Today is holocaust remembrance day in Israel.

The Holocaust seems so distant to my young heart as I live a comfortable life in small town America surrounded by family and much freedom, yet it was not as far back in history as it seems.

Horrific isn’t an adequate word; for the devastation of the Holocaust is one that words can’t describe. 

On this blog I love to focus on the bright and beautiful aspects of life, but it is important to remember the Holocaust. We must remember what has happened, so that we stand up not only for the Jewish people, but also for those who have no voice in our generation.

The present will one day be a history book.

Each of us has a role in this giant story of life–the story of centuries blending together, kingdoms rising and falling, cultures changing, the beauty and the broken, the hurt and the healing.

Yahweh doesn’t place us here to turn a blind eye to the suffering in this world.

He has a purpose for each of us to make His glory known–to shine His light in the darkness.

“Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:6)

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross……for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” (Philippians 2:5-8 + 13-15)

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him… (1 Corinthians 7:17a)

Let’s not be half-hearted in living out this calling.

No matter how small we may feel, He uses us to change this world. If we don’t embrace our calling, we will not only hurt ourselves, but also those around us and God Himself. For He “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Let’s do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before our God. (Micah 6:8)

Today…

Let’s pause to remember
Let’s acknowledge what is true
For every life is precious
A gift from above
Let’s not forget
Let’s stand for honesty
For love
For freedom
For those who have no voice
For the unborn
For the slave
For the unknown and ignored
Let’s stand for hope
For justice
For grace
Let’s walk humbly
Bravely
Toward the God of our redemption
Toward the hope of tomorrow
Let’s not forget
Let’s change the future