November 22, 2024

Scripture—

Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.” 

(1 Samuel 2:3)

I like baseball. The Cincinnati Reds are my favorite team and always have been since I was about 7 years old when my dad and some of his friends took me to a game at the old Crosley Field location.   I have attended Red’s games at Crosley Field, Riverfront Stadium and Great American Ball Park over the years. 

 I like the Red’s no matter where they play. In fact I like them to the point, that I have an app for them on my phone so I can get up dates about the team and the games all of the time. 

I like the Red’s win or lose. 

I have always listened to them on the radio and watched when the games were shown on TV. Back then before the days of cable and satellite, the games were not always on TV so I always had my radio tuned to the Reds station.  I listen to the Reds on the radio and watch them on TV. I try to attend at least one game a year. 

I was talking to a friend about being at the the ballgame.   

He said. “So………you are a Christian?”

To which I replied, “Yes!” 

“So what do you do about the beer they sell at the game?” He asked.

I replied. “Well, when I buy my ticket I am not required to buy beer. I go to see the Reds play ball, not to drink beer.”

Then I paused….(And sometimes God just gives you a response even without you asking.)

I said. “I see you shopping here at Walmart.  So what do you do about the alcohol they sell here?”

This gentleman suddenly had to hurry on his way home. I think he left his curling iron on at home or something!  (LOL) 

I felt kind of bad at first for him. Then I realized that Satan was using him to attack my faith. 

There are bad things all around us in this world. We all have to make choices. I do not have to answer for your choices and you do not have to answer for mine.

I am not judge you and you should not judge me. Besides that is God’s job. 

I have yet to see where God is taking applications for people to judges each other.  However we humans sure do like to try that job on for size and in the process of doing so we end up hurting ourselves and others. We, also end up giving Christianity a bad name. 

Remember that little song we learned as children. (This is the shorten version.)

“Oh be careful little eyes what you see. Oh be careful little ears what you hear. Oh be careful little feet where you go. Oh be careful little hands what you do. Oh be careful little heart who you trust. Oh be careful little mouth what you say. For the Father up above is looking down in love.”

Maybe we should change the last two lines to:

 “Oh be careful big mouth what you say. Oh be careful who you talk about. For the Father up above is looking down in love!

 Prayer–Heavenly Father, help us to not talk about others, no matter what kind of reasons we think we may have. Help us to not judge others, for that is your job. Help us not to think badly of others when we see them somewhere that we think they should not be. 

Remind us, Father God, to pray for you guidance for ourselves.  Help us to remember that we are to love each other and to be kind to one another at all times and not just when we want to be.  We ask this in your Son’s name, Amen.

the Church Mouse

Work hard; Pray harder!