Changing Lives Center

What is Love?

What is love? A difficult question for most people, let alone men and women who have experienced a a fair amount of trauma and abuse. Yet, these men and women are learning what love looks and feels like when God is a part of their lives. Some are early in their journey. Some are deep in their truth of what the Bible says about love. February, and every day, we celebrate God’s love for us and how we can walk that out in our own lives by loving like Jesus loves.

“Love is an action. God IS love. God sending his only son to die for us .. is love. Something as simple as a smile can represent love.”

Michelle – Graduate of Phoenix Rescue Mission

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Tom – Graduate of Phoenix Rescue Mission

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“I didn’t know what love felt like. All I knew was hatred, shame and guilt. I didn’t realize until I came to the Phoenix Rescue Mission and actually received Jesus Christ, my personal Savior, and turned my life over to God, what love feels like. And now its like a feeling in my heart all the time. It’s amazing. I care about myself again, I care about everyone around me. The way the Mission and the staff adopted me as family. That feeling you get, it’s crazy. I don’t have problems anymore. It’s a good feeling.”

“Love is selfless, and takes a lot of sacrificing of your own desires.”

Tiffany – Graduate of Phoenix Rescue Mission

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Stephen – graduate of Phoenix Rescue Mission

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“This is a good week to talk about love. When I think of love, I think of 1 Corinthians 13. What is love, what is the picture of God’s love for us? Love is patient , love is kind. Love keeps no record of wrongs. It does not boast, it is not envious. And looking at 1 John also, perfect Love casts out fear, if we don’t know God, we don’t know love.”

“Past experience with love hasn’t been the greatest, but a lot of that is because I didn’t have a relationship with God. Now that I do, it’s kind of re-learning everything through His eyes, His perspective. That’s where I’m at right now. I’m still learning a lot.”

“Love means home. With my kids, it’s home, family, my babies. That’s love to me. Here at the Changing Lives Center, my kids aren’t here with me. So I often go to our daycare on campus, and spend time with the kids. I feel an abundance of love there. It’s unconditional. This is my home right now, I feel safe and I feel love from Christ. Love from God is overpowering, just all-consuming, joy, smiling, happiness. It puts me at peace. My relationship with God now is the strongest it’s ever been. I feel God’s Spirit, that’s love.”

Michelle – Client at Changing Lives Center

Michelle-Love

Brandon – Graduate of Phoenix Rescue Mission

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“Love is an unconditional acceptance and a yearning to be with someone or something. Love has no bounds, there are no stipulations as to how I can give it to someone or something.”

“This is what I have sought for in love. When I think of love, I think of my mom. She showed me the most love, forgiveness, encouragement and just enjoying the company of others. That’s where I learned what love is. Enjoying and wanting to invest all of yourself regardless of cost.”

“Love is to be fully known, yet accepted. Unconditionally.”

Sala – Graduate of Phoenix Rescue Mission

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