I know in this world of blog, the key is short frequent entries.  The last few days I have been away at a church planting conference with Eric Phillips.  Many of you know that Eric and Colleen are preparing to plant a church in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.  We met with other church planters from around the country for the past three days in Washington DC.   It was great time to talk, pray, and plan for the future.  I get so excited when I think about 100 year old Mount Ararat giving birth to a church to reach people for Jesus.  It is kind of like Abraham and Sarah having Isaac in their old age.  Awesome!

I have also been so encouraged to hear from many of our church family who have chosen to fast for a day or more during LENT.  God will speak to people who are earnestly seeking Him.  What is going to happen at Mount Ararat in the coming days?  Amazing days are coming!

Today, I read from the greatest love chapters in the Bible–1 Corinthians 13.  “Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.”
The Greek word for love is agape.  It describes the highest form of love.  God’s love is unconditional and unchangeable.  My LENT devotion reading instructed me to re-read these verses in 1 Corinthians 13, but this time replace the word love with God.  This gives a clearer picture to the kind of love God represents to us and desires for us.  Agape love is impossible apart from God–the two are inseparable.

Be encouraged!  Be loved!