Sunday, October 14, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
SPECKS and PLANKS
Airing people’s personal laundry seems to have become an epidemic that most people get involved in on some level. As soon as the media (or an alleged insider) breaks the news, it spreads like wild fire through phone calls, emails, texts, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, etc. Seemingly no one is exempt – we gravitate to the stories of the corrupt politician, adulterous minister, divorcing celebrity or whoever is presently under attack.
By no means am I pointing fingers at anyone because I too have given my share of “Oh my goodness,” “Did they really do that,” “I can’t believe it,” “I always knew something wasn’t right,” and “They should be ashamed of themselves – I would never …” It’s funny how easy it is to get so caught up in the details of someone else’s life. We discuss them with our friends, family, coworkers and social media friends as they unfold. Or we make our own speculations on how we think it will unfold. Often, we have completely crucified the targeted person without even having all the details. We point out their lack of commitment, integrity, moral values, trust, etc. We decide what and how their actions should affect their lives, relationships, jobs and positions. We quickly become the judge and the juror.
But what if …
What if for one week, one day or even one hour all the media cameras were tuned into our lives? What if they were able to reveal the most intimate details of both our words and actions? What if the covers were pulled off our hidden sins and exposed them for the entire world to evaluate?
I’m sure we would be quick to come up with an answer, reason and excuse for everything we’ve done.
I’m sure we would expect instant forgiveness – because at the end of the day, we are all human, right?
I’m sure we would immediately start campaigning for people’s trust and respect for us to be restored in spite of whatever we’ve done.
Isn’t it interesting how when the tables are turned, our reaction to the news breaking story makes a 180 degree turn? We need to stop spending all our energy pointing out the faults of everyone else and take regular moral inventory in our own lives. Exert just as much time and passion in getting our own lives in order than we do telling others what they should and should not do.
I’m not suggesting that we don’t hold our Christian brothers and sisters accountable for their actions. However, I am suggesting that we spend more time taking a look within than we do taking a look at others.
Let’s all begin dealing with our own “planks” before we point out everyone else’s “specks.” The scriptures are clear on this subject:
“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 plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5
"And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” - Matthew 7:3 (NKJ)
Funmi Akinwunmi
posted in from
Streaming Faith.
By no means am I pointing fingers at anyone because I too have given my share of “Oh my goodness,” “Did they really do that,” “I can’t believe it,” “I always knew something wasn’t right,” and “They should be ashamed of themselves – I would never …” It’s funny how easy it is to get so caught up in the details of someone else’s life. We discuss them with our friends, family, coworkers and social media friends as they unfold. Or we make our own speculations on how we think it will unfold. Often, we have completely crucified the targeted person without even having all the details. We point out their lack of commitment, integrity, moral values, trust, etc. We decide what and how their actions should affect their lives, relationships, jobs and positions. We quickly become the judge and the juror.
But what if …
What if for one week, one day or even one hour all the media cameras were tuned into our lives? What if they were able to reveal the most intimate details of both our words and actions? What if the covers were pulled off our hidden sins and exposed them for the entire world to evaluate?
I’m sure we would be quick to come up with an answer, reason and excuse for everything we’ve done.
I’m sure we would expect instant forgiveness – because at the end of the day, we are all human, right?
I’m sure we would immediately start campaigning for people’s trust and respect for us to be restored in spite of whatever we’ve done.
Isn’t it interesting how when the tables are turned, our reaction to the news breaking story makes a 180 degree turn? We need to stop spending all our energy pointing out the faults of everyone else and take regular moral inventory in our own lives. Exert just as much time and passion in getting our own lives in order than we do telling others what they should and should not do.
I’m not suggesting that we don’t hold our Christian brothers and sisters accountable for their actions. However, I am suggesting that we spend more time taking a look within than we do taking a look at others.
Let’s all begin dealing with our own “planks” before we point out everyone else’s “specks.” The scriptures are clear on this subject:
“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 plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5
"And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” - Matthew 7:3 (NKJ)
Funmi Akinwunmi
posted in from
Streaming Faith.
LOVE: Maybe you and I still need to do more ?
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO KEEP THAT LOVE?
