Diane Mickler's Blog

Teach us to number our days, thta we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

There is hardly a day that goes by without someone remarking, “I can’t believe we are beginning the holiday season! Where did the time go?” My Mama always warned us to enjoy the days you have because they are flying by. Now, I see what she meant.

I rencently read a book by Patrick Ryan, and he has a unique quote on time. “What is it about time that confounds us? We spend it. We save it. We while it away. We waste it. We kill it. We complain about not having enough of it, or about having too much of it on our hands. We regret what we’ve done with it. We give it away. We want it back. We say “Time and again” when something is bothering us, and “It’s time” when something is supposed to end. All we should ever want of time is more of it.”

The Bible tells us that the ultimate purpose of understanding life’s brevity is to “gain a heart of wisdom”. This wisdom comes from understanding the limited time we have and how best to use it.

When we realize that each of our days is numbered, it encourages us to live a life that is more intentional and focused on making choices which honor God. Ir prompts us to re evaluate our priorities and shift from worldly concerns to spiritual ones.

A woman once had a dream in which an angel gave her this message:” As a reward for your virtues, the sum of $1,440 will be deposited in your bank account every morning. This amount has only one condition. At the end of each business day, the amount that has not been used will be canceled. It won’t carry over to the next day nor accrue interest. At the start of each new day $1,440 will be credited to you.

When the woman woke up, she asked the Lord to explain what it meant. The Lord explained that she was receiving 1,440 minutes every morning which is the exact number of minutes in a 24 hour day. What she did with this deposit was important because the 1,440 minutes was all she would ever receive.

We have a similar account. Each day God grants us time to spend wisely and unselfishly so that we can close each day with joy and satisfaction. Someone once said, “Time is God’s gift to you, but what you do with your time is your gift to God!”

Everyone seems to be in a hurry these days because we are trying to get as much done as possible in the time we are allotted in a day. We have things to do and places to be, yet the Bible never says, “If you hurry, you can catch up with God”. It says, “Be still (take time) and know that I am God.”

Jesus was always busy, but He also found time to do meaningful things even though His total ministry was accomplished in three short years. He found time to pray, He found time to play with children, He found time to investigate a fig tree, He found time to nap during a boat ride, He found time to rest at noon beside a well, and He found time to aattend a wedding reception.

We don’t have time for everything, but we should make time for the important things. We need enough time to stroll the beach looking for shells, enough time to pursue our dreams, enough time to love unconditionally, and enough time to give unselfishly, just to name a few.

A friend of mine said this weekend, “I am just grateful to have the time to do the things I want to do rather than the things I have to do.”

Mother Teresa said, “Today is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let’s begin!” This morning we have 1,440 minutes of time. Let’s use it wisely.

Greater love has no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

During the American Civil War, a certain man had a son who enlisted in the Union Army. The father was a banker, and although he gave his consent to his son, it seemed as if it would break his heart to let him go.

Once his son had left, he became deeply interested in the plight of soldiers, and whenever he saw one in uniform, his heart went out to him as he thought of his own dear boy. Often to the neglect of his business, he began spending his time and money to care for the soldiers who came home disabled. His friends pleaded with him not to neglect his business in this way, by spending so much time and energy on the soldiers. So, he decided to give it all up and take his friend’s advice.

After he made this decision, however, a young private in a faded, worn uniform stepped into the bank. It was easy to discern from the wounds on his face and hands that he had been in the Army field hospital. The poor young man was fumbling in his pocket to find something when the banker saw him.

Perceiving his purpose for coming into the bank, he said to the solider, “My dear young man, I cannot help you today. I am extremely busy. You will have to go to the Army headquarters where the officers will take care of you.

The poor wounded soldier still stood there not seeming to fully understand what was being said to him. He continued to fumble in his pockets and finally pulled out a scrap of dirty paper. He laid the filthy page before the banker who read the following words written in pencil:
“Dear Father, This is one of my friends who was wounded in the last battle, and he is coming to you directly from the hospital. Please receive him as you would me.” Charlie

All the banker’s previous resolve to focus solely on his business instead of soldiers quickly flew away. He took the young man to his own magnificent home and gave him Charlie’s room and seat at the dinner table. He cared for him until the food, rest, and love returned him to health.. The young soldier then went back to his place of service to again risk his life for his cause. Copied

This story hits home with me on this Veteran’s Day as I contemplate all the men and women who have served their country and those who have given their lives for all of us. If we aren’t reminded, it is easy for those of us who have never experienced war to dismiss it as just a holiday.

