This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

- Jesus, John 15:12-14 NRSV

But it will be bad for you Pharisees! You give God one-tenth of (everything you own) — even your mint, your rue, and every other little plant in your garden. But you forget to be fair to other people and to love God. These are the things you should do. And you should also continue to do those other things — (like giving one-tenth).

- Jesus, Luke 11:42 ERV

When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

— Titus 3:4-7 NLT

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. — Jesus, John 14:21 NIV

"I don't call you servants now. A servant does not know what his master is doing. But now I call you friends because I have told you everything I heard from my Father. You did not choose me; I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and make fruit. I want this fruit to continue {in your life}. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. This is my command: Love each other." — Jesus, John 15:15-17

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 

— Proverbs 3:3-4 NIV

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person — though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. Isaiah 53:6 NLT

"As the [Lord] has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my [Lord's] commandments and abide in [God's] love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete." — Jesus, John 15:9-11, NRSV

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 ESV

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:18 ESV

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:13-14 NIV

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Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. Romans 13:8 NLT

With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. Zephaniah 3:17b NLT

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Giver of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." — Jesus, John 14:21

"I loved you like the Father loved me. Now continue in my love. I have obeyed my Father's commands, and I continue in his love. In the same way, if you obey my commands, you will continue in my love." — Jesus, John 15:9-10 ERV

"I have told you these things so that you can have the true happiness that I have. I want you to be completely happy. This is what I command you: Love each other like I have loved you. The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends. You are my friends if you do the things I tell you to do."  —  Jesus, John 15:11-14

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. Psalm 103:15-18

"The love of the Lord is forever with the faithful and the righteousness of the Lord is with their descendants. Beloved, be faithful to the Lord and his word. Be faithful." — Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, founder of LovingGodFellowship.org

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Life can be very challenging at times. Stress, panic, and fear threaten to destroy minds and bodies as people struggle to make it from day to day. Watch as Pastor Gregory A. Johnson describes the one reason why you made it through the night and how you will make it through any crises that come your way.

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So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
Galatians 5:1

"Jesus set us free from the Old Testament law, giving us a new commandment of love — loving God and loving one another. Love God with everything you have and love others as Jesus loves you. It is how you stay free." — Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, founder of LovingGodFellowship.org

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Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." Luke 10:25-28

"Jesus sums up that the life of a Christ-follower is all about love, loving God with your whole being and loving others as yourself. This is the fruit of a genuine Christ-follower. According to Jesus, they will inherit eternal life." — Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, founder of LovingGodFellowship.org

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Watch as Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, founder of LovingGodFellowship.org, declares that love wins! 

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Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. — James 1:27

"We are to live and love as Christ did. Following Jesus, walking in holiness, helping those at their point of need, touching those who are often forgotten and overlooked, we are to live for Jesus. That is what being a Christ-follower is all about." — Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, founder of LovingGodFellowship.org

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Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5

"Jesus has done more for us than we think we deserve. He believes in us more than we do. He sees our bright future while we focus on present woes. He knows we are created in God's image while we see ourselves and others as less. Jesus loves us." — Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, founder of LovingGodFellowship.org

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[ Fulfilling the Law Through Love ] Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

"It is all about Love. God loves us so much, he came into our world — Jesus lived as our example, died for our sins, was resurrected, and gives us eternal life. We live to follow Christ, fulfilling God's word as we love others." — Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, founder of LovingGodFellowship.org.

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And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

"God brings peace out of chaos, joy out of sorrow, strength out of weakness, endurance out of weariness — he never fails his children who love him. While we are busy with life, he is resting in what he has prepared for us. God is good to us." — Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, founder of LovingGodFellowship.org

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Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

"When we meditate on the goodness of God and his love for us that is never ending and never waning, the result is giving him thanks. God is not only good, but God is good to us, loving us in spite of what we have done or have become. Thank you, Lord!" — Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, Founder of LovingGodFellowship.org
 

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 

"God's love for you was completed at the cross of Christ. Nothing can take his love from you. There is nothing you can do to make God love you any more or any less. It is finished. Live in his Love, allowing it to flow through you." — Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, founder of LovingGodFellowship.org

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

"It's all about love, loving God and people. Without love, we are meaningless. If you want to make a difference today, ask God for the supreme gift of love. Love others as yourself. Love God with everything you have. What the world needs now is love." — Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, founder of LovingGodFellowship.org.

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8 NRSV

"As Christ’s followers, we are to see others as he does. His compassion and mercy for ALL people are to be reflected through us. There is no tolerance for hate; it is evil. We love as Jesus loves. Love defeats hate." — Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, founder of LovingGodFellowship.org

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the Lord sustains me.

"There is one reason why you made it through the night—the Lord sustains you. Your hope rests on it getting better for you, but the good news is that the Lord is here with you now, loving you, caring for you, healing you, and saving you." — Pastor Gregory A. Johnson, founder of LovingGodFellowship.org.

