A Song for Sunday: "Be One"

I am blessed. I have a great family, a house, food in my belly, clothes on my back, great friends, and so much more. There are so many songs out there about how God helps us and blesses us. But you know what? I wasn't blessed so I could just sit here and do nothing about it. I was blessed so I, in turn, could be a blessing to others. It's time for us to stop focusing on ourselves so much and start looking at this dark world that needs us. We were all made for a purpose. We were made to glorify God in our thoughts, actions, and words. The best way we can glorify God is by showing love to the unlovable, helping the helpless, speaking truth to the unreachable, and sharing hope with the hopeless.

And so I turn to a new song by Natalie Grant playing on the radio. The song "Be One" talks about showing love to a lost and hurting world.It's about getting up and being that miracle for someone else, instead of just praying for one. Nothing is wrong with praying, but sometimes God calls us to get up and take action. We need to start moving, sharing hope, touching lives, and bring healing to broken hearts.

The lyrics for "Be One" are as follows:

We don't feel ready, we don't feel steady

Question what we really have to give

Stay where it's safer, claim faith but waiver

Is this how we're really meant to live?

We pray but never move

We say but never do

It's time to get our hands dirty

oh oh, oh oh

Be love - there's a whole lot of hurting

oh oh, oh oh

Calling all hearts, Calling all hands

Calling all feet to take a stand

Why sit around and wait for a miracle to come?

When we can be one, When we can be one , When we can be one

A little somethin' might feel like nothin'

But in His hands it's all we'll ever need

To speak life to the broken

Watch the blind eyes open

It's who He's calling you and me to be

We can be the change - be the hope

We can be the arms that don't let go

We can be a light in the dark

We are we are where it starts

The chorus is repeated a few times. These lyrics ring so true in today's age. So many times we are called to move and we don't. We can talk about helping others until we are blue in the face, but we seldom ever put our words into action. James 1:22 tells us "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

 We don't need to sit around and wait for a miracle. We can be a miracle to those in need all around us. Bringing new neighbors a meal, taking food to the sick and those who have lost a loved one, praying with the hurting, watching someones' kids so they can get a break, being that listening ear to someone who just needs a friend. These are all very practical ways we can be the change and hope in this world. It may not seem like much, but in His hands it can be more than enough. 

Why do we reach out and be His hands and feet? Because God says "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40). Let's be difference makers. Let's get off our rumps and be love to a hurting world. They so desperately need it.

The Path of Righteousness is a Foggy One

This morning I drove to an Upwards basketball game for my step dad's team. As I was driving, I went from beautiful sunlight to thick fog. This fog was the kind where you could only see maybe 5 feet in front of you. You couldn't see anything at a distance, because it was enveloped in this all encompassing fog. I got to thinking how this is a lot like the Christian walk. It's like we are walking in thick fog.

As Christians, Christ gives us all the light we need to take the next step. However, many times we can't see what lies further down the road. It is enveloped in fog and is unclear to us at the moment. I don't know if I am the only one who freaks out about this, but since I am a planner and a long-term one at that, I don't like not knowing what is going to come around the next bend. I want to know now what will occur in a few weeks, months, or years. I would love to be able to see down the road and see me happily married in a year or two to a great man of God. Then go a little further and see me and my husband with kids. It does not occur this way though. God may bring those things about in His time. For now, I can only see about 5 feet in front of me.

I can see just enough to take the steps God wants me to take today. Yesterday is history and tomorrow is not guaranteed, so today is all I have. What I do with the light Christ gives me is up to me. Will I take the steps on the path He lights up for me and trust Him with what is coming? Or will I stray and try to take an easier path that looks more fulfilling at the moment? I am learning to stay on the path Christ has for me and take the steps He calls me to take. Sometimes it is a little scary, but the light of the world goes with me and has paved the path before me.

If I am faithful to stay on the path God has called me to, He will bless me. I may go through trials and times of difficulty, but He will bring me through triumphantly. I have the victory in Christ Jesus! It's time to stop being fearful, worrisome, and doubtful about God's plan. He is God and Lord of my life. He knows what He is doing so much better than me!

I will choose to stay on the path of righteousness, hard as it may be at times, and even though I can't see down the road very far. I have no idea what Christ will bring me to next year, next month, next week, or even tomorrow. But I know one thing: that He who I trust in is faithful. He always has been and He always will be. Proverbs 3:5-6 states "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."

I will trust in the Lord with all my heart. I will choose to not lean on my own plans, thoughts, and desires. Instead, I will strive to acknowledge Him in everything I say and do. When I do these things, the Lord will direct me in the way He would have me go. What a beautiful promise from God!