Burn Out Bright!

There's no question about it - Switchfoot is definitely my favorite band. Their challenging lyrics and God-honoring hearts frequently remind me to examine my own life and ask if I am really changing myself so that I can change the world for God. And who doesn't like singing, guitar-playing Californian surfer dudes? :)

Anyways, I've been listening to one of their songs called "Burn Out Bright" almost every day for the past few weeks. I can't get over the message of this song. The chorus goes like this:

"If we've only got one try,
If we've only got one life,
If time was never on our side,
Then before I die I want to burn out bright."

So often, I forget how short my life really is. David knew what he was talking about when he wrote, "Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them? They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow." Yet often I act as if I'm immortal and have time to waste on meaningless existence, just going through the motions of life and never really living. Sometimes I beg God for more time so that I can learn to live before I die.

But the truth is, I don’t need more time; I need to learn to use the time I have been given.  I need to fight harder and dream bigger and act sooner and trust deeper and love greater and burn brighter.  My life may be a breath, but it is a breath that needs to count for something while it is here. 

So with that in mind, I’m looking forward to this next year.  I’m grateful that I have been given more undeserved time to live, and I pray that I will use this time wisely and that I will walk through every moment with the realization that it is sacred gift. 

Wishing you a wonderful new year,
Sophia
“Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.” – Ephesians 5:15-16

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzv4j4tEtvA

A Word of Welcome

Hello, friend!
Welcome to my blog.  I hope that you will find my words an encouragement to you.  My goal is for this to be a place of worship and reflection, an online collection of God-stories and lessons learned, that will leave visitors with a sense of edification.  I pray that what God does in and through my life will somehow encourage you in your own adventure with Him.
I started this blog for a few different reasons.  First and foremost, I want to glorify God, and if He wants to use my words, I'll be happy to have served Him.  I've also been taught a lot by reading the blogs of several beloved friends (check out my link page!) and wanted to join their online community.  Lastly, God has given me a passion for helping hurting people, so I've signed up to be a Compassion Blogger (http://compassionbloggers.com/) and write at least once a month about ways we can be involved in fighting some of the world's major issues.
Finally, I've been warned about the dangers of blogging, and how it can be tempting to promote myself above God and lose focus of my real purpose behind starting this blog.  So I'm asking you to keep me accountable, and let me know if there is anything less-than Godly in my words. 
Always,
Sophia