The story behind the scenes!

Don’t judge and you won’t be judged.

Matthew 7:1

Treat others the way you would have them to treat you.

Matthew 7:12

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV

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As we go through the days of our lives, we meet people, we get to know people.  We may think we know them more than others, because we watch them day in, day out, as the world turns.

We even think we know people at a glance from their behaviors and size them up just from the brief intervals that we see of them.

Then we come to conclusions of how the story will end as we summarize them from behind the scenes.  But none of us know or have really scene behind the curtains of what a person went through before they got their to the part you see.

I think we might be more willing to treat others the way God says if we did.  He knows each one, knew each part given to us at the beginning, and what happened to interrupt them from acting the way God wrote in the script-tures.

*It’s really not up to us to judge, but even then, our part is to love and pray for them, even at a glance.

Matthew 22:39; Matthew 5:43-45

Especially this time of year when people are more into celebrating the Santa clause more than the story of Jesus.  They need to know the truth instead of tales.

It’s is really a time that people really need love shown with the truth, instead of the grinch.

John 15:9

Do you see yourself anywhere in these stories?

If you’re not at the latter Part, how about pausing and saying a prayer for that someone or displaying the love God scripted you to….you can do that today! 

On Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 7:58 PM Maria Vann <mariavann715@gmail.com> wrote:

Love Rehearsal!

Spiritual Vitamins!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:8

How are you doing in your practice with love?

Everyday, we get to show it off to our family, friends, and people we meet.

Are you displaying love regardless of who sees you, whether you like their behavior or not.  Whether you believe they have wronged you? 

Regardless if they really pay attention to your drama?

Are you really showing love or are you acting?

You might as well be honest, God already has scene your real actions.

You can go ahead and start now with rehearsal until you get it right.  How about starting today! 

On Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 7:54 PM Maria Vann <mariavann715@gmail.com> wrote:

One size does not fit all!

Spiritual Vitamins!

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another, if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Colossians 3:12-14 GNT

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Ephesians 6:11 NIV

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 NIV

We sometimes try to put everyone in the same category that we are in or that we think we are in. Being prideful.  Sometimes, the shoes we walk in are not for others to wear.  

Sometimes we size people up by what we see on the outside.  What we see is not always what there actually is.  Only God knows us thoroughly, and tells us how to dress in the appropriate attire for each of us.  Because He knows how to help us walk in the New person, the one He created us to be.

Now when it comes to our protective gear, we should all be wearing it to keep from allowing the enemy to penetrate through with his venomous lies to reach our vital organs.

We should be more concerned about a person’s heart than their outward appearance.  We should care for them sincerely.  Then we can pray for them, allowing love to cover them.

Can you think of someone who could use your help, instead of your critique…by clothing them with love?

How about doing it… today! 

On Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 7:52 PM Maria Vann <mariavann715@gmail.com> wrote:

Spiritual Vitamins!

“One thing you lack”..

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Mark 10:21

“One thing I have asked”….

“One thing have I asked of the Lord”, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

“One thing is needed”….

But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:42 NKJV

“One thing I do”….

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But “one thing I do”: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead…

Phillipians 3:13 NIV

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Jesus told the good Samaritan, one thing you lack…

David the psalmist said, one thing I have asked and seek after…

Jesus told Martha, one thing is needed…

Paul told the Phillipians, one thing I do…

Take a look at these scriptures and see if there is anything you lack; or seek after; or one thing that you need; or are you defocused?

Can you look and be honest and say, I need to focus more on following Jesus and not on worldly things?

Or do you have a desire to dwell in the presence of God?  More in prayer, more in fellowship, more in quiet time or just listening to Him..to worship Him?

Or to apply yourself more to the needful thing of being attentive to the things of God, and not allow yourself to be distracted?

Or to begin focusing on things hoped for, and not dwelling on the past, or so busy thinking you already know, that you miss out on what you really don’t know?

If we are honest, there is most likely “one thing” we can do better.

How about working on one today? 

On Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 7:48 PM Maria Vann <mariavann715@gmail.com> wrote:

Lost and Found!

Spiritual Vitamins!

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 18:22 ESV

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13

For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 8:35
___________________
Lost and Found!
Finding God and finding a wife according to scripture is good.

Adam was favored right from the beginning with both.
He didn’t even have to work to find them.

He had a “good life” according to Genesis.  Everything God made was good!  He gave it all to Adam to take care of for life.  He told them to pro-create. (Be fruitful and multiply. Gen. 1:28)
He gave Him one stipulation to protect them from losing it all.  Gen 2:15-17.

But before they ever could (multiply), they ran into the enemy who lied to them.  They believed the lie, then he lost his good thing.

He lost the good relationship he had with God, and eventually his wife, and his life.

Jesus gave His life to restore our relationship with God, and put things back in their right order.

But the enemy is still telling lies, and look around, man is still believing them.

If your relationship with God has been restored, don’t lose your good thing by listening to the enemy.  Protect what God has blessed (favored) you with. 

Listen Men….. Women, & Children! 
Get in the Word, stand on what it says! Know the truth!
(Romans 12:2)

The enemy has distorted evil to look good….and it’s mixed all in the world.

There was an old saying….finders Keepers, losers weepers.

Seek and find the good life, and keep it…..start today!