Today has been an incredibly emotional day. Both of my sisters have shown me God in awesome ways....

My youngest sister Jessica is moving soon. She is taking a big step in faith as many of us have in our own lives. She said tonight that the greatest command is for us to love God and love each other. As long as she is doing that, God's plan in her life will fall into place. I feel like I should confess to those reading this that I haven't been a very supportive sister through this process. I ask for forgiveness for some of things I have said to her and others. I know she loves God, and I really am excited to see what God has in store for her. She is one of the most talented, compassionate people I know. I don't know how she has done some of the things she has done with her life. She loves people that my selfish heart usually wouldn't even give the time of day. Thank you, Jess, for putting me in my place a little tonight. I love you!

And then my sister Lisa... She and Travis are expecting their first child in January. This was what she wrote on her Facebook tonight....

"Trav and I were suposed to find out the sex of the baby today (as most of you have been reading about for several days!!) :-) We were super excited and then super bummed when the baby was in a breech position. The ultrasound didn't tell us anything. No biggie, just dissapointing. The shocking news came when my doctor reviewed the ultrasound. There is a possibility that our baby is developing a kidney defect because the kidneys are dilated. We are being sent to a high risk pregnancy specialist at St. Elizabeth's tomorrow at 10:00 am for more testing. I was super upset because there is nothing I can do to help my baby. So I took Dave's advice (courtesy of "LOST"). I let the terror invade and then realized that my baby's care is in the hands of MY CREATOR. The God of the Universe is forming my baby in my womb as I type this and my baby's fate will be exactly what it was created to be. I'll update y'all tomorrow......"

I don't really think I need to add anything except for wow. Lisa, you are an amazing example of faith to me. I love you!

I have great sisters.

The last time I checked, God was a god of love. I'm pretty sure that hasn't changed. While I know we, as Christians, believe in the Bible and God's laws, we are also charged to practice faith, hope and love.

So tonight I can't sleep. I can't sleep because so many people are searching for love from their brothers and sisters in Christ and can't find it. I say this as one of the offenders. At times in my life I have found it so-called easier to walk away from relationships than to love without fail. I have made this decision because other people have done things or made decisions that didn't fall in line with my beliefs and worldview. And maybe I thought that was my way of showing Christ to them. As I've learned, however, that action was doing the opposite of showing Christ.

So, yes, I believe every word of the Bible. However, thankfully, I am not the judge. And I am not the law enforcer here. Where in the Bible was the church called to be the judge? Where were we called to be police officers for God? I am so thankful that my only job is to love without fail... to love like Jesus loved... to show that love to others... the rest is up to God, not me.

I ask for forgiveness for being an offender. I pray for strength to love without fail all the days of my life.

I love The Message's translation of 1 Cor. 13:

"If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

"Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut. Doesn't have a swelled head. Doesn't force itself on others. Isn't always 'me first.' Doesn't fly off the handle. Doesn't keep score of the sins of others. Doesn't revel when others grovel. Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth. Puts up with anything. Trusts God always. Always looks for the best. Never looks back. But keeps going to the end........

".........But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."