love, it changes things

isn't it amazing to see how experiencing love and being loved truly changes people? you can see it on the face of a child on sunday morning who might not experience lots of love at home but when their sunday school teacher loves them, it washes over their face. you can see it on the face of an elderly widow who is more than likely alone during the week but receives love from her church family on sundays or wednesdays. you can see it on the face of a new bride who is just beginning to understand the depth of love her husband has for her. finally, you can see it on the face of a new believer when they are overwhelmed with the unmeasurable and amazing love of Christ; as well as on the face of a seasoned believer who simply feels beaten down by life but in the presence of the One who is love, allows that love to wrap His arms around them.

love truly does change things. it changes people and the One who is love came to change the world. i have been praying that the Lord would prepare my heart for Easter in the days prior...that He would allow me to soak in the enormity and the magnitude of His life, His sacrifice, His victory, and His love. it's so easy, working for a church, to focus on the "work" of preparing for Easter...planning lessons, making sure the facilities are in order, and that we are recruiting enough help to handle the large numbers that are typically in attendance (all things that must be done) but i don't want to miss Easter because i'm distracted by the preparation. i've opened my heart and asked Him to prepare me...and He is. i've also asked Him to so overwhelm me with His love that it would change me...daily and that, in turn, it would overflow into my life and my ministry.

"how great is the love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!" ~1 john 3:1a

"this is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.

and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." ~1 john 3:16