Empowered to Love

My life changed when I discovered God's love for me. For years I lived emotionally detached, numb to the world around me, hiding my feelings behind a facade. Past shame, unforgiveness, and fear prevented me from loving God, others and myself, until He revealed himself to me. I accepted His sacrifice on my behalf to experience His forgiveness, His joy and His peace in the midst of my struggles. I have tasted and seen the things of God.

He pursues us wanting nothing more than our love for Him and for others. We are chosen. Once we meet Him at the well, we experience His living water, we never thirst again. He quenches our desire for the things of this world, we have eyes to see the needs of others, we are the love of Jesus to those put in our path moment by moment. We bless the clerk at the grocery store with a conversation that says we care, we give to the needy as millions have done in Haiti, we comfort the broken hearted who have lost loved ones, we speak words of encouragement and affirm those in our life. We demonstrate His love for His name sake.

Once we experience Him personally we are forever changed. His love motivates us to love others. Equipped with the Holy Spirit to love the unlovable, to love as Jesus did, we push on even when we fall. We have a choice. Do we believe His great and precious promises, do we seek to find Him day by day, or do we forget and reject what He has done for you and me?

Be empowered to love as you discover what prevents you from loving. Learn ways to love yourself, to conquer fear, and forgive those who hurt you. Discover the way God designed you and shaped you for the purpose to love. Attend my eight week class at the Rock church in San Diego on Monday nights 6:30-8:30, Feb.1 through Mar. 22. Sign-up to attend one or all eight at the Rock University website today. Unable to attend? Look for future details. May God pour His blessings upon you as you love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:30-31).