Valentine's Day challenge

[Nancy]

The devotional at prayer meeting this week was about a well-known athlete who wrote notes of encouragement to other athletes. A man at our prayer meeting then told us about a letter he recently received from his sister, and how blessed he was by this unexpected letter in which (among other things) she told him she loved him.

We were challenged to write a letter to someone this week, thinking it was especially timely with Valentine's Day coming up, and one suggestion was to write a letter to God. A few years ago I did this on Valentine's Day in my journal, and it was really special.

I'm praying God will encourage us into Valentine's Day - not to avoid it or walk around it - but to go into a day that's set aside to celebrate love.

I've prayed for God to clear away the time for me to write Him another letter, telling Him how much I appreciate Him and all that He's done for me.

Please let's spend the day considering all that we have, and spend the day counting our blessings. That will be like giving God a bouquet of beautiful flowers, His favourite ones.

Praying for us to do well tomorrow, and to make God proud.

[joyous]

Great idea Nancy... "consider what you have."

For me, when I focus on what I don't have I wallow in self-pity & get more dissatisfied with my life.  When I look at what I do have and realize how little others have I realize how blessed I truly am.  Sometimes we don't realize what we have until we lose a loved one or experience some type of hardship or see others experience tragedy (thinking of Haiti).  I have my students memorize quotes each week.  Often times I am convicted by the quotes I make them learn & feel like a hypocrite.  One of the quotes my kids have to learn is, "Enjoy what you have instead of desiring what you don't have."  Many of the things on my list are material things, however they are things that make life easier and people in third world countries don't have those things making life extra hard for them.  We are commanded in God's Word  to "give thanks."  We are also told to think about things that are true.  The Word of God is true.  So...

1.   Because of Jesus I can give thanks for everything (Ephesians 5:17)
2.   I have a nice warm house (there are many homeless people out there).
3.   I feel safe in my neighborhood.
4.   I have clean, running water and am able to shower or drink water whenever I want (not true of every place on earth).
5.   I have a comfortable bed with blankets & quilts to keep me warm on cold nights.
6.   I have more than one pair of shoes (there are many in this world that do not own even one pair of shoes).
7.   I have several outfits to choose from everyday before I get dressed.
8.   I have a washing machine & dryer in my home - don't have to go to the laundry mat or a river to wash my clothes.
9.   I have a reliable car that is paid for (my dad bought it for me after I was in a car accident last year which God  protected me from injury - I was t-boned on the driver's side).
10.  I have a steady income because I have a job that for the most part I enjoy.
11.  I have health insurance.
12.  I have a computer & access to the Internet so I am able to come to PS.
13.  I have food in my refrigerator - I don't go hungry.
14.  I am healthy.
15.  I am able to walk free from pain.
16.  I have a membership to a gym so I am able to workout which most of the time I enjoy.
17.  I have glasses to help me see better.
18.  I am able to hear. There are so many wonderful things to hear - birds singing, people laughing, music, a river...
19.  I have healthy teeth.
20.  I have a kitty that I love.
21.  Jesus has protected my heart.  I have not experienced the heartache that comes from an unfaithful spouse.
22.  I live in a country that guarantees me many freedoms - on being "freedom of religion."  I am free to worship God & believe in Jesus.
23.  I own many Bibles and live in a country where that is still legal.
24.  I can attend church freely and not fear being thrown in jail (some of our Christian brothers & sisters in other countries probably can't understand when I complain about church - for them going to church literally may cost them their lives.  Check out the websites "Voice of the Martyr" & "Open Hands")
25.  I own a CD player and many CDs so I am able to listen to Praise & Worship music.
26.  I have access to a lot of great Bible teachers through books, CDs, website...
27.  My dad is still living.  The older I get I realize what a great man he is.  He loved my mom & took great care of us.  He often times put the needs of his daughters before his own.  He paid for me to go to college.
28.  I have two sisters, 7 nieces & nephews, and 8 great nieces and nephews.  Although we may not see each other often and may not be exceedingly close we do get along.  While planning my mom's funeral my sisters and I got along soooo well - there was no fighting.  That was truly a gift from God.  I cannot imagine grieving my mom's death without my sisters.
29.  I have a sister who recently & unselfishly retired from work early in order to take care of our dad.  It's our desire to keep him at home & have someone who loves him take care of him.  She also is a trained nurse.  My other sister has recently "stepped up to the plate" and is helping out A LOT. 
30.  Although I wasn't raised in a Christian home, my parents did believe in God & had good moral & good work ethic.  Because of my parents believing there is a God I learned to believe that too.
31.  Although I experienced a lot of pain growing up it is not as painful as it used to be because I know some day I will understand why those things happened.  For whatever reason God allowed them to happen.
32.  Because of Jesus I am forgiven by God for ALL my sins - in Christ there is no condemnation (I may feel conviction at times & as a follower of Jesus I should, but He does not condemn me).
33.  Because of Jesus I have eternal life -- heaven is my real home!
34.  Because of Jesus someday I will experience no more sorrow or pain or death.
35.  Because of Jesus I know when I trust Him I will experience His peace.
36.  Because of Jesus I know when I trust Him He will work all things together for the good even though all I can see is "gloom & doom."
37.  Because of Jesus I know I don't have to change He will change me into His image & He will perfect the work He has begun in me when I choose to follow Him.  In Christ I am a new creation & that's nice to know.
38.  Because of Jesus I am not alone -- He will never leave me nor forsake me (others may).
39.  Because of Jesus I am loved with an everlasting, unconditional love -- I am chosen and dearly loved.  I belong to Him & He wants to be my friend.  In fact, He calls me friend.   Because of His unconditional love He is faithful.  Whereas a spouse may not be (I am saddened by all the marriages that have been in the news lately because of having affairs).
40.  Because of Jesus I don't have to fear because perfect love casts out fear -- even when I am asleep I have nothing to fear because He does not sleep.  He is busy taking care of me.
41.  Because of Jesus I am complete -- I don't need another human to complete me.
42.  Because of Jesus I am seen by God as holy, blameless, and above reproach -- others may not view me that well.  But their opinions of me don't matter.
43.  Because of Jesus I have purpose -- He has a plan for my life -- aplan that is good.  When I chose to trust Him I don't have to worry about the future.
44.  Because of Jesus He has the hairs on my head numbered -- even the ones that fall out and clog up the drain which would irritate someone else.
45.  Jesus brought someone into my life to tell me about Him - that I cannot earn my way to heaven by good works.  I don't have to rely on myself wondering if I did enough - was good enough.  It is what He did for me.  Jesus opened my spiritual eyes so that I understood I am saved by repenting of my sins and believing in Him & what He did for me.
46.  I do have a true love.  My true love chose me!  I am precious to Him.  His love puts no demands on me.  My true love laid His life down for me.
47.  My true love is patient with me.  He does not become easily irritated by me & my anoying habits.

