What Does Valentine’s Day Mean to You?

Blessings as we progress together through February.  I pray you are strengthening your trust in Him and what He has for you.  This coming Saturday is Valentine’s Day. Sadly, it has become a day with such commercial focus.   Setting aside a special time to appreciate those we love is certainly important.  However, we are called to love one another on a daily basis.  Do not  limit your celebration of those in your life to just a few commercial holidays.

How Did It All Begin?

Have you ever wondered how Valentine’s Day came into being?  It begins in the third century when Claudius II was the Roman emperor. He ordered everyone to worship the Roman gods.  Failure to do so was punishable by death.  Valentinus was a faithful Christian who continued to practice his beliefs.  He was arrested and sentenced to die.

While he was imprisoned the jailer brought his blind daughter, Julia, to Valentinus to study as he was a man of great learning.  Her desire was to see the world through his eyes. She prayed for her sight to be granted.  Valentinus encouraged her that, “God does what is best for us if we will only believe in Him.”  They knelt and prayed and suddenly Julia received her sight.

The night before his death Valentinus wrote to Julia and told her to live her life close to God.  The note was signed, “From your Valentine.”  (Taken from an Expressions from Hallmark card, 02-08)  I love to remember this every Valentine’s Day because it anoints what may have become such a commercial day with a powerful story of God’s providence, grace and healing.  May it bless and encourage you this Valentine’s Day and always!

Who Has Your Heart?

Today Valentine’s Day is a day of hearts abounding on greeting cards and home decorations.  Many wear red on that day and celebrate with gatherings, intimate dinners and special gifts.  What are your plans for this day?  Maybe you are alone and find Valentine’s Day somewhat depressing.  Many do.  It does not matter what your situation is right now.  Think about where your heart lies.  What is most important to you?  Who is most important to you?

First of all, if you walk the Kingdom path with Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are never alone.  I do not say this lightly.  As human beings it is normal to desire a partner in life.  However, there can be seasons or a lifetime that you will walk without that natural comfort.  If you choose to walk closely with the Lord you will not feel the loneliness felt by those who choose to walk without Him.  Give Him your heart first.  He will provide His very best for you.

Perhaps you are in a marriage but the trials of life have seemingly diminished the glow you may have felt when first getting to know your spouse.  Give the Lord your heart first.  Let Him work all for good in and through your heart.  Learn to walk daily in forgiveness.  Release yesterday and live in the fullness of today.

Let This ‘Heart Day’ Be Most Fulfilling!

It is always a heart issue.  So whatever you may be struggling with today, check your heart.  All begins and ends in your heart.  Remember your first love and put Him first.  With Him first you will be able to clear unhealthy heart issues and heal areas of your heart that may be impeding your relationships.  This Valentine week is the week concentrated with heart themes and heart visuals.  Make this the week you fully give your heart to Him to heal and restore!

This Thursday, we commemorate President Lincoln’s birthday.  Let us never forget that President Lincoln as many of our founding fathers was a devout Christian.

Quotes to Ponder This Week

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  ~Jesus, Matthew 6:21

“Take all of this book [the Bible] upon reason that you can, and the balance on faith and you will live and die a happier and better man.”  ~President Abraham Lincoln, 1864, Quote taken from In God We Still Trust, A 365-Day Devotional edited by Dr. Richard G. Lee

A Prayer Request

Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray.  Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety.  They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit.  Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives.

God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families.  May the Lord keep them safe.  Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Muslim extremists and all forms of terrorism.   We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history.

Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi and for safety in Israel.  May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe.  May we may arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history.

The lives lost in Benghazi, the continuing targeting of conservative groups by the Internal Revenue Service, Operation Fast and Furious, the Department of Justice targeting journalists phone records, the National Security Agency overstepping its legal authority are hardly “phony scandals.”  We continue to pray for truth to prevail in each of these situations.

Pray for the families who have lost loved ones, for those relentlessly targeted and for all of us who call ourselves American.  These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk with the Lord, saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America.  Fail not in this hour.

Please Join Me In Prayer

Father we thank You for Your faithfulness and Your Son, Jesus Christ. During this week so focused on the heart equip us to focus on our individual heart.  Lead us to our first love and help us establish Him deep in our heart.  Take us deeper to healing and restoration through forgiveness and release of all that is not of You.  Circumcise all that does not belong.   Convict us daily through Holy Spirit guidance to maintain clean hearts for You.  Thank You for keeping Your hand on America.  We humbly pray this in Jesus’ mighty name.  Amen and Amen.

SEEK:  Stay Equipped, Empowered, Kingdom focused!