Day 40
Today I want to celebrate the greatest act of love the world has ever known. I want to celebrate our perfect Savior who laid down His life for us, making a way (when it seemed there was no way) back to the heart of God. Today I want to celebrate the empty tomb that says, once and for all, that there is hope.
“The love for equals is a human thing—of friend for friend, brother for brother. It is to love what is loving and lovely. The world smiles.
The love for the less fortunate is a beautiful thing—the love for those who suffer, for those who are poor, the sick, the failures, the unlovely. This is compassion, and it touches the heart of the world.
The love for the more fortunate is a rare thing—to love those who succeed where we fail, to rejoice without envy with those who rejoice, the love of the poor for the rich, of the black man for the white man. The world is always bewildered by its saints.
And then there is the love for the enemy—love for the one who does not love you but mocks, threatens, and inflicts pain. The tortured’s love for the torturer. This is God’s love.
It conquers the world.”
—Frederick Buechner
My prayer for you is that an acceptance of God’s love will conquer your inner world. My prayer is that no matter what has happened to you or what the future has in store, that you will never quit taking steps forward with Jesus (even if they are stumbles). Never give up on yourself because, and this you must never forget: God NEVER gives up on you.
Our journey together, this one at least, is at an end. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for your time and your hearts and your acceptance.
I am not who I was before and I pray that you aren’t either.
-Corinne Mannes
If you’ve been encouraged or have grown throughout this Lent journey, let Corinne know! We’re so grateful for her wisdom and leadership in our church, this community truly wouldn’t be the same without it.
