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Thursday, February 11, 2010

Really Believe

Song of Solomon 4:7

You are altogether beautiful, my love;
there is no flaw in you.

Valentine's Day.
Big money maker for flower shops, restaurants and Hallmark.
Valentine's Day is when your better half is supposed to acknowledge their unending love for you.


But what if you don't get a flower, a card or even a candlelight dinner?
What if you are single and you don't have a significant other that will express their love to you?
What if you're the only one at work that won't be surprised by a dozen red roses delivered to your desk?


So many women feel very lonely and left out on this day.
Ignored, shunned and down right forgotten.
Whether they have a ring on their finger or hopes of having one someday, women feel as if they are not good enough. All because the world says that on this one day of the year, you need to be lavished with gifts wrapped in red paper and a teddy bear that says I Love You across its chest or you are nothing.



But what if we really believed that there is Someone crazy in love with us?
Not just on February 14th, but since before we were born?
One that expressed His love for us in such a deep way, that no store bought gift can compare to its value of sacrifice.

What if we really believed that a King, A KING is enthralled by our beauty?

What if on this day of expected love we really believed that this King has plans for us?
Great plans that doesn't include one forced night of romance, but 365 days of wooing us with His passion for us?

Now don't get me wrong here, I'm a woman that longs for this stuff to happen on the 14th of February like the next woman, but how much self worth do I invest in this man made holiday?

Is the way I feel about myself altered if Gene doesn't sweep me off my feet?

Do I feel worthless if Gene doesn't meet my expectations?

With the aisles of stores being splashed with hearts and candy the day after Christmas, it easily can be that way. It's hard to ignore that many women will be spoiled on Sunday. I can go to bed on Sunday night feeling unloved, uncared for and unappreciated OR I can choose to rest in the fact that Jesus Christ loves me more than Gene is ever capable of loving me.


There are many single women who will wake up Sunday morning with depression weighing heavily on their hearts. Many women who want to wait for Mr. Right to come along, but in the midst of their waiting become willing to give themselves away for a cheap box of chocolates. Chocolates that will melt away as fast as their self esteem. Just so they aren't alone on this day.

But what if this year was different and she really believed she is worthy of a King's love?
That she is worth the wait.
Even if that means falling asleep alone?
What if she gets in between her sheets Sunday night with a smile on her face because she knows that it is the angels, not the devil doing a victory dance over her choice to let Christ be her Valentine?



If you have asked Jesus Christ into your life then your heart is already taken.
You are spoken for.
You have the Ultimate Lover.
Not just on Valentine's Day, but every day.
You have a Valentine that didn't capture you by shooting an arrow through your heart, but instead, because He let soldiers drive nails through His hands and feet. For you.
Because He really believed you are worth dying for.


I don't know if Valentine's Day is a day that makes you feel unworthy and unloved, but if it has in the past why not look at it through a different lens this year? Instead of dreading it, expect much this Sunday. Expect to be shown a unique love from the only One that knows how to fill the empty holes of your heart to overflowing. Expect to be amazed and made to feel special and chosen because you are. Because the Son of God thinks that you are worthy enough to come to earth with one purpose: to give His life for yours.
He loves you and wants you to know it.
Let Him.


Author Shannon Ethridge puts it best in her book I'm currently reading, Completely His, when she said this:
"We are incomplete, imperfect, and impatiently craving that which our souls cannot find apart from an intimate relationship with our loving God".


So this Sunday, let Him be the lover of your soul.
Let Jesus romance you in a way you never thought possible.


I bet if you allow yourself to be loved on by your King, the two of you will look a lot like this...








I happen to capture this sweet moment between our grand babies,
Juliana and Amiyah.

A great visual of

True Love Forever

*Click here to visit P31's Rachel Olsen's blog to read other entry's in her Devotional Carnival on the topic of Love.
*Also...click here to be a part of an exciting opportunity with P31's Wendy Blight!

21 comments:

valerie said...

Sweet Lelia ~
Thank you for the birthday wish! You are precious!
I feel so blessed to have been born on Valentine's Day.
I echo your words here. If only we could really grasp His awesome love for us.

ADORABLE picture of the grand babies!!!

Love you Lelia,
Valerie

Michelle said...

Sista,
So true!!! I thought for so long that it was worth being with someone just because it was better than being alone and maybe he would change and if he didn't then this is what I deserved but at least I wasn't alone...I could say I had a "boyfriend". But what you wrote is the truth the Lord loves me more than anyone on this earth and He is worth being alone in this life to honor Him for all He has done for me. And even though I will not get a flower or candy this year for the first time in years I will go to bed with a smile on my face knowing that I'am honoring Him with every part of me heart and soul!! He is worth it and I'm so excited to see what He has planned for my life.

Thank you for speaking truth.

