Choose LOVE

• Faith, hope, and love remain. And the greatest of these is
• Let all that you do be done in
• God is
• Be patient, bearing with one another in
• Over all these virtues, put on
• Be devoted to one another in
• There is no fear in
• And the fruit of the Spirit is
• He will quiet you with His
• A God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast
• Now remain in My
• Live a life of
• Give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing

...LOVE...

• Always endures.
• Must be sincere.
• Covers a multitude of sins.
• Does no harm.
• Keeps no record of when it has been wronged.
• Binds us all together in perfect harmony.
• Is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
• Not with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.
• Your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
• Drives out fear.
• Rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
• Each other intensely with all  your hearts.
• The Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
• Your neighbor as you love yourself.
• Never gives up, never loses hope.
• Is patient and kind.
• The Lord your God, for He is your life.
• Will prove to the world that you are My disciples.

Today, I am thankful that love is strong and resilient!  A light that shines brightest in our darkest moments, a force that connects us where we have been most divided.  On this anniversary of the 9-11 attacks, I’m remembering those who died and praying for the people who were most deeply affected by this act of violent hatred toward our nation. And I’m remembering our tour with Tom and all the wonderful things we learned about NYC, and feeling so thankful for the healing and rebuilding that has taken place since 2001! ❤

I've been reading the gospel of John recently, taking notice of what Jesus has to say in His final moments with His disciples.  He talks to them about staying connected to Him and drawing their strength from Him (ch. 15), He tells them over and over to love each other so that the world will know that they are His disciples, and He prays fervently for them to be united (ch. 17).  Love, connection, and unity are massive priorities for God, and that is striking when we live in a world that can feel so divided and disconnected and hateful.

I've felt really disheartened and sad about the division and lack of love I see in the church these days.  I feel it all around me, like a swirling vortex of negativity and belittling, mean-spirited comments, and I really don't know how to fix it.  Politics is always a bit divisive, but now more than ever, the church itself feels divided by our differing political opinions, both sides genuinely believing they are doing what is necessary to uphold sacred Christian values, and both sides losing respect for and discrediting and devaluing those who believe differently.  ...It is hurtful to God's heart and to God's people and to God's reputation in the world around us, and it needs to stop.  As people who bear the name of Christ, we need to be marked by kindness, gentleness, humility, and sincere love for each other.  We need to be united in a way that makes others want what we have, and we're so far off the mark that it would be comical if it wasn't so eternally tragic for those who don't yet believe.  So I'll say again that I'm thankful that love is strong and resilient... that the love of God has the power to connect us where we have been most divided, to bring light that shines so brightly that the darkness cannot overcome it!  So let's choose life and choose love today.  Choose to humanize everyone, to be kind and gentle, and to pray for unity among the church!

"I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one - as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You.  And may they be in us so that the world will believe You sent Me." ~John 17:21