No matter how you’ve arrived to this blog, I can say one thing that is probably true: you’ve made some sort of judgement about this website, this blog, or perhaps even me. Humans are very interesting because we are so prone to making judgements about others. It’s almost instinctive. Sometimes it helps us to determine whether something is safe (or dangerous), fun (or boring), good (or bad), other times we make judgements that are directed to be harmful towards others or even to make ourselves look better.
We are so good at making judgements that it comes with ease. We can look a person up and down and ‘determine’ what kind of person they are (whatever that means). I want to challenge you, myself, and everyone else. I want us to stop judging others. Now I’m sure you’re wondering how can we possibly do that when it comes with such ease. The response that God has shown me in my heart and in the bible is that instead of judging others, we must judge ourselves. I’m not saying that we should put ourselves down or stand in front of the mirror listing off everything we don’t like. In fact, I talk about how that is a bad thing here. What I am saying is that we first must perfect ourselves under the eyes of our Lord (because He holds the same standards for everyone) before we can possibly think about helping others. Jesus says “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye.’ When you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye” Luke 6:42. He is telling us that we cannot possibly think that we can point out another’s sin and help guide them to what is good when we cannot even see the massive sins we ourselves have. If we have sin in our eyes, making us blind to what is good, how can we see clearly to remove sin from others? To say that someone we know needs to stop sinning while we ourselves continue to focus on everyone but us, makes us hypocrites. First we must improve ourselves before we can enlighten others. Jesus says “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?” Luke 6:39 Consider opening your eyes. Every time you find yourself judging someone else, refocus to judge yourself. What is the plank in your eye that is making you judge others? Where might you need improvement? If you keep doing this, your instincts will shift. Instead of judging others you will work on perfecting yourself. Once your eyes are open, you will be able to lead others with a warm heart and good intentions!
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I spend a lot of my time watching vloggers on Youtube. I love how they are able to share their values and insights with others and I learn a lot from them! There is one thing, though, that many people have been saying that makes me want to scream. Too often I hear these words: “Sorry for all of this” and then the person proceeds to point to their face, hair, and clothes as if their appearance is unacceptable.
I have a big question: Why are people apologizing for how they look!? They may not be wearing makeup, they may not have even brushed their hair, but it horrifies me that people are apologizing for who they are and what they look like! I would like to note that it isn’t just women who are saying these things. I have watched men talk about their hair and clothes in the same manner. I don’t want to leave you with the impression that I am speaking negatively about these people or wish to bring any sort of negative attention to them, but I would like to point out something that I feel is important: People compare themselves to what society (or someone) thinks they should be. But I have to say: Society is wrong! Let me back up my words with those from the bible. Though this verse is often used for modesty, I find it speaks volumes for this issue: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 You were created by God (if you do not know about God, or are not a believer in Christ, I would love to direct you here, where you can find more information on that!). And as Matthew 5:48 states “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven in perfect”. God created us without makeup, without (or without a lot of) perfectly kept hair, and without clothes. All of these things can be used to bring out our inner and outer beauty, but the absence of any of these things should not and most certainly does not take away from who we are. I pray that God can open all of our hearts and eyes to see just how perfectly he created us. If you ever feel like something isn’t good enough, that your nose is too big or hair too straight, just remember that God created you the way you are for a reason and that He cares so much about you that He sent His son to die for you and that His Spirit is with you wherever you go. I hope that this blog has helped some of you find joy in who you are. If you still are struggling to love who you are, you may always send me an email to talk! ~Jess I've been hearing a lot of phrases such as "live like today is your last" and "tomorrow isn't promised". Now, I've heard these phrases a lot so typically they go in one ear and right out the other. This week has been a bit different for me. Let me tell you why.
I've been thinking a lot about how many times I've been 'bored' or have wasted away my day saying that "I'm just not good enough" to make any kind of impact. I've felt unequipped to make any Youtube videos that people would want to watch or that I would be unable to actually capture anyone's attention with what I have to say. I thought, "maybe what I have to say isn't really all that important". Thinking this, though, made me do something even worse than taking a chance; it made me hold back and do absolutely nothing with my day. These little phrases that I've been hearing all of this week was a gentle push from God. Whenever I thought "I'm not skilled enough to do that" He said "Just try it" and whenever I said "Nothing I have to say will ever be sufficient to help someone else or make an impact on anyone" He said to me "What if it does. What if it changes just one person's life for good." That did it. I was hooked. I had been so disgusted with myself for not doing anything to make a difference, so fearful of what might happen, that instead of being blessed and taking the very day I was given to do something, I was wasting it. Immediately after coming to this realization yesterday, I opened up this website and blog to start doing and stop making excuses. I don't know what direction this is headed, but I trust that it is better than doing nothing. I am also working on my Youtube channel here. Subscribe to join me! Jared Mecham of Ellie and Jared on Youtube had asked himself what would he do if he had nothing to stand in his way, nothing to be fearful of, and thus became their Youtube channel here. Here's my question to you: What if today was your only day to make a difference? What would you do? ~Jess |
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There's a battle going on inside us. I have chosen, after much consideration, to spend my life fighting for God in a sinful and God-hating world. This blog tells that story.
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