Celebrating God’s Love
Love comes in all different colors, shapes and sizes which is always a reminder to me to know that God’s love is a constant everlasting love for all of His Children.
The month of February, for most of us, is a month that represents love with the celebration of Valentine’s Day on the 14th. Where does the meaning of this day come from and why do we all celebrate this day as a day to share love with those close to us?
I discovered that Valentine’s Day started as a religious holiday: Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, through later folk traditions, has become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.
In the United States, the first mass-produced Valentines of embossed paper and lace were produced and sold shortly after 1847 by Esther Howland (1828–1904) of Worcester, Massachusetts. Her father operated a large book and stationery store, but Howland took her inspiration from an English Valentine she had received from a business associate of her father. Intrigued with the idea of making similar Valentines, Howland began her business by importing paper lace and floral decorations from England.
Today The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately 190 million valentines are sent each year in the US. Half of those valentines are given to family members other than husband or wife, usually to children. When the Valentine-exchange cards made in school activities are included the figure goes up to 1 billion, and teachers become the people receiving the most valentines.
As I pondered the word “love”, I found myself sketching thoughts about what love means—and, of course, drawing hearts! My random list of thoughts began to run over onto several pages. As I read over everything, what I had written was clear:
Everything I love to do and the beauty of my surroundings are all the scenes of life created by our Heavenly Father for us to enjoy. God is Love. He loved us first before we loved Him. He created us in His image as His beautiful children because He simply loves us—each and every one one of us—for who we are today, yesterday and tomorrow.
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
Jeremiah 31:3 NIV
God is Love.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7 (TPT)
Love is faith.
Love is kind.
Love is hope.
Love is joy.
Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (TPT)
Love is the love shared with a spouse.
Love is the birth of a new child.
Love is the love shared with family members.
Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Psalm 85:10
Love is taking a walk with your love ones holding hands.
Love is the love shared in friendship.
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV
Love is the first glimpse of the early morning sun dancing across the land.
Love is discovering the new buds on spring flowers.
Let me hear Your loving kindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:8
Love is the first blanket of snow comforting one’s soul with quiet and peace.
Love is the sweet floral fragrance in the garden after a fresh rain.
Love is the wind creating an orchestration of music with the percussion of the tree limbs.
Love is a night exploding with endless stars lighting up the sky.
Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Psalm 36:5
Love is fresh bouquet of flowers to brighten one’s day.
Love is sharing in a conversation with a friend with no boundaries, pure trust and freedom to express one’s thoughts. Love is the gift of encouragement of one another to explore our dreams.
Love is a simple act of kindness, a smile, a wave of hello, a call to say hi to say I was thinking of you.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Psalm 107:8-9
Love is our calling to share the good news of God’s love, hope and glory.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1-3 (NIV)
Let’s embrace and celebrate Valentine’s Day, the day when many share their hearts with one another. Let’s share the gift of Love this month with others.
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10 NIV
What does love mean to you?
For a little inspiration, listen to The World Blessing on YouTube!