"Comforsations" February 13, 2009

“Comforsation” Hearts


This time of year, as we approach Valentine’s Day, there is an abundance of Kay Jeweler commercials, Hallmark movies (love stories with perfect, happy endings), and perhaps the absolute worst commercial ever – the Pajama-Gram! Who can’t help but notice the sea of red cards, candy, and stuffed animals at their local Wal-Mart, Target, or even grocery store? I have a lot of single girlfriends and through them, I am reminded of what it felt like when I was single and didn’t have a “significant other” to celebrate with on this particular holiday. All those jewelry commercials and “perfect gift” segments even on the local news channel can be downright depressing. Is there really nothing more newsworthy to discuss than the perfect Valentine’s gift? So this Valentine’s weekend, the ladies in my Sunday school class are celebrating “Red Weekend” instead. Because for some, the V-word is a four letter word!
If you are struggling with this red holiday for lovers, I hope that you will take comfort in knowing that YOU are LOVED!!! In stuffing some Valentine treat bags for my son to give to his third grade class today, I noticed the tiny messages on the candy conversation hearts – “Be mine,” “Cutie Pie,” “Love me,” “My baby,” and “I hope.” It caused me to think about these little love statements in a different way – as little love messages from God who always loves us!
Be mine - God is our perfect Valentine. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

Cutie Pie – Have you ever thought that God thinks you’re cute? Well he does! In fact, He thinks you are beautiful! You are His wonderful creation (Psalm 139:14). “The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.” Psalm 45:11 (NIV) Enthralled??? Really? Wow!!!

Love me – There are so many ways that God loves us; there are too many passages of Scripture to even mention that confirms His love for us! First, it’s hard to fathom just how much He loves us. “…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:17-18 (NIV) God is love; love comes from God; God loves us! 1 John 4:7-10 pretty much puts it in a nutshell – “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (NIV) Human relationships sadly do not always last; but Psalm 119:76 tells us that we can be comforted by God’s unfailing love “May your unfailing love be my comfort…” (NIV) and in Psalm 136 we can read over and over throughout the entire passage, “His love endures forever.” (NIV)

My baby – If we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, and we have a relationship with Him, we are a child of God. We have been born again and we are God’s precious baby! “…That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ's family, then you are Abraham's famous ‘descendant,’ heirs according to the covenant promises.” Galations 3:28-29 (The Message) and, “…You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, ‘Papa! Father!’ Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.” Galations 4:7-10 (The Message)

I hope - Sometimes life does not go according to plan. If this is a difficult season in your life, I hope that you will take comfort by putting your hope in the Lord. Psalm 62:5 says, “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.” (NIV) “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
God is faithful and He does keep his promises!

One last thing…when you notice that sea of red, think about the blood of Jesus that was shed because of HIS love for YOU. (John 3:16) There is no better Valentine!

Copyright 2009 by Christy Long. All rights reserved.
Comfort to Comfort Ministries
www.christylong.org