In recent conversations, it got me thinking... When is love enough and when is it not?

• To a homeless woman with a young child, is love enough?
• To an orphan that has food and shelter, is love enough?
• To a rebelling teen, is love enough?
• To a broken marriage, is love enough?
• To a grieving child or parent, is love enough?
• To a distraught unemployed person, is love enough?
• To a prisoned changed believer, is love enough?
• To a prisoned unchanged unbeliever, is love enough?
• To a thirsty and hungry world, is love enough?

I have heard many people in my life quote "Witness, and sometimes use words." The point to that is, that our love, our attitude, our character should be a witness enough to people to where our light in us should point them to God. Yet, to some, playing, loving, and being with people doesn't seem like enough to be a "ministry". Should it be considered one? What about an outreach? or a mission? How are these words defined?

There are times where maybe people need love and something else...

• The homeless woman with a young child would dream of shelter, food, and warmth for her and her child, yet, they at least have the love for each other.
• The orphan that has food and shelter may want toys and nice clothes, but love is what they seek and need more, since they feel so abandoned and are constantly processing why.
• The rebelling teen needs love and attention and possibly even discipline and structure, but those things come out of love... to where love is enough.
• To a broken marriage, trying to recreate or rekindle love could just be enough, or maybe it's love from those around and even maybe love from a marriage counselor. Love is enough.
• To a grieving child or parent, love can help one heart's heal, for nothing can replace the one who is gone. In the end, love is enough.
• To a distraught unemployed person, they might not think that love is enough. They may feel like a failure, but love that gives them peace and faith that God will provide, just might be enough.
• To a prisoned changed believer, receiving love from the outside church just may be enough to help them love others on the inside and keep their faith strong.
• To a prisoned unchanged unbeliever, love just may be enough to show them the love of Christ.
• To a thirsty and hungry world, love can point them to God and hopefully give them faith.

God is love. God is the provider of all of our love. The only reason why "our love" can do anything is because it comes from God, which means that when we are loving them, it's not truly us, it's God. We are merely vessels, empty, without His love. His love is enough for us.

Life is our ministry, mission, and outreach. There is no part of it that is more or less of one.