Love the One

Derek and I have never really thought about New Years resolutions, but each December we start reflecting on the previous year and seeking God's plan for the year ahead. It is incredibly humbling to see all that God has done for us and through us, taught us or tried to teach us, and quite simply loved us and those around us through His grace and purpose in our lives.

This past year has been an eye opening experience to how we, as the Body of Christ, should truly love one another. In recent months, we've looked more closely at how we and those around us respond to each other. Sometimes we've been overwhelmed by kindness and sacrifice, but all too often we've been disappointed in our own selfishness and fears to be truly abandoned to love as Jesus does.

As we've prayed about the coming year we sense that God is asking two just things from us. To love Him with all our hearts and to love each person He places in front of us. Sometimes missions can get so complicated with strategies, projects, finances and expectations but God has made it very simple. We are called to 'love the one'.

My prayer for myself and those I love and minister to this year is that we learn to love the one. To first love Jesus deeply and then to love freely and purposefully the one He puts before us everyday just as He would. We are expecting that love to cost us in time, money, energy, and emotions but we can sense there is something amazing just beyond our reach and we are desperate to walk in it. Thank you Lord for leading us on this journey!