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
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
Thank You, Meg!
wow, yes, no words, but thanks for remembering and holding law enforcement in your prayers, too.
Thanks!
Well-said, Tara. Very well-said.
#1 at FMF this week
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/07/your-dying-spouse-178-something-big-fmf.html
Thanks Andrew!
Tara,
twin! Same verse tonight!!!
And, prayer is the answer!
Love you and your beautiful heart.
-Tammy
(#7)
Thanks friend. I love that we were thinking of the same verse.
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.
Thanks
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.
Thanks Marcy!
It's been a rough few days, but in the midst of name-calling and accusations I love your reminder to build each other up. Thanks for this hope.
You bet!
Yes, yes! Build each other up and not tear down. So much work to be done and we get to choose what we will build. Good words, Tara.
For sure. Thank you!
And, heavier still this morning. xo
Yes!!
Some of my very thoughts too, w must build up instead of tearing down. I'm in the #40 spot this week
Thanks
It is so sad, and I agree, we need to build each other up, and our hope has to be in Jesus.
Yes!
Good points, Tara. We need to build each other by responding with kindness.
Thank You!
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.
Stephanie, Tondras words below are wise ones!
you are so right…very sad few days:( may GOD have mercy on us all!
Yes!
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.
I'm so sorry, Tondra! The world is indeed hurting.
It's awful. Thank you for writing about how God moved your heart to respond.
Thanks Christina!
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.
Yes!
Thank you. Yes it is a spiritual problem at its very root.
You're welcome!
"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!
Blessings to you too!