We Americans love to watch war movies whether it be ones such as, The Dirty Dozen, Saving Private Ryan, The Great Escape, or countless others. These movies inspire us because we love to recount the great events and revel in victory over insurmountable odds. We love heroes! We shouldn’t honor our Veterans only once a year, but rather, every day because they are all heroes. How can we honor them better?

First, remember the price of freedom! Our veterans didn’t fight for the sake of killing, for money, or for rewards. They fought for the cause – for freedom, and that is never free! Just as David single handedly fought Goliath for His God, these veterans paid the ultimate price for their country and fellow man.

Next, honor them by learning from their example. These veterans were not afraid to take a stand and never ran from a battle. As men and women of God, we need to have a policy – no retreat, no regrets. We serve our Lord faithfully.

Finally, we need to honor our veterans by praying for all those men and women today who are in harm’s way. We know that God answers prayers, so we need to ask God for His help in protecting those who fight to protect us.

We thank God for our veterans, and we remember them for their service, their bravery, and their courage. God bless you all, and thank you!

We can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:28

In the very small town in which our family lived when we were growing up, it was possible to walk almost anywhere to get whatever was needed. The streets were quiet, and it was even possible for kids to play almost anywhere safely.

There were a variety of characters who resided there, and we even had cows at a house down the street. One of my favorite ladies was Miss Mary Emma Coachman, or as Daddy called her,”Miss Maemmie!” She lived down the block from us, and she rose every morning around 4:30 to milk her cows.

From this fresh milk, she made cream, buttermilk, and on Saturday, she churned butter. Mama had a standing order for her butter, and I picked it up every Saturday.

When daylight savings time became permanent, I asked her one Saturday how that change affected her and milking the cows. She was quick to reply, “Cows don’t have a clock They don’t tell time, and they don’t recognize the time change. I don’t change my clocks. I milk at the same time every day.”

There is much debate over the “time change” that we experience every fall and spring, but it just keeps on coming, and it inevitably disrupts our lives for weeks until we adjust! This past weekend the inevitable time change occurred, and we are in the midst of the adjustment.

Change is an inevitable part of life, even though many of us fight it. We encounter change in our relationships, careers, and even within ourselves. The world around us constantly bombards us with the need to change something in our lives. It can be anything from our weight to our hair style, our habits to our beliefs, even our lifestyle.

No matter how hard many of us fight it, change is a powerful force that moves us forward. Without change, there would be no evolution, innovation, or opportunity. I love the quote that says, “Nothing is permanent but change.” When we think about it that way, we are much more capable of adapting to it than we might think!

Change can bring us both opportunities for growth and renewal. Although it can be painful, it is essential for learning, progresing and becoming a better version of ourselves. Experts suggest that the key to navigating change is to focus on building the new rather that fighting for the old, and adapting our attitude rather than resisting what we cannot change.

Sometimes changes can be tough in our every day life. The story is told of a man who dialed the wrong number and received this message: “I am not available right now, but thank you for caring enough to call. I am making some changes in my life right now. Please leave a message after the beep. If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes.”

Jesus speaks of change as a repentance and reorientation of ones life toward God. This change involves an inner change of the mind and heart which leads to a new way of living that is not self centered. Jesus called for His followers not to conform to things of this world, but rather to be transformed or changed by their faith. This process involves following Him and changing or abandoning the old way of life.

Change is seen as a lifelong journey of maturing in faith and not a one time event. The Serenity Prayer is a well known prayer used in 12 step programs and by people seeking solace. It expresses the best way to handle change.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.

As we deal with the inevitable changes in our lives, may God lead us to handle each of them as He would have us to do.

Jesus said, “Peace to you: Just as the Father sent me, I send you.” John 20:21

On June 20, 1980 Universal Studios released the movie which would become an instant classic, The Blues Brothers. The movie tells the story of Jake and Elwood Blues and their mission from God.

