He is Risen!!

What a beatiful Easter afternoon!!

Today is a great day. We are reminded of Christ's great sacrifice for us and better yet, that He is alive today and we are forgiven. Hallelujah!

I've had a lot put on my heart lately about my life and issues I need to be confronting and asking the Lord to help me with.

Our church is starting a new series called 40 DAYS OF LOVE. I want you to think about this scripture:

I John 4:7-12

7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[b] into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[c] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

How often do we see God as something other than love? I have; I think of Him being all powerful, something to be feared often times.

We've all heard and know that the greatest commandment is to Love God, Love People. Why do we so often forget that LOVE is the center of everything God wants us to be and do? Why is it so difficult?

LOVE is an action, not an emotion. I am guilty of this thought sometimes too. I forget that I have to choose to love someone, even those that don't choose to love me back. That's "loving your enemies." I have to choose my actions. I have to choose to think better of people instead of gossiping. I have to choose to pray for people I may be upset at, and I have to choose to ALWAYS do what's right for them regardless of my prejudice or bias. THIS is following the true commandment of God. Why? Because he loves me and does this everyday for me, and I am not worthy.

I John 4:19 says, "We love because he first loved us." How simple that is.

Like I said, we are starting this journey of Love with my church family. For the next 6 weeks my preacher will be discussing Love and we have small groups meeting of that same subject. Why 40 days? Because that's the shown amount of time it takes to make something a habit. Love sometimes is something we have to practice and make a habit. This is a good habit!!

I'm looking forward to this series. I want to take this time to ask for prayers on my behalf as I try and LOVE more. I apologize for any wrong I've done against you or others. I am not perfect and realize I won't be, but I must seek to do better and grow closer to my loving God.

If anybody is interested in hearing more about this study or being a part of it, I'd love to share it with you and get you in with a small group too if that's somthing you'd like. The series was sort of kicked off today, but doesn't actually start until next week. My small group is meeting this Friday at 6:30.

If you'd just like prayers as you seek out how to be more loving and want to know more about God's love, please ask.

HAPPY EASTER once again and LOVE to all!