Day 7 - Jury Duty - Part 2

After re-reading yesterday's post on Jury Duty, I realized there were a couple of things I'd left out that I wanted to clarify.

First of all, I know it is my civic duty to be part of a jury when so called. The selfish part of me didn't want to do it because it would mess up "my" schedule. Isn't it funny how we get so possessive of our time?

I had an honest conversation with God about the whole process. First, I told him I didn't really want to do it because I felt like I just didn't have the time. He already knew what I was thinking, right, so I just went ahead and said it.

Second, I asked him to use me. I try to look at situations as opportunities in some way to be his hands and feet, and as I walked into the courthouse, I had that frame of mind. Whether it be the semi-retired lady standing on one side or the substitute teacher on the other, I want him to use me to leave each place in some way better than when I found it.

The other thing I really wanted to touch on was that although the accuser no longer has a basis for accusing once we have asked for forgiveness, by his very nature, that's what he does. He always tries to take what doesn't belong to him. We have a choice to allow his words to penetrate our mind or to reject them.

I love Phillipians 4:8 because it tells us what to think about. "...whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST, whatsoever things are PURE, whatsoever things are LOVELY, whatsoever things are of GOOD REPORT; if there be any VIRTUE, and if there be any PRAISE, think on these things."

It's a good measuring stick for all of those thoughts rolling around in our head. If the thoughts that are popping into our head don't fit in those categories, we don't have to claim them and nurture them because they aren't coming from the Lover of our Soul, the one who breathed life into us and has an incredible plan for us.

2 Corinthians 10:5 is another one of my favorites because it reminds us that we have authority over our thoughts as well. "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

Every time I read that verse I have a mental picture of taking a big lasso and capturing the thoughts, binding up the wrong ones and setting free the right ones. Yee Haw!!

We are so blessed to be able to walk daily in the forgiveness that has already been paid for and the hope that doesn't disappoint. Don't you agree?

Day 6 - Jury Duty

The letter came from the Superior Court. Honestly, it caught me off guard because I haven't received too many letters from court - ever. After ripping it open, I realized it was a questionnaire for jury duty. In all my 44 years, I've never even been a candidate for jury duty.

I filled out the form and mailed it in, only because it said if I didn't an officer of the court could show up at my home. We live in a small town. We know the officers. I didn't want that.

As I mailed it off, I prayed (literally) that I wouldn't get selected because it would really be an inconvenience. I'm a stay-at-home, work-at-home mom. For the past 23 years, in addition to raising kids, my entrepreneurial skills have been exercised running a medical transcription business. Much of the time, it's just been me. Sometimes others help out, but mostly it falls on my shoulders.

Two weeks ago, the second letter came from Superior Court, and I was now ordered to appear for jury duty. Great. So much planning to do now. The long and short of it, I had to prepare to be gone for the day. Without boring you with all the details, it involved busy fingers, blurry eyes, and about three hours of sleep.

So I showed up at 8:20 at the Superior Court yesterday with 35 other prospective jurors. The arrival deadline of 8:30 came ... and went... 8:45 ... 9:00. Finally after 9:00 we were all called in to sit on the cold benches in the courtroom.

After a gracious expression of appreciation for all of us showing up, the Judge proceeded to tell us that the case would not be going to trial. The day before when I called in as instructed to find out of the case had been settled out of court, it hadn't been, so somewhere between 8:30 and 9:00, everything had changed. We were again thanked for our time and dismissed.

As I drove home, it occurred to me how similar my morning's events were to forgiveness. When we ask for forgiveness, the trial is off. It doesn't mean there are no consequences. Sin always has consequences, some short-term, some long. But when we confess our sins, the Accuser is silenced, and we are free from the guilt and the shame. How incredible is that? And all we have to do is ask for it and receive it!

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."