Today, it is with great joy that I introduce you to our winner of last week’s linkup contest – Karen Friday. I love her candid expression of love for the Savior, found in every post I read on her blog. Please take a moment to read her post, leave a comment, and linkup with us. Don’t forget to connect to her on her blog and social media.
PS: We will be choosing one guest contributor every month – so keep coming back and linking up with us. You could be the next one. Don’t forget to display our logo somewhere in your blog (grab the code from the sidebar.)
Have a blessed day!
Patricia
Skipping out on Valentine’s Day this year?
Leading up to February 14, I see the sting of broken dreams. Hearts disenchanted with the whole “will you be my valentine?” charm and its absence.
But does the love-holiday define us?
Perhaps we believe the label of “valentine” conjures up a secure love. At least thinking it’s the tell-tale sign of who we are in regard to having and owning love. Like the old adage, “I’m lucky in love.”
But for the security of celebrating the day-of-love, single girls and women date someone other than their “first pick” until after the holiday. They settle just to fill the spot for grandiose images of candlelight, romance, flowers, and chocolate.
My own confession? As a young and vulnerable heart, Valentine’s Day without a boyfriend seemed ghastly to me. The Valentine’s Day blues at its peak, a girl in love with love.
Yet, I always desired close relationships with people who really get me. To know my heart as much as a person is able to know another human heart.
Do they know what makes me smile, moves me to tears, causes me to laugh out loud, brings me to sadness, or throws me into a tizzy?
You see, I wanted people in my life who understood me—deeply loved me for me. So three pick-me wishes stayed tucked away in my heart.
My 3 valentine wishes of all time:
- The daughter valentine. My biological father’s absence in part of my childhood stirred this wish. The longing to be my daddy’s little girl, then his big girl. A child and woman dear to his heart forever.
- The friend valentine.The sweetheart next door…the small-town girl who’s kind and loving. Elementary school days of passing out valentines to all my classmates transferring into high school yearbook signings. “To a sweet girl.”
- The girlfriend valentine. Chosen as someone’s sweetheart, “Will you be my valentine? Will you be mine?” One day in college, a boy asked me to be his valentine forever. Thirty-two years later, I’m still Mike’s sweetheart.
Still, even on non-valentine days, feeling loveless often haunts me. The pit of my heart carries a nagging sense of wondering if I’m lovable. This, my friends, is a sad condition on any day. Any. Maybe you know the feeling. Whether we’re valentine-less, in a relationship that is love-less, or in a marriage so much “less” than before, the blues on Valentine’s Day catch our heart off guard.
But no need to totally skip out. The day is a jubilant celebration regardless of securing a valentine date, dance, dinner, or the love of our life.
Because with true love, Cupid’s arrows always miss the mark. His make-believe persona and pretentious match-making are stray arrows never hitting love’s bullseye.
At sixteen, an arrow pierced my heart with an enduring love Cupid knows nothing about. The piercing love of someone who really gets me. He understands me and deeply loves me. The One who asked me to be His. And He promised to hold me dear to His heart forever. He pursued me with a proposal, “will you be mine?”
Accepting His invitation, I instantly became His daughter, friend, and sweet to His heart, never loveless again. Ever.
The valentine I’d always wanted to be, God’s. It beats the socks off the Valentine’s Day blues, transferring real love into my other relationships.
When God drew back His bow, He hit dead center the target of real love. Jesus’ heart was pierced for me and you on the cross. A day of love. The greatest Valentine’s Day and love story ever told.
[bctt tweet=”A grand valentine invitation, ‘Will you be mine?’ ~ God” username=”PatHolbrook”]
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13 ESV.
About Karen Friday:
Karen is a pastor’s wife, women’s ministry leader, mother, and mimi. She’s an award-winning writer and avid speaker who loves words and God’s Word. Also known as Girl Friday, she engages a blog community every week, Hope is Among Us. Karen has published a number of articles and devotions in both print and online media and writes as a regular contributor for the national site, Inspire a Fire. The entire family is fond of the expression, “TGIF: Thank God it’s Friday.” They owe Monday an apology.
Visit Karen’s blog and connect with her on social media. http://www.karengirlfriday.com/
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[bctt tweet=”I’m Recharging with @FridayKaren and @PatHolbrook – A Grand Valentine Invitation from God – #RechargeWednesdayLinkup – Share your blog with our audience!” username=”PatHolbrook”]
Karen,
I love how God waits patiently in the wings…He sees us going through seeking love and affirmation from others, yet He waits with open arms until we exhaust all our earthly possibilities. I have never felt better about myself than when I really let God’ love for me sink deep into my heart. It kind of made all the roses, dinners, candy, and cards seem less important. If you do have the blessings of having that special person in your life, I think our challenge is to try to “out love” each other everyday not just on Valentin’es Day. Thank you for a beautiful reminder this day.
Happy Valentine’s Day and EVeryday with God,
Bev xx
Amen, Bev. I can’t say it any better than that. Letting God’s love “sink deep into my heart” is really key. And I agree about out loving our spouse every day. Thanks so much for commenting and joining the love conversation. 🙂 Blessings!
Karen,
I love how God waits patiently in the wings…He sees us going through seeking love and affirmation from others, yet He waits with open arms until we exhaust all our earthly possibilities. I have never felt better about myself than when I really let God’ love for me sink deep into my heart. It kind of made all the roses, dinners, candy, and cards seem less important. If you do have the blessings of having that special person in your life, I think our challenge is to try to “out love” each other everyday not just on Valentin’es Day. Thank you for a beautiful reminder this day.
