Be a Light

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new opportunity begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! A new day!!! So blessed!!! :)

This morning I want to share the lyrics from a new country music song. Now, for those of you who don't like country music, including my own Pastor, please know I am praying for you! :)

The song is by Thomas Rhett and it features Keith Urban, Chris Tomlin, Reba McEntire, and Hillary Scott. I would strongly encourage y'all to listen to it at some point this weekend.

Here are the lyrics:

In a time full of war, be peace
In a time full of doubt, just believe
Yeah, there ain't that much difference between you and me
In a time full of war, be peace

In a world full of hate, be a light
When you do somebody wrong, make it right
Don't hide in the dark, you were born to shine
In a world full of hate, be a light

In a place that needs change, make a difference
In a time full of noise, just listen
'Cause life is but a breeze, better live it
In a place that needs change, make a difference

In a world full of hate be a light
When you do somebody wrong, make it right
Oh, don't hide in the dark, you were born to shine
In a world full of hate, be a light

In a race you can't win, slow it down
Yeah, you only get one go around
'Cause the finish line is six feet in the ground
In a race you can't win, just slow down

In a world full of hate, be a light
When you do somebody wrong, make it right
Don't hide in the dark, you were born to shine
In a world full of hate, be a light

Yeah, it's hard to live in color
When you just see black and white
In a world full of hate, be a light

Pretty powerful if you ask me! So, what will you influence be? Oh, you do have influence! You are influencing yourself with the things you listen to and read. You are influencing your family and friends with your words and actions. And you are influencing every single person you come into contact with by your countenance, your words and your actions. So please save the arguments of "I am not a leader" or "I don't know them" or "I'll do me, you do you." Whether or not you influence another soul is not in question; what your influence will be is the only thing that is to be determine...and it is redetermined and relived every single day!

O.K., now that I have moved past that rant, I simply want to encourage you this morning to be a light. :) No, it is absolutely, positively not easy and it is, in fact, counterculture. You very well may be laughed at and mocked. And there, in the darkness, in the struggle is exactly the moment that the light within you can truly shine! We are all, for the most part, really good with the idea of being positive and encouraging when everyone and everything around us is positive and encouraging. If only life worked that way, if only it were that simply. Just as it is true that it is not healthy people that need a doctor but the sick, it is not (so much) the positive and encouraging people that need to see your light but the lost, broken and hurting. And let me speak about that for just a second. Let's reframe how we see people. We look at the attitude, the actions or the words and we label people. Please stop! Just as you and I are created on purpose for a purpose, so are they. Just as we are loved unconditionally by God, so are they! Please, let's stop all the nonsense of criticizing and labeling others. Do you know what you are seeing with the poor attitude, the hurtful words and actions? You are seeing a broken Spirit, not a bad person. In a world full of hate, be a light!

So, whoever you are, wherever you are and whatever platform God gives you today, please be a light. Let us choose - very intentionally and very carefully - what we will fill our hearts, minds and spirits with. I can't put mud in a glass and expect to drink clean, refreshing water! And then let's pursue our purposes and use whatever gifts and abilities we have to love, care for and serve others. We will have to keep our mouths shut whenever others say things that hurt our feeling or upset us...I need God's strength for that one! We will need to look past the behaviors and see the person! We will have to choose hundreds, perhaps thousands, of times to respond - or not! - in a way completely opposite of how this world tells us we should respond. We will have to walk out love, mercy and grace! So easy to read about, sing about and so very difficult to do. However, please don't every forget, you were made to shine! We all were! Instead of looking at the darkness coming against you as a negative, look at it as an opportunity for the light to shine brighter. One person, one interaction at a time, we can change this world! :)

Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com. 

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your precious families and please, stay healthy and well!

Kev