the love of the Father...

strong, 

    full of patience & grace,

ever forgiving, 

       passionate & intimate... 

Oh, the love of the Father! 

   unconditional, 

             sacrificial, 

  

                      gentle, 

 without bounds, 

       unfathomable, 

overflowing, 

  

          universal, 

   never discriminating... 

  

abounding because of 

   

    & despite ourselves...

   this is the gospel: 

      grace + love + patience

it is not a list of 

     rules,

an excuse for judging or 

      

      hating others who

are different than ourselves, 

 nor is it a "get out of hell for free"

        card... 

the gospel gives freedom

      

   & life to the fullest,

 the gospel is to love everyone

as you love yourself,

   to find beauty in diversity, 

the gospel is to accept

    the love & forgiveness of 

the Father, 

   made flesh in the God-man

          Jesus Christ, 

who showed us what it

   means to love your 

         neighbor... 

the gospel is

   

     walking in grace,

the gospel is love.