1 John 4:16

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

When I weep with you,

when I grieve with you,

when we welcome and share

each other’s tears,

(John 11:35)

when I hunger and thirst

for you,

when I walk the desert

for you,

when I step in and stand up

for you,

when I push back the devil

and his lies for you,

(Matthew 16:23)

when I walk with you

on your journey,

when I join you on your road

to Emmaus

and break bread with you,

(Luke 24:30)

when I say your name,

when I acknowledge you,

when I tell you I have not

abandoned you,

but am still here with you,

and I see you,

(John 20:16)

when I take your hand

and point to the cross,

and tell you just how much

God loves you,

and, oh, how He loves you,

(John 3:16)

when I tell you how He will

always welcome you home,

no matter how lost and how long

the journey has taken you,

(Luke 15:11-32)

when I do these things for you,

I am telling you this ….

God loves you.

I love you.

You are loved.

You abide in love.

You abide in God,

and God with you.

Amen.