Build One Another Up

I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “build.” It was so good to join in the party again this week. I’ve missed this amazing group of people the last several weeks, but My time in the Rockies was delightful! We love new friends at FMF so we would love to have you join us. 


“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing”–1 Thessalonians 5:11

It has been a day of deep sadness and grief as we turn on the news around us. Two more lives lost. One does not understand how this can happen in our world. Yet I cannot understand fully since my skin is white. Why is this senseless death happening?

I find myself wanting to weep and cry out tears of injustice for my friends of color. I also am wrapping my law enforcement friends in prayer too. My best friend’s husband is a highway patrolman. He would never let this happen. Yet in our world, it is happening. People of color are losing their lives for no apparent reason. It makes me sad. I am outraged.

Too often, I can be selfish. But the truth is that I want to be respectful. I want to learn from my brothers and sisters. I want us to build each other up. Yes, that is exactly what I want. I want us all to build each other up; to love each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

For I believe that when we build each other up, we can also build up a wall of justice and righteousness. “Let righteousness flow like an ever flowing stream and may justice reign down.” One way we can do this is pray. ..we can build a wall of prayer that builds each other up rather than tears each other down.

“For my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness

39 thoughts on “Build One Another Up

  1. My heart was heavy too. In fact, I was starting my first vlog next week on my linkup and the first one scheduled is about this. I am thankful we have an uplifting community for reaffirm Hope! Jesus Hope. I love that song too by the way. He is our only Hope. Your blog is lovely! Your neighbor from #FMF

  2. Tara, yes. It is heart breaking to see injustice steal the lives of people. Sometimes there are simply no words.

    I agree with Riversong. Thank you for remembering those working in law enforcement in your prayers. I have a family member who works in this field, and it's got to be one of the most stressful jobs.

  3. Beautiful. I feel so much the same. It's so difficult to not point a finger in either direction when it all seems so lost and confusing. We keep waiting-waiting for Jesus to come. And we can only build while we wait.

  4. You are so right! I feel like it's so hard to even know what it looks like to be respectful anymore because if you don't "take" a side, people accuse you being disrespectful for "not caring." But you can't take a "side" either. Goodness, I'm not even sure what the "sides" are anymore… Thus my quotation marks. When did we get so divided as a people?

    We must build each other up. I think it has to start there.

    • Yes, Stephanie! The "sides" are blurred because we have yet again been blinded… tricked… sidelined into seeing this as a "black vs. white" issue when really this is all about "dark vs. The Light". This is SPIRITUAL warfare, yet we are so CARNAL we cannot see or acknowledge that. So once again we are divided and instead of fighting against the kingdom of darkness, we are fighting against one another.

  5. Thank you Tara! I have a Black son (who turns 14 tomorrow), a Black husband, and a Black father (who is ALSO a 34-year veteran retired police officer). So I am seeing and feeling this from every side. The world is hurting and nobody wants to look at the real reason why… because we have rejected the hope of Christ as a nation. We cannot have peace without the Prince of Peace! "My hope is built on nothing less" because only the love of Christ can heal this world.

  6. Beautiful words! Hurting hearts, brokenness and not understanding filled our week. Becoming a community of believers who works to build up rather than tear down is what we need to do. Thank you for honesty sharing your heart.

  7. "I want us all to build each other up; to love each other as brothers and sisters in Christ." Yes, Tara, that is also my desire. May God be with His people and draw us together in love and unity across all barriers. Blessings to you!

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