“God’s Valentine”
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During
winter I miss seeing God’s “love messages” along my daily walks.
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It is too early to see the heart-shaped red bud and grape
leaves, as well as the bleeding heart blossoms. But photos from past seasons
revive my spirit in winter. It is also a good season to stay warm indoors
reading God’s Word, wrapped in His love
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John the Beloved wrote, God is love. These
three short words were so important that he repeated them a few lines later.
Then John followed them with…We love, because He first
loved us (1 John 4:8,16,19). He wanted everyone to know true love comes
from God and is all about Him.
We often can feel the warm
light of God's love that surpasses human understanding - but sometimes,
"stuff happens" that casts a shadow.
Recently
I had a disturbing dream where I was caught in a judgmental meeting and
couldn’t escape. Long before dawn, I woke in distress, not only from the dream
but also recent circumstances. Arising and going to my prayer journal, I poured
my frustrated feelings onto page after page. I knew how I should feel – blessed
with all my needs supplied by God – but I also confessed I did not feel peace
and comfort. I opened my Bible to a passage that included: our God is near us whenever
we pray to Him (Deuteronomy 4:7). Tears clouded my vision. As I
grabbed a tissue, I glanced out the window.
In the dark sky above the trees, I saw a sliver of the moon.
Wiping my eyes, I focused on it. I could not see the whole moon, but I knew it
was there.
Looking back at my desk, I opened Jesus Calling.
“Stay in continual communication with Me, so that you can live above your
circumstances. …Present your requests to Me with thanksgiving, and My Peace,
which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your heart and mind.” Without
condemning me, the reassuring words confirmed I was on the right path.
When daylight finally came, I still
could only see a sliver of the moon. Suddenly a thought flashed through my
mind. It was not my fault that I couldn't see the full moon.
Earth was keeping me from it. I just had to be patient.
Turning again to my desk, I read another passage. Every good thing bestowed and
every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with
whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow (James 1:17). Dr.
David Jeremiah had written, “We thank Him for the sunrise, for the air we
breathe and the friends we love, for the verses we study and the strength we
derive from Him. We learn to count our blessings, minimize our complaints,
rejoice in the Lord, and obey the words of Jesus: Be of good cheer.”
In
the dark, I had risen from my bed in distress. Now in His light, I arose from
my chair with joy. God hears our prayers, speaks to our hearts, and responds to
our needs because He loves us. With Him, there is no better way to start the
day, even when we can only see a sliver—at the moment.
…faith, hope, love, these
three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).
