Most of us recognize these lyrics from the children’s song Oh, be careful little eyes what you see. It’s a catchy little tune sung for generations in Sunday school classes everywhere. We may know the words but do we really understand the meaning?
How do I look at people? How do I see them? Not just their silhouettes, but how do I really see them. Seeing people goes beyond their physical appearance. We see a mom struggling with her kids at the grocery store and more than likely the first thought we have is “why can’t she control her kids?” Maybe she is just having a really bad day. Maybe her husband just left her and now she is struggling with raising these kids on their own. We don’t know her story, yet we feel we can judge her by just a moment’s glimpse of her life.
Recently I learned about the child prostitution industry. For much of my life I had no idea it was going on right in the neighborhoods where I lived, shopped, and went out. Now that I know what is going on, I notice things. I see the ads for missing teens at my local Walmart or on the billboard signs and wonder if they are being enslaved in this industry.
I am ashamed to admit but for many years I looked at the prostitutes standing on the corner and thought badly of them. I judged them. I researched the topic as I learned about the child sex slavery industry and found that many of these teens who were trapped in this field are now the women we see on the street corners. I see these women now and I feel for them. I wonder what horrors of their life drove them to where they are now. There are so many heart wrenching stories of women who left home at a young age and needed money to survive. Then, they got addicted to drugs and life just spiraled downward. These women do not need looks of scorn from us. They need our love. They need our understanding. Some of these women are waiting for someone to rescue them. To show them they can have a better life. Instead of seeing these women as criminals, I beg you to see them as victims. Let you heart see them the way Jesus does. See them through His eyes. These women are His daughters. He loves all His children and His heart breaks for those who are mistreated. Shouldn’t our reaction be the same?
So I want to warn you to be careful how you look at people. You don’t know their story. You don’t know what is going on in their lives. Instead of looking with disdain at those around us, give everyone you meet a big smile and shine your love.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Life Lessons from Veggie Tales
I love watching Veggie Tales. My boys are older now, so I haven’t seen some of the newest ones, but I remember the ones I have seen. The catchy songs and good moral lessons are taught to us through talking vegetables that have no arms or legs. One song on my mind lately is from “Rack, Shack, and Benny.” A movie based on the story of the three men who were thrown into the furnace because they refused to participate in idol worship.
The song is called “Stand”. In this catchy tune they sing about standing up for what you believe in, and God will stand with you. What a great lesson for all of us. In the world today, we are tempted to just fit in. We have to be careful not to upset or offend anyone. But at what cost? When do we draw the line, and say enough is enough? When do we take a stand and not be afraid to share what we believe?
I am not asking us to judge others, so please don’t take it that away. We are called to love everyone, to help our neighbors regardless of what their beliefs are. Jesus didn’t ask someone what they believed or for a list of their sins before He talked with them. In fact He knew that He came to spend time with the lost, the broken, the hurting. He came to teach others about His Father.
So when do we take a stand? I believe we can do this every day in subtle ways . How do we take that stand? We start by not being afraid to bow our heads in public and pray before eating. We can be honest with people when they ask us our beliefs. Christmas is just around the corner. We shouldn’t be afraid to say “Merry Christmas”. We can wear a cross necklace or Christian shirt and not be afraid that others will judge us. I have been guilty in the past of hiding who I am for the fear of being judged and not accepted. The Bible warns of this. We should not deny God or He will deny us.
The media likes to portray “Christians” as crazy people who are hurtful and judgemental . How many times have you turned on the news to see them showing the angry mobs of “Christians” holding up signs hating and condemning homosexuals or girls seeking an abortion ? When a shooting occurs and they find out that the person claimed to be a “Christian”, they focus on that. How many times do we here about this one church in the Mid-west protesting funerals of soldiers and holding signs up about homosexuals? Do we ever see the people who have risked their lives to help a neighbor? I have to literally search for good stories. Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus ever tell believers to go out and kill those who are not following His ways. Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus spread the message of hate. Instead He encourages us to love one another. We are to show the world we are Christians by our love. We need to write letters to our local papers and let people know that the crazy people that the media portrays on television as “Christians” would not act that way if they were true followers of Christ. Over 10 years ago I wrote into a local paper after a “Christian” had bombed a local abortion clinic. I knew in my heart that a man following Jesus could never take the lives of so many people. They printed my letter to the editor and I was able to get the word out. I wanted people to know the truth. I was tired of letting the media walk all over the Christian faith. I took a stand.
You can, too. And you can be assured that when you do; God will be with you. There are people today in other countries dying for their faith. They refuse to deny their Lord and Savior. Yes, they may lose their life on this earth, but they know they are entering a new life when they die. They will be joining their Savior and no longer be persecuted. I pray that none of you ever have to face this kind of persecution. But let us learn from this example. Let us, not be afraid anymore.
In the famous words of a cute little asparagus, “stand for what you believe in and God will stand with you.”
The song is called “Stand”. In this catchy tune they sing about standing up for what you believe in, and God will stand with you. What a great lesson for all of us. In the world today, we are tempted to just fit in. We have to be careful not to upset or offend anyone. But at what cost? When do we draw the line, and say enough is enough? When do we take a stand and not be afraid to share what we believe?
I am not asking us to judge others, so please don’t take it that away. We are called to love everyone, to help our neighbors regardless of what their beliefs are. Jesus didn’t ask someone what they believed or for a list of their sins before He talked with them. In fact He knew that He came to spend time with the lost, the broken, the hurting. He came to teach others about His Father.
So when do we take a stand? I believe we can do this every day in subtle ways . How do we take that stand? We start by not being afraid to bow our heads in public and pray before eating. We can be honest with people when they ask us our beliefs. Christmas is just around the corner. We shouldn’t be afraid to say “Merry Christmas”. We can wear a cross necklace or Christian shirt and not be afraid that others will judge us. I have been guilty in the past of hiding who I am for the fear of being judged and not accepted. The Bible warns of this. We should not deny God or He will deny us.
The media likes to portray “Christians” as crazy people who are hurtful and judgemental . How many times have you turned on the news to see them showing the angry mobs of “Christians” holding up signs hating and condemning homosexuals or girls seeking an abortion ? When a shooting occurs and they find out that the person claimed to be a “Christian”, they focus on that. How many times do we here about this one church in the Mid-west protesting funerals of soldiers and holding signs up about homosexuals? Do we ever see the people who have risked their lives to help a neighbor? I have to literally search for good stories. Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus ever tell believers to go out and kill those who are not following His ways. Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus spread the message of hate. Instead He encourages us to love one another. We are to show the world we are Christians by our love. We need to write letters to our local papers and let people know that the crazy people that the media portrays on television as “Christians” would not act that way if they were true followers of Christ. Over 10 years ago I wrote into a local paper after a “Christian” had bombed a local abortion clinic. I knew in my heart that a man following Jesus could never take the lives of so many people. They printed my letter to the editor and I was able to get the word out. I wanted people to know the truth. I was tired of letting the media walk all over the Christian faith. I took a stand.
You can, too. And you can be assured that when you do; God will be with you. There are people today in other countries dying for their faith. They refuse to deny their Lord and Savior. Yes, they may lose their life on this earth, but they know they are entering a new life when they die. They will be joining their Savior and no longer be persecuted. I pray that none of you ever have to face this kind of persecution. But let us learn from this example. Let us, not be afraid anymore.
In the famous words of a cute little asparagus, “stand for what you believe in and God will stand with you.”
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