Love ya,
Michelle

Joyfulsister said...

Amen, Amen Sistah!!!
Beautiful post, and a wonderful reminder to all. Awww your grandaughters are so precious!!!

HUgz Lorie

Anonymous said...

You are so right! I was born again when I was 19 and single and baptised on Valetine's Day. So even before I was married, Valentine's Day was so special to me, (and still is), as I can remember the day I publicly declared my love for the King! The King is enthralled with my beauty. xo

Sharon said...

Yep he is my Lover, my teddy bear, what a awesome post, I wish I could send it off to many of my friends... I will just let them know about your site!

Thank you for taking the time to put this out there for so many!

Blessings to you my friend!

Paula said...

I. LOVE. THIS! Valentine's Day is special to me because 3 years ago a long stemmed red rose was delivered to me from my sweetie and made me view love in a completely different way. This Valentine's Day will be special to me because I not only have him in my life still, but I also have Jesus in my life in such a strong and steady way, and both my sweetie and I love Him so very much. You are a true blessing. I hope you don't mind if I repost this on FB for my friends to read. Love you!

Shanda said...

Oh Amen sweet sister! I loved this! God created us to desire love and relationship and He is truly the only One who can fill that desire within us. Even the very best of men cannot fill our need for love.

Praising God that your husband is alive and well to share this Valentines Day with you!

Yolanda said...

Lelia,

You are so right on sister and I pray that if there is one woman that comes to your blog in the next couple of days feeling insecure of her worth and value as well as whether or not she is loved...that she leaves feeling secure and knowing that she most assuredly IS LOVED.

Blessings,
Yolanda

Vickie said...

What a beautiful post Lelia. You are so right. We are loved with an everlasting love. A love that was there before valentines came and will be there after its gone. Thank you for reaffirming this truth.

Love your pic. Such sweet, innocent love.

blessings,
Vickie

Beth Herring said...

Beautiful sentiment in this post.

Valentines Day is actually my 25th anniverary. So I know I won't be forgotten... ha!

But most important is the love of my Jesus. He is the love of my life and I pray that all women can experience that love.

Thanks friend,
Beth

Wendy Blight said...

Leila,

Thank you for such a beautiful post today. Isn't it precious that we will be able to worship our TRUE LOVE on Sunday. I love that Valentine's Day is on Sunday this year.

Also, thank you for sharing the Proverbs Study on your blog. I already have girls participating because of your post. You truly are such a support and encouragement.

Thankful for you,

Wendy

Melanie said...

Living, loving words. True.
Love the photo at the end. Adorable.
Melanie@Bella~Mella

Paula V said...

Girl, you never cease to amaze me. I love how you put it when you said "Many women who want to wait for Mr. Right to come along, but in the midst of their waiting become willing to give themselves away for a cheap box of chocolates. Chocolates that will melt away..." Wow. That's so good.

You know my heart and you know I dread V Day as much as I do every other holiday: Cmas, Tgiving, NYEve.

What does it mean that as I read this I kept saying in my heart "but, but". Yes, the King loves me more than any man could, BUT, but I still desire the love of a man, a partner for life, my heart is still lonely amongst the fact that He loves me. I feel shameful not being content with His love alone.

Love you Lelia.

Oh, I won't refuse said pic sent to my cell. I wondered if that is why you asked me a week ago if I could receive them. I'd love me some J and A. That is the most precious picture. It warms my heart.

Anonymous said...

I'm not married so I won't be getting any flowers, candy, etc. But I have so much more in my Lord Jesus Christ. He gave me something that no human could ever do.
Nancy in NC

Deb said...

Lelia,

If my darlin' hub forgets about Valentine's Day, I'll just come back here and read this post again.

Cause the One who made us is crazy about us.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sweet dreams.

Susan said...

Oh Lelia,

This was so beautiful! I've missed coming by one of my all time favorite blogs!!!

As always, you encourage our hearts, and bring smiles to our faces.

Such truth here! I was touched.

Thanks for sharing those two adorable grand-babies with us!! I wish I could pinch those fat cheeks!! Pure joy♥

Love you~

Rachel Olsen said...

I'm so glad you addressed this tendency to feel depressed or less than if a dozen roses aren't delivered to our desk on the 14th (or any day of the year), Lelia.

And so glad you pointed us to our King.

:)~ Rachel

Paula said...

Hi Lelia...I have a little something for you on my blog. Love you! xoxo

Sheena said...

Hi lelia,

Yup haven seen you in a while... but i am still around

Beautiful post...

We must and always be secured and know that our first love is Jesus.

Sweet blessings

Sheena

Lisa Smith said...

leilia,

what precious, beautiful grandbabies!! and, i wanted to say thank you for your advice last week. Remind God of his history.

i love that. my new motto.

i love you, lisa

Andrea said...

Blessings,
andrea