So how about it? Where else have you been witnessing God’s love in action in this past week? When we are giving intentional attention to people around us, we will certainly be aware of ways that God can touch their lives with His love through us. On the weekend, I saw a Dad on the GO train who was getting his young daughter all bundled up for when they would get off at their stop. With the crispy, cold weather, it was essential that she have all her winter gear on to be protected against the polar conditions. This young girl looked content that there was someone making sure that she was well looked after. I also recognized a loving response to need when I saw a man who was asking for spare change and was given some money. I do not know how he will spend that money, but I do know that he was seen and cared about and love was extended to him. Since the catastrophic earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, we have seen several examples of people responding to help survivors and to support the families and friends of those who have died as a result. In our desire to be BECOMING more like Jesus, we cannot possibly become more like Jesus without loving as Jesus loves. Remember with me that Jesus said very clearly, “Love one another as I have loved you…” (John 13:35) When we are trying to determine what the loving things are to do in various situations, we can trust God to show us. This will be our focus for this week’s WEDNESDAY PRAYER TOGETHER tomorrow February 8th at 1 pm. Please plan to pause for this important time of committing to our God the ways we can love as He loves.
Expecting that loving as Jesus loves will lift people up, Pastor Lola
Our God of infinite love and mercy, You are for us the supreme example of love! Thank You for all the ways we have felt loved by You. We thank You for growing up experiences of being loved. Thank You God for the people You have placed in our lives to have us experience love when they show love in action towards us. We recognize Jesus as the One Who always knew what to do and what to say to show love. There are times that as much as we want to be loving, we are not sure what are the loving ways to respond. Sometimes we really do not understand what someone else is going through, but still we long for those individuals to feel Your love through us. Today we lift up in our prayers those who are experiencing mental distress. We pray that we will be available to listen to and pray for those who experience various forms of mental illness. Where some of us have travelled or are travelling that road, we pray for hearts that are open to your invitation to be loved and to love. God please guard us against putting on a brave front and not allowing anyone to know the pain we carry. Give us eyes to see when others are struggling with emotional hurts. We come to You today to pray for those who are desperate to the point of considering ending their lives. We pray that receiving assurance of love will permeate the darkness they find themselves in with the light of Your love. When we hold on to the truth that You never leave us alone, we are convinced of Your love for us. Please show us how to convey to those who need to hear it that You are available to love anyone who will turn to You. We want anyone who needs to know they are loved to receive that assurance because You have led us to love as Jesus loved. When our attempts to love fall short of Jesus’ example of love, we trust You to still use the love we offer to change an outlook of hopelessness to one of hope. We do offer prayers for those affected by the devastation of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. We pray for people there who have lost loved ones as a result. We pray for emergency responders and medical personnel who are exhausted with their rescue efforts. Please demonstrate Your love for those who are living in fear after what they have witnessed. For all those trying to face another day and wondering how they will, we pray that those who are loving as Jesus loved with be what changes people’s outlook and expectations. Thank You God that this has been another week of looking to see love in action and thank You that You have chosen us to be part of this. In the Name of Jesus Who always finds ways to love that will reach people at their deepest need. AMEN.