Have courage to go beyond...and change the world!

Everyday we complain about the injustices of the world....we hate seeing people in pain, and these days there is SO much pain. When people are afraid of what the future holds for them and their families...they sometimes act in hateful ways that damage people's lives. We know this...we see it every day in the news and on our own streets. But...we too are afraid and we think there is nothing we can do to change the way things are.

That thinking is WRONG! There are MANY things we can do to change the injustices we see in the world...we just have to have the COURAGE to do something about it!

I just spent the most amazing evening that in some ways changed my life. 

I had the awesome opportunity to be part of an evening that was the idea of one recent high school graduate who had a vision to go BEYOND just sitting back and moving on to college...she wanted to make a difference in the lives of other young girls. So, she gathered a room full of teen girls together with some of us "more experienced" women and we had an open and frank discussion about valuing yourself enough to love God more than the desire to have a boyfriend in high school. It was a chance for them to focus on what God has to say about relationships...about sex...about love...about marriage... it was a chance for us that have already gone through the drama of high school to share lessons we learned and knowledge we have gained. It was a precious opportunity to touch the lives of young women just beginning their lives. 

We then went on to see the movie "The Help," about another group of ladies who also wanted to make a difference. They had the courage to tell their stories...hard, challenging and painful stories that took a tremendous amount of courage to tell. But they wanted to CHANGE the injustice in their lives and make things better for the next generation.

Changing the world is not easy...and many times it is dangerous. But WE can be God's change agents here on earth. It is natural to be afraid. But...God WANTS us to move past that fear and go BEYOND where our fear holds us. Read Isaiah 41:10-13.

"So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

If we know that and believe that, how can we NOT do something to help change the world??? 

But you say, "What can I do? I am just little me!" There is MUCH you can do! While here on earth, Jesus taught us about what God wants "just little me" to do. 

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31 NIV)

If we love God and love those around us...that means treating people with love who don't deserve it, don't want it, claim not to need it...then we CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOWARD CHANGING THE WORLD! 

If you are a singer, sing with love. If you are an athlete, play with love, if you are a student, study with love. If you are a brick layer, lay those bricks with love. Love just doesn't make the world go round...it can CHANGE the world too! 

Have courage...loving others and treating people with respect is not always easy...You are on that pilgrimage to God...he wants you to DO SOMETHING while on that journey, but he won't leave you to do it alone! Go beyond what you think you are capable of and change the world!