My Valentine

On this day of love, where the standard gifts are candy in heart shaped boxes, flowers and cards with lots of pink and red, I want to talk about the true love of my life.  He is my heart's desire....  There is nothing "standard" about Him.
The first thing that drew me to Him, was the love He has for me:  crazy, intense, never-lessening love for me.  He is taken with me.  This love that He has for me, moves me....  It moves me to regret over the times I have failed to love Him; it fills my mind and heart with an ecstasy that makes me thirsty for more; it astounds me at the value of His gifts, for they cost Him dearly.  No, these gifts were never a last minute rush of hollow words and soon to be forgotten trinkets.  But they are gifts that were planned long before I was.  They are intensely personal and precious to me.
What did He give me?  My life.  He gave me life.  He redeemed me - bought me back from Death who had a tight grip on me.  He is the key that unlocked my frozen heart; He is the door between Life and Death; the portal into safety.
My heart lay in the cold, dark ice of death, but He did not leave me there!  Death's horrible fingers rightly held onto me, until He put me aside and off this altar - stepping onto the large platform - becoming the sacrifice that paid the dear price of my freedom forever .  He... the One who never sinned - became what I was, so I could be like Him.  He took my shame of a life lived for me, and gave me dignity and honor.

But it doesn't end there.  He makes my heart beat, He fills my lungs with with the breathe of praise.  I find Him beautiful.  He stirs up and wakes my love - it is in response to Him....

"The voice of my Beloved!  Behold He comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills....   My beloved spoke, and said to me:  'Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.  For lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come,,,,"  (Song of Soloman 2:8,10-12)

"My beloved is mine and I am His."   (Song of Solomon 2:16)

If there are valentines that did not come on this day, forget your dissappointment.  Instead remember....  You will one day hear His voice calling out to you to rise up and come away.  Come, Lord Jesus!