"BOOMERANG LIVING"

Good Evening to All!

Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults--unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, "Let me wash your face for you,
when your own face is distorted by contempt It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor . . . .

Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. (Matthew 7:1-5, 12 Message Bible)


Now, that could be a post in itself. In case you can't tell what passage that is, here is the NKJV of it: Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged: and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me remove the speck from your eye; and look, a plant is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank for your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

(12)Therefore, what ever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

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What goes up must come down, or as I like to say "what goes around comes around". Every action produces an equal reaction. This has been proven time and again scientifically. These are the laws of gravity and motion; actions have consequences. ( Another commonality in support of my post the other night about the commonality of science and the Bible). Life has a boomerang effect as well as gravity and motion. Every action causes a reaction.

Think about it. when we smile and are friendly toward people, they will "usually" smile back and act friendly toward us. I like to do that because my smile might just make someone's day a little brighter. When we treat others with respect, we will get respect in return. On the other side if we act snooty or hateful, and disrespectful to others we can pretty much figure to get the same response back.

While the actual quoted "Golden Rule" is not scriptural word for word, the action is Biblical and the idea is there.

Jesus gave us this principle of treating others the way we want to be treated after talking about not judging others and after prompting people to pray and expect God to respond to our needs. We should ALWAYS think before we speak. Now, just so you know, I am preaching "to the choir" right now. Too OFTEN I let my mouth overload my brain, and speak before realizing how it sounds, or how others will understand what I am saying.

That is one reason I get nervous when I talk to people, because I'm always afraid they will take what I say the wrong way. Anyway, we "should" think about what we want to say before we say it and the reactions it may cause. Instead of looking for faults in others, we should check our own weaknesses and work on self-improvement.

Goodness! I'm stepping all over my own toes tonight. I really need to work on myself. According to the devotion I've read for today, an example was given. If your friend has a difficult child, but your own child has a more submissive personality, don't' try to fix your friend's mothering skills. (a "standing" joke I have with my friends who have children is that I can be objective and am an authority on child rearing because I have never had children! LOL! Of course they know I am kidding, because I wouldn't hurt their feelings for the world, but . . . at the same time I speak as a person who also would like respect shown for example in church and have the parents show respect for others by keep their children quiet, or take them out of the sanctuary so they wouldn't be so distracting. The children (little ones) may not know any better, but the parents do. The older ones should be taken out and disciplined. (My 2 cents).

Another example it gave was if you have a more organized house than your friend, don't make a show of it. Instead, welcome her into your home and accept her as a person unconditionally, letting God point out any needed improvements. I think that is the KEY PHRASE to this whole post. I love that.

That's what I tell people that I invite to church. They always tell me it makes them nervous because it's a Pentecostal Church. We wear modest clothing, (longer dresses and skirts, little or no make up, watches and wedding rings only in the way of jewelry. They are afraid they would have to change and dress like us. I ALWAYS TELL THEM, that's not the way it works, we do not judge, we do not tell people how to dress. That's God's job. I tell them "when you read your Bible and come across the scriptures that talk about dress, and it makes you feel uneasy in your spirit, then you should change because that is God speaking to you, but ONLY THEN. Do not let others dictate or tell you. If you ask, we can tell you where to find the scriptures, but that is as far as it goes.

God should always be the one to point out what improvements are needed in a person. After all, He created us, He should be the one to tell us what to change about ourselves. This is realized through His Word and our prayers to Him.

Good Night to All and May God Bless!