under the Son

Feb. 10, 2008

~*It's all about love...

There's a lot cut out for Thursday. Cute little cards will be swapped. Necco will have made a fortune in Sweethearts. Lots of people will take hard earned money out of their wallet for expensive dinners and cuddly teddy bears. Some nervous guy might whip out his latest investment and propose. If he's lucky..he might get to put the ring on his new fiance's finger. Others, who have been married for eternity will celebrate those unforgettable years on that one day. There's something special about Valentines Day... it's one day in the calendar year set aside for love. XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX By now the idea of Valentines day should be engraved in your head. Basically, if you're single... ya lose. End of story. However if you are like me, a single [who won't be getting any Sweethearts or teddy bears] wanting more than just the romanticism of the chic flicks and to get in on the action of Valentines I've got a secret... This whole love thing... isn't just for couples! In fact you are not single! Yea, sure you may not have that person called a boyfriend. [ or girlfriend.. if you are a guy who is surprisingly reading this] But did it ever occur to you that there is more to love than just the mushy Pathos kind? What about Agape? Now if you haven't heard the Adventures in Odyssey's interpretation of true love.. Agape is a love found between God and His children. Because we are to be Christlike this love should also be found between Christians. It is a warm, unselfish, brotherly love. If a person does not know this type I am truly sorry for them; because it is this love which enables me to go on day after day. So my point is... if Valentines day is a celebration of love, than why can't we [singles] also join in the festivities? A boy/girl relationship is only one way to demonstrate love. There is friendship, family, within the local and worldwide church, and my favorite.. the love between Christ and us. So break out the party gear and get going! The ultimate reason to celebrate is Christ's unfailing love for each one of us! Now you don't know me very well if you think that that is the end! In fact, this may be my longest blog yet. I might have to split it into two parts. So don't exhale that sigh of relief yet, I'm just getting warmed up. On Saturday night, I was given a golden opportunity to help at my new church. From 5 to 9:30 I helped to serve at the annual Valentines Banquet. I had a wonderful time, and left feeling that I had done something good for Christ. But that's another story... As couples and singles alike were exiting the building little books were handed out entitled "Moments for Each Other". It was not extremely surprising when our pastor whipped it out for use in the Sunday morning services. And God used even a book meant for marital means, in my very single life. It challenged me, as a lover, to a new level. And I think you'll understand after you read this excerpt:                                                    Lovers     Some people in a family are "gifted" lovers. They somehow know how to make all the folks around them feel the love they share, especially the love of Jesus Christ. The principals are the same in families as well as in churches or anyplace people meet.     LOVERS smile a lot. Something caring and contagious flows through them. it's inviting, warm, gentle, and kind.     LOVERS treat you as someone really special. Warmth and welcome quickly turn into genuine friendship. They like you as a wonderful person and do not hesitate to say so.     LOVERS' faces light up every time they see you. Their hugs, handshakes, and personal words make you feel totally accepted. Quickly they invite you into their conversation, group or home. Instinctively you know that you have a place in their hearts.     LOVERS make knowing Jesus and living in Him so attractive. If coming close to Him is something like coming close to them, it has to be wonderful.     LOVERS know God. You sense that they tap into the true source of love often and regularly. The overflow of their lives show that the fruit of the Spirit is love.     LOVERS are generous with compliments from the heart, quick to see your strengths, and tender with your weaknesses.     LOVERS hate flaws. Sometimes their weaknesses hurt us more than those of others from whom we expected so little.     LOVERS sometimes become victims of our rising expectations. We, and so many others, want to treat them like close friends. No one can keep up with the many demands of true friendship for so many people. We can easily expect lovers to do more for us than is reasonable.     LOVERS need to be loved too. Weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, even funerals, say something significant.     LOVERS have many who will rise up and call them blessed. And rightly so. They have blessed so many for so long that is only seems right to give them a little gratitude and appreciation in return.     LOVERS do incredible good to all within their sphere of influence. It's little wonder then that the most often repeated commandment in the New Testament is "love one another".     LOVERS are made and not born. To become a lover is a matter of decision, attitude, and commitment to become and be a lover for the rest of your life. To be loved is better than to be famous. ~ Eleanor Doan~ This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 1 John 3:11

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