Happy Valentine’s Day and EVeryday with God,
Bev xx
Amen, Bev. I can’t say it any better than that. Letting God’s love “sink deep into my heart” is really key. And I agree about out loving our spouse every day. Thanks so much for commenting and joining the love conversation. 🙂 Blessings!
Valentine’s and the first day of Lent. Rather apropos?
Susan, it certainly is! It never ceases to amaze me how Jesus gave himself away for us. And all so God would be able to send us a invitation to come into an intimate love relationship. The wonder and awe of His overwhelming love is celebrated in double portion today. 🙂
Valentine’s and the first day of Lent. Rather apropos?
Susan, it certainly is! It never ceases to amaze me how Jesus gave himself away for us. And all so God would be able to send us a invitation to come into an intimate love relationship. The wonder and awe of His overwhelming love is celebrated in double portion today. 🙂
I love your heart Karen and I love how you share His! Happy Valentines Day!❤️
Thank you sweet friend. So grateful for the greatest Valentine’s Day ever. Jesus’ heart was pierced to change our heart’s view on love. Happy Valentine’s Day, Christy!
I love your heart Karen and I love how you share His! Happy Valentines Day!❤️
Thank you sweet friend. So grateful for the greatest Valentine’s Day ever. Jesus’ heart was pierced to change our heart’s view on love. Happy Valentine’s Day, Christy!
There’s a kid’s chorus somewhere and it’s rattling around in my head now after reading your words: Jesus is my True Valentine.
Yes. And He’s a safe place for our hearts to rest.
How neat, Michele. I’ve never heard the song. Maybe I’ll try to look it up, there’s no truer words. Thanks for letting me know. I love that. 🙂
There’s a kid’s chorus somewhere and it’s rattling around in my head now after reading your words: Jesus is my True Valentine.
Yes. And He’s a safe place for our hearts to rest.
How neat, Michele. I’ve never heard the song. Maybe I’ll try to look it up, there’s no truer words. Thanks for letting me know. I love that. 🙂
Hi Karen! This was a grand Valentine Invitation indeed! Thanks for sharing your heart and your words.
Hey Joy! Yes, it’s the true valentine my heart always longed to be. So grateful God asked me to be His! Thank you and appreciate you commenting on the post.
Hi Karen! This was a grand Valentine Invitation indeed! Thanks for sharing your heart and your words.
Hey Joy! Yes, it’s the true valentine my heart always longed to be. So grateful God asked me to be His! Thank you and appreciate you commenting on the post.
Thank you for this beautiful post, Karen! I pray it encourages many who feel lonely this Valentine’s Day, with the truth that Jesus, the greatest Love of all invites us to fill every gap in our souls with His faithful and eternal Agape Love.
So grateful you were our contributor this week! Happy Love Day to you 🙂
Awe, thank you for your kind and encouraging words, Patricia. And for choosing me as the guest contributor today. We have the privilege to be chosen by God today and every day to enter into His love. And yes, “Amen!” to God’s eternal agape love. Hugs!
Thank you for this beautiful post, Karen! I pray it encourages many who feel lonely this Valentine’s Day, with the truth that Jesus, the greatest Love of all invites us to fill every gap in our souls with His faithful and eternal Agape Love.
So grateful you were our contributor this week! Happy Love Day to you 🙂
Awe, thank you for your kind and encouraging words, Patricia. And for choosing me as the guest contributor today. We have the privilege to be chosen by God today and every day to enter into His love. And yes, “Amen!” to God’s eternal agape love. Hugs!
Karen how perfect this is for today! Loved the tweet especially. 😉
Celebrating today with the One whom my soul loves <3
Rachel, thanks. Yes, what a jubilant celebration with our greatest Valentine, Jesus. It’s the highest devotion on the planet. Blessings!
Karen how perfect this is for today! Loved the tweet especially. 😉
Celebrating today with the One whom my soul loves <3
Rachel, thanks. Yes, what a jubilant celebration with our greatest Valentine, Jesus. It’s the highest devotion on the planet. Blessings!
Lovely! As a single, Valentine’s Day can seem like a dark day unless we see it as remembering that how much we are loved has nothing to do with our relationship status we check off on our income tax forms!
😉 So true, Lynn. Our culture creates so much hype about it all. But in the end, a love relationship with Jesus will prove most important. And He promised to hold us dear to His heart forever. Thanks for commenting and sharing your thoughts!
Lovely! As a single, Valentine’s Day can seem like a dark day unless we see it as remembering that how much we are loved has nothing to do with our relationship status we check off on our income tax forms!
😉 So true, Lynn. Our culture creates so much hype about it all. But in the end, a love relationship with Jesus will prove most important. And He promised to hold us dear to His heart forever. Thanks for commenting and sharing your thoughts!
“Jesus’ heart was pierced for me and you on the cross. A day of love. The greatest Valentine’s Day and love story ever told.” Amen! We can get our expectations all crazy around this day, but when we remember this truth of Jesus’s love, we can appreciate what true Love is and does.
Exactly, Lisa! Looks like God’s bow and arrow outshot Cupid’s in hitting the mark of real, true, and everlasting love. But no surprises here. We already knew that, we just need to remind our hearts. Blessings!
“Jesus’ heart was pierced for me and you on the cross. A day of love. The greatest Valentine’s Day and love story ever told.” Amen! We can get our expectations all crazy around this day, but when we remember this truth of Jesus’s love, we can appreciate what true Love is and does.
Exactly, Lisa! Looks like God’s bow and arrow outshot Cupid’s in hitting the mark of real, true, and everlasting love. But no surprises here. We already knew that, we just need to remind our hearts. Blessings!