Jake Blues, a vocalist and petty thief, is paroled from prison after serving a three year sentence for armed robbery. He is picked up by his brother Elwood, and they decide to make their first stop a visit to the Catholic orphanage where they were raised.

Sister Mary Stigmata who resides at the orphanage, greets the two with disturbing news. Unless the orphanage can raise the $5000.00 it owes in property taxes, the establishment will be closed. The Blues Brothers begin a trek to see what they can do to help.

At the suggestion of their friend, Curtis, the boys attend a sermon by the Reverend Cleopus James at the Triple Rock Baptist Church where Jake has an epiphany: they can reform their band, (The Blues Brothers, which disbanded when Jake went to prison), and raise money to save the orphanage. The movie tells the story of their journey to make the deadline, and their mission from God.

Although, there are many things along the way that threaten to derail their mission, the boys end up paying the property taxes for the orphanage! They complete their mission from God even though a return to prison was the price they paid.

Although the mission from God in this movie is ficticious and unrealistic, God assigns realistic missions of many different natures to us as Christians. A mission from God is rather like an assisgnment in which, we, as Christians are allowed to participate in demonstrating God’s love, promises, and hope. There are people all around us who are living out this mission from God in their everyday life.

We served five churches in our tenure in the ministry. In each one, the church had a Mission from God whether it be something like every day Bible studies or small groups, or something such as supporting missionaries and housing the homeless. Everyone worked together to make a difference. Every mission from God is important!

In the past week, I’ve seen a mission from God in action not only in our church and small groups, but also in a much larger community of friends and even strangers. Ten days ago, we got the news that the grand daughter of two of our dear friends had been admitted to ICU in Tampa, Florida with encephalitis and meningitis which resulted in brain surgery. Laine is five years old, and a precious little girl!

As word spread of her situation, we all had the conversation that began with, “What can we do to help?” It became apparent that although we couldn’t be there physically to help our friends, we had a job to do. We’ve often heard it said, “We feel so helpless. There’s nothing we can do to help,” but God says, “I have a mission for you.” It became apparent, that our mission was and is to lay all our petitions before Him, and in childlike simplicity pour out our hearts in prayer while trusting in Him to do the rest.

This mission for us at this point is to pray until the mission has been accomplished or until we have complete assurance in our hearts that it will be. Through our prayers, we are declaring that nothing is impossible with God.

Laine has proven that she is a fighter, and those of us who are on this mission from God are committed to fight this battle with her. The Tampa community, churches, and friends have banded together to pray and support the family believing that prayer breaks all barriers, dissolves all chains.

The many folks here and in so many places are committed to expect the unexpected things of God which are above all that we might ask or think. The Bible reminds us that when two or more people agree on anything to pray about on earth, God will grant it, and that Jesus is present when two or three are gathered in His name. Matthew 18:19-20

The God of hope gives us hope in the form of a promise and a track record of faithfulness that remains unbroken. We are believing that God will continue to provide the miracles needed to heal her completely. Please join us in praying for precious Laine and her family.

For God has not given us the spirit of fear or timidity, but rather of power, love, and self control. 2 Timothy 1:7

The month of October is flying by, and I never cease to be amazed at all the yard decorations celebrating Halloween. Grown men are climbing poles in order to place skeletons which wll be visible to passers by, ghosts are lurking around, witches are hanging out, pumpkins are prevalent, and huge spider webs seem to be everywhere!

High on my list of “fears” are spiders! I think it has more to do with walking into their webs than the actual spider, but it doesn’t matter because those huge webs are everywhere! While seeing them is my biggest fear, the fear of those I am with is seeing me, seeing a spider!

Fear is the unpleasant feeling one gets when we think we are in danger or that something bad might happen. It is an emotion that serves as a warning to protect one from a real or imagined threat by triggering a “fight or flight” response.

Evidently,spiders do that for me especially since the orb weaver spiders are reaching maturity at this time of year, building huge webs, and searching for mates. It is said that they are harmless, not aggressive, and they will only bite when they feel threatened which is why my fear drives me to stay away!!

Famous people throughout history have dealt with fears and phobias. Napoleon suffered from an irrational fear of cats (ailurophobia), Queen Elizabeth feared flowers especially roses (anthophobia), Howard Hughes was practically incapacitated by his fear of germs (mysophobia), and Harry Houdini dealt with his fear of claustrophobia of all things!!

