During times of uncertainty and change we can be assured of the constant love of God. His commands have stood the test of time and are as relevant today as they were from the beginning, and will always continue to be so.

The greatest commandment “…love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’. No other commandment is greater than these” Mark Ch12 v 30-31

These two commandments embody all the other commandments through acts of love (living and breathing it every day). We often hear the phrase “charity begins at home”, interestingly the words ‘charity’ and ‘love’ are both translated from the Greek word ‘Agape’ a term used to express the unconditional love of God. The two words are entwined through act and purpose, a way of being, you can’t have one without the other. These can be reflected to our ‘neighbour’ literally living next door by simple acts like keeping an eye out for them, especially when they are struggling; to our ‘neighbour’ the people we meet each day at work, school, clubs, in town… in treating them as we would like to be treated ourselves; friends or family members of your ‘neighbour’, listening to concerns, needs, supporting them through prayer, and helping out if you are able…and so it continues toripple out right across to the other side of the world.

It’s truly amazing how the kindness of a stranger can have a real impact at a time of need; simply with just a few words of encouragement, by sharing an experience, taking the time to listen, understand and respond. The reassurance of knowing that someone cares can make all the difference.