Things I Love Thursday...

My heart is kinda full right now, in fact my eyes are filling with tears as I think about what I love this day. I love when the body of Christ really lives out the church...when we take the words of James 1:27 to heart and live it out in our everyday lives. ..
James 1:27 (New Living Translation)
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

I know that I don't love this in myself, because I know I have a real long way to go. Have I lived this out in my life? Certainly not nearly as much as I should be. But I am encouraged and challenged, uplifted and broken when I read about people I love, people I don't know, people who just love, who are making a difference in the lives of those that we may call unworthy or not good enough all because they were first loved. Here are just a few examples of this kind of love in action...

My dear friend Beth, is giving her heart and time to the orphans of South Africa through The Door of Hope.

I have been so encouraged watching the Chip In meter on my friend Katrina's blog rise! She is helping to raise money for some friends who are desperately trying to bring Pavel, a special needs orphan home to a family full of love.

And even though I do not know these people, I have been following their journey to India through Compassion International. And today as I read their posts, I was overwhelmed by the way my heart was stirred.

I guess I just am really loving people who love, people who take the love of Christ that lives in them and shares it with the poorest of the poor, the neighbor in need, the baby with no hope. And today, I am ready to love like that. Are you?