February 10, 2014:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not parish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Valentine’s day is this coming Friday for all of you who have yet to get gifts for your significant other. I just thought I would give you a heads up. Now you may ask…why are you talking about valentines. It is only Monday! You are right, I won’t talk about love till Friday. The one day a year that it is acceptable.

Oh you are still reading?

How about now?

Okay you twisted my arm. Love is an interesting thing am I right? When was the last time you said “I love ___?” I use that phrase way too liberally and I’m sure you do to, because I love chocolate, or ice cream, or the Olympics, or “embracing the awkward”. But what do you mean when you say that? Define love. What does it mean? Merriam Webster dictionary describes one version of love like this: the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration. Now that sounds about right doesn’t it? I definitely love my mint condition from Caribou Coffee like that. But what happens when we love stuff like that? We definitely end up breaking the 1^st commandment don’t we? We end up loving the things of this world or the people of this world more than we do our Heavenly Father.

            That is where the good news comes. Our Heavenly Father has a different idea of what love is. It is this Agape form of love. A love that is priceless no matter how much we do to try and earn it. A love that never gives up no matter how much we screw up. A love that always puts us first no matter how much we put in front of Him. A love that never ends, even when we think there is nothing left. It’s this kind of love that will sustain us no matter the situations of our lives. Good, bad or ugly our God loves us so much that He was willing to die in our place and pay for all of our other “loves”. You have been and always will be His Valentine!

“God’s math: 1 Cross + 3 nails = 4given” –Unknown