C
cly
Guest
A Celebration of Love
Valentine’s Day is once again upon us. A day filled with hearts, chocolate, teddy bears, jewelry, and red balloons. There’s nothing quite like the excitement of wondering whether you will be the recipient of a gift and then the excitement you feel if you receive one. For some, though, Valentine’s Day serves only as a grim reminder that they are once again or still single. However, even the single can still enjoy the year’s celebration of love.
As I said, St. Valentine’s Day is the day set aside for the celebration of love. Many take this to mean romantic love only. Although the celebration of that warm, fuzzy feeling we get when we’re around or thinking of that special someone is a good thing, Valentine’s Day is not exclusively for Cupid and his arrows. All forms of love can and should be celebrated on this day.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a gives God’s definition of love. True love is patient and kind. It does not envy or boast, and it is not proud, rude, or self-seeking. It also does not get angry easily or hold grudges. It also dislikes evil, but rejoices with the truth. Furthermore, love always protects, always trusts, and always preserves. Love never fails. These characteristics can be shown by anyone to anyone at anytime.
With this definition of love in mind, Valentine’s Day broadens it’s horizons a bit. One good way to celebrate this day of love is to do a “random act of love.†Pick any random person (even a stranger if you want – there’s nothing like making new friends) and do something for them, and don’t expect repayment. Do it because you want to spread the love that God has shown and given you. He gave to us freely and doesn’t expect us to repay Him. By doing these acts of love, you will be blessed also. One of the greatest rewards a person can get is to know that he/she have done something that someone else appreciated and enjoyed.
Another way of celebrating is by spending the evening or day with family and/or friends. I’m going bowling with a campus ministry group to celebrate the holiday. Spending time with those you love is a great way to appreciate how much God has blessed you.
A final way of celebrating Valentine’s Day is by worshipping God – the Creator of love, who is love itself! (1 John 4:16) Reflect on how great God’s love for us must be for Him to have created us, knowing we would continually break His heart, and then send His only Son to make a way for us to spend eternity with Him. The same love that spoke the universe into existence wept when Lazarus died and weeps still every time one of us strays away from Him. That is a beautiful love – a love worth celebrating!
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! GOD BLESS YOU!
Love,
CLY
02-13-06 (Monday)
Valentine’s Day is once again upon us. A day filled with hearts, chocolate, teddy bears, jewelry, and red balloons. There’s nothing quite like the excitement of wondering whether you will be the recipient of a gift and then the excitement you feel if you receive one. For some, though, Valentine’s Day serves only as a grim reminder that they are once again or still single. However, even the single can still enjoy the year’s celebration of love.
As I said, St. Valentine’s Day is the day set aside for the celebration of love. Many take this to mean romantic love only. Although the celebration of that warm, fuzzy feeling we get when we’re around or thinking of that special someone is a good thing, Valentine’s Day is not exclusively for Cupid and his arrows. All forms of love can and should be celebrated on this day.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a gives God’s definition of love. True love is patient and kind. It does not envy or boast, and it is not proud, rude, or self-seeking. It also does not get angry easily or hold grudges. It also dislikes evil, but rejoices with the truth. Furthermore, love always protects, always trusts, and always preserves. Love never fails. These characteristics can be shown by anyone to anyone at anytime.
With this definition of love in mind, Valentine’s Day broadens it’s horizons a bit. One good way to celebrate this day of love is to do a “random act of love.†Pick any random person (even a stranger if you want – there’s nothing like making new friends) and do something for them, and don’t expect repayment. Do it because you want to spread the love that God has shown and given you. He gave to us freely and doesn’t expect us to repay Him. By doing these acts of love, you will be blessed also. One of the greatest rewards a person can get is to know that he/she have done something that someone else appreciated and enjoyed.
Another way of celebrating is by spending the evening or day with family and/or friends. I’m going bowling with a campus ministry group to celebrate the holiday. Spending time with those you love is a great way to appreciate how much God has blessed you.
A final way of celebrating Valentine’s Day is by worshipping God – the Creator of love, who is love itself! (1 John 4:16) Reflect on how great God’s love for us must be for Him to have created us, knowing we would continually break His heart, and then send His only Son to make a way for us to spend eternity with Him. The same love that spoke the universe into existence wept when Lazarus died and weeps still every time one of us strays away from Him. That is a beautiful love – a love worth celebrating!
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! GOD BLESS YOU!
Love,
CLY
02-13-06 (Monday)