words

I don't think I have ever been more aware of how short life is more than this year.  
I'm reminded constantly that we never know when our last day will be.

The video is about Andrew Pray who was killed right before Thanksgiving and is a worship pastor.  They showed this video at his funeral.  It was the things he had written on social media this year.  WOW.  Watch it. 

He was an encourager.  He shared Jesus every chance he got.

I was thinking about the words we all use.  In our daily lives and in our virtual lives.

Do they uplift or do they bring others down? Are they words of light or of darkness?

I love facebook and twitter.  I love just having daily chit chat with my friends about TV shows or being moms or just current events.  I also probably tend to daily complain about some experiences. 

But life is short.  I want to use my words to point others to Christ. I want to encourage my friends.  Nothing feels better than getting a kind email or an encouraging text from a friend.  Just the other day a  precious friend Janie   texted me to encourage me after a particularly tough situation she knows I have been dealing with.  It was just the lift I needed.

Life can feel like a competition.  Just at Christmas - I feel so inferior when I see all the amazing things moms are doing.  Co-workers can make you feel like you are competing to be the best in the office.  There is competition to be thinner, more fit, better dressed.  Competition to have the smartest kids. 

What if instead of competing - we encourage? What if we lift up our friends and those around us and help them reach their goals instead of wishing it was us? What if we were genuinely happy for the blessings that others get?

My prayer for myself is that in 2013 - I use every opportunity to encourage and uplift those around me. 

I pray that I share my faith daily and unashamed.  I won't ever apologize for trying to tell you about the hope we have in Christ.

Will you be challenged to use your words to lift others up? Can you imagine how much better our world would be if we were more kind and encouraging? Let's live our life with no regrets so when we are gone - we will be remembered for the words we said.

Psalm 19:14