GREAT DAY ADDENDUM - LOVE?

I receive a wonderful email devotional written by a man Richard knows through a previous business relationship. I enjoy Marty's GDAs (Great Day Addendums) and am always challenged in my heart by what he is learning and sharing on this journey called the Christian life. Marty often uses his wife, his little girls, or his dog Ginger to illustrate his thoughts. Today's GDA was simple yet profound (what an oxymoron!). I asked for and received Marty's permission to share it on my blog. I did take the liberty of changing the verses he quoted to the KJV per my preference. Here goes....

"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." 1 Corinthians 13:13

As my girls prepared their Valentine's Day cards to take to school... and give to their classmates and friends, I was reminded of a song ... a song that a number of year's ago Tina Turner had a hit Single with that asked the question... "What's Love Got To Do With It?"...

That same question can be asked every year... every day... in most every situation...

So... What DOES love have to do with it?

Everything... Love has EVERYTHING to do with it.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Happy Valentine's Day... Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem
© Great Day Addendum Copyright 2008

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

It's here! The big day! I remember that as a child in school, I looked forward to the Valentine party even more than the Christmas party. Decorating those little white bags and hanging them in the classroom ~~ usually along the chalkboard tray as I remember ~~ thrilled me beyond measure. I loved giving valentines and I loved receiving valentines. I would keep them and re-read them over and over. Honestly, that is still a "sweet" memory.

The best Valentine of all is God's Word. The Bible is God's love letter to mankind. How He made this green earth and all the rest of creation. How He made provision for mankind during Old Testament days to have a right relationship with Him. How He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to live a sinless life and to be the ultimate sacrificial lamb slaughtered and His blood shed for our sins. The gift of eternal life for those who repent of their sins and receive Jesus Christ into their hearts as their Lord and Savior. The promise of Heaven when we leave this life. The revelation of things to come when God takes Satan down and sets up HIS kingdom here on this earth. (I will hear from my preacher-son Chip if my theology isn't quite right but he always deals with me so very gently and lovingly. I learn so much from him!!)

So, if I enjoyed reading all of those cute but cheap and rather meaningless little paper valentines as a child, why am I sometimes negligent to faithfully read God's Love Letter to me ~~ His Written Word? I love hearing it read. I love hearing it preached. I love hearing it taught. But far too many days during the years, I put reading God's Word for myself on the back burner of my life. I am baring my soul and confessing my sin as I write this. I don't know if a living soul reads this (and perhaps today, I am praying that no one will read it for my prideful self is not eager to admit to anyone else this lacking in my Christian life), but I am talking to my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ as I write this to confess that I haven't read their "Valentine" as I ought.

Dear God, I need to hear from YOU today. Personal stuff ~~ from YOU to me. Yes, Lord, that's it.... let me get off of here and into your WORD ~~ the most wonderful valentine of all. Thank you for your conviction and for urging me in this matter. I love you and thank you for your love for me ~~ today and every day.