Today's Story

ORLANDO (AP) — A Florida jury has acquitted Casey Anthony of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee.

 Anthony began crying when the jury's verdict was read Tuesday after more than 10 hours of deliberations. She hugged her attorney afterward, and a prosecutor shook his head in disbelief. She could have received a death sentence if she had been convicted of first-degree murder.

 She was found guilty of lying to investigators. Judge Belvin Perry will sentence her Thursday. She could receive up to a year in jail for each count.  Caylee disappeared in June 2008 and her body was found in woods near her grandparent's home six months later.

 Story courtesy of AP.

 God's Story

 God’s Story: Matthew 7:1-2

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

What does today’s God’s Story teach us about judging?

It’s so easy to cast our opinions and judge other people.  Often times we are eager and ready to voice judgment without knowing all the facts.  And it doesn’t matter if we do ‘know the facts’ – God doesn’t want us to judge without realizing that we’ll be judged in the same manner.

 My Story

How can we connect today’s God’s Story to our lives?

Since Tuesday, the acquittal of Casey Anthony has been a hot topic.  It has been leading the news. The social media has been a flurry of comments in regards of opinions.  Most have been outrage that Casey wasn’t found guilty.  

 However, who are we to judge?  We don’t know all the facts of the case, so we cannot fairly judge anyone.  Only God knows – and He is the ultimate Judge.

 Their Story

How can we connect today’s story, God’s Story scripture, and our story to others?

• When the conversation turns to the Casey Anthony case, listen carefully to what your friends are saying.
• Can you identify judgment in their tone?  Their words?  Their speech?
• Silently pray that you would be mindful of not judging others.  Ask the Lord to point out areas in your life where you have been judgmental and need to ask for forgiveness.  
• Pray for the Anthony family.  They are receiving death threats and need to know that God loves them.
• Be thankful that the blood of Jesus can erase the sins in our life and our Heavenly Father can judge us as not guilty.