Love

1 John 4:16 “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” There is a difference between knowing about God’s love and truly abiding in it. John doesn’t just say we acknowledge…

Psalm 118:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” There is something beautifully simple about this verse. It doesn’t rush or try to explain everything; it quietly invites us to pause, to remember, and to respond with gratitude. Easter carries that same gentle invitation. Beneath the celebration, the music,…

 1 John 3:1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” There are many ways we describe love in our world today. We use the word to express affection for family, appreciation for friends, or enjoyment of the things…

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” As…

Ephesians 1:4 “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” As Father’s Day comes and goes, many of us find ourselves reflecting on the influence and impact of our earthly fathers. For some, this reflection is filled with joy and…

Romans 12:10 “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” There is nothing more heartwarming than having friends show up for you during a difficult time. When Joe and I headed to the ER for my upper abdominal pain, we prepared ourselves for a possible gallbladder removal. We sought strength…

1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us.” This Valentine’s Day was definitely different from any other Valentine’s Day as both Joe and I had come down with the flu. We had moved into our house the following week, and before we could get a single item off the truck, we were struck…

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Have you ever fallen to your knees and just begged God to please change your heart? This happened to me the other evening. Joe and I had just finished having our fourth disagreement of the week. With mine…