"What Is this World Coming To?" - A Direct Quote From You

I know people are scared of what our world is coming to and what is happening, especially during this election year.  BUT. Remember this…

1. It’s not “coming to” anything, it’s always been this dark (even darker), we just haven’t had as many outlets to see it. (Facebook wasn’t around in the Medieval Times y’all). 

2. (the biggie) It’s weird to think that we can see darkness.  Darkness is "the partial or total absence of light," so really we’re missing something more than sensing something.  But when the dark is noticed, when the lack of light becomes scary, when we open our eyes to blackness, it can remind us to use our light to shine. Sometimes chaos jolts us into action. Sometimes it’s so dark, we feel incapable of doing anything about it. It’s SO dark, right? Makes you want to lie down and give into it while pulling up its heavy blanket and going to sleep forever.  But there is no darkness that is so deep that one little flicker of light can’t overtake it. ONE FLICKER, ONE SPARK, and everyone notices. It wakes people up.

Suddenly…hope. 

Light can overcome darkness but darkness cannot overcome light. 

DARK DOES NOT HAVE THAT POWER!  LIGHT DOES! 

Therefore, YOU DO.  Do you want to change the world that your children are born into? Then SHINE, BROTHERS AND SISTERS! DON’T YELL AT THE DARKNESS!  DON’T TALK ABOUT THE DARKNESS UNTIL YOU’RE AS DARK AS IT IS.  

SHINE!!!!!!

Our lights can dim and we can forget that shining is important, but when our eyes are open and all we see is darkness, we can stand up and say, “NO!  This is not ok and I’m going to shine a light on this darkness.” 

One light is great, one light can change everything, but what if we all shone together?   What if instead of using words that the dark understands (condemning, ugly, mean, hateful words) we use words that don’t make sense to it (accepting, beautiful, nice, loving words)? Now THAT will change the world and affect those surrounding the darkness even if not its source.  

SHINE, PEOPLE!!!!!

I serve a God that is FOR loving and overcoming darkness and serving and peace!  His message includes loving your enemies, even while they hate you. Even while they kill you (think Stephen and..ya know…Jesus). What about THAT makes sense? He taught us to forgive because it not only affects those you forgive, but it heals your OWN heart! 

Also, he said He wasn’t here to condemn people, but to SAVE people so maybe that should be on your mind also? It’s hard to shine while listing off reasons why the darkness sucks.  DEEP DOWN, EVERYONE KNOWS THE DARKNESS SUCKS.  You’ll never reach that deep inside of them to connect with that knowledge, so start with love.  Start with light.  Instead of banishing those thoughts (dark) just ignite a flame of light (love). 

go, be, love, shine

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The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

John 1:5

If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. 

Isaiah 58:10

“I have not come to condemn the world, but to save it.” 

John 3:17 

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” Matthew 5:44 

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Daniel 12:3

 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Romans 13:1