Who's On Your Valentine's List?

It's Valentine's week, if you haven't already noticed.  My word, I don't remember such large sections of stores committed to this holiday. No more just heart-shaped boxes full of surprise chocolate candy! As I strolled through Target there was every kind of candy in such appealing packages it was hard not to get sucked in.! And so I did, because they had M&M's in my favorite colors, pink and green, with sweet words written on them!  Yes, I did buy some:) I even bought the "cute and healthy" popcorn because it was all dressed up in pink and purple with a cute bowl for it to be served in! Then I had to remind myself that God gave me a "spirit of self-control" and left the Valentine's aisles (well only after putting the red velvet Oreo's in my cart as well!)

This Valentine's Day, my oldest daughter gets to experience it for the first time with a "real" Valentine, a real boyfriend.  So I may embarrass her here a little...or a lot...but I love that she's almost 19 years old and just now experiencing this holiday with a boyfriend. She has always longed to have that special valentine on this special day, because then everything would be as it was meant to be...or at least as the advertisers told her it should be! Certainly, I understand that there are lots out there who have yet to experience this, to which those have been on my heart. But in retrospect, even those who do have "a valentine"on this special day, its seems we've made much to do over this one day. It's the "have's" and the "have not's!"

So I want to look at Valentine's day....this day of love a little differently. Whether you are a "have" or a "have not," if you are a Christ follower, a believer in Him, we are all "haves" because we have already been given the greatest gift of love!  "For God so loved (you) the world....that He gave...His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." Go with me here, God already delivered The Real Valentine, the greatest gift of love...His Son! He made it so that we all could "have" this love, not one person to be left out. To paraphrase I John 4:7-12, Love comes from God...God is love.  He showed love to us by giving His Son to us that we might live through Him. It wasn't that we loved God first, then He sent His Son, but it was God who loved us first and sent His Son to be a sacrifice for our sins. Lest I remind you, Christ didn't come all packaged up in a pretty heart-shaped box, nor did he die a pretty death. He was born in a manger and died a brutal death by crucifixion on the cross...for me, for you. There is no greater love than Christ laying down his life for us.

So here's my question...my take away. Instead of being so focused on being a "have" (even if it's your first real Valentine's day), or a "have not"(just holding your breath till the day passes), let's be thankful for what we "have" already been given.  That is the ultimate Valentine God sent to us through His Son. God loved me and you so much that He gave.  What is it this Valentine's day we can give back to God? Is He even on your Valentine's list. Remember the days of making a Valentine box out of a shoe box and then having the names of your classmates, carefully marking each one off after you finished their valentine. Have you taken the time in the hustle and bustle of life and sat at his feet long enough to know what He would like to receive from you? Because having been a "have" and a "have not," either way I knew what I wanted from someone, or what I wanted to give someone.

For Anita so loved God that she gave Him...

Her Heart, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and, mind....

Her Quiet Time, have I grown in my relationship with Christ...Or am I still where I was last year.

Her Firsts of time and money

Her Attitude

Her Worship

Her Ministry

Her Family

Whether you're a "have" or a "have not" this Valentine's day, you have already received the ultimate Valentine's gift. He's priceless, He's a gift no one else has ever given you, nor ever will, He's not one you would exchange, He's a perfect fit, He will never wear out, He's forever, and He's practical for everyday use.

Just as I know my daughter has thrilled in getting together a special and meaningful gift for her sweet boyfriend, we should feel the same way in planning and thrilling to give something so special to God.

We love because he first loved us!

And P.S.

Maybe you're a "have not"  in the sense that ...you're not a Christ follower...well guess what...that same gift of love is available for you. Romans 10:9-10 says, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."