I read this deeply challenging thought this week written by Henri Nouwen. I want to share it because I believe it speaks directly to the cultural moment in which we find ourselves. He said, “Love among people is not first of all a feeling or an emotion or a sentiment but a decision of the will to be faithful to each other... There are really no people whom we can love with unlimited feelings of love. We are all imperfect, broken, sinful people, but we are able to love one another because we are able to will to be faithful and constantly forgive each other’s unfaithfulness.” 

What a challenge for us who live in a world that’s either “I’m feeling it” or “I’m not feeling it.” We base our ability to love others on how we feel, which means that our ability to love is based upon something subjective and often fickle or vacillating. Henri says that there is a better way to approach love. He said that love is something we “will” which means that we can really LOVE EVERYONE ALWAYS even if they are different or if we disagree or if they have hurt us. 

The big question is, how do I will myself to love someone? Well, I have a couple of ideas. First, we must know we are loved by God. When we can stand in the fact that God loves us no matter what – even though we are imperfect, broken, and sinful – then we can have a solid foundation from which to express our love in a practical way. 

Second, after we’re fully saturated with God’s love, we can ask God for the supernatural strength to act in love even when we may not feel all that loving. We come before God and ask Him to give us His wisdom so we can love those we think are unlovable. 

Third, we need to have a toolbox full of loving actions we can access when we need to act in love but just aren’t feeling it. I hope you will watch the video Kim and I just shot because in it we pull out some of the “this is how love acts” tools that we use regularly with each other. These actions really work because – believe it or not – we can both be unlovable at times. What we’ve learned is that love is an action and acting in loving ways takes intentionality. 

Fourth, we need to make sharing love with others our top desire or goal. That’s what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:1 right after he writes out this beautiful description of how love acts in chapter 13. Will you stop and think of people you are struggling to love right now? Will you humble yourself before God and ask Him to help you love them in a tangible way? 

Fifth, Henri Nouwen ended his statement by saying that we must constantly forgive each other’s unfaithfulness. We are to be faithful, but we are to forgive those who aren’t that faithful. Who do you need to forgive? Maybe you’re holding a grudge or nursing a hurt or recalling a pain, why don’t you take a moment right now and ask God to help you forgive them. 

We have a long way to go to heal the chasm between people caused by the political divisions that have been drawn in the sand. I believe that God wants His people to be the front runners when it comes to acting in love toward everyone. I love that vision – LOVE EVERYONE ALWAYS. 

We’re going to have our next Drive-Thru Food Drive on Friday, November 20 from 8:00-10:30am. Please bring your non-perishable food items as we work with Interfaith Food Ministry to help those who are food challenged during these difficult days. Also, we know the needs are tremendous over at Interfaith so we’re going to receive a special offering to Feed the Hungry during our services on November 22. Please ask God how He might ask you to generously help with a financial gift. 

Families, you will want to make note of this fun and meaningful activity Pastor Bobby, Hope, and Alexis have put together to help you teach your children the true meaning of Christmas using an interactive kid-friendly Advent activity that you will use during the entire Advent season. I love how parents will be engaging with their kids in this easy-to-access spiritual journey. Make sure to plan to gather in the lobby of the church on November 24 and have a JOLLY good time. Following Advent as a family will help you and your kids engage more deeply together. I wish I had been more aware of the power of Advent when my kids were younger.  

This Sunday we get to tackle a spiritually deep section of Proverbs as we look at “The Beauty of Wisdom.” We’ll be learning from Proverbs 8 if you want to read ahead.  

During this time when it’s impossible for us all to be on campus together, please make sure to stay engaged online if you can’t be here with us in person. Our services will continue to be streamed live at 9:00 and 11:00am, or you can watch them on demand any time you want right from our website or APP. Here’s an idea: When you’re watching online, please invite your friends to join you. If you haven’t downloaded the TCC APP, just go to the APP store and search for TCC GRASS VALLEY and download it today.   

We plan to add live music back in as soon as possible, but until we do, our Worship Arts Team will keep recording quality and inspiring song sets each week that will allow us to engage in worship together.   

Let me encourage our young families that we have space for you and to keep checking the website for new activities. Please make sure to register your kiddos on our website before you arrive.   

Our Student Ministry Team has moved to a format on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30pm at the church that will allow our students to engage. Junior High students meet with their leaders on one end of the building and High School students and their leaders meet on the other. Students are also meeting at 10:30am on Sundays for connect time and donuts, and then they attend the 11:00am service together. Make sure to encourage your students to be here because they need community in ways they may not even be aware.   

Joyfully living everyday life on mission in intimacy with Jesus and others,