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For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.

For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him (ESV).

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love (NLT).

Do to others as you would like them to do to you (NLT). — Jesus

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (ESV).

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
God's] mercies never come to an end;
hey are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness (NRSV).

It is not after we were reconciled by the blood of his Son that God began to love us, but before the foundation of the world. — John Calvin

The soul that walks in love neither tires others nor grows tired. — John of the Cross

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love (NLT).

For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation (NLT).

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged (NLT).

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (NRSV). — Jesus

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (ESV).

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law (NRSV).  

For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs (NLT).

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God (NLT).

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him (NLT)."

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself (NLT)."

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love (NLT).

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (NLT)

Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death (NLT)?

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers (NRSV).

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners (NLT).

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us (ESV).

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (ESV).

Love is not merely the Christian duty; it is the Christian destiny. - N.T. Wright

And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is (NLT). 

Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all people love poorly. We need to forgive and be forgiven every day, every hour increasingly. That is the great work of love among the fellowship of the weak that is the human family. — Henri J.M. Nouwen

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (ESV).

When you carry out acts of kindness, you get a wonderful feeling inside. It is as though something inside your body responds and says, "Yes, this is how I ought to feel." — Rabbi Harold Kushner

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (NLT).

I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money. No. I wouldn't touch a leper for thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God. — Mother Teresa

Beloved, please know today that Jesus loves you. His love for you is demonstrated at the cross. His love for you is complete; it is finished. There is nothing you have done, or can do, that will make him love you any more or any less. Bask in his love today, receiving his forgiveness for all of your confessed sin (1 John 1:9). Love and forgive others, including your enemies, as Christ loves and has forgiven you. — Gregory A. Johnson

The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law (NRSV).

If in my life I fail completely to heed others, solely out of a desire to be "devout" and to perform my "religious duties," then my relationship with God will also grow arid. It becomes merely "proper," but loveless. — Pope Benedict XVI

Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling (ESV).

I have three words for you today—you are loved. Jesus loves you so much that He died for you on an old, rugged cross. He desires to be your strength today and always. — Gregory A. Johnson

The Kingdom includes love, grace, peace, and life with race equality, gender equality, health equality, and economic equality for all. Is this list of Kingdom attributes exhaustive? No, but it is a start, and it is based on the teachings and the life of Christ. — Gregory A. Johnson

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through [God] who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (NRSV).

God is in the business of restoration, and he's been doing it for a long, long time. We're merely his partners, his apprentices. We're working with a pro! Today open your heart and let God's touch bring restoration to those areas of your life that need repair. Then go and touch others with his restoring love. — Amy Nappa

I'm not suggesting that we have the power to heal physical conditions with our human fingers. But I do believe there's a healing of the spirit that takes place when we touch others. There's a comfort that can't be found anywhere else but in a touch or a hug. Somehow, God's love and power is shared with others through the simplicity of our physical touch. — Amy Nappa

When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul (ESV).

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands (ESV).

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord (ESV).

Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest, and sacrificial. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments (ESV).

Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king (NLT).

It is not that we keep His commandments first, and that then He loves; but that He loves us, and then we keep His commandments. This is that grace, which is revealed to the humble, but hidden from the proud. — St. Augustine of Hippo

Nails were not enough to hold God-and-man nailed and fastened on the Cross, had not love held Him there. — Catherine of Siena

We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed. — Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection

In the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human successes, but on how well we have loved. — John of the Cross

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised (ESV).

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (ESV).

The people asked John, "What should we do?" John answered, "If you have two shirts, share with the person that does not have one. If you have food, share that too." Even the tax collectors came to John. They wanted to be baptized. They said to John, "Teacher, what should we do?" John said to them, "Don't take more taxes from people than you have been ordered to take." The soldiers asked John, "What about us? What should we do?" John said to them, "Don't use force or lies to make people give you money. Be happy with the pay you get" (ERV).

Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. But we don't need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another (NLT).

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9 NIV

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. Proverbs 24:26 NIV

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:5 NLT

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NLT

When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life (NLT).

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

-- Proverbs 3:11-12 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

-- John 3:16-17 NIV

"For me it is essential to have the inward peace and serenity of prayer in order to listen to the silence of God, which speaks to us, in our personal lives and in the history of our times, about the power of love."

-- Adolfo Pérez Esquivel

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care -- then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.

-- Philippians 2:1-2 msg

"At some thoughts one stands perplexed, above all at the sight of human sin, and wonders whether to combat it by force or by humble love. Always decide ‘I will combat it by humble love.’ If you resolve on that once and for all, you can conquer the whole world. Loving humility is a terrible force: it is the strongest of all things, and there is nothing else like it.”

-- Fyodor Dostoyevsky, from The Brothers Karamazov

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

-- Romans 5:5 NLT

Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

-- Joel 2:13 NIV

Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. But we don't need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.

