EDITORIAL

A very happy 2016 to you all . As this year is already in full swing , many may be enjoying what it has brought so far , while many of you may already be wondering when the pressure that builds around us from various forms is going to end and the better part of the year arrive .

The theme for this edition is Enduring Love . Dictionary . com describes the adjective ‘ enduring ’ as : 1 . lasting ; permanent : 2 . patient ; long-suffering . As such , love in Christ is a lasting , permanent love . I think Jesus holds his end up very well . His love never fails us , never runs dry , suffers much and despite all our imperfections , his love is made perfect in us .

We , on the other hand , are generally challenged in this area much more . As in a marriage , there are times when love comes naturally , easy , and it feels effortless . You long to be with the one you love and make each and every effort to be with your love all the time . There are other times when this needs to be worked on a lot more . You have to choose to love in a way that overlooks the other spouse͛ s imperfections , choose to spend time with them and make every effort to keep loving them . This is what relationship looks like . It takes a lot of patience and a lot of long suffering to stay in a lasting love with your spouse . It is a commitment to give sacrificially , even at those times when we least feel like it .

There are seasons we go through in life where we need to choose to love God above all else , to be patient at the work he is doing in and through us , so that we can build a lasting and permanent relationship with him . Pushing through when it gets hard . Trials shouldn͛ t be a surprise to the believer , but we know that in those trials God will be with us , every single step of the way . Endurance is hanging in there when pressure comes , knowing that love for Jesus is worth far more than anything else .

Knowing that our Lord has enduring love for us makes it so much easier to fulfil the two most important commandments found in Matthew 22:36-40 ; Love the Lord your God with all your heart , soul and mind , and love your neighbour as yourself . We need only to ask him for help !

I pray this year brings you much joy in Christ .

Editor in Chief NAOMI OLIVE

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