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My Valentine


I’ve got all my Valentine’s Day cards done except one.  I got the mushy one for my hubby –  cute ones with stickers inside for the grandkids and one for a friend who just got divorced. To be honest, I didn’t even think of sending this one until I heard it mentioned last Sunday during the children’s sermon.　

Paper and scissors aren’t needed - not even a stamp.　 This requires the most heartfelt devotion I can muster.　No schmaltz or trite little words.　 In fact, this might be the hardest thing I have ever done.  

Maybe I should rethink this.
　

I want to send one to God.  I want to tell Him, no SHOW Him how much He means to me.　 I want to offer my heart to Him like I have never offered it before. This will be my best Valentine ever!

　
But my heart is deceitful . . .
　

Jeremiah 17 says:
　　　 　　The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.

　
I can’t do this. There is not one thing I can do or offer that will be a perfect Valentine for my Lord.

Psalm 51:17 says:
　　　　　 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart
                     You, God, will not despise.
 
　
I offer my heart as my Valentine to my Savior.
 
A broken and contrite heart is sincere. Its cleansed. Starting with confession, by grace we are forgiven - no matter how many times needed. Totally forgiven.

In His Word, our Lord tells us over and over how much He loves us and how much He wants us to love others. It’s easy to love our family (sometimes J ) - our friends (most times) and the loveable. But what about the UNloveable? The ones who are mean to us or are hard to work with? How about the ones we don’t politically agree with or don't do what we think they should do ? What I love to do there is JUDGE.  Judging ain’t loving. 

Only with God’s help can I love and not judge in these situations. It is not in my power to be able to love the unlovely. But God, in His mercy, is SO ABLE and actually commands us to love.

 
I offer my heart to love others as my Valentine to my Savior.
　

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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