-- 1 Thessalonians 4:8-9 nlt

A man that had leprosy came to Jesus. The man bowed on his knees and begged Jesus, "You have the power to heal me if you want." Jesus felt sorry for the man. So Jesus touched the man and said, "I want to heal you. Be healed!" Immediately the leprosy disappeared, and he was healed.

-- Mark 1:40-42, ERV

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

-- Genesis 1:26, NIV

"For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another."

-- Galatians 5:13-15 NRSV

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

-- Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV

"We do not strive for spectacular actions. What counts is the gift of yourself, the degree of love you put into each of your deeds."

-- Mother Teresa

Real encouragement occurs when words are spoken from a heart of love to another's recognized fear.

-- Larry Crabb

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

-- 1 John 4:12, NLT

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

-- Jesus, Matthew 5:44-45 NIV

"Beg our Lord to grant you perfect love for your neighbor… If someone else is well spoken of, be more pleased than if it were yourself… Force your will, as far as possible, to comply in all things with others’ wishes although sometimes you may lose your own rights by doing so. Forget your self-interests for theirs, however much nature may rebel."

-- Teresa of Avila

God might want you to extend his love by offering to baby-sit for the single parent down the street. He might want you to prepare a hearty meal for that lonely old man who lost his wife -- and to sit and visit with him while he eats. Who knows, he might even want you to reach out and touch the life of a total stranger in some way you can't imagine right now. Are you willing to set aside your own comfort to touch someone else with God's love?

-- Amy Nappa

“Love is the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth... Love is as love does. Love is an act of will -- namely, both an intention and an action. Will also implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love.”

-- M. Scott Peck

"Holiness consists in doing God’s will joyfully. Faithfulness makes saints. The spiritual life is a union with Jesus: the divine and the human giving themselves to each other. The only thing Jesus asks of us is to give ourselves to [God], in total poverty and total self-forgetfulness."

-- Mother Teresa, from The Love of Christ

"Whoever says, ‘I am in the light’, while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling."

-- 1 John 2:9-10 NRSV

"Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful."

-- Colossians 3:14-15 NRSV

I cannot persuade myself that without love to others, and without, as far as rests with me, peaceableness toward all, I can be called a worthy servant of Jesus Christ. 

-- Saint Basil

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

-- Psalm 103:15-18 NIV

​Elmer L. Johnson, father of LovingGodFellowship.org founder Reverend Gregory A. Johnson, went home to be with the Lord on June 17, 2013. 

Elmer L. Johnson, 82, of Proctorville, OH, transitioned peacefully to his heavenly home on Monday, June 17, 2013, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, WV.  He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Lois Ann Morrison Johnson, who was the love of his life, his best friend, and loving caregiver.

Elmer was born in Ironton, Ohio on January 7, 1931 to the late Reverend Andrew H. Johnson and Maude Mae Wills Johnson.  He graduated from Elizabeth Rural High School in Pedro, OH in 1949.  In 1960 he obtained his degree in Tool Engineering from Allied Technical Institute in Chicago, IL.

A Korean War Veteran, he spent four years in Korean waters aboard the U.S. Navy Hospital ship, USS Haven.

After 27 years of service, he retired from Huntington Alloys, which is now known as Special Metals.

Elmer was a man of great faith who walked humbly before God and served as a deacon and board member for many years at Bethel Temple Assembly of God in Huntington, WV.

Since he loved being in the woods and on the water, he was a naturally avid hunter and fisherman.

Elmer is survived by his three children and their spouses:

Ramona G. Runyon (Charles) of Huntington, WV
James C. Johnson (Ellen) of Cape Coral, FL
Reverend Gregory A. Johnson (Rebecca) of Lexington, KY

Four Grandchildren:

Angela Williamson (Brad) of Huntington, WV
Joshua Runyon (Elaine) of Baltimore, MD
Austin Johnson of Lexington, KY
Kelsey Johnson of Lexington, KY

Four Great-Grandchildren:

Hope, Grace, Bryce and Cole Williamson of Huntington, WV

Three Siblings:

William H. Johnson of Columbus, OH
Francis Travis of Ironton, OH
Carrie Lee Thornton of Ironton, OH

Preceding him in death were three brothers:  Thoral, Paul, and Andrew H. Johnson, Jr.

In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Elmer was a gentle and loving man, and will be missed by all who were privileged to know him.  We are all comforted by knowing that he is now resting in the arms of Jesus.

Visitation will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21, 2013 at Phillips Funeral Home, 1004 S. 7th Street, Ironton, OH.  Funeral services will follow at 3:00 p.m., with Reverend Gregory A. Johnson officiating.  Burial, with military rites, will follow the funeral service at Sugar Creek Cemetery.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.  Contributions in memory of Elmer may be made to www.lovinggodfellowship.org or to the Ohio Alzheimer’s Association.

To view the video tribute please click this link.. http://videos.lifetributes.com/405488