There are several things that might cause fear. Specific objects (like spiders, heights, snakes, flying, etc), future events, imagined events, real environmental dangers, and fear of the unknown.

The trouble is many of us deal with some kind of fear, but we don’t consider it a major problem. I can avoid spiders,but it’s not as easy to deal with the everyday fears that are facing us in our neighborhoods, our country, our world, and many times our own personal lives.

The spiritual root of fear usually comes from our separation from God and the lack of faith we put in him to deal with it. There are many kinds of fear, but three of them come to mind today. First, the fear of failure is the most common of all because it keeps us from fulfilling our visions, hopes, and dreams. We need to realize that, not only, are our mistakes survivable, they are teaching tools which sharpen us and make us a better person.

Next, there is the fear of never being good enough. It is hard not to compare ourselves to others, but it’s not about being as good as others; it’s about being ourselves. We are all born with God given gifts to use for a purpose, and that purpose may be unlike anything we have ever known!

Finally, there is the fear of not being accepted. This may be one of the greatest sources of loneliness in our world today. There are so many among us who go home to an empty house, eat dinner alone, watch television, and then go to bed still alone. Even in a crowd, one can feel alone. The key to being accepted is to reach out to others and allow them to enter into your private world.

Sometimes we focus too much on our fears and too little on God’s power to help us deal with them. If we acknowledge them, it’s like flipping on a switch in a dark room, suddenly, we can see the mess and start decluttering.

Fear often stems from believeing lies such as, “I’m not good enough or this situation is hopeless” when Jesus says, “Do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” God wants us to stay connected to Him and to others.

In the midst of fear, the right thing to do is simply to trust God, and while we trust, He can work!

Come before His presence with singing. Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence. Applaud God. Psalm 100:2

In 1978, one of my favorite musical artists, Anne Murray, recorded the single You Needed Me. The writer, Randy Goodrum, wrote the song for his wife, and from the first stanza, the song tells a sweet story. It expresses gratitude for someone who provides support and clears up confusion during difficult times. While the song isn’t exclusively religious, it’s themes of kindness and support can certainly be interpreted that way.

The lyrics center on the writer’s view of unconditional and undeserved love. In his mind, Randy Goodrum wondered how his wife could love him as if he was perfect, when he was not.

The other day as I was on my mission to get doctor appointments, check ups, tests, and other items checked off my list before the end of the year, I was reminded of how much I love that song and its meaning.

On several occasions, when I have been in Wellstar’s Medical building on Roswell Road, I have been comforted to hear calming music coming from a couple who play in the lobby at times. The woman plays the flute, and the man accompanies her on his guitar. The sound they make together is so comforting and beautiful that many times, I will stop to listen and even sing along.

On this day, they were playing Anne Murray’s beautiful song, You Needed Me. I stopped when they finished to chat and thank them for adding the gift of their talents. I am not sure of their story, but they are so dedicated to play here and also in hospice and nursing homes in the area.

Every science agrees that music has a healing power. Research shows that it improves surgical outcomes, it reduces the side effects of cancer therapy, relieve pain, and provides a healing balm for Alzheimers and stroke victims. This comfort is so needed by so many.

My mind turned to all the people in our lives who show us by thoughts, words, and action what a gift it is to be needed. Every Christian wants to be needed in this world of today because each have special gifts and graces which can be used to ease the pain and suffering we see all around us.

When God calls us, He equips us with all we need to be help ourselves and others feel needed. The Bible says, “Ask people what you want them to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.” Matthew 7:12

There comes a time in some of our lives when we feel that we have reached the point where either we aren’t needed or we don’t need anyone. It’s like saying we don’t think we are of any use anymore. God always needs us to be open to His needs for our lives.

Many times being needed can be difficult such as in the role of a caregiver. In many cases, they deal with constant needs of those who they love, and it has hard to find a balance between physical and emotional exhaustion.

Our Daddy needed constant care near the end of his life. He didn’t really know what he wanted or needed, but I believe he somehow knew that Mama would be there to take care of his every need.

The expression unconditional love comes to mind when I think of being needed and needing others. This selfless love accepts the person as they are without conditions, ultimatums, or expectation of reciprocation.

