Judging Others

Mathew 7: 1-6

¹ “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
  ³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
   ⁶ “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

The past few days have been very interesting.  I've taken notice of people making judgements about me.  ME?!?!?! I'm nobody special and definitely not one to be excluded, but when I saw this occur it truly hurt my feelings.  People can be so mean, uncaring, spiteful, and malicious.  But when I think of how people treated Jesus...I don't mind it at all.  It still hurts, but I can withstand it because He did for me. 

WHEN WE JUDGE PEOPLE WE USE A LESS MATURE FORM OF THINKING that makes unsophisticated, crude, and categorical impressions of others. Rather than learn about the depth and breadth of people--their history, interests, values, strengths, and true character--we categorize them. However, if we resist initial stereotypical impressions, we have a chance to be aware of what a person is truly like. If we spend time with a person, hear and learn about his or her life, hopes, dreams, and become aware of the person's character, we use a different, more mature style of thinking—

Lets begin to think about how our actions can affect others. 

Love & Blessings

Corner Girls...

Corner Girls…

Corner girls are what I call them.  You may know them by the term Prostitute, sensual provider, courtesan, call girl, hooker, whore, street walker, woman of the night, harlot, sex worker, street walker, or any other slang word used.  And “Corner Girls” is a word I’ve recently began to refer to them as.  You may wonder or be curious as to why I am writing on this topic. WHY AM I WRITING ABOUT THIS?!?!?! I don’t know.  To simply answer the question, it’s because I see them.  I see them.  I know who they are.  I know what they’re doing.  I know… and I see them. 

I’m intrigued and disgusted at the same time.  I’m intrigued because I want to know more about them.  My interest in them comes from my concern for them. They have a name.  They all have a story.  How did you get here is what I want to know.  What happened?  On the flip side, I’m completely disgusted at the immorality of it.  It shows women portraying themselves in the worst possible way.  Dirty, trifling, nasty, filthy, pathetic, pitiful, shameful, disgraceful, having no self value-no worth.  And these girls are not girls as all.  They’re women just like me.  The only difference is something happened that led them to believe that what they were doing was ok and acceptable.  When will women such as the “Corner Girls” realize their worth?    

On the corner waiting is where I see them.  Waiting.  Waiting.  Waiting.    I used to watch them months ago before the wintery cold weather and snow.  These were the days when my curiosity began to intensify.  I was curious and interested.  More so, because I was trying to figure out if these women that I saw were truly, “Corner Girls”. I would say, “NOOOOOOoooo…couldn’t be, could it?”  I would think about it for a moment or two and then continue my drive home.  I mostly saw them when I left work. Down the street and around the corner is where these women were.  They weren’t hidden or out of sight, or secluded.  They were in plain sight-very visible.  Now many of you know me and know that I work in an environment which is completely opposite the environment that I was raised.  Enduring culture shock has become the norm for my day to day interactions.  But this is something that I couldn’t seem to fathom the first time I witnessed exactly what was going on.  As we set into spring time, these women began to creep out and make a statement that let me know that they were indeed, “Corner Girls”.  I wasn’t sure then, but I’m sure now. 

It amazes me that women would degrade themselves in that manner.  But I have to question myself, am I really that surprised and my response is a sad, “NO”. 

Now tell me why my interpretation of a prostitute comes from the movie “Pretty Woman” with Julia Roberts.  Some of you laugh at this.  In fact, I myself laugh at it, because it’s not reality.  Not even close to reality. 

As I watch them, I begin to take notice of their mannerisms and their appearance.  I felt like a private investigator examining them as if there was something that I could do about their situations.  I would look to my right as I rode down the street in my car.  Not too slow, but fast enough to be able to make some quick observations without looking like I was lost or confused or just being too nosey in this part of the city.  After passing them, I would check my review mirror or periodically turn around to catch another glimpse of these “Corner Girls”.  One of the first things I noticed was the way they looked.  The way they represented themselves.  Well, to keep it simple, they looked a HOT MESS!  Unkempt. Messy.   Hair all over the place, cheap mismatched clothes, bad weave,  bad wig,  hair all over, usually smoking a cigarette, standing in the most unlady like manner.  Just a mess.  Not what I would have envisioned at all.  Another thing I noticed was that I never saw the same girl twice.  Weird huh? I thought so.  I assumed that the same girl I saw on Monday I would or should see again within a week or two.  But I didn’t.  I don’t understand.  And something else was that there was always only one girl.  Only one.  That was weird to me as well. 

Now I know there are different perspectives on “Corner Girls”.  As naïve as I may sound, I don’t understand that these things still exist despite me being unaware of what some may refer to as the “Real” world.  I many times stay in my own little bubble.  My environment, my neighborhood, my home and all those places that give me comfort.  Yet there are many things that WE don’t see.  Things that may or may not affect us but affect the lives of other people.  I recall a movie, well a line from a movie that said, “Open up those pretty brown eyes” and I’m going to use this as a metaphor because a lot of times we see what we want to see and disregard everything else.  I grew up sheltered to say the least and I’m thankful for my mom’s constant protection and guidance, yet at times I feel like I’m so out on the limb concerning some things. I pray for these “Corner Girls” and I ask you to join in with me and pray for these women too.  Please understand that these women are daughters, mothers, sisters, even grandmothers.  Some young, some old.  It’s not fun having sex with strangers.  And in my opinion it's not something you do unless you are desperate. Really, really desperate. 