I also like the idea of writing a letter to God.  Who better than write a love letter to?

Hope I don't have a lot of type-os and that everything makes sense - my time is running out.

Blessings to you Nancy. 

[joyous]

Sure there were many mistakes in my post.  I made a mistake when I wrote "Open Hands."  It is NOT "Open Hands," it is "Open Doors."  "Open Doors" is a ministry that supports & strengthens persecuted Christians.  I recently saw a couple of their DVDs - made me realize I have no cause to complain about my church.  I should be praising God for my church & praying for my christian brothers & sisters.  I am blessed because I have a Bible teaching church that I can attend when I want (sometimes can't because of helping with my dad on weekends).  When I do attend my life is not endanger except maybe when I drive home with all the crazies that may be on the road (me being one of them).   

[C_Ruth]

Thank you for sharing your thanksgiving list.  It is easy to not think about all the individual things we have been blessed with.

Crystal

[Rami]

 I have not been here for a bit. I  just wanted to share some victories:

I had the very best Valentine's Day I ever could imagine this year! Jesus bought me a dozen red roses, and a new diamond bracelet- that were just what I wanted. Some how He knew! ( and my favorite perfume)

I also was really for the first time EVER ( even in my previous romantic relationships) totally satisfied and felt content. I think I finally understood that Love is for EVERYONE. I sent my children special valentines and my sisters to tell them how much I loved them. I spread as much love as I could .. and actually had my first decent Valentines Day ever. I have disabled clients and spread my love on them too.

I wish I would have understood this many many years ago- it is fun to live life not concerned with who is paying what attention to ME all the time.

I am grateful for sites like this one that expand the definition of love, and remind us all that Love is never something that is denied us, it is something we can choose to be.

Having turned down many offers this years, I think it finally dawned on me that I am actually EN-JOYing being single. ( Not one of the offers was worth giving this up for!)

It has been fun this year thinking of creative ways I can express non- sexual love to others..I never knew that there was any other kind when I was young and stupid.
Have fun loving today!

I also had a victory at my church. It has been marriage sermons the last two weeks and in the past I would have felt self- pity , anger, shame( over my divorce- even though there were biblical grounds) but NO, I have really enjoyed the sermons and found myself in total peace! I must say also my Pastor is being very respectful to all people in various situations, and I have appreciated that. Being single IS  a great gift! I felt special - which was weird, but now I know I don't have to have a man covering me to be covered. Jesus does a great job taking care of me. I did not know it is not only okay for me to take good care of me, but God likes it when I treat his daughter well.  I know I am far happier than many married women I know. And far happier than I was when I was married!



En Joy!
Blessing Trish