A Celebration of Love

Last week I was able to help out a bit at a Valentine’s Day dinner at church. The dinner was only for the married couples of the church. I overheard somebody bemoaning Valentine’s Day and all of the mushy things that come with it. I remember when I used to hate it, too, before I had a “significant other”. This individual was so adamant about how ridiculous the day was. He ranted about how stupid it is to have a holiday set aside to celebrate love. Then a thought struck me. We celebrate Easter and Christmas. These holidays are a celebration of love, for God is love in the purest and deepest form. Then this amazing song popped into my head. I haven’t heard it in forever, but the words are just incredible! Google helped me find all of the lyrics so that I could share the song with you

When love came down to earth
And made His home with men,
The hopeless found a hope,
The sinner found a friend.
Not to the powerful
But to the poor He came,
And humble, hungry hearts
Were satisfied again.

What joy, what peace has come to us!
What hope, what help, what love!

When every unclean thought,
And every sinful deed
Was scourged upon His back
And hammered through His feet.
The Innocent is cursed,
The guilty are released;
The punishment of God
On God has brought me peace.

Come lay your heavy load
Down at the Master’s feet;
Your shame will be removed,
Your joy will be complete.
Come crucify your pride,
And enter as a child;
For those who bow down low
He’ll lift up to His side.

Hot Coffee

God has been stretching me in ways that I never would have imagined. Through various circumstances He has revealed to me how desperately I depend on Him. He has been providing so many blessings for me that to sit here and lay them all out would take quite a long while. At times, I feel lost…not knowing what the next step will be, realizing that I am now in the “real world” that every adult always warns a child about before the time actually comes. This real world would be impossible to survive without God here to lead me along the way…to point me in the right direction, provide for me and protect me. The real world is a scary place sometimes, but God is writing my life story. I might not know what is going to happen next, but I know He does, and that is so encouraging!

It absolutely kills me that sometimes I can be so incredibly discontent with where I am. God has provided for me in so many ways and He is my Protector. I know I’m in a safe place and far better off than I could be. Somehow I allow myself to focus on the negative aspects of life.

It’s like when you are given a cup of coffee, not just black, but the yummy flavored kinds with cream and whipped topping and fun little caramel and chocolate drizzles. It’s beautiful. You take the first sip and quickly move the cup away from you. It’s too hot! It’s everything you wanted in a cup of coffee, but it’s too hot! So you refuse it. You choose to not accept this lot in life and leave it to let it cool. Guess what? Luke-warm coffee is disgusting. The individual who so kindly made you the beautiful cup of coffee knew that.

Sometimes God gives you things that aren’t exactly what you’d want, but they’re what you need. He knows what is best for you. Accept what He sends your way. Trust Him.