Open hearts give thanks! Open hearts praise God for God's steadfast and redeeming love.

Who are the redeemed? We are those who have been saved and gathered together in community. Open hearts want to be gathered together with others, rather than stay by ourselves. Open hearts recognize that God’s redeeming love extends to people from east, west, north and south — people from every land, every race, every language. Since God’s steadfast love endures and is open to all, so we can also love one another with the same steadfast love.

When we welcome and love others, especially those who are different, we are showing them the same love that God shows us. God’s redemption is big. Really big! Big enough for the whole world. It changes our personal lives, our friendships, our community, and our world. It calls us to love neighbors and even enemies just as God loves us.

By Jeff Light from D365