My soul aches. My soul aches for God’s people.

My heart breaks. My heart breaks for all people.

A few short weeks ago I was moving my son into an apartment in Chicago. It sits on the edge of Boys Town, a predominately gay community. That Saturday night evil happened in Orlando. My heart broke, first and foremost for each and every soul in that club. My first thought was how many people in that club did not think they were worthy of God’s love because of the way they were treated over their lifetime by God’s people. We are called as believers in Christ to love like Christ loves us.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

As children of God, we all need to love like Christ loves us and to be loved like Christ loves us!

This past week we have seen more shootings by police and by snipers. This is not an issue that is divided by power or skin color. The issue involves hardened hearts. Human hearts have forgotten the meaning of life, the despair of death. My heart goes out to all human beings!!!! We are all made in the image of God.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

We are His children. We are all valuable in his eyes. Nothing matters beyond our belief in Christ. Christ himself did not divide his ministry for religion, skin color, free or slave, male or female or level of sin. He included all.

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” Galatians 3:28.

It is easy to allow our hearts to harden, to point fingers at who is to blame, to divide God’s children. As I read posts on Facebook after the deaths in Baton Rouge and Minnesota, my heart broke. I had friends who were writing about the fear of having black sons, of walking their dog in the streets with their black husband, of having a new baby in the world where black men are being slain. My heart broke and fear rose. I trust my fellow man to not put my friends or me in an unsafe situation. That is not true. As a white female am I safe having black friends? I wasn’t in the 80’s in North Carolina. Tires were slashed because you had black friends. Crosses were burned to send a message to not associate with black boys. I lost my trust in man. I lost my trust in my safety. But I couldn’t live in fear. We don’t need to put our confidence in what man will or will not do. It is better to trust God!

“It is Better to Trust in the Lord than to put Confidence in man” Psalms 118:8

I trust the Lord to give peace to my friends who are afraid for their black sons and husbands, for my cousin and sister who could have been one of those lost in Orlando, for my college friend who is patrolling the streets to protect and serve. I trust you, Lord.

When I was in Chicago that horrible weekend of death and hate the streets were full of crying men and women. My heart broke as I saw the hurt and pain in their eyes. As I walked by a memorial that was erected to remember the lost I reached out and hugged a young man who was sobbing alone.

We embraced.

Tears Fell.

Hearts softened as we grieved together, as God’s children.

Today I will hug people of color, straight and gay, police and civilian, Christian and non-Christian. I will love them like Christ loves. No matter what else happens in this world I refuse to live any other way.

Hug somebody today that you wouldn’t normally hug.

Reach out.

Soften your heart.

Spread God’s love.

Obey the command.

We need to spread love people!!!! You start the movement, the wave, the spirit of God in your life and out to others.

Trust God with every human, showing the love of Christ to His children who were made in His image. Refuse to live any other way.