When You Get Off the Bench

You’ve done it. We’ve all done it; this weekend I did it.

We’ve sat and watched people go by.

Sitting on a bench at Silver Dollar City I observed all manner, shape and size of people. As I sat there making observations, which is merely a euphemism for making a judgment, snap decisions about their life, their choice of clothing and their financial status resounded in my head. Being transparent has always been part of my blog, so I’d have to admit I was pleased to be wearing sunglasses so I could surreptitiously stare at people.

For nearly an hour, I sat on the bench making ‘observations’. As I got up to go the Holy Spirit spoke to me saying, “When you sit there, you are making judgments, but when you get off the bench other people are now making judgments about you.”

Ouch!

I don’t have a scripture to offer, nor an uplifting thought except to remind us that God looks on the heart, He knows our every thought.

It would seem that God is dealing with me regarding judgments, as this is the second time I’ve written about it, see To Judge or Not To Judge.

Growing in Grace and Glory,
Kim Angela

Side Note: Honestly, I would have to say that I am more of a people listener than a people watcher. I enjoying watching people but I’d rather listen to the table next to me at a restaurant. If we ever run in to each other at a restaurant, don’t sit at the table next to me.

Gold in the Clouds - 2nd Chapter of Acts

Nine months...long enough to produce a baby, unless you're an elephant.
Nine months...long enough to get one year of education under your belt.
Nine months...that's how long it's been since I last posted a new blog.

Nine months have brought travel opportunities, long hours at work, medical downs and miracle highs. With blog thoughts wafting through my head I've picked a moment out of the last nine months to share with you.

Remember 2nd Chapter of Acts?

Not the 2nd Chapter of Acts, but the brother/sister trio from the late 70's, early 80's.
Last week as I drove to work listening to the Mansion Builder album (their best) I was singing along to the song, Gold in the Clouds. After 30 years of listening to this song a line jumped out at me and I began to wonder.

I wonder if I were in someone else's shoes
Would I be like them, or would I still be me?


Prone to wondering thoughts…here are mine.

•What if I'd reacted differently to even one of the events in my life?

•Where would I be now?

•Would I be me?

•Would I be something other than who I am?


Oooo scary deep!

Many believe we are products of our situations, circumstances and environment; an amalgamation of every event in our life. Situations have directed and molded us into who we are.

I'm not sure that it is the events in our life that mold us, but how we react to the events in our life.

Through the maturing process our reactions to the events in our life become the spring board for the next step.

In Ephesians 5 Paul wrote, “Be imitators of God…”.

Where would I be if I’d been a better imitator of God in my reactions to certain events in my life?

Where would I be if I hadn’t been an imitator of God?

Where would you be?

What would have been different in your life?

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph. 5:1-2 (NIV)


Kim Angela



Gold in the Clouds

I'm still finding gold in the clouds
Through all the shadows and the patterns of doubt
I'm still finding gold in the clouds
There, I said it again

Even when the eastern sky fills up with light
I don't see the sun 'till you're there
Even when the moon comes out to play at night
I don't see the light 'till you're there
There, I said it again

I wonder if I were in someone else's shoes
Would I be like them, or would I still be me?
I wonder when I'm old if I will understand
Everything I say
I sure hope it's that way