When Words Bridge the Gap...

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  

Sometimes, though, it's the words that are most valued... most necessary... most longed for. 

It's the words, whether spoken, typed, or written out old-school style, that bridge the gap of the lost and the broken, bringing hope to stand on and faith to walk right on through!

This week - globally speaking - has been a rough one.  

So much sadness and horror and heartbreak... so much negative and bad news and it is so heavy and so much that we either turn the other way in order to cope or we shut down all together under the weight of it all. It's too easy to lose the battle and too hard to look for gifts. But oh how right now is when we must win... when we must count... we must do it anyway, because we have overcome - even when we forget that truth!

On our own, we forget... we get side-swiped and feel woozy.  We are off-center and free-falling and it's hard to stop staring at all the Bad News.  But here's the thing... can I encourage you to look away.  No, not to bury your head in the sand, but to turn your attention back to good... back to what God is doing both around the world and in your own neighborhood -in your own heart. And then shout it from the rooftops, that our God is good!

Pray for the persecuted...yes!  Let me encourage you to give and serve and do what you can... but don't allow your focus to stay on the darkness. 

Instead, use your Light (and your words!) to shine brighter still.

You see, we can forget how just a little Light can change the world.  Just a little hope can restore a soul.

Misery loves company, or so they say... but what is needed is not so much company in the dark, but more encouragement to walk toward the Light! - Encouragement to Be the Light!  

They say, "It's always darkest before the dawn..." and oh how I pray they are right.  

It's pretty dark here lately... 

but God says, 

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, 

And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 

For behold, darkness will cover the earth 

And deep darkness the peoples; 

But the Lord will rise upon you 

And His glory will appear upon you. 

Nations will come to your light, 

And kings to the brightness of your rising."

Isaiah 60:1-3 NASB                               

We need to hear your words... and we need to be reminded of His! 

Speak up... Rise up... for even when you don't know what to say, God will give you the words. It's His desire to work with us to be a blessing and to shed some Light... to let Him love others through us.

Use your Words, my friends!

Use them to build bridges and to build Hope... use them to encourage and to pray... use them to bless and to bring healing...

Most of all, use them to glorify our God!

Let's all use our words to:

P.S.  I'm linking up with these lovely writers:

Kaitlyn Bouchillon (Encouragement)

Jennifer Peterson for #NoWordsAreNeeded

Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday

Jennifer Dukes Lee for #TellHisStory

Holley Gerth for #CoffeeforYourHeart

How do you intend to use your words today, friend? I'd love to hear!