The Secret Garden Chronicles ~ Who Do You Love? Revisited for Valentine's Day 2/14/2019

Original Post written 2/14/2017, but it seems to be worth repeating, since I didn't have anything new to share today...Hope you are having a beautifully blessed Valentine's Day, wherever you are, and whoever you are with.  Jesus Loves You...and that's the best Valentine you could ever have!!

Happy Valentine's Day!  

Seems like a lot of hype over today...but it is a great day to express and 

show love to each other in a tangible way; 

cards,

candy, flowers, or a special dinner...but it shouldn't be a day that causes one to feel sad or forgotten or left out if they don't receive any special treatment on this day.  For those who may not have anyone "special" in their lives to share this day with...perhaps one should find someone who could appreciate an extra word of encouragement, love, or kindness.

Don't let it be a day that is just "all about me", but make it a day that brightens someone else's life...young or old, rich or poor, lonely or overwhelmed with too many mouths to feed...a day to show love to those who may feel unlovable.  What a great way to share the love of Christ with others!

Here are some thoughts about love....

I John 4

7.  Beloved, let us love one another...

for LOVE is of God;

and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

8.  He who does not love does not know God, 

for God is LOVE.

9.  In this the LOVE of God was manifested

toward us,

that God has sent His only begotten Son

into the world,

that we might live through Him.

10.  In this is LOVE, 

not that we loved God, 

but that He LOVED us and sent

His Son to be the 

propitiation for our sins.

11.  Beloved, if God so loved us,

we also ought to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

15.  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God,

God abides in him,

and he in God.

18.  There is NO FEAR in LOVE;

BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR!

20.  If someone says, "I love God", 

and hates his brother,

he is a LIAR,

for he who does not love his brother

whom he HAS seen,

how can he love GOD, Whom he has NOT seen?

Wow!  These are some strong thoughts about love, Lord!

Verse 21 further says:  

"And this commandment we have from Him:

That he who loves God MUST love his brother also!!"

So, on this day set aside to show love to one another, perhaps we need to think a little more deeply about who we really love...not just in the romantic sense...but in a holy, pure, Godly way.

Do I,  Do YOU, Truly love our fellow "man"...brothers, sisters;  Or do I just "tolerate" them for the sake of keeping peace?  It would seem that "tolerance" is rapidly becoming a thing of the past in today's society.  Many people have moved away from being "tolerant" to just being downright hateful.

It seems as though people, even members of the same family, community, and even some churches, are becoming less and less loving because of strong differences in opinion politically and socially.  Certainly there are some behaviors that we as Christians cannot approve of or even begin to tolerate; but can we love others who may disagree with us?  Can we overlook some opposing views and still love the person?

It's a challenge...and as the day draws closer to the Lord's return, we may find it becoming even more and more difficult...

But God's Word tells us that if we do not "LOVE OUR BROTHER" whom we HAVE seen, then how can we LOVE GOD whom we have NOT seen?

Something to ponder...Something to cause us to look deep within, and pray for that kind of love that looks beyond one's faults and differences...and sees the person that God wants us to love instead...and perhaps even win that brother or sister to Christ because of our unwavering love.

Lord, Help me to be able to stay true to my convictions 

without driving away the people 

to whom You want me to show Your love.

I can't be a true witness for Christ if I harbor 

resentment or intolerance

for those who need to know YOU, Lord.

It's a fine balance between 

standing strong in what I believe,

and being strong in acting upon those beliefs 

by loving others the way YOU want me to.

Lord, I need YOUR help and guidance

and courage to love like YOU.

I John 5:14-15 says:

14.  "Now this is the confidence 

that we have in Him,

that if we ask anything according 

to His will, He hears us.

15.  And if we know that He hears us,

whatever we ask,

we know that we have 

the petitions we have asked of Him."

Hear my prayer, O Lord!

"Let the beauty of Jesus 

be seen in me;

All His wonderful passion and purity;

O Thou Spirit divine,

All my nature refine;

Till the beauty of Jesus 

be seen in me."

Amen.

(Let the Beauty of Jesus by Albert Osborn)

Well, this is certainly a different way of looking at Valentine's Day, huh?

I pray it has been a day of joy and blessing for each of you!

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you today!!

Even a couple of buzzards know how to love!!!  

And So do these two camellias!!!  Back to Back, stuck tight together!!