oh how he loves us.

The love of God is indescribable. This week was my spring break, and I was able to spend it in the beautiful city of St. Louis, Missouri. God showed his faithfulness and love in so many ways this week that it almost blew my mind. God is so good!

This past week I worked at the Wesley House in St. Louis with FLOCK X! We had so much fun together. We grew so close that we actually didn't want to leave each other...which is usually uncommon when a group spends so much time together. But it was so awesome! God definitely blessed the socks off of our group and we were able to be witnesses to everyone around us. Angela, Anna, Hope, Caitlin, Heather, Savannah, Sarah, Emily, Kyle, Kit, and Bryan were all INCREDIBLE! I feel like I went to St. Louis with eleven acquaintances and came back to Clemson with eleven siblings. I am so grateful for each of them. All of them brought something unique to the group, which made it even more fun.

The Wesley House in St. Louis is a place where children come after school and during the summer, and it is sort of like a day program for them. Mr. Jimmie, Linda, Sharon, and Dorrie were the four people in charge and they were so awesome! Mr. Jimmie and Dorrie were so eager to help us whenever we needed them, and they were also able to hang out with the kids with us. They were awesome at some kickball, too!

Each child that we were able to hang out with and get to know was so different, yet so alike. Antwonette was full of funky dance moves. Terrence was busting out back flips like nobody's business. Antwon had a smile that could make anyone smile and the cutest little voice to go along with it. Johnny was absolutely precious and ran from all the girls because we had cooties. Clarence was fearless when it came to dance offs. These children will always hold a special place in my heart. Especially Terrence, because he claimed me as his girlfriend and wouldn't let any other boys come near me. He knew how to make a girl feel loved!

All of the people from Flock X and Crazy 8's were so amazing. Everyone was so willing to do whatever it took to serve the Wesley House, and it was so encouraging to watch them interact with the kids. Everyone got along so well too, and that made things even better. Everyone cheered each other on and just had so much fun trying our hardest to love those little ones the way that Jesus loves us.

In twenty+ years when I look back on this week, I can garuantee that the one line that will come to my head will be "oh how he loves us." Because that is exactly what this week was all about. His love for us and, also, this: If we profess to be followers of Christ, we will strive to love others as he has loved us.

Jesus loves us so much that it's almost impossible for me to grasp my mind around the concept of it. And the part that absolutely BLOWS my mind is that he still loves me although I mess up a million times a day. I don't deserve his love, but he still gives it to me day in and day out. This is HUGE. It's so easy for us as humans to turn our backs on people who hurt us without even second-guessing our actions, but that's never even an option for Jesus. If we loved people the way that Jesus loves us, just imagine the change we would see.

When we are able to love people despite their flaws and imperfections, that's when we begin to see people the way Jesus does. Loving someone the way Jesus loves us means giving 200% of your heart when the world says that isn't safe. It's showing no concern for how something will affect you, because all you want is for someone else to feel that joy that you have. Love is so powerful. Our love for people puts our love for God on display. If you don't believe me, take a look at 1 John 4.

I believe that love is the greatest gift God gave us. I'm not talking about love of worldly things like money or possessions, I'm talking about the love of him and our brothers and sisters in him. I believe that a little bit of love can change the world. What if we all loved each other just a little more? Just imagine how awesome that would be!

Oh how he loves us. Oh how he loves us. Oh how he loves us so.

If we could get that in our heads, we reach so many more people. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and LOVE and of a sound mind. We've got love in all of us; even the people who act like they don't, do. To love is to serve and to serve is to love.

The big question that Brad Cooper asked the group in St. Louis this week was "Selfishness or Salvation?" So which one is it? Only one comes out of a heart filled with love.