By Barbara Rainey
First posted on EverThineHome.com
This email contains an exciting announcement that many of you have been asking about for a long time, so KEEP READING!
With Valentine’s Day coming soon, you might be surprised to know that its historical roots are not about romantic love. In fact all love originates with God who is love (1 John 4:8) and while married love is from Him too, most of us need to focus this holiday on loving one another as Jesus taught us before He went to the cross.
And perhaps it is not surprising to know that none of us loves well. Frankly, it’s just easier to be selfish. And that is the root of what’s wrong with our world.
The Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” How about that for a cheerful Valentine thought? But it’s true. In our world we are told that to love well we need to “follow your heart.” In fact, loving well often means rejecting the feelings of your heart and, instead, allowing the Spirit of God to love others through you.
Like the impossibility of learning to swim without getting in the water, so learning how to love cannot happen without getting into a relationship with God. Thankfully, Jesus meets us in shallow waters, helping us face our fears and growing our trust in His strength. Then, if we are brave enough, He leads us to swim in the deep sea of His love.
To help you learn more about loving as Jesus loves ...
Our “How Do I Love Thee” Valentine heart cards ARE BACK!!!!
In our Etsy store you will find a kit with 15 heart-shaped cards, one an introduction and then 14 cards with each of the 14 characteristics of love found in 1 Corinthians 13, the famous “love chapter” of the Bible. Twine and small clothespins are also included.
The Bible tells us God is love and Jesus said, “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also” (John 14:7). In fact, when you read the descriptors of love in 1 Corinthians 13, you can substitute Jesus’ name whenever the word “love” is written—“Jesus is patient and kind. Jesus does not envy or boast ...” This is how God loves you and He asks us to love one another the same way.
Starting on February 1 read the introduction card and the card for day one with your family or alone for personal devotions. After reading it, hang the card on the twine with one of the included clothes pins. Or hang all 15 cards and remove one each day. By Valentine’s Day your family will have walked with others who have learned to love as Jesus did and have much to teach us from their example. And you will have enjoyed a lovely Valentine decoration as these pale pink cards hang across your fireplace mantel or a window.
I hope you’ll hurry to our Etsy store and get your set that can be reused every year for longer than your children will be in your home! Or buy a set for a friend who can’t afford one, or for a neighbor you want to know God. If you’re a grandparent, buy them for your grandchildren and their parents!
Make Valentines in your house about learning to love like Jesus did.
May you grow together in the wonder of being loved unconditionally by God and learn to give love generously to others!
As a bonus, here is the text from one of the cards in the “How Do I Love Thee” set:
Love Does Not Insist on Its Own Way
Love looks for and listens to the needs of others.
Love does not think about what is best for one’s self.
Love listens to the guiding whispers of the Spirit of God.
Right here near the center of the 1 Corinthians love list is the crux of our heart problem: We cannot love if we insist on our own way because selfishness always pollutes love. Only by listening to the Father, as Jesus listened, can we love purely.
To love like Jesus starts with the great commandment, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind ... And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-40).
One day in 1957, Paul Holderfield stood with his fellow firefighters yelling hateful things at a group of African-American men who were marching for integration. Out of the crowd of marchers stepped his childhood friend Jimmy, who bravely walked up to Paul to shake his hand, but Paul refused. Later that day Paul wept because of what he’d done.
Soon afterward Paul began helping feed hungry children at a local Boy’s Club. And then he gave his life to Jesus. The change in his life was dramatic. Paul gave up bad language. He stopped drinking and smoking. And he had a new heart that loved people of all colors.
Friendly Chapel was started by Paul and his family because he wanted a church where he could live out the Golden Rule. In a neighborhood of North Little Rock, Arkansas, with the highest crime rate at the time, the fledgling church began. They opened a soup kitchen to feed the homeless, a thrift store to clothe the poor, and always lovingly welcome anyone who walked in the door.
Paul Holderfield’s greatest desire was to be a sermon seen—to show Jesus by loving his neighbor as himself.
He was a simple man who didn’t insist on his way but only on Jesus’ way. He would tell us it’s okay that we aren’t perfect, that we just have to tell God we don’t know how to love well and then get up and keep trying.
Prayer: Jesus, I cannot change my selfishness, but I can ask You to give me eyes to see my neighbor who needs Your love. Help me listen to Your voice and obey what You ask me to do. May all my thoughts be true, my love be pure, and my actions be right before You today. Amen.
Are you a Family Member of TheRaineys.org ? If not, stop missing out by clicking here.
This is too good to keep to yourself! Share with a friend or family member using the links below!
