Stop banging your gavel at me!

Another week, another story to tell.....sad, actuallly, because it's professed Christian people it is about. You know, I understand with people like these, why non-believers have NO intention of following Christ or even wanting to know more about Him. Okay, now I know, that at times, I have probably judged people unfairly....either out in the open or just in my mind, but when I am wrong, I will say I'm wrong. Before I became a Christian, I had a lot of these gavel bangers telling me how I "should" be living my life....what I was doing wrong, how I should do things THIS way. I realize that when I was "in the world", I was wild and there were a LOT of things I should have been doing differently. I shouldn't have been drinking so much, I shouldn't have been having sex outside of marriage, I shouldn't have been the person so full of hate that I was. But you couldn't have told me that then. I have always been a bit on the stubborn side....I do things on my OWN time. I don't like being pushed into something that I haven't researched or been ready for to begin with. I have always kind of danced to the tune of a different drummer....and I like that. But there are so many people that think...hey man, I believe it, so you should, too....I do it, so you should too. NO NO NO!!!!!
Some background.....current situation....there's a girl at church who has been raised in a Christian home.....she's a nice and beautiful girl, but she has taken a bit of a turn towards the world....away from the world she was raised in. I won't say what she's doing because it isn't my place and I would hate for her to think I thought ill of her. Well, people are absolutely crucifying her...poor darling. Sadly, it's two of the leaders in the church. We ALL realize that what she is doing isn't right, but it ISN'T our right to go and judge her for it. She's young and testing out the waters. We would ALL like for her to return to Jesus and let HIM give her what she feels she is missing and going to seek, but hey, I have learned that people need to make their own mistakes. How will they ever learn to make wise choices, if they don't make mistakes once in a while? All I am doing is praying that she will return to her home...with her family and with Jesus.....I won't judge her for it. "Those kind" of Christians were the reason I never wanted anything to do with God until I was in my late 20's. I grew up in a town FULL of people who judged you for whatever reason and I have to say I think it stinks!!!!! I knew/know a lot of people who were/are true Christian in every sense of the word. They were the same at home alone as they were in public. They radiated love and kindness and so many awesome Christian qualities. They accepted people lock, stock and barrel.....no questions! They never tried to shove Jesus down people's throats. They just have this....aura (for lack of a better word)....of love and joy. THOSE were the kinds that eventually drew me in. They KNEW I was in utter hell in my life at that point, they knew I was making horrible choices, they knew I was really mentally screwed up, but they never ever said anything to me about it. They just loved me and invited me to church functions. They let me see for myself, on my own time, what God was really all about. They NEVER judged me...and I thank them for that.
So my issue is this....we, as Christian people, should stop trying to tell everyone what they should do. I don't like to be bossed around, so my mission is to not boss others. Just love them as they are, even if their choices are making you cringe and you KNOW they will be leading themselves into destruction. Pray for them, be there for them, show them Christ's love by not judging them, as He doesn't judge us....invite them to a non churchy church function....a barbecue or something....just love them. STOP banging your gavel at people....me included....I've made horrid mistakes in my life and received HUGE amounts of judgement and I resented that for a long time...in some ways I still do. I realize that these folks wanted me to have the peace and freedom that you can only get through God's love, but by dang, you aren't lily white!!!!! You make mistakes, too....shake your finger at yourself in the mirror, first, before you shake your finger at me....or at ANYONE. And until God sends me the memo that He is turning the gavel over to you....stop banging your gavel at me!!!!!!!!

A place to vent

I have been looking for a place to vent my feelings, frustrations, share funny stories, share my faith, and read other people's stuff, too. I enjoy writing about things that I am involved in, have been involved in or WANT to be involved in. I need a place where I can be 100% totally me, and not care the consequences of who thinks what about me.....sorry, Mama. I am under construction, so to speak, in my life right now and I am trying to change a lot of things, so I may totally be contradictive (is that even a word?) in what I say now and what I may say tomorrow, so be prepared. Feel free to comment, add your opinion, praise me or flog me.....whatever you like. I try my very best not to be offensive to people, but I also need and want to be a person that can freely speak their mind, so forgive me from the start if I say something you don't agree with. I am trying to find myself right now.....what I want in life, what God wants for my life, and how to be whatever God and me want.....and right now....I haven't the slightest clue. So bear with me and my idiosyncracies, typos, anger, laughter, venting, or whatever else you may read. I think right now my motto is I'M A DONKEY ON THE EDGE!!!!!!!! Yes, I love Shrek...hee hee I also tend to be talking about something and ramble off onto something else....I think that would be the fact that I just found out I have ADD....so bear with me on my unorganized thoughts. Are y'all tired yet?????? I hope you will laugh with me, cry with me, agree with me, disagree with me (kindly, please), and have fun with me on my journey to self discovery......woooooo hooooo....let's get started!!!