The following lyrics from You Needed Me say it all.

I cried a tear, You wiped it dry. I was confused, You cleared my mind. I sold my soul, You bought it back for me, And held me up, And gave me dignity. Somehow you needed me.

You gave me strength to stand alone again, To face the world out on my own again. You put me high upon a pedestal, So high that I can almost see eternity, You needed me, you needed me.

And I can’t believe it’s you I can’t believe its true. I needed you, and you were there. And I’ll never leave, why should I leave I’d be a fool, ’cause I finally found someone who really cares.

You held my hand, When it was cold. When I was lost, You took me home. You gave me hope, when I was at the end, And turned my lies back into truth again, You even called me friend. You needed me. You needed me.

A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren; ill gotten wealth ends up with good people. A good person leaves an inheritance. Proverbs 13:22 from The Message

“A legacy is something we leave behind to the next generation. It can be possessions that we place in the hands of others. It can be principles that we lived that carry on beyond our lives. It also can be people we have influenced whose lives are better as a result of knowing us.” Dr. John Maxwell

Each of us leaves a legacy. As we think about the legacy we might want to leave, keep two things in mind. Today is all we are promised, and no matter who we are, we will leave some sort of legacy. A spiritual legacy can be defined as the non material wisdom, values, faith, and traditions that one passes down to subsequent generations.

On this day nine years ago, we lost our Mama suddenly, and it is a day we will never forget. She left us exactly as she had hoped she would. One minute she was going about her day, getting her hair done, and the next she was hugging Jesus. It was an unbelieveably sad day for us, but the best of days for her.

Her legacy to her girls, in laws, grandchildren, and great grandchildren is one that exemplifies all those qualities one would most hope to be able to pass on to loved ones and friends, but her greatest legacy is love.

The gift of love is most often something we do rather than just something we feel, and she did something to show that love every day. She expressed it in so many different ways; from the cards she sent to others, to the meals she prepared for folks, to the solos she sang to inspire, to the telephone calls to each of us to encourage us, to the hugs and smiles she passed generously to others every day.

So how are we supposed to honor her legacy and express our love? How should anyone honor a legacy of love? One author gave some examples, “A son drives for five hours to be with his mother on her birthday. A friend mentions a book he is interested in; his friend remembers and finds a copy to give to him for no visible reason. A middle aged couple in a restaurant see a young husband and wife with little money and secretly pay their check.

A father knows how much his daughter likes having a clean car, so he sneaks out to wash it for her as a surprise. People in a small group email each other throughout the week as a way of expressing their love and care.” All are ways to show love. and build a lasting legacy.

Jesus was the example of the legacy of love. In His 33 years on this earth, He exemplied love in all He did, and He prepared His disciples to continue His legacy of love when He was gone. They were to spread the legacy of love for God the Father through His son Jesus Christ. Love was the container in which he delivered his legacy.

According to legend, a desert wanderer discovered a spring of cool, crystal clear water, and he filled a leather container with the precious liquid to take to the king. After a long journey, he presented it to the king, who drank it with it with great pleasure and lavishly thanked the wanderer, who went away with a happy heart.

The king’s son tasted the water and spit it out because it had picked up the smell of the leather canteen and become foul. The boy asked the king why he pretended to like such awful tasting water?

The king replied, “Son that man gave me a gift from his heart. It wasn’t the water I enjoyed, but rather the sweet taste of his generosity. When someone gives you something with genuine love, the thing given is simply the container. The real gift is the thought inside.” What a legacy!

The real legacy is the gift of unconditional love. Mother Teresa used to say,, “If you can’t do great things, do little things with great love. And, if you can’t do them with great love, do them with a little love. And if you can’t do them with a little love, do them anyway.”

The lasting legacy is the unconditional thought inside us as we express love through thoughts, words, and deeds. God blessed us with such a Mama, and we will cherish her legacy forever.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23

There is an old proverb that says, “You are never too old to learn.” The proverb explains that people can acquire new knowledge and skills at any age regardless of their spiritual and/or mental limitations! It emphasizes that the human brain remains capable of forming new connections and learning new things throughout life which encourages a mindset of lifelong learning and personal growth rather than using the excuse that we might be too old to learn new things!

