What It Means To Love

Over the summer, I joined a team of 290 people from my church on a missions trip to the Dominican Republic.  In the DR, my job was to teach music to a children’s choir.  At the end of the week, our choir performed at a special celebration ceremony.

In preparation for the trip, I learned worship songs, how to communicate the gospel message and basic words in spanish.  Along with three other worship leaders, I taught a group of 10 children at an orphanage four worship songs and hand motions.

Watching these children practice and perfect the songs in only two days brought tears to my eyes each time I heard them sing.  It was and still is incredible for me to think that even thousands of miles away from home, we were worshiping the same God.  Even though I spoke a different language and came from a different background, we were still praising the same Creator for His love that endures forever!

As I read the reading’s from today, I was reminded of that trip and how our God is the same today, tomorrow and forever.  He is the same God in the Dominican Republic as He is here in the United States.  He values every person no matter what their background is and loves each one just the same.

Chris Tomlin recently released a new CD and a new version of his hit song, “How Great Is Our God: World Edition.” I attended one of his live concerts a week before the release and Chris explained to the crowd about how he had recorded this special version.  As I listened, I was blown away by every language sung on that song.  It was like catching a glimpse of Heaven – where every one of our brother’s and sister’s in Christ from all over the world will be praising Him!

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.  And they cried out in a loud voice: ’Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’”

- Revelation 7:9-10