Everyone has at least one person in their past that makes them think about love. Not the boy/girl kind of love, but the kind of love that God has shed abroad unto all people. There is a lady from the Ukraine who married a Jew and moved to Israel, who makes my wife and I think of God's love. For years life has been difficult for Lena. When we moved to Israel we met Lena who was volunteering to work in the kitchen of the Christian lodge. God's love radiated from this vivacious Christian. All Lena's work was done in an attitude of enjoying the wonder of God. It was obvious that she had cast herself into the complete trust of her Savior no matter what happened.
Lena worked at the lodge in the true meaning of God's love. She had the ministry of loving others. Many people benefited from her quiet ministry of wonder. When people's stress was up she like to say, "God's love is so wonderful." We were blessed by Lena as she spent many hours saving their sanity.
During the next couple of years, we met and loved Lena's husband and daughter. There little family worked together to give hospitality to Christians, who, for the most part, are not welcome in Israel. The real wonder of God's love will never be seen or enjoyed until a Christian learns to reach out and help others.
One day Lena went with us to Joppa for a time of rest. It was mid-morning and overcast with rain clouds. We sat down to rest and order coffee at a small cafe. It was on a bluff about 300 feet above the Mediterranean shore. It was one of those rare times when everything seemed to be at peace. As we looked out over the dark blue sea, the power of God seemed absolutely immense. Going out onto the porch, we felt the slight breeze of God's comfort. Suddenly, as if turned on, a huge rainbow appeared to cross the Mediterranean Sea. The feeling of overwhelming love covered us. The understanding of what Lena had said many times became real to us. God's love is truly so wonderful!
Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph 5:1-2)
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