HOPE 22 MARCH 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition As we step into March, we are reminded of four-leaf clovers and celebrations of “the luck of the Irish” surrounding Saint Patrick and St. Patrick’s Day. Store windows fill with shamrocks and leprechauns, and conversations are sprinkled with good fortune and playful wishes. It is a lighthearted time of year. Yet as followers of Christ, we know that the transformation of lives does not depend on luck. It is grounded in love. Last month, we reflected on 1 John 3 and the powerful reminder that we are called to love not merely with words, but with actions and in truth. As I read the following chapter, 1 John 4:16-21, to be exact, the message went deeper. Verse 16 declares, “God is love. Whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” More than a passage to inform our faith, this Scripture must govern how we carry out our calling. Looking at the latter part of verse 17, we find our true north: “As He is, so are we in this world.” For the families we serve at HOPE South Florida, their path forward does not depend on chance encounters or fortunate breaks. It does not rest on luck. It rests on intentional love, the kind of love we demonstrate because Christ intentionally pursued us and first loved us. Driving out fear John makes it clear that perfect love drives out fear. Families facing homelessness often live under a cloud of uncertainty and anxiety about where they will sleep, how their children will be protected and whether anyone truly sees them. When our volunteers, donors, staff and partner churches respond in love, fear begins to lose its authority. Stability takes root. Generational cycles can be broken. Hope becomes visible and real. Recently, I read a devotion reflecting on 1 John 4. It reminded me that loving others, especially the vulnerable, is not primarily about feelings. It is a decision. A choice to reflect the heart of Jesus. A conscious commitment to see Christ in our fellow human beings. Demonstrating love, particularly to those who are struggling, is one of the clearest ways we become more like Him. Verse 21 reinforces this call: “And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” We cannot separate our love for Christ from our love for people. Because we love Jesus, we love those made in His image. That includes the single mother with two special needs children living in her car, the father desperately seeking employment to support his family and the children doing homework under a streetlight. Motivated by love Our volunteers do not show up because they believe in luck. They show up because they believe in love. They prepare meals, assist with job searches, and mock interviews, and help families navigate life’s challenges because they are motivated by Christ’s love for them. Many testify that they serve not out of obligation, but out of gratitude for the grace they themselves have received. And here is the remarkable truth: when we choose love, we participate in something eternal. We bear witness to a God who is love. The success stories we celebrate at HOPE, families moving into permanent housing, parents securing stable employment and children thriving in school, are not random outcomes. They are the fruit of faith and love expressed in action. March may remind us of shamrocks and sayings about good fortune. But as believers, we know that the true source of transformation is far greater than luck. It is the unwavering, sacrificial love of Christ poured into our hearts and then extended to others. Re-read 1 John 4 and let it speak to you. Are we loving in ways that reflect the One who first loved us? Are we allowing perfect love to drive out fear in our own lives and in the lives of those we serve? Our mission is fueled not by superstition or circumstance, but by conviction. Because we love Christ, we love our brothers and sisters. And in choosing love repeatedly, we become living testimonies that God’s love is real, active and transformative. This March, may we be known not for chasing luck, but for choosing love. Celebrating 30 years of impact, HOPE South Florida exists to be a HOPE-filled community—keeping families together, offering compassionate care, and guiding them toward holistic life change. Under the leadership of President Joseph D. Kenner, we remain committed to ending family homelessness in Broward County by building communities that empower families to become resilient and independent. For more information visit HOPESouthFlorida.org - Joseph D. Kenner - President, HOPE South Florida Choosing Love Over Luck
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