Sitting in the Judges' Seat Ain't Cool!

I have a confession to make. I have always had a passion for gavels. I enjoyed watching Judge Wapner on a regular basis, and I once thought that Judge Judy Rocked! Some of my life experiences have been so crazy that I have had the desire to slam that gavel down and reclaim order. However, it doesn't always work out that way.

Recently, (as recent as today and the past week) I have been fuming about something that happened in the carpool line. Isaiah likes it whenever he can walk out the door and jump right into our car. I don't mind it either especially since I am in school and have lots of studying to do. It's a great quiet time without distractions. That is until recently...

Lately, I have been arriving pretty early, so early that I have been the first car in line. This is a coveted spot for sure. For the past few days though this spot has been taken from me. UGGGHHH!

You're not going to believe this. Each day this really expensive car parades past the 50 cars that are already in the line. She then pulls past the head of the line and backs up, blocking a driveway, and parks into the coveted first position.

The first day I really wasn't that concerned, but after the fourth day I really became amazed at her gall. I called a friend right there in the carpool line and told her about it. I was completely put out. In fact I began to get really agitated about this situation, until today...

Today... I got the opportunity to bring the gavel down. I was sitting in my car trying to study when suddenly a school official walked by a few moments before the bell rang and so I flagged her down and posed a question, "Are we supposed to block that driveway?" ( notice how slick I was with the baited question)... She took the bait! "No", she said. This answer prompted me to lift that gavel high above my head and bring it down with a solid...

"Well let me tell you that fancy white car that is sitting at the head of the line gets that spot everyday. She drives past all of the other cars and parks in the front of the line." I even threw in a sigh of disgust at the end of my statement.

This school official gasped at the idea and then marched right into the school to have a conference with the top school official. Her intention was to reclaim order to the carpool line...

A few moments later she exited the building, her face was blushed and she briskly walked over to my car. She leaned in the window as if she had a secret. These are the words that she spoke ...

"That is the Carpool Queen, she won that honor in a raffle."

My face dropped and the gavel fell from my hand. I did not realize I was in the company of royalty.

I hope you are laughing at me. I believe that God chooses to reveal our sins in some of the most ridiculous ways. I am now amazed at my gall. Why did it even matter? *sigh* I am so humbled by this experience. I wish that I could say this is the only experience that I have had like this but unfortunately it is not. God teaches me through my foolishness time after time. And then drives it home with his word.

The bible says this about judgement:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."

-Matt. 7:1-2

This scripture brings me to my knees because I have been guilty of putting on the robe and gripping the gavel. But each time I take that seat I am humbly reminded in some way that I am not the judge, instead I am the one to be judged.

The Spice In Life!

Kevin and I were having a conversation recently about some friends of ours. We were reminiscing about how much fun we had with them and how we enjoyed their company. I am ashamed of my next comment. I said to Kevin,"Isn't it interesting how they are both really intelligent, they are so funny, and they have also had some great experiences. It surprised me..." <*ugh*>

It surprised me because neither one of them wears the latest fashions, they live in an average home, they drive average cars, they both have some odd mannerisms, and their not real attractive." <*sigh*>

I realize how prideful this statement sounds. It bothers me that I have this point of view. However, I think God really used this ugly thought to humble and enlighten me. At that moment my conversation with Kevin began to change.

He said, "You are right, on the surface, there is nothing really special about them. They are not the perfect image. It's kind of like fresh baked cookies. When I was little I hated when the cookies got a little too brown around the edges. However, my dad loved them. He said, that the burnt edge added flavor."

Isn't that the way people are, they may not have that beautiful surface image going on, but when you take the time to know them they have all the flavor. They are the spice of life!

Think about spices, like cinnamon. If you were to eat a spoonful of cinnamon it would be bitter and icky. But if that spice is added to just the right ingredients something marvelous can be created like pumpkin pie, cinnamon dolce latte, or a hot sweet cinnamon roll.

1 Peter 5 says this:

1-3 I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it's like to be a leader, in on Christ's sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here's my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.
4-5When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he'll see that you've done it right and commend you lavishly. And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for— God has had it with the proud, But takes delight in just plain people.
6-7So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.

Kevin and I ended our conversation with this thought. There are people out there who never mature and sample only what they see as the best, they only eat the perfect cookies.

Then there are those who take a chance and try the burnt cookies with all the flavor. But they don't stop there, they savor the essence of life. They experience friendships with what appears to be just plain people but really they are the spices in life! They are the ones in which God takes delight. Therefore I encourage each of you, "be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you;...Live carefree before God...." delight in the essence of life!

I was raised in a christian home. We went to church most Sundays and Wednesdays. I was very active in my youth group and during college I worked as a youth leader.

For a long time I felt like that was enough. But then God began to woo me in a way that he had never done before. He began to give me a desire to know him more. You could say that I wanted to know him inside & out. I began a new journey into his word I wanted to know his story and to my surprise it became my story.

So that is the purpose of this blog. I hope you will join me in taking a closer look at his story and allowing it to surprisingly become your own.
Many blessings ~~ Me