So many people come to church fellowship everyday,but some of us have no idea the kind of pain,hurt,unforgiveness,sickness,anger these people are battling with,of course we can't help them all but the question is what have we done to show our love to just only one person?
What have you done to keep that great friendship that you once shared with someone,have we taken it for granted? What have we done to return that amazing love that's so much been given to us,have we taken the love for granted? What have we done to keep that promise of love?
Are we always on the receiving side? It is so much nice,peaceful,good when we are on the receiving end but have we ever thought of giving out?Have we ever tried giving out love without us expecting anything back in return? How much have we sacrificed?
Let's think about this.. what have we done to keep the relationship between God and us,God has given and showered us with so much love but what have we done to show him we love him,have you ever returned his love,i mean unconditionally..Have we tried sacrificing anything to this our God? Is he getting back the love he has and he's still showing us?
Have we walked out on our friends,family,loved one just because we are not getting anything in return again(maybe that's when these people really needed us? Have we ever refused to forgive the mistake of a friend?How many times has God forgiven us?
How many times have we given to someone in need or or how many times have we picked up our phones to call a friend,a loved one or a family that needs to be encouraged? How many times have we shown Gods love to people? How many times has God shown us love?
What is our idea of GOD'S love . Someday we might be these people, we might be the one that needs to be shown love, that needs to be forgiven..
Let us learn to start doing those good things that we want people to do to us. The love has to start from the church. What have we done to keep our own part of the deal?
So many people come to church fellowship everyday,but some of us have no idea the kind of pain,hurt,unforgiveness,sickness,anger these people are battling with,of course we can't help them all but the question is what have we done to show our love to just only one person?
What have you done to keep that great friendship that you once shared with someone,have we taken it for granted? What have we done to return that amazing love that's so much been given to us,have we taken the love for granted? What have we done to keep that promise of love?
Are we always on the receiving side? It is so much nice,peaceful,good when we are on the receiving end but have we ever thought of giving out?Have we ever tried giving out love without us expecting anything back in return? How much have we sacrificed?
Let's think about this.. what have we done to keep the relationship between God and us,God has given and showered us with so much love but what have we done to show him we love him,have you ever returned his love,i mean unconditionally..Have we tried sacrificing anything to this our God? Is he getting back the love he has and he's still showing us?
Have we walked out on our friends,family,loved one just because we are not getting anything in return again(maybe that's when these people really needed us? Have we ever refused to forgive the mistake of a friend?How many times has God forgiven us?
How many times have we given to someone in need or or how many times have we picked up our phones to call a friend,a loved one or a family that needs to be encouraged? How many times have we shown Gods love to people? How many times has God shown us love?
What is our idea of GOD'S love . Someday we might be these people, we might be the one that needs to be shown love, that needs to be forgiven..
Let us learn to start doing those good things that we want people to do to us. The love has to start from the church. What have we done to keep our own part of the deal?
Written by
Funmi Akinwunmi
December 2011
Funmi Akinwunmi
December 2011
Akiyo ALUMA writes on The Bible
Why read the Bible?
Why do I need the bible and yet I can get wisdom and guidance through books written by powerful and successful men?
The Bible is the word of God and the word is God Himself
The Bible is God’s presence, it is a friend; and a companion
The Bible is unconditional love; for God is love
The Bible is the truth that sets us free, God is true, His word is true. The Bible is an assurance of tomorrow, the hopes and promises from God.
The Bible is comfort, it gives us this stillness of the heart, peace and joy. The Bible is wisdom. It grants wisdom. The Bible gives us satisfaction and fills up the emptiness that is deep within us
The Bible is a compass. It directs our paths.
The Bible counsels, corrects and advises.
The Bible heals physical sicknesses and wounds,
It heals bitterness from the past and brokenness.
It makes us whole.
The Bible gives us peace of mind;
The Bible takes away our guilt; It lightens our burdens.
The Bible takes away our worries; it nails down fears.
It gives us a sound mind and a calm spirit.
The Bible is the book that was written once and never edited; only translated into different languages and versions for better understanding. The Bible is life and it is life in abundance!! Not reading the Bible throughout the week makes us weak.
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