It is time for putting 2014 to rest in our lives.  Wow!  What a year it has been.   In the past two weeks, I have pondered over the life lessons learned (through walking with the Holy Spirit) this whole year diligently.  I have thought about the vows made (to God) and kept, some almost kept, and some never made, but the thread that continues to run through my heart is that, above all, what the world needs now is the love of a holy and just Father. 

                All of the fighting, name calling and bickering back and forth, does nothing to show others the nature of our Father in heaven (people will run from that) and we must, if we have accepted Christ as Savior, reach out with His heart.   Love does indeed come down in many ways, with truth being the biggest of all, but if we truly don’t reach out with a loving, kind and generous heart then what have we done? 

                I recently spoke at a community-wide gathering of individuals whose lives had been turned upside down by fire devastation which resulted in the loss of two lives and four animals.  After the service several people came up to me and asked, “Where do you have a church?”  The message that night was about love, embracing others in love and showing them tangible love not preaching the best or claiming to know it all (in the gospel) or even having the biggest and best programs or most popular church.  I go back to the scriptures for the lesson I have so concretely learned throughout this year, especially. 

                “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my good s to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (1 Corn. 13: 1-3).

                I have walked around many different types, classes, genders and ages of human beings this year and I have just been still to listen and what I have heard is the silence of a lack of pure love.  I challenge you to just wrap your arms around someone and give them a hug, give someone a friendly smile, hand them a dollar bill and tell them that you really love them.  There are many who need our God-given love and my friends, if we do not do it then who do you think should?  Let others see Jesus in you this year.

                As we enter into this brand New Year, 2015, full of possibilities, hopes, dreams, and aspirations let us not forget to just love one another for this is the will of the Father in heaven (John 13:34).

Have a safe New Year celebration!

Molly