Happy New Year friends! Our aim for 2015 will continue on as it has been in the past – to first just love. I am reminded that love is what motivates positive change, it encourages, it is humble and forgiving, it is truthful, it doesn’t quickly become angry, it isn’t puffed up and prideful, it is patient, it doesn’t give up and it never ever fails. There are probably other describing words for love that I have not mentioned here. We pray that our staff and volunteers will exemplify first the love of Jesus to others. Father move us and be glorified in every good thing that is accomplished at Asha’s Refuge. Thank you for your loving us first so we can love others…ALL others.

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If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. 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. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1-7‬ MSG)