LOVE, THE GREATEST GIFT

On December 14, 1998, my dear friend, Regina and I were in her car on our way to another town to buy some fabric. It was a clear, pristine winter day filled with beauty as we traveled the rolling hills on a country road. She and I were having a conversation about the goodness of God when we stopped at the corner to make a right hand turn onto the two lane highway going east and west, which was the main road to take us into town. Suddenly, as we made the right onto the main road, an eighteen wheeler gas tanker crossed the double yellow lines in the road and was headed straight toward us. There was nothing we could do to avoid impact with this steel monster as it forged toward us at 55 miles an hour. We could not swerve into the left lane to avoid the truck because we were on a bridge and there was a dump truck in the left lane and the railing of the bridge on our right, with a rock quarry to the right of the bridge. I realized there was no way that we were getting out of this terrible ordeal. My 20 month old daughter and I were expelled from the car on impact and were thrown 40 feet back from where the car came to rest. The baby was found under the back of the truck by the back wheel and had very little injuries. I must have landed near the front of the truck between the cab and the guard rail and was quite beaten up. My dear friend was injured but miraculously although it was a head-on collision, the truck hit the car on the passenger side where I was sitting; she was the driver. God spared her from the worst part of the impact. I praise God for His protection.

Although I had known this woman for several years and we had so much in common; going though this terrible ordeal sealed our friendship for life. We had been friends in good times but now we were faced with a hard trial of pain, injuries, doctors, lawyers and the like. Our friendship was tested and stood the test of time. There was no blaming one another in this accident. Our lives were spared by Almighty God for purpose and destiny. The enemy thought he could stop us but God’s plan prevailed. We are so in love with the Lord today. She continues to minister in the youth facility preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. She is a prophetic evangelist, touching the lives of people where ever she goes. She will probably never know the impact of her ministry until she stands before the Lord as He opens the Book of Rewards and read of her good works and the people she has brought to the Kingdom of God. There are greater works ahead of her as there are greater works ahead of me. Although we live in different cities, God has a work for us to do together in the very near future.

One lady visited my hospital room after the accident and asked me, “Why do you think God spared your life?” That was a question I never thought about until she asked me. I lay on my bed and asked God if He was pleased with my love toward Him and if I had loved people enough. I realized that I wasn’t a lover of people. I had been selfish and self-centered. I said to my God, “Lord, show me how to love as You love.” I didn’t realize that when this dear woman asked me why God spared me that it would send me on an entire mental and spiritual overhaul in my love walk. God began the process of changing me. Praise God. The Lord eventually called me into the ministry. He used my friend to get me into prison ministry with her and I cut my teeth on touching hurting people. The gift of prophesy began to flow as God used me to speak a word of life into hurting lives. God has blessed me to be a blessing and to speak His heart to those who need to hear of His immense love toward them. He has used me to touch, encourage, edify, bless, correct and show people the way to His heart. How great and wonderful is our God.

God has blessed me with many wonderful friends throughout the years. Some were for a season and some for a lifetime. Friendship is truly a gift from God. I can’t imagine living a life without loving friends in it. And the most important thing is that what I have in common with all of my friends is Jesus. Jesus is the glue that holds us together. To live without love is a terrible thing. I have heard people say that they don’t trust anyone and don’t have, nor want friends. How sad. Jesus had friends. Abraham was “a friend of God.” Jesus called His disciples, “friends.” God made this powerful emotion to enrich our lives. God is a spirit and God is love. God calls us to be like Him and to image Him on the earth; loving one another and looking out for one another, not only in word but also in deed.

You can change, yes you can. Begin to love and demonstrate your love. Love without demonstration is useless. Love until it hurts; love with all your heart. Profess your love; demonstrate your love and you will begin to image God. If you want to operate in a mighty anointing; walk in love and the gifts will flow out of you. Practice 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. We were called to speak life into dead situations and to be light to pierce the darkness. I challenge you today to operate in the spirit of love. I pray that the love of Christ will flow over you as you read this letter. I decree that you become saturated with the amazing love of God that will change your life and bring you into a place of fellowship and intimacy with God and your brothers and sisters. When you allow the Holy Spirit to lead your life, you will be propelled into a place where God will wrap you in His amazing love. I speak this over your lives this very day in Jesus name. There is a sound that we are eagerly waiting to hear and it is the sound of the trumpet of God. We are waiting for the angels to blow the shofar and for the Lord to call His Beloved Church. "COME UP HERE" are the words we are waiting to hear and "well done, thy good and faithful servants."

Diana Ross sung this song some years ago and I think it is worth mentioning here.

Reach out and touch
Somebody’s hand
Make this world a better place
If you can
Reach out and touch
Somebody’s hand
Make this world a better place
If you can

Take a little time out of your busy day
To give encouragement
To someone who lost the way

Or would I be talking to a stone
If I asked you
To share a problem that’s not your own
We can change things if we start giving
Why don’t you

Reach out and touch
Somebody’s hand
Make this world a better place
If you can
Reach out and touch
Somebody’s hand
Make this world a better place
If you can

If you see an old friend on the street
And he’s down
Remember his shoes could fit your feet

Try a little kindness you’ll see
Its something that comes very naturally
We can change things if we start giving

Why don’t you
Reach out and touch
Why don’t you (why don’t you)
Reach out and touch somebody’s hand

Reach out and touch
Somebody’s hand
Make this world a better place
If you can
Reach out and touch
Somebody’s hand
Make this world a better place
If you can