Just because we get older it doesn’t mean that God has relieved us of our responsibilities to Him and to others. There are so many ways that we can contribute to this world. Don’t be like the man who said, “I get up each morning and dust off my wits. I go out. get the paper, and read the obits. If my name is missing, I know I’m not dead. I eat a good breakfast and go back to bed.”

If we stay aware, there’s something we can do every day to make someone’s day. I love it when someone says or does something to or for another which can be very generic, but it seems to be just what they needed, and they respond with, “Thank you, that made my day.” I’ve had that happen to me on many occasions, and I never forgot the way it made me feel.

There are so many people in this world who could use a kind word, a simple kindness, a pat on the back, a hug, or just a smile and that makes their day. Andy Rooney once said, “I’ve learned that just one person saying to me, You’ve made my day, makes my day.

A couple of weeks ago, I had one of these experiences, and it was amazing the way it made my day. It happened on a shopping trip to Publix. The pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, and these new little pumpkin cream cheese bites had just been put out for sale. Of course, I had to buy one of these, so I decided on a package of the bites for my breakfast sweet.

As I placed those bites down with my other groceries at check out, they made their way from the cashier to the bag boy who was waiting. This young man has worked there forever, and I casually know him to speak and wave. However, when he saw those bites, his eyes lit up! He got so excited laughing, clapping his hands, and saying “I’ve never seen these. Boy, do they look good!”

His excitment was contagious and pretty soon all of us were laughing. As he was about to bag them, I said, “Would you like to open them up and taste one for me?” He stopped, looked at me, then at the cashier, and said “Yes!” He politely asked her if it was all right, she looked at me, I nodded, and he began to clap his hands.

We opened the package, he took one, his eyes rolled back in his head, and he laughed and licked his lips as he walked up and down by the cashier. By this time, we were all laughing, so I shared the rest with all those around. (I didn’t need them anyway.) The cashier smiled and said, that made his day and mine, too. It made mine as well..

As a Christian, how would God have us make someone’s day? First, in everything we do, it should be done to glorify God. There’s nothing in the Bible that says we should give up on a purpose for our lives. Those around us can see God through us as we strive to make their day through some unselfish act.

Next, we should listen to God’s direction and obey Him. When we feel God leading us to do something for others, listen. He’s showing us how to make someone’s day.

Finally, we should allow ourselves to enjoy the blessings God is putting before us. There’s nothing like the joy we get when we make someone’s day by being the person God has created us to be.

God is faithful. Whatever circumstances to make someone’s day that might arise each day, God is with you and smiling. So, go ahead, make their day!

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not. Thy compassions, they fail not, As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be. Thomas Chisholm

Judge not lest ye be judged. Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults – unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Matthew 7:1

There is precious little to watch on television these days, and so last week, I found myself returning to the old Matlock series. It was a bit refreshing to watch as Matlock, the defense attorney, matched wits with the prosecuting attorney and the judge. Of course, almost every episode ends the same way with justice prevaiing, and the defendant being proved innocent. The jury listened to the facts, and the judge ruled.

There are appropriate and inappropriate times and ways to judge others. Christ, however, in His sermon on the Mount instructs us to pay more attention to our own faults rather than judging the faults of others.

Judging is defined as forming an opinion or critical assessment based on limited evidence which often produces negative assumptions. The laws of our land proclaim that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but in everyday life, many times people falsely judged are never allowed that privilege.

Years ago there was a story of the “Gentleman Bandit” in New Jersey, a man who robbed many banks in the area. He stood out because he was so polite. He would pass a note to the tellers which read, “Please, place all your money in this bag. Thank you.”

The wide spread publicity led to a very unlikely arrest – a Catholic priest! His church was appalled, but they stood beside him because they knew him and his character. They signed petitions, protested, and came up with his bail. Meanwhile, the eye witnesses positively identified him, and the media began to dig into his past looking for anything with which to judge him.

People across the country and even those in his own church began to speculate that perhaps he had a sociopathic personality which allowed him to rob banks during the week and preach on Sunday with no guilt. Pretty soon, everyone, including his own congregation, had judged him to be guilty. The priest steadfastly, but confidently continued to proclaim his innocence.

