I recall having lemonade stands on Saturdays so I would have money for my tithe every Sunday – and the rest of my family just accepted that I was different.

Later on, I had questions about God and Jesus, and I couldn’t get the answers I sought from my priest, so I began to search elsewhere. I was amazed by the differences in other religions, and even more surprised by their similarities.

I love to learn… and I was enthusiastic about God and wanted to know it all. I spent years in all different types of churches – Catholic, Protestant,  Anglican, Baptist, Apostolic… I even worked for two summers at an orthodox Jewish camp for kids and learned many of their religious customs.

When I was a young lady, I met and married a Lebanese man – he was a Muslim. I again dived into the learning, and absorbed many fascinating things about Islam.

As fate would have it, our marriage didn’t last (no, it was NOT religion that caused the end of this relationship) but I came away with a deep respect and understanding of this and many other faiths.

As is usually the case, in times of despair we turn to our church, our comfort. And when I returned to my home I did exactly that.

I was completely ASTONISHED when people I considered family distanced themselves and censored me, judged me, because I had married a non-Christian. (I never changed my own personal beliefs – I simply think that knowledge, not ignorance of others, is what will one day bring peace in the world.)

The church I belonged to (or always felt I did) is non-denominational… and the “family” there insisted that the only way to keep faith strong was to stay away from others who don’t walk the same path. To them, you must not “live in the world”.

Personally I think that’s a load of crap.

If I had not obtained the knowledge I have about all the different faiths, I don’t think that my own faith would be nearly as strong as it is. In learning about others, living “in the world”, I strengthen my own faith watching God work through me and others.

I believe there is only one God. And I believe that Jesus is the Messiah. I am not really bound by the trappings of any specific religion, but see the value in the rituals for many.

Funny thing is, that which makes me a Christian is the same thing that makes other people strong in their faith – Muslim, Jewish and Christian – all believe there is but one God, and that Jesus is his Messiah who will return one day to deliver us to heaven.

Yes, there are many little differences in ritual and the trappings of formal religion, but the fundamentals are the same.

I’d love to know what you think.

Would you judge someone – disapprove or shun them – if they weren’t of the same religion, in spite of the same fundamental beliefs?

Before answering, I’d love you to first read Matthew 7 : 1-5 and then decide.

We least expect these types of events to be the work of God to bring about something we prayed about. I mean…who wants to work a 16 hour shift when you’re sick? Let alone be stuck with a back to back shift without volunteering for it. I logged onto Facebook to talk to some friends and ended up talking to someone who needed another to write about how God and His Word works in their life. If it wasn’t for me having this extra shift, and talking to this friend, and everything leading up to the event…I wouldn’t be writing my first article here right now! It’s amazing how God works to answer prayers. I can owe it to praying to God and asking Him to “enlarge my territory” just like Jabez’s prayer. God has blessed me with a way to share my Faith about Him. I’m sure a lot of people have heard or have talked about the prayer that Jabez prayed to God. I’ll quote Jabez’s prayer from the Bible for everyone who hasn’t.

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. -1 (Chronicles 4:10, NKJV)

You should try it! Ask God to bless you, to enlarge your horizons, and to use these blessings to bring glory and praise to Him. Be careful, because when you ask of Him for these things, there’s always a 100% guarantee that He will provide you them. Don’t be scared though! God is always walking with you and has BIG plans for everyone! I’ll leave you with this last Bible scripture.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)