Pretty Girls Rock Dresses!

Pretty Girls Rock Dresses!

PGR Dresses is a movement!  And I am all on board.  I first found out about this “Movement” on Facebook and I was immediately drawn in, interested, and connected to the overall cause.  I immediately asked all my girlfriends to join in with me.  Were they up to the Challenge?  Was I up to the Challenge?  Of course I was… But a challenge it became. Definitely not as easy as I thought it would be. 

If you know nothing about this, you are probably wondering what in the world is Pretty Girls Rock Dresses.  Well allow me to shed some light for all the ladies and gentlemen too.  What began as a challenge amongst girlfriends has turned into the PRETTY GIRLS ROCK DRESSES CHALLENGE. 

PGRDresses Mission:

1. We will ROCK dresses (skirts) and CUTE SHOES (heels and/or flats)  like our mothers and grandmothers at least THREE (3) days a week.

2. We will reject the IMPULSE to throw on jeans, jogging suits (EVEN THE CUTE KIND),  and dress slacks.

3. We will exchange our revelations and thoughts throughtout this challenge. 

4. We will invite our friends to join.

5. We will include our daughters and young women we mentor.

6. We will take Pictures and Have FUN!!!!

7. Everyone is welcomed to participate.

Exceptions: Flattering/Very Feminine Dress Suits are ALLOWED

The whole idea of this movement is to embrace girlyness.  It could be anything from your dress to your shoes to your perfume to your jewelry and even to your lip gloss.  The idea is to embrace being a woman.  Women need to exhibit the grace and femininity and beauty that make women who we are.  So I encourage you to Take the CHALLENGE.  I’m trying to post a few pictures a week as I continue to “Rock Dresses” so hopefully it will inspire you to do the same.   Check out their website at prettygirlsrockdresses.com Love & Blessings!

If CHRIST has our Love...

“If Christ has our love, he has our all; and Christ never has what He deserves from us, till He has our love.  True love withholds nothing from Christ, when it is sincerely set upon him. If we actually love him, He will have our time, and He will have our service, and He will have the use of all our resources, and gifts, and graces; indeed, then He shall have our possessions, freedom, and our very lives, whenever He calls for them. In the same way, when God loves any of us, He will withhold nothing from us that is good for us.  He did not hold back his own only begotten Son, Rom.8:32. When Christ loves us, He gives us everything we need-- His merits to justify us, His Spirit to sanctify us, His grace to adorn us, and His glory to crown us. Therefore, when any of us love Christ sincerely, we lay everything down at his feet, and give up all to be at his command and service.”

I don't remember who said this or who wrote it, but I do remember that it pricked my heart.  It amazes me that people don't realize the power of the word LOVE. 

Is learning to love yourself really what people need to start doing? Is the problem with people that they dony love themselves enough so why would they or could they love Christ? 

I want people to show  love to Jesus like never beore.  You may have to do something which you have never done before.

I love being an Aunt!

I love being an AUNT and everything that comes along with it. 
Meet Amber Marie Viola Foster

I love how easy it is to get my almost 2 year old niece to laugh. Why, because she laughs at absolutely EVERYTHING!  Amber is such a joy and her laugh is so infectious! It is so easy to get her to smile and laugh; her happiness really lights up your face and those around.  I think she's got one of the sweetest smiles in the world.  It’s practically impossible not to laugh or smile when she starts smiling and giggling.  Amber is a sassy almost 2 year old.   This picture is of her and I in the car last Saturday afternoon.  She was playing with my sunglasses that she so willingly dug through my purse to retrieve. 

I'll share more about Amber later!

Welcome to the WORLD of Blogging!!

I'm finally blogging! This is so very exciting for me considering how much I LOVE to write...  Eventhough I enjoy writing I seldom get the opportunity to just sit down, relax, and allow my thoughts to appear on paper.  I often find myself talking to my family and friends or co workers (who are tired of my complaining) or scribbiling words here and there in my blackberry or stray sheets of paper with every intention to "return later" to finish my thought process.  But here I am...blogging!  Yippie!  Lets just see how long this lasts.  A close friend of mine has really been on me to start blogging, but my life becomes so hectic and crazy (literally) that the day really just gets away from me.  I'm really good at prioritizing and organization eventhough I am known to procrastinate.  I think he just wanted me to blog so I could stop rambling off at the mouth.  He says his ears are burning...oh whatever!!

So, my goal with this blog is really just to say whatever I want, when I want, and how I want.  LOL!  Seriously, right?  Ok, not quite the answer you were probably seeking.  Well, my goal is to share.  To share  my THOUGHTS, my LOVE for things, my passion for CHRIST, and my ever growing list of hobbies and interests.

Well, until next time...TTYL