Blog

Thought Life

I’m Judging You

Jaime

I confess I judge others. My mind just seems to go there at times without my permission, AND other times it has my full consent. This usually occurs upon first seeing someone, the whole book by a cover thing. I have nothing else to go by except for what I see. It’s part of my humanity.

I confess I judge others

One day while at the airport waiting for my flight, I heard some women talking about a fellow female who was also waiting for a plane. She was a pretty girl, wearing something looking similar to lingerie; something that would be worn in the comfort of one’s home.  

Of course, I had to look and see what they were talking about; I am human. At that moment I had a choice to make. Was I going to judge too? Instead, I started wondering about her. Who is she? What’s her story?

I had a choice to make

So, what did I choose to do? Well, I still don’t know her story and didn’t take the time to find out (wasn’t the time or place). But, I chose compassion (which is not my natural response). I decided to view her as God does, as his beautiful daughter.

For much of my life any time a thought or feeling would arise I’d go with it. I never knew I had the choice to engage or disengage.

I don’t know if we ever get to a place of complete nonjudgement (I’m not there yet), but after my initial automatic judgy thought arises, I get to choose what comes after.                                                 

I get to choose

Remember that girl I just spoke about? As I was boarding the plane, I saw her sitting in first class with a not so good looking guy (judgment). I thought to myself “she must be with him because he has money (judgment).” Do you see! I JUST decided not to judge, and there my mind goes again. So, yes, it appears to be the human condition.

Before slamming that gavel down, I need to remember a few things:

They (whoever they are) are made in the image of God, just like me.

I have my own issues. Even though mine may not be visible to others, they still exist.

Check in with me to see if there are any feelings of jealousy or envy involved.

How can you choose compassion over judgement today?

Identity

MANGLED MASTERPIECES

Jaime

We have all been broken at some point in our lives, whether due to circumstances, choices we’ve made, or messages we’ve received from others.

While searching for a name for this blog I came across the word “mangled.” It really spoke to me, capturing the wide range of brokenness we’ve all experienced at one time or another. Some of us have been bruised by life while others have been crushed.

We have all been broken at some point in our lives

A few years ago I got a tattoo on my wrist of a heart with puzzle pieces inside of it. A cross sits boldly in the middle, completing the puzzle, with Ephesians 2:10 written beneath it. I got this as a reminder to myself about the truth of who I am: God’s masterpiece, his handiwork, his beautiful work of art.

This truth becoming a reality has been a process for me. I still have days when negative thoughts try to determine my identity. Days that I fall into the trap of comparison, letting others and the world dictate who I am.

But then, I glance at my wrist and remember.

It takes energy to fight off all the messages that stand against who God says I am and to embrace the person he’s created me to be. All of my weird and quirky ways, the dumb things that fly out of my mouth, my vanity issues, my mistakes, my choices. None of these things define me, not one. I am God’s masterpiece, and so are you.

I am God’s Masterpiece, and so are you

What things in your life have you let define you?

Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Identity

It’s My Body

Jaime

Is there something in your life that you haven’t told anyone? Maybe you’ve been embarrassed or scared of what others might think, so you keep it to yourself.

Growing up, I convinced myself that my body was mine. I could do whatever I wanted with it, which was true.

It is.

I can.

I did.

Hormones and boys were not a good mix.

Justifying my actions became a skill. I never saw past my current season of life, let alone think about future consequences.

Fast forward to meeting Jesus in my late 20’s. I’m sitting in church, listening to a sermon on purity. All I could think was “FAIL.” The culmination of past decisions was starting to affect my self-image, along with my relationships. “I am what I’ve done,” guilt and shame would successfully convince me.

“I am what I’ve done”

Why would I want anything to do with this community if this was how I was going to feel?

Thankfully, I wasn’t left to sit in this pit of condemnation. God already knew everything I had done, and yet, he still loved me.

My old foes guilt and shame still try coordinating sneak attacks, but these days they are slain with the truth: Jesus died a horrible death so I can be free.

Jesus died a terrible death so I can be free

Free from labels

Free from lies

Free from condemnation

I still care what others think about me. Anxiety and fear still present themselves when I share my testimony. It’s all still there, but now I choose to embrace how God’s see’s me. His love for me outweighs all fear.

What’s that “something” in your life you’d like to be free from?