Meant to Live

I’m about to deactivate my Facebook.

I’m so tired. I watched the debate Sunday night and I woke up Monday morning, my body aching. I just moved to a new place and am experiencing so many new things–it’s great, but there’s still a burden on my heart because there’s a lot that hasn’t changed. Unfortunately, I don’t think it will get any better.

Our world is divided.

Just turn on the news. Scroll down your Twitter timeline. Look at all the Facebook posts.

I don’t like confrontation, unless it’s gotten to a point where it really needs to happen. There’s a lot that has happened in our world that shouldn’t be ignored. And I realize I haven’t entirely done my part. I need to use my voice for what it was created to do.

My voice was made to speak love, my entire being was made to show love. I am meant to live for so much more. 

When s–t happens, it might be easy to ignore the situation or to voice your outrage, but I challenge you, friends, to use your words wisely. Words are not just words, they are by which we communicate love, hate, encouragement, disappointment, etc.

We can focus on the negative on how people use words, but fight against that. Use your words to speak love to those around you. I Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” I really like what The Message says too, “So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out…”

I encourage you to read the entire chapter of 1 Thessalonians 5 because it is so applicable to right now. Paul is writing to this group of people (the Thessalonians, if you didn’t catch that earlier), encouraging them to keep the faith, encouraging each other, but also to prepare for Christ’s second coming.

We want more than this world’s got to offer.

And if we want more, we have to be more. Jesus’ second most important commandment to us was to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). It’s easier said than done. We all know that.

Do you ever wonder why Jesus had a bunch of people following Him? I believe part of it was to show how important community is. We have to stand together, in love, celebrating our differences (because I promise you, we can do that) and set an example for those around us.

Martin Luther King Jr said “Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” He’s right you know, he’s just taking a play right out of the Bible (the ultimate playbook, if you ask me).

Follow me for the next few weeks, as I sort through some thoughts, emotions and actions inspired by a few songs from Switchfoot. Their music has always spoken so loudly to me and I think they’ve figured a few things out.