Where has all the love gone?

Hello!! It’s been so long since my last blog! But lately, something has been on my heart very strongly, and I just feel that I should share it with you.  Within the last couple of months, I started a new job working with a volunteer program called Americorps at our local community center.  Americorps has many different branches, but the branch I volunteer for is called S.E.E. which stands for synergy, education, and enviromemt.  Their main goal is to simply reach out to our community and help those who are less fortunate than others. They have an afterschool program called KidTech for grades 1-5 that provides tutoring for these children.

During the first week as part of the team, I was completely baffled by some of the things I heard these young children saying. It made me realize that the battle we face is beyond serious.  As Christians, we become so distracted and so worried about our lives and what God is doing in OUR life that we lose focus on what God wants to do in the lives of others THROUGH us. Since I started volunteering, God has fueled my passion to help and reach others. It has also prompted this question: Is the church so caught up in planning the next “big event” that it has lost sight of the importance of the small things, such as reaching out to those who can never repay?

A family that lives less than a block from my church participates in the afterschool program with KidTech. When I realized this, it made me so angry with myself.  I was suddenly jolted that I don’t even know the community that has been at my fingertips for the last 7 years.  Rather than beat myself up, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity that God has afforded me through this program.

As Bible believers, at times, we are so concerned about doctrine, which is important to salvation, yet we forget about its foundation. Some have even taken these matters to the level of competition constantly trying to determine who is right and who is wrong.  Yes, I believe the Bible in its entirety and that it is the infallible Word of God. But I also know that at its core is LOVE.

Why do we worry about God’s calling on our life? Why do we try to make it so complicated?  Amen to the fact that we should continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. (Phillipians 2:12) But at the very root of salvation, at the creation of the universe, at the moment of redemption is the main ingredient. It is simply to love. God called each and every one of us to love. When we love others and care for others, then they will see Jesus in us. Then we can tell someone about Jesus and his wonderful mercy, grace, and LOVE.

“For he that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” I John 4:8

Truly,
Hayley;)