My Ultimate Valentine

I don't know why, but Valentine's Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. No, it isn't because I have the greatest husband in the world and I want to celebrate our love. As a matter of fact, I haven't had a Valentine in many, many years. However, I do have three of the most wonderful daughters and a just as wonderful son-in-law that I could ask for! Don't get me wrong, it would fabulous to wake up on the big "V" Day with the best Christian husband I could ever lay eyes on, but that isn't my reality.

Being a single mom for many years has had it's Valentine's Day ups and downs. There were many years when I couldn't buy them anything. Or on a good year, I would buy them the typical candy, stuffed animal or tee-shirt. Then would lay in bed awake at night wondering if I would be able to pay bills that month because money was so tight and I just used part of the rent money to buy those precious kids a little token of my love. But, none the less, through all the hard times and great times, Valentine's Day has always remained a favorite. Right up there with Christmas and Easter.

I was trying to figure out the other day, why I did love this particular holiday so much? Well, I am definitely a warm weather kind of girl and part of the reason is because even though it is cold in February, it still means Spring is right around the corner! And we all know that spring means all things new, new blossoms on the trees, new flowers springing up out of the ground, new baby rabbits, squirrels and deer to watch discover a whole new vast world. I love the red, pink and hearts everywhere and the feeling of love that is just thick in the air! But you don't have a "love" you say...oh but I do! "But that God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 Wow, we tell a lot of people we love them, but just how much do we love them? I mean, would we die for our loved ones? Would we be willing to see our son or daughter tortured by others just to save total strangers? My favorite Bible verse says this: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39. Nothing, absolutely nothing, my friends, can separate you from God's love! There is no greater love then that of your God!

So, to answer the question, why do I love Valentine's Day so much. Because it is a beautiful reminder when I look around at all the hearts, the word "love" written everywhere and just the simple sweetness of such a holiday, I am reminded of how Jesus gave not only His pure heart for our sinning heart and how He demonstrated the ultimate sacrifice of love. And although it is simple, do we show how much we love and appreciate what He has done for us?

Make this Valentine's Day like no other. I challenge you to not only love one another, as God also commands us to do, but to remember His especially on this day. Celebrate the people that He blessed you with and thank Him for them. Then celebrate His love for you. God loves you, He always has, He always will and He made the ultimate sacrifice for us, let's show Him just what love is!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

So this is where Faith Takes Over?

I decided to change the name of my blog to something I tend to say a lot to myself, "So this is where faith takes over?" How many times do we have to remind ourselves who is in control? I know I have to do it on a daily basis.

Hard to believe it has been nearly a year and a half since I have written on here. Not too successful for a girl who wants to be a writer, huh? Life gets in the way, we try to do life our way and not Gods way...but that is where faith takes over.

Oh it has been a rough year and a half; daycare business whithered away to nothing, took the "ideal" job that turned out to be anything but ideal, had some utilities turned off due to non-payment, and got a notice to go to court for a 4 year old bill. I wondered if I would even have food to put on the table much less have the energy to cook it for the kids after working until 8:00 some evenings. I wasn't able to do my job at church as I was suppose to be doing because I was never home and that broke my heart.

But the good news is, faith DID take over. My job that was less than ideal was still a job and for that, I was thankful. Oh and a great benefit to stress is, I didn't feel like eating so I lost 30 lbs! Woo Hoo! Got the utilities turned back on, we never starved, and best of all, my kids still love me. But God has provided me with a new but old job. I am going back to work at my daughters elementary school, which I love dearly. That school is staffed with the most amazing people and large abundance of Christians. Praise the Lord! Hah! Who knew?! God had been in control that whole time!

I am "between" jobs at the moment waiting to get a start date for the new job and so far, I feel pretty at peace about it. Am I scared that I won't have a paycheck for a month and I have children to feed? You better believe it, but...this is where faith takes over.

I praise the Lord that He is in total control of our chaotic lives even when we feel as though our lives are spinning out of control. I praise Him for the little things in life that we all take for granted. I praise Him for family, friends and those who touch our lives and don't even realize it. And I praise Him for his unfailing understanding, grace, forgiveness and His shoulder to cry on when we don't see the light at the end of the tunnel when He already has us on the path to it.

Let us have faith this week, even if it is as small as the mustard seed, that is all we need...He will do the rest.