It's taken me a while to figure out what I've wanted to blog about today, what God would have me say to His people, and what's in my heart.. Love it the overwhelming need, prevailing thought, main idea, and thing that was there.  There's so much going on in our country, our homes, schools, and individual lives that we forget sometimes to love. Not only to love but be loved.  As I've watched the news coverage of the shootings in Orlando I can't help but be overcome with sadness for the families that lost loved ones, the coworkers and friends that lost their people, and the love and light that each of them were robbed of.

I remember what it was like when my father was murdered, it's been a little over a year, and it's not something you just get over.  At best you learn how to cope, how to re-establish normal, and live with a piece of your heart missing.  So I say to each of you that it's a time to love.  People all over the world are hurting, in torment,  lost, destitute, and in places of despair masked by plastered on smiles. Everyone needs to be loved on a little harder, hugged more, uplifted, encouraged, supported, and checked on.  That means taking action when you know something is wrong or off.

It's time for us to return to being our brother's keeper, the village that raises the children together...simply family.  Get outside of yourself and the bubble of your life to be present, to show up for others, to truly check on your neighbor, sister, or brother.

One of the most moving and powerful scriptures I've read is Genesis 4:10 after Cain had killed Abel...

 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

 We as a nation and generation have become so self-absorbed and self contained that we've lost the art of loving others.  We don't send letters in the mail anymore or spend hours on the phone talking about nothing and everything at the same time.  Computers and electronics have robbed us of our intimacy and quality time.

I've said it before and I'll say it again! Love is an action word!  God so loved that He gave... Elkanah loved Hannah so much that he showed her favoritism, the man's friends in Mark 2/Luke 5 loved him so much they lowered him through the roof... the examples could go on and on.The point is that loved moved them to action.  As a nation, as the church, as believers, as human beings we should be compelled to love that causes action.

It is certainly a time to Love.  We've tried everything else and it's failed.  Don't you think it's time to Love?