Showing posts with label Valentine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valentine. Show all posts
This
Valentine’s Day, men and women alike will try to outdo the opposite sex by
purchasing the freshest bouquet of roses, the sweetest box of chocolates, or
the most costly piece of jewelry they can afford. Others may purchase weekend getaways, new
automobiles, gourmet dinners, and the like.
Children will cut out hearts and write Valentines to their parents,
teachers, family, and friends. But even
amid all of this red and pink and everything from heart-shaped candies to ice
cubes shaped like X’s and O’s, is this really the best way to convey our love
for one another? Perhaps in all of our haste
to wrap the right gift, we may have lost the meaning of Valentine’s Day
altogether. Love is not found inside a
greeting card or even a chocolate truffle.
Love is found through our actions.
How we talk to others, how we treat them, and what we do for them every
day of the year. That’s love.
From the Creation of the world, love has been the glue that
holds everything together. It was with love
that God so carefully placed the sun, moon, and stars. Through love, he created bodies of water and
dry land. He knew we would need
nourishment, so he provided a vast array of plants and animals that would
produce food for us to eat. Then, he
knew we had an inherent need to feel loved, so he gave Adam a companion as a
helpmate. Even though the world has
experienced its fair share of tumult since the moment that pristine Garden of
Eden was planted by God’s own hands, one thing has never changed. God has never stopped loving me and you.
John
3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believes in him should have eternal life.” Throughout the centuries, people have blasphemed,
ridiculed, and scorned our Heavenly Father.
Yet because of his infinite mercy, he pours out his unconditional love
to every man, woman, boy, and girl on this earth. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his
own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God gave his only Son to save us all, even
though we were sinners. He looks beyond
our shortcomings, our mistakes, our wrongdoings. He looks into the heart of the individual and
knows they have an inherent need to be loved.
Through an unselfish sacrifice of love, we have been redeemed. Through love, we find salvation. This kind of love is greater than we can
fully comprehend.
Love is not just a feeling for someone. To love someone means you are willing to do something
on their behalf. John 15:3 says, “Greater love has
no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This does not mean we should be crucified on
a cross. This means we should put others
first, sacrificing our own needs to show God’s love toward others. A parent’s love is likely the closest example
to Christ’s perfect love displayed by a human.
A mother or father sleeps lightly, ready to jump up at the first cry of
their child. They don’t leap out of bed
at 4 o’clock in the morning because they despise sleep; they do it out of love
for their son or daughter. They would do
anything to ensure their child’s well-being is put before their own needs. That’s unconditional love.
Love is
something that cannot be bought or sold.
It can only be given away. The only
question is what kind of love we will show to others. Will we send a Get Well card in the mail, or
will we pick up the telephone to see how someone is really doing? Will we give someone a gift card to their
favorite restaurant, or will we go out of our way to prepare a home-cooked meal
for someone who is living alone, with no family to call their own? Will we stay home on Sunday morning or will
we go to the House of the Lord to worship and praise him for the unmerited
favor and matchless love that he has shown toward us? While every act of love is a blessing to the
recipient, the greatest thing we can do is to be a reflection of the love of
Jesus Christ to everyone we meet. I John
3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us.” Jesus Christ is the perfect example of
love. He didn’t just send a Valentine card. He gave his life so we could have our sins
washed white as snow, and in turn, receive everlasting life. That is the greatest example of love ever
shown since the beginning of time. There
truly is no greater love!
In Christ's Love,
Jennifer
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Think about this scripture. The God of the universe gave the only Son that He had just for you and me. He did not just send a bouquet of flowers or a box of candy. He gave His only Son. Jesus died on a cross, enduring excruciating pain and agony, so we could receive the gift of eternal life. Our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He gave a priceless gift. This kind of love is unlike any found on this earth.
