will have opinions, but we should never doubt ourselves. We should have absolute faith in who we are and never should we let someone else's "opinion" become our reality. And neither should we judge others. We don't know their reality either. That cranky cashier's world could be falling apart. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Matthew 7:1

It also may feel like God is judging us, too: He rewards us when we're good and have boatloads of faith, He punishes and disciplines us when we make mistakes. Not at all. God doesn't judge or scrutinize us. He always responds to us in love. What counts to Him is that we come to Him. It's true He rewards those of us who believe and who diligently seek Him. He still loves us even when our faith is weak and we doubt and worry or are afraid. All He asks is for us is to come to Him. He will give Himself to us. No, He doesn't judge us with a scoring system. He is loving and teaching us to be the best we can be -- and He's handing us much more than a crown. In Isaiah 62:3, we read that we ARE a crown...."You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God."

When you're feeling a little disheveled, inadequate and weary from all that is expected of you, just remember WHOSE child you are, and straighten that crown! After all, you are a child of the King!

And Let the JUDGING Begin

As in every year since I was a little girl, I'll be watching the glitz and glam, seeing who wins all those scholarships and finding out who takes home the crown of the Miss America pageant this Sunday night on ABC. I was starstruck by those beautiful, smart and talented young women vying to be the next Miss America. I'd watch and "judge" from my sofa, select my favorite, and hope she'd be the winner. With great anticipation, I'd hear the names of the runners up and hope I had "judged" accurately. What an andrenaline rush it was when I was right. Then hearing Bert Parks sing "There she is...Miss America. There she is....your ideal." All that pomp and circumstance was so exciting!

In 1995, my husband and I were cheering so loud for that adorable redhead from Oklahoma who was beautiful, poised, confident and radiant. We never imagined that just a few years later THAT GIRL, Shawntel Smith, would become "the love of our boy's life"! She won our hearts in the 1996 pageant, and soon the love of our hearts forever!

I understand that those young women are scrutinized to the nth degree. Those judges carry huge responsibities. We just witnessed the Olympics where judges determined the results in many of those events. Dreams came true and others whose performance just didn't measure up, were disappointed. I think about the "reality show" talent and sports competitions where judges play a huge role in whether or not those competitors win or lose by just the smallest margin.

Many of us feel judged on a daily basis -- from our bosses, co-workers, friends, family and acquaintances -- by the way we look and the way we act. People can and will have opinions, but we should never doubt ourselves, but have absolute faith in who we are and never should we let another’s “idea” become our reality. And neither should we judge others. We don't know their reality either. That cranky cashier's world could be falling apart. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Matthew 7:1

Many of us think of God as a judge who is always judging us. We see Him rewarding us for our goodness and how much faith we have, and punishing and disciplining us for our mistakes,

Bottom line, unlike talent or beauty or sports competitions, God doesn't scrutinize us. He always responds to us in love. Isn't that good news? What counts to Him is that we come to Him. It's true He rewards those of us who believe and who diligently seek Him. He still loves us even when our faith is weak and we doubt and worry or are afraid. All He asks is for us is to come to Him. He will give Himself to us. No, He doesn't judge us with a scoring system. He is loving, embracing and teaching us to be the best we can be -- and He's handing us much more than a crown. In Isaiah 62:3, we read that we ARE a crown...."You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God."

And He Gives Beauty for Ashes

Day 214 of Photo Inspirations -- And He Gives Beauty for Ashes
#TBT -- Photos of the Previous Home's Front Porch in Ashes and the New Front Porch in Beauty and Blessings.

At our Life Group Meeting last Tuesday night, Freda Gordon​, one of our precious members, reminded us that it had been 3 years, since the August 3rd-4th, 2012 devastating wild fires raged out of control in Mannford, OK -- just a few miles west of Tulsa -- where 400 families, including Freda, lost their homes. They called it a fire storm.  A fire storm is an intense and destructive fire in which strong currents of air are drawn into the blaze, making it burn more fiercely.

Freda's husband of 43 years, had passed away just 3 months before and her grief was compounded by the unthinkable taking place -- a fire that was so out of control, she was left homeless.

Before the fires made it to her home, Freda said that the Lord was telling her: "Get your stuff and follow Me."  She obeyed that voice and retrieved her quilts and family pictures, a few papers, 3 or 4 days worth of clothes and then went to her daughter's home in Jenks.  She said, "I am no hero and wasn't waiting for it to go from bad to worse. Besides...the Lord was really nagging me to GO!!"  And she did.  Thank God, she heeded His voice and was able to get a few of her most precious treasures out.  She was still reeling from the death of her husband, and was in shock and disbelief at the loss and devastation all around her.

At that time, Freda could have retreated, gone under-cover (bed covers), and refused to carry on.  She could have allowed the ashes of depression and despondency to overtake her. But, instead, she refused to give up and her catastrophes turned into her blessings.  She was able to have a new home built in a new location where she has been such a blessing to her neighbors. The most beautiful part of her story -- is that she didn't let her past dicate her future.   She feels purpose, knows she was led to her present community, and is a blessing to everyone who knows her....including our Life Group, and ME.  What a blessing to know her and see the crown of beauty she wears -- instead of the ashes, the oil of joy, instead of mourning, a garment of praise, instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:3.

Without a doubt, Freda turned her sorrows into a beautiful, living witness of God's grace and abiding love in the midst of the storm (fire storm, that is).  She is always encouraging others to "quit fighting it, and start living the life God intends for you to live.  It will be worth all of it."  

Freda also says:  "We all have gone through "fire storms". Maybe not in the literal sense like this, but we have all had those times that we feel we are being attacked from all sides and have no way out. God gives us an escape plan."

I love that.  "God gives us an escape plan".  Perhaps, today, you are reeling from storms or life situations that have devastated your world.  Take heart.  God has an escape plan for you.  He knows right where you are and His plans and purposes are to bring you to a safe place.  "For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you, to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11