There is NOTHING like LOVE. Things may heal us temporarily, money can buy us happiness for a short period before we want more of it, and cupcakes may put smiles on our faces…until they are gone. As I once heard, permanent results do not come from temporary change. Permanent results only come from permanent change. These things are only temporary. The only thing that is permanent is LOVE. God is love. Love is the only thing that heals from the inside out…PERMANENTLY!

When I was living the way I wanted to, when I wanted to; I hung out with people with a like-mind. They didn’t want what was best for me or try to build me up. We encouraged each other to do things like cuss and steal, breaking each other down. Neither one of us had direction, how could we lead the other? Living for yourself, with others who do the same, leads to destruction and does not produce love.

That’s why it is so important for us to love people who have no direction, because they have not experienced love. Love will affect their lifestyle choices and change the way the see life. When I first experience God’s love, I was at the lowest point in my life. I walked into the church I am at now for the first time, and people chose to reach out to me. There were people who wanted the best for me and who built me up with the power of love. Through them, I could see it wasn’t over, there was hope, and God had a plan for my life. Only because I could sense the change that was happening on the inside of me, all because of the love God’s people chose to share when I was at my lowest.

Never underestimate the power of love. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” (1 John 4:18) And where there is no fear, people are empowered and free to do all that God has called them to do!! Let’s be so filled up with God’s love that His love comes out of the overflow of our hearts and into the lives of those who need it most! Let’s bring on some permanent change!!

Ashley Fordinal is the Children’s Church volunteer at Family Life Church in Sulphur Springs, TX.