"This is love: not that we loved God, but that God loved us...." 1 John 4:10
May seems to be a good month to talk about love.
There are so many reasons to feel love from God in the Spring. When we look at
the blooming roses, feel the heat, smell the Eucalyptus tree leaves and watch
the grapes around us grow, spend time with our friends, God’s love is
communicated.
An
Upper Room devotional by Dan Johnson, discussed the different definitions of
love and how God’s love is distinctive. Johnson said, “Love has been
defined in many different ways. One of those ways is that love is something we
do. We love. We do. We make a difference. Yet, the apostle John saw it
differently. Love, he says, is not primarily something we do but something God
does — something God is.
Our
love for others and ourselves is a response to God’s love. We can let go of the
notion that love — or anything else — starts with us. It begins with God, who
is the alpha and omega, the beginning and end, the first and last.”
Johnson
calls God’s love “great news,” Because: “We can relax, knowing that love
doesn’t originate with us, but comes from an endless, abounding, overflowing,
and incredible supply. We can draw on God’s love and let it overflow to and
through us. God’s love may lead us to some surprising places and circumstances,
but God will already be there. God sets an example of sacrificial love for us.
Because God’s love is sacrificial, we often need to make some sacrifice to love
others well. We love because God first loved us.”
So
in the spirit of God’s love, let’s sacrifice some time and energy to help our
church’s mission and activities grow and flourish to show God’s love in our
community and beyond. Here are some ways:
1. Attend worship
services and show your love of God in worship.
2. Participate
in our garden maintenance and care of the earth.
3. Come to
the Boy Scouts BBQ on May 7th to help our Troop 135.
4. Bring
lots of friends and neighbors to our Spring Fling May 21st.
5. Embrace
our new members with your love by getting to know them and invite them to
church programs you are a part of.
6. Pray for
our church and help it grow by wearing your t-shirt, talking to your friends
about coming along with you to worship, and inviting your children and grandchildren
to join you on Mother’s day to celebrate your Mom and their Mom.
God
is good all the time and God is love ALL the TIME! I’m sure you can think of
even more ways you can show love by loving and giving and caring for your
church and our mission in the world. I would LOVE to hear your ideas and plans.