Then, a funny thing happened. The real “Gentleman Bandit” was caught red handed. As it turned out, he was the spitting image of the priest. It’s just that he wasn’t the priest! The priest was released, the church threw him a big party assuming that he had forgiven them all, and the news media and those who had prematurely judged him went on to the next story!

Unfortunately, this story is all too common in this world of today. Without knowing all the facts, coupled with listening to unreliable sources, we make judgments about people. We, who call ourselves Christians, spread rumors under the guise of telling the truth as we see it. We destroy people’s character, and we question their integrity without ever having proof that they are guilty.

Since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, there has been a wave of judgment. There have been judgments on the rights of free speech and exactly how far that right goes. There have been judgments on the job security of airline personnel, teachers, and many others. There have been judgments on how late night hosts may or may not have gone too far with their comments. Who really sits in a seat of judgment?

One thing that can be said with certainty about judging others is that it then becomes more difficult to do an acceptable job of judging ourselves. Someone once asked, “Why is it that my dirt is never as dirty as your dirt from my perspective, and your dirt is never as dirty as my dirt from your perspective? “

There are three things to remember when we are tempted to judge others. First, remember that we will be judged by the same standards that we use to judge others.

Next, remember that each of us is accountable to God. He will judge us honestly, fairly, and truthfully. Finally, remember how merciful God has been to us with His forgiveness, His mercy, and His judgment.

When we are tempted to judge others, I would remind all of us of a saying my Grandmother loved even if she didn’t always practice it: “If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.” I would rephrase it: “If you can’t be fair in your judgment, try not to judge at all.”

This is no afternoon athletic contest that we will walk away and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps. A life or death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels. Be prepared, you are up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting, you’ll still be on your feet. Ephesians 6:12-13

This past week has been so terribly unbelieveable that it is almost impossible to put into words the emotions, the disbelief, and the anguish our country has experienced. A couple of months ago, a dear friend, Marion, used the acronym F.R.O.G in one of her writings. It stands for Fully Relying On God, and I can’t think of any better way for us to handle the tragedies of the past week.

The above scripture instructs Christians to put on the “full armor of God” to stand firm against the spiritual struggle, not with people, but rather against demonic powers like rulers and authorites in the heavenly realm.

It confuses me to read that scripture and yet be able to put a face to the person who has committed such unspeakable crimes. It is almost impossible to look beyond their faces and see the unseen enemy. It is what controls the person that is our true enemy. That’s when I repeat F.R.O.G. to myself, and I try to leave it in His hands.

When we Fully Rely On God, we trust His faithfulness and wisdom even in difficult times. Each time our nation faces a tragedy, it seems to enable each American no matter the differences, to turn to prayer, a moment of silence in remembrance, acknowledge a flag flown at half mast, and an acknowledgement of His power over our circumstances. We all bond together in Christian love and prayer, and in a few weeks, it is all forgotten.

Charlie Kirk was a deeply religious man, but also a man devoted to listening to the views, opinions, and beliefs of others even though they might be different from his own. He gained his inner peace, confidence, and endruance through His faith and recognition that God provides for all our needs through His unchanging and eternal nature. We must Fully Rely on God to deal with our confusion.

Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian immigrant, did nothing more than board a subway in Charlotte, NC, and she became the victim of a stabbing. She had survived in the Ukraine in a bomb shelter and made her way to Charlotte seeking nothing more than refuge and promise. Her only mistake was boarding a subway train. We remember to F.R.O.G.

As the unrest deepens and more social media sites stir up the political unrest in our country, our job is to be the voice of reason in an otherwise insane atmosphere. We are to Fully Rely On God.

Just like the young man, who instead of asking questions of Charlie Kirk, chose to climb up on a roof and with a single shot end a life, people are taking drastic measures when they disagree with others. As Christians, we have to be ready to defend our faith and political views in a way that mirrors Jesus while wearing “the full armor of Christ.”

In her remarks, Erika Kirk vowed to keep her husband’s legacy alive. She said, “If you think my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea what you have just unleashed across this entire country and this world.”

My prayer is that Christians can ignite an awakening that the battle is not physical, but spiritual, requiring divine power rather than worldly methods. Spiritual weapons such as prayer, the Bible, and relying on God’s strength are the things we need to win the battle.

We can be certain that Charlie Kirk is resting in the arms of his Savior. God bless the Kirk family.