called to love

those of you who know me know that i love missions and missionaries. last night the wmu (missions) lead team met and we were introduced to the slogan for this year...called to love. i am so excited about this, and am praying that God does wonderful things through our group and our church in the coming months. God calls each of us to love as He loves. we say we love things and people all the time, but do we really? i love purses, i love decorating, and i love ice cream. do i love these things unconditionally, passionately, and undyingly? i don't think so! this is what God calls us to do...love with the love of Christ. Christ loved me enough to die a horrendous death on a cross at the hands of people who ridiculed him horribly. with the exception of my mother, and a very few close friends, i do not know that i would do that for anyone. let alone for a whole world full of people, many who curse my name and don't even believe in me. i am on a journey right now, of learning how to love myself on real and deep level, thus learning how to love others in that manner. i know that God will continue to love me through this, and i pray for discernment and courage to carry out His plan for me. thank you Father God, for being my strength and my fortress as i work to be the me You want me to be!