My Valentine's Gift

I had the BESTEST Valentine's Day that I have ever had. Why you ask since you all know I am single? Well, it is because my Valentine was GOD Himself. And also, because HE gave me the best gift ever.

I had a huge paper due tonight and really needed some time to finish it. It was going to snow and I was praying very hard for a snow day. If we had a snow day then I would have all day to work on the paper. I didn't get the snow day, but GOD gave me something even better. Because it was Valentine's Day most of my kiddos had parties in their general ed. classroom. Thursdays are also a special day for my sped kids and that gives me a longer lunch hour. We also had a delayed start at school, meaning we started the day an hour later. So I only had to be in the classroom for my reading group. I KNEW this was GOD. HE knew exactly what I needed, because I got to spend time on my paper (which was finished at 2:10pm). If we would have had a snow day I would not have gotten to work as easily as I did, for at home I would have had distractions. It was just a beautiful boutique for me.

Not only that, but because of writing this paper and two others that are all due I haven't slept. For the past week, I haven't gone to bed until 2:30 or 3:00 am. I am feeling exhausted and wondering if I have what it takes to complete this Masters? So yesterday I received this in an email from a friend:

Being in school is not easy. Higher education is somewhat like a "rite of passage". It is designed to see who can make the cuts. You are one of the toughest people I know. You can do it. I'm so proud of you for what you are trying to accomplish and all your hard work. I look at you and feel for you remembering many a nights like you've had. Before long you will start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and you won't believe that you've actually done it. There is no greater accomplishment in life. When I was at my graduation, I literally wepted as I sat there after my name was called. I could not believe that I did it. But I did do it and you are going to do it too!!!!

And then before going to bed late, I had to read a devotion. "God Calling" for February 13, went right along with that above email and what I needed to hear from GOD. Here is what it said:

In a race it is not the start that hurts, not the even pace of the long stretch. It is when the goal is in sight that heart and nerves and courage and muscles are strained almost beyond human endurance, almost to the breaking point. So with you now the goal is in sight, you need your final cry to Me. Can you not see by the nerve and heart rack of the past few days that your race is nearly run? Courage, courage. Heed My voice of encouragement. Remember that I am by your side, spurring you on to victory. In the annals of heaven, the saddest records are those that tell of the many who ran well, with brave stout hearts, until in sight of the goal, of victory, and then their courage failed. The whole host of heaven longed to cry out how near the end was, to implore the last spurt, but they fell out, never to know until the last day of revealing, how near they were to victory.

I shared that with my friend who sent the email and she wrote this:

Well Kimie I guess I understand why I felt led to write that email to you yesterday. I guess God is your biggest cheerleader here making sure that you know He is behind you even when it is tough.

So after reading that last night and GOD giving me the gift HE did today. Again, just reminders to me about HOW GREAT GOD IS!

I then received some great words of encouragement from a couple of friends who thought of me today. The first was an ecard which said:

Your Divine Valentine

A Valentine may play a love song for you,
but GOD sings you the
sweetest love song in the universe

The Lord your God...will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

A Valentine may give you flowers,
But GOD sent you the
most beautiful rose of all, Jesus

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. Song of Solomon 2:1

A Valentine may take you out to dinner,
but GOD has invited you
to the most amazing feast ever given

Blessed are those who are called to the marriage of the supper of the Lamb. Revelation 19:9

A Valentine may bring you chocolate,
but GOD provides you with
something even sweeter, His Word

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter then honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

A Valentine may be far away,
But GOD is always with you

I am with you always. Matthew 28:20

A Valentine may give you something,
but GOD has given you everything

God...gives us richly all things to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17

A Valentine may love you for a lifetime,
but GOD loved you before you were born
and will love you for all eternity!

Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love...with loving kindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3

Praying you're blessed by the wonderful love of GOD this Valentine's Day and always!

I also received an email from a friend, who didn't know what the words would mean to me or even if I would want to read them. I did and it reminded me of the times when I have had dates with JESUS. I started them in Nashville and have had quit a few here in Denver as well. The following words reminded me of those times:

Dating Jesus: The Single Cure for Loneliness
Julie Ferwerda

"You'll never be satisfied in a relationship until you're satisfied with Jesus."

If you're single, you've probably heard the well meaning, albeit superficial-sounding, vague admonition thrown at you usually by seemingly content married people. Great. How in the heck do you find contentment with Jesus when you feel the daily nagging ache for true earthly love--the love that even God said is the better way (Genesis 2:18)?

Really, I've found there's only one way. Date Jesus. And the reason why married people "insensitively" tell you in so many words to do this, is because they know that marriage doesn't solve all your longings for intimacy and belonging. They're trying to give you the hint that, while marriage has it's advantages and is overall a good thing, it isn't the end all to loneliness and love hunger. Many have discovered this only after they got married and were still lonely. Now they're letting you in on the secret: only by dating Jesus will you find what you're truly searching for.

I just so happen to be married, but a few years ago when I was single--and lonely--I began dating Jesus. Now that I'm married, I still date Jesus. My husband, great guy though he is, can't possibly be all I need for unconditional love, security, intimacy and belonging. Nor I for him. Without dating Jesus, I'd still be as lonely as a raft at sea.

Is it possible? Is it weird, thinking of Jesus as a romantic interest? And how do I do it?

The Bible tells us that when we get to our heavenly kingdom, we (his followers) will walk the holy matrimony aisle as his bride, celebrating our own great wedding day with our Prince of Peace (Revelation 19:7-9). That means to me that while we're here on earth, we are in a sacred courtship with the King of kings. We're in the relationship-building stage, getting to know him mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, but not getting to be united with him physically ... until our wedding day. There's nothing weird about thinking of Jesus like your greatest romantic interest, even if you're a guy. He wants that kind of intimacy with you so that he can win your heart with his amazing, perfect love, and make you ready for the big day when you get to live happily ever after with him.

THANK you my friend. I love dating JESUS. Must admit I haven't done it as frequently as I use to. I know once I am settled back into my own place I hope to start making a date night again.