Good Morning Friends! Forever His, Friday! Yesterday I told you a bit about our dog, Holina Dos; today I am going to share a cute story that my dear friend Julie shared with me about her precious dog, Annie. Julie got home after work, the day it had been raining, Annie was outside but very anxious (she is a bit of a worry wart) because there was a big truck parked next door. So anyway, Annie was in a big rush to get into the house. As soon as they got in the door Julie noticed some mud on the floor. She scoffed at Annie, grabbed a cloth and went to wiping off Annie’s paws…..Annie wasn’t thrilled about it and was so excited that Julie kind of had to follow her through the house to get each paw. She was irritated that she kept wiping, but there was still mud everywhere! I wasn’t there, so I can’t be sure, but I would just bet that Annie was getting chewed out pretty good…..after a few minutes and lots of wiping on Annie’s paws, Julie discovered….oh my….ready for this….the mud she kept seeing was on her shoes!!!! Annie was innocent, blameless….but was so quickly accused of making the muddy mess when actually….the accuser was to blame! Ouch!! We were laughing as she shared her Annie story, but it got me to thinking. How often do we…..place blame on others rather than looking at ourselves, our actions first?.....Husband/wife a grouch???? Kids whiney??? Co-worker rude??? Grocery store clerk snotty??? Neighbor selfish???? Hmm maybe we should check for the mud on our feet, before we accuse everyone else around us of the wrong doing……Father, forgive us when we look to blame others before we look at ourselves. Help us to be more like YOU…..Fuel our lights to shine brightly with kindness and love.
Jesus said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and 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 our your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?.....first take the plank out of your won eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!!! 1 John 3:1.
Love you all! Have a wonderful weekend
