LOVE

Based on how much I say it, "love" must be one of my favorite words.

It punctuates every phone conversation I have with my children and it's how I tell my husband good-night. It's what I say when I want your shoes, see a puppy in the window, order dessert. It's what I tell my hair dresser when she's touched up my hair, the way I describe living in Germany, and how I'll review a very good book.

"I Love...!" expresses my affections for something that matters to me, a little phrase that can mean a thousand things. Never, however, is love more dynamic, strong, expressive or beautiful than when we hear it spoken by God. God didn't merely feel love for His children, He demonstrated love by His actions.
He gave His Son.
He sacrificed Himself.
He bled my redemption.
He poured out forgiveness.
He taught me how to love by example.
He empowered me to love others.
And generously, lavishly, unconditionally,
God loved me first and acted on it.

Can you imagine the change in the world if we loved like Jesus?
Not just lip service, really loved like Jesus?
What if we actually loved our enemies?
What if we loved the difficult people in our lives?
What if we considered anyone outside our door, our neighbor, and loved them consistent with how we love ourselves?
What if we begin with just one person?
Today