We often say we love a particular animal, a food, a place, or some other thing. Personally, I love to travel, I love to bake, I love to write, I love to sing, I love to spend time with my family, and so much more. But this type of love is different from the type of love I show toward people. I love my dad, my grandma, and so many other special people. Yet, even though I love them more than words can express, Jesus loves me more than I could ever possibly imagine.
The love poured out upon us by Jesus Christ is unconditional, no strings attached. He loved us when we were still sinners. When we were unlovable, He loved us. Every moment of every day that we have lived on this earth, He has loved us with His amazing love. Before you were even born, He loved the very thought of you. Still today, He loves you with an everlasting love. Won’t you love Him in return?
Before you go to bed tonight, tell Jesus that you love Him. Thank Him for giving His life for you. Ask Him to come into your heart, so that you can enjoy eternal life. He will fill your heart with peace that passes all understanding. He will restore your joy, even in the direst circumstances. Jesus Christ is the friend who truly will stick closer to you than a brother. This Valentine’s Day, don’t just fall in love with that box of chocolates that someone gave you. Fall in love with the greatest Love of all. Fall in love with Jesus Christ!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
Can you
believe that it is already the month of November? Soon the holidays will be history and the New
Year will be in sight. At times, it
seems that the holidays come and go in the blink of an eye. The year goes by so fast that it becomes a
monumental task to eat up the candy corn before Christmas, the candy canes
before Valentine’s, and the chocolate hearts before Easter. Simultaneously, the stores stock the shelves
with ghosts and goblins of Halloween and the decorated trees and nativity
scenes of Christmas. Sandwiched right
between the two are a few lone scarecrows and a bounty of cornucopias. Thanksgiving is a holiday that often gets
overlooked amid the medley of holiday cheer.
Let’s face it: Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the best holidays
on the entire calendar. So, don’t rush
through the holiday hustle; stop and savor each and every moment of holiday
hope!
In its
simplest terms, the word hope means to desire something with anticipation. In contrast, the word hustle can even mean to
manhandle something! Think about
it. Do you want to anticipate the
holidays or handle them roughly, pushing them along? It is my prayer that we can avoid the
hustle. Instead, it is my hope that we
can anticipate the holidays as a child anticipates Christmas morning when they
finally have the chance to unwrap the gifts underneath the tree. Whether you are 8 or 80, the Christmas season
still holds the same meaning as it did when you were a child. Sure, you may have finally figured out that
Santa Clause doesn’t really slide down the chimney to deliver gifts during the
night. And you may have decided that
Frosty didn’t really come to town one day.
But there is one Christmas story that never grows old. It is not based on fiction, but on
reality. And it is truly the greatest
story ever told.
Jesus Christ
came to this earth as a baby in a manger.
He was not born in a palace or a hospital, as most kings would be. Instead, the King of all Kings and Lord of
all Lords was born in a stable in Bethlehem.
Jesus was born of a virgin, visited by shepherds and wise men, adopted
by Joseph, a carpenter. God chose to
have His Son come into the world with humble beginnings. But He knew that Jesus would grow up to be
the Savior of the world by giving His life for you and me. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.”
Jesus loved you and I so much that He journeyed from a manger filled
with hay to a cross where He shed His blood to save us from our sins.
During this
holiday season, remember to thank Jesus for loving you so much that He gave all
He could give. He could have called ten
thousand angels, but He stayed on the cross so you could have a personal
relationship with Him. But He didn’t
stop there. He continues to bless you
with family, friends, food, and so much more.
This Thanksgiving, as you sit around a table piled high with a perfectly
carved turkey, succulent stuffing and fluffy mashed potatoes, topped off with a
slice of pumpkin pie garnished with a dollop of whipped cream, remember to take
time to give thanks. Give thanks for
your family. Give thanks for your
friends. Give thanks to God. Slow down and take time to anticipate each
holiday with hope. Hope for a joyous
celebration. Hope for family and friends
gathered around. Hope for the greatest
gift of all: Jesus Christ. Don’t shuffle
through the holiday hustle; fill your heart with holiday hope!
In Christ's Love,Jennifer