To whom it may concern

To whom it may concern,

I'll begin with saying that yes, I may be pointing a finger as I write this - but I'm not judging, only making my best attempt at correcting you by bringing up your awareness in hopes that you might walk on the narrow path which I am trying to follow, rather than seeing you with only one foot on it. As I point my finger at you, with love, I realize that there are three fingers pointing back at me. I hope to bring my awareness regarding my own walk as I write this, as I still have a much progress to make and will never "arrive," but will rather be intentional about making this journey rather than becoming complacent. (rev 3:16)

You love God. This I will not debate. I believe you have good intentions, and I believe that you believe in Him - though I write this to spark a though process which would cause you to evaluate if you love Him in --actions-- as well as if you know that He loves you.

Forgive me if I skip around a bit in this letter to you, I have much on my mind and am having a hard time articulating my words or order of my thoughts properly this morning.

Romans 2:13 says "For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous."

We are all judgemental, especially myself, though I improve in this every day with God's help. I hope others, besides you, feel this letter is for them, so I will not be specific about a situation but I will say that I find you to be judgemental. You are so forgiving and non-judgemental when it comes to family, especially myself, and I thank God for that - though I must point out how judgemental you appear to be regarding the people whom you are not close to.

I began to look up scripture on judgement, but I feel that is not needed. You can find it, and plenty of it. The word of God is not new to you, but regretfully I believe you have been taught either by pastors or television evangelists whom have perverted the word that judgement is love or that it is our place to judge. I anticipate that you are already thinking of the fact that we will even judge the angels, but in regards to that verse AND the surrounding verses, that is NOT today or while in our physical bodies. We have no right to judge people, that's God's job.. but how dare we judge in light of the fact that we're not even following His GREATEST commandment! Judging someone for their language, sexual preference or action upon that, greed, gluttony.. whatever it may be... that's a prime of example of us trying to remove the speck from someones eyes when we have a PLANK (not following God's GREATEST command in FULL) in our own.

Going back to Romans 2:13 - it says that those who obey the law whom will be declared righteous. I commend your honest pursuit for Christ. I am thankful that you have forgiven me and still love me as we have come through some rough years. I am grateful for your help, and grateful that you shared Christ with me the best way you could a long time ago. Today is a new day though, I encourage you to pay attention to God's command to love, because to be quite honest I feel you're really missing out on the life God has for you - and it breaks my heart.

God commands us to love one another, and this extends way beyond the doors of our homes, extends past our family, and past our co-workers. I know you don't believe that is enough, as you've stated it to me recently. This life is short, you know this as well as I do. I know you have a life, a home, a job, and bills. These things you will always have, God willing. It's time to get out and love people. It's time to show --unconditional-- love to people who don't know Christ. Did Jesus show judgement towards the non-believers? If I remember correctly, He asked God to forgive the very ones whom beat and killed Him.

It's time to pull your sleeves up and get your elbows dirty. God has commanded us to love, and I never found ANY true happiness in my life until I was able to do this. As you know, I have been blessed by a community whom has loved and embraced me through the worst of times - and now I know how to love, and to love in my actions. I am truly grateful for my life, for what Jesus did for me on the cross, for my salvation and many other things -- so I show it. I show it by pursuing not only God, but people.. I show it by pursing the lost. I run after them, every day. I love on them. How could I not? If I truly, truly know God's love.. how would it be possible for me to not share it?

I don't know what serving God looks like for you, but I know you won't find true happiness until you do. I want you to be happy - I love you. Maybe it's putting stamps on envelopes for a nearby church community that pursues people, maybe it's answering a phone for them on an off day. Maybe it's mowing a neighbors lawn whom may even be perfectly capable, or bringing a neighbor you don't like some cookies. Maybe it's joining a womens small group or community group which focuses on some of the same struggles that you face so that you may share and build up others as you are built up (proverbs 27:17). Maybe serving for you consists of handing out water bottles or cans of coke on the Saturday outreach your local church does, telling people that "I'm just doing this to show you God's love in a practical way." Maybe it's paying for the car behind you at McDonalds and asking the cashier to give them a note on which you've written "Jesus loves you!" Maybe it looks like becoming a "big sister" so that you can spend some time with and build into a little girl who doesn't have much of a family, a little girl who's not pulling good grades because of the drama at home and is scared to bring that report card home after what her father said he might do -- SO THAT YOU CAN LOVE HER WHEN NO ONE ELSE WILL. I don't know what serving God looks like for you, but I encourage you to be intentional, today, about finding out. Don't wait for some revelation. Don't wait for a great suggestion, a dream, or a hunch. Pick something, get out of your comfort zone, obey God. Believing isn't enough. Loving me isn't enough. Reading your word is not enough. Please, please.. don't miss out on this blessing. You have the opportunity to WORK for Jesus.. to do His work.

Are you excited about working for your company, for your boss? You sure seem excited when I am blessed with a good job or good opportunity, and that makes me feel good.. but really.. think about it, really think about it.. the man.. God.. in human flesh.. who came down over 2,000 years ago, and died for our sins.. yeah that guy. The one who arose from the dead... are you grasping the reality of Him beyond the ink on the pages? He's real. He wants your help, and actually He commands it if you are seeking Him. Why, or how, could you possibly keep saying no? What will it take? Does He need to come down and speak to you directly? How can you possibly go another day without devoting yourself to building into the very Kingdom that offers you eternal life with Him?

It's time to get out, and get out, and do something. Not out of fear, but out of obedience and with a cheerful heart. I want this for you. I want you to experience what I'm experiencing. I want you to live the life He's given us to the fullest. We are not to sit around watching the clock and wait for heaven.. God created this - stop taking it for granted.

I love you. Don't be mad. God has been pushing me to write this.

- J