Put a little love in your heart :)

These past few weeks I've been thinking a lot about the impact love makes in this world we live. There is so much suffering, anger, tragedy and indifference in the world these days. The song, "Put a little love in your heart," has been running through my mind and I've been singing the song aloud to myself many times. So, it got me thinking? Do I live with love in my heart? Can others see my love, and if so, how? How do I see others showing their love to the world? Is it obvious, or are people just going about their way without thought of others?

Love or derivations of the word, appear 558 times in the Bible. Probably one of the most famous phrases on LOVE known around the planet, and recited at weddings all over the world, comes from 1 Corinthians 13:

 "Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres....And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

So, can we see people living out their love? I think you can see LOVE if you pay attention to your friends and the events that are occurring in their lives. Facebook has really helped the world come together in many ways, and it has made us all aware of things that are happening all around us and in the world at any given time.It really is a wonderful new time we live in. I'm going to profile a couple of friends that show their love everyday.

My friend Bambi Famous Kaine, is a survivor of the highest degree. I have known Bambi for many years. Her son Dane, and our son Jordy, played baseball together when they were young. In 2006, Bambi and her family lost their beloved daughter, Katelyn, in a tragic car accident. Katelyn went to school with our older son Biff, so you can see we've known the family for many years. Shortly after losing Katelyn, Bambi was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to have a double mastectomy.

Bambi, was able to turn some very unbelievably devastating events into positive forces in her life. She formed the Fly High KJD Foundation, in memory of her daughter, which bestows scholarship money to graduating seniors at the high school her daughter had attended. She also is very active in the American Cancer Society, and has become the voice of breast cancer in this area, hosting many events to raise awareness for the ACS. She is well known for her lively and loving spirit, and an inspiration to so many who have watched her turn tragedy into triumph. Bambi is showing her LOVE to the World by shining her bright spirit to many around her. She is a beacon in the darkness to those suffering from this terrible insidious illness. They can look at her and say, " I can make it too." We often see Bambi on TV in a sound bite with her big bright smile!
Wherever there is some event to support breast cancer awareness, she is always there! What a glorious gift she is giving to everyone. She is showing her LOVE to the world with her shining spirit. Whenever I'm having a down day, I think of Bambi and all that she has been through and I pick myself up and smile. So, thank you Bambi, I am so proud to call you friend.

My new MS facebook, Denise Manley, has been at the forefront of the CCSVI movement here in the US. Denise actively sought out and found the Interventional Radiologist, Dr. Sisken, who performed her procedure. She has been documenting everything through her youtube channel and her active Facebook presence. She has helped so many people with her daily posts about what is going on in the CCSVI world. She is spearheading a fundraising drive to raise money to support a clinical trials for CCSVI. I don't know Denise personally, but I feel like I know her well through here youtube channel videos and our online chats. I love facebook and youtube. I would have never met Denise had she not posted on those two things and shared herself with the world.

Watching Denise jumping on her CCSVI video, and seeing the improvements from her before video to the after video gave me the courage to seek out this incredible new treatment. I thought, if she can do that, I want to do it too! She was showing her LOVE for the world to see. She was helping people she doesn't even know, including me. Thanks Denise, for having the courage to share yourself and your struggles with all of us.

Another person I just met, blew me away with his loving spirit. Greg Simony is a man who was struggling in his own life. He was overweight, drinking too much and his wife had just left him. He decided it was time to make some changes and Praise God, he did. Greg came to our church a few weeks ago with his beautiful wife and new baby girl and talked to us about reaching out in LOVE.

He turned his life around by starting to run in triathlons.That in itself is an amazing feet, but what Greg is doing is even more amazing. He has begun running with Nadia McKinnon, who is a victim of celebral palsy. He takes her on his runs to train and Greg has changed the life of this young woman. She gets so much enjoyment out of there time together and although she can't speak, Greg knows loud and clear how she feels about the time they spend running together. Nadia enjoys being outside and watching everything around her. But Greg is the one who has really been blessed by the love he has given to Nadia. Their story is one of LOVE.

The human spirit is really something to behold. God gives us all a wonderfully resilient spirit, capable of withstanding just about anything, if we reach out beyond ourselves to others when we are in need, and to help those who need us. We get strength when we share our difficulties and pain. God wants us to LOVE each other.

So, how do you show your LOVE to your little corner of the world? In the kindness of your words; a loving touch to a dear one; a favor to a friend that needs it; helping a neighbor in need? There are a million different ways to show your LOVE each day. Jesus was all about Love. He wants us to shine His love into the world, so  go ahead and "Put a little love in your heart"!

My verse for today Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven."

My prayer for today:

Lord Jesus, Gracious Heavenly Father:

Help me to shine my light for all to see. Help me to reach out in your love to everyone I meet each day. Have them be able to look at me and recognize that difference that You make in my life. Help me to show the world Your love. Help me to be Your Hands and Feet on this earth.

I pray this in your Holy Name,

Amen