February is, of course, the month of "love".  I like that idea.   I think we should really talk about it.  How do you give and receive love?  What does love look like in your life?  How do people know that you love t hem?  These are important questions that each of us need to answer this month as we seek to be more real with Christ.  The answer will show us how authentic we are when we deal with people.  The Bible talks about Christ loving us and giving Himself up for us.  Have you ever thought of doing that for someone?  If people do  not see or understand that you love the, they won't care about what you say.  They won't care  about what you do.  They won't care about you.
As we seek realness in our relationship with Jesus, He will reveal our weakness AND our strengths.  He will teach us how to communicate with others, how to think of others as higher than ourselves, and how to love each other.  What is God already beginning to reveal or do in your life?  Stop making excuses for not doing it, listen to HIM completely.
As we understand love in the light of Christ, we will be able to more impactfully "respond to the needs around us".

Todd Fuehrer