* February 14, 2015 * You Are Worthy Too’s Weekly Weekend Newsletter*

Happy Supernaturally Silly Sing Song Sweethearts Day!

I shared a link on Facebook regarding the history of Valentine’s Day and said this, “Just another reason I’m not one of those girls that celebrate Valentine’s Day . . . puts a whole spin on it ~ right?!?”

My grandmother responded with, “I love Valentine’s Day . . . The world needs love in our lives!”

To which I stated, “God is love so I couldn’t agree more Grandma!”

God is love. In reading His Word, we come to understand that love is even more important than faith! We know that in the Old Testament, those who were found righteous were credited righteous due to their faith. We are also told in the New Testament that it is by grace through faith that we are saved. We are even advised to carry our shield of faith for protection against the devil’s schemes! All of this regarding faith makes it clear that we need faith to gain everlasting life! When you consider that LOVE is GREATER than Faith, one should take notice of such things!

With that, we have no choice but to come to the same conclusion as my grandmother. “The world needs love in our lives!”

What is love if love is God?

I truly believe all answers to life’s questions are found in the bible. You may be surprised to know that no where in the bible does it say to dedicate one day to the celebration of Love! Here are a few things we are told about love:

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease, if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with the childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

That is one heck of a list for what love is, but did you know that you can also see love in action in God’s Word?

And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise. And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.” Luke 3:11-14

We find further depth to what love looks like in action here:

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ~ Matthew 5 44-48 (NASB)

In the Old Testament, we are given the law. This was only given to us to show us that we alone cannot live the law out perfectly. The law was designed to draw us to God.

In the New Testament, we are told how best to live and we find this instruction in the midst of a conversation between Jesus and a scribe who presented Jesus with a question upon hearing Jesus and some Sadducees arguing!

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?”

Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” ~ Mark 12:28-31 (NASB)

This advice is first found in the Book of Deuteronomy:

“Hear, O’Israel ! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.” ~ Deuteronomy 6:4-6 (NASB)

That law is written on our hearts! What is the symbol for love on Valentine’s Day? Hearts! Love one another is on all of our hearts! So my grandmother is completely right when she says the world needs love. We are commanded to show each other love. Before that we are told to love God above everything else. While some may see that as a bit much for God to command, I pray they come to understand that God tells us to Love Him above all else because in doing so, we will find ourselves protected beyond our own comprehension. Nothing that takes place in this world will be able to steal, kill or destroy us because when we put nothing above God, He is our stronghold. Since God is everlasting, faithful and true, we couldn’t have a better stronghold in this world!

I’m all for showing one another love on what the world has claimed as ‘Valentine’s Day’; just remember, love is not material gifts and it is not meant to be given only on February 14! After all, Love is God! With that being said, here is this weeks song lyrics sung by King and Country “Proof of Your Love”

If I sing but don't have love, I waste my breath with every song
I bring an empty voice, a hallow noise
If I speak with the silver tongue and convince a crowd but don't have love
I leave a bitter taste with every word I say

(Chorus):
So let my life be the proof of Your love
So let my love look like You and what Your made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

If I give
To a needy soul but don't have love then who is poor?
It seems all the poverty is found in me

So let my life be the proof of Your love
So let my love look like You and what Your made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

When it's all said and done
When we sing our final song
Only love remains
Only love remains

(Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
If I can speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy
But don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rust gate
If I speak God’s word with power, revealing all of His mysteries
And making everything as plain as day
And if I have faith to say to a mountain jump and it jumps
But I don’t love, I’m nothing
If I give all I earn to the poor
Or even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr
But I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere
So, no matter what I say, no matter what I believe, no matter what I do
I’m bankrupt without love

Let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You're made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/for-king-country/the-proof-of-your-love-lyrics/#obI14V4AKy5Eg3MD.99 and view / listen to this song on YouTube!

I truly do believe this world would be in much better shape if we heard and focused on what was written on our hearts! In celebration of February 14, 2015, I suggest we take the realization that this world could use a lot more love and begin to act accordingly daily, not just for the show of it once a year!

Father, today I pray that the strongholds that the evil one has placed in the world lose their power and fall uselessly away. I pray that you become the world’s stronghold; that in times of stress and duress, we cling to you and recognize we have nothing and no one to fear. I pray that you flank new believers with a hedge of protection and send angels to minister to them. I pray that those who cannot hear or see the truth are able to step out of the fog. I pray that the power of the veil that Satan has used to cause confusion is removed. I pray that at the same time, those once confused as to what the truth is turn to find you Father as I know you are always near! In Jesus name I pray!

Wendy, walks with God, Mom of Many

© Wendy Glidden 2015