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A Valentine for All Time
(Part 1: God's Grace for My Past)
A Hurting
Word...
It's a day I'll never forget--the time I decided to organize all the "love letters from the past" stored away in the attic of our first home! Now you must understand that I like things neat and in order; what could ever be wrong with sorting through stacks of mushy goo, removing the envelopes, and re-working all these precious love notes into a neat little box for eternal storage! You may agree--my new husband did not! He was mortified that I would alter, without permission, his private papers--MY love letters to HIM--in any way. The scene is forever etched in my mind as I tearfully tried to re-assemble envelopes and undated letters and cards--and HE decided, while still annoyed, to help. We sat on the living room floor, LOVE LETTERS scattered between us--one wronged, one weeping--it is so funny now. It was not funny then! Minutes or HOURS later, we realized how foolish we were; our love was so much more important than the issue--and 20 years later, we've proved it so. Now my dear husband will STILL tell you he was RIGHT--and maybe he was (sheepish grin)--but don't tell him I said so!
We've all got past memories which bring smiles--or sorrow; Valentine's Day seems to drag them out of storage and bring them to mind. And that's ok--we learn to accept and forgive; to love and forget--it's all part of the wonderful human experience called love. But I know One who brings out of eternal storage His own Valentine love letters--unique for each one of us. They're marked and dated differently, but the contents are the same: Valentines of grace for our past--a marvelous grace that convicted, cleansed and covered our sin--and it still works today. Let's go to the Well where the Lover of our souls awaits us. There's grace enough for us all!
A Helping Word...or
Two!
God's Valentine of Grace Is Given to Convict Us!
If we're celebrating Valentine's Day, "conviction" doesn't seem as though it should be invited to the party! Conviction, that knotted feeling in your stomach, that churning turmoil in your soul that says "I did wrong" or "I know I am DOING wrong," is not fun--but don't run from it! It's grace--God's grace to bring you back to Him, to enfold you in His arms and keep you from harm. You remember when He convicted you long ago of your sinful nature, of your need of a Savior. He's done it all your life! There's a marked and dated love letter for each offense--and look closely--the stamp is cancelled; you're forgiven! Mind the checks and convictions of the Holy Spirit. Receive His valentine of convicting grace--it's a love for all time and worth holding on to!
God's Valentine of Grace Is Given to Cleanse Us!
If we're celebrating Valentine's Day, "cleansing" seems to be in order! So where's the soap, the shampoo, the deodorant, the perfume--hold on! The external cleansing may make you look nice--and smell nice--but that's not going to cut it in God's courting garden! He's looking for a clean heart, and if it's not, there's a Valentine love letter just for you: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)." That valentine brings back treasured memories--of past sins washed away, of a heart cleansed by the Blood of Christ. How many times He's done it for every one of His kids...and He continues to do so. Theologians tell us that the Greek word "cleanse" means a continual cleansing. So this Valentine from your past is still valid; it's still working today. Receive God's valentine of cleansing grace--it's a love for all time and worth keeping!
God's Valentine of Grace Is Given to Cover Us!
If we're STILL celebrating Valentine's Day with all its trimmings, "covering" seems to be in order! So where's my makeup, my new red smashing outfit, my heart-shaped dangling earrings--and oops, sorry, guys, YOUR red tie!--it's time to do the town! Hold on--you may be the talk of the town for your elegant Victorian lace and ruffles (ties and suits!)...but if God's grace is not covering your past, if deep down inside of you, there's endless guilt that won't go away, the "glad rags" of life aren't going to cover it. You LIVE with it, day and night--and it's time for you to check your mailbox. There's a love letter waiting for you--and it's God's Valentine of grace, grace enough to COVER your past, once and for all. The same God who covered your past initially with His Blood awaits to cover you once again, daily, with His grace and love--"love shall cover the multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8)." He covers you completely--you are free, and now you can cover someone else with His love and grace. Try it--receive God's valentine of covering grace and then give it away. It's a love for all time--it's worth keeping AND worth giving away!
Remember the woman in the Bible caught in the act of adultery? Jesus wrote letters in the sand that day; we don't know what He wrote, but I believe the "love letters in the sand" which He wrote for YOU years ago are still there. His grace avails today as much as it did the moment you received Him. Whatever He has convicted you of, bring it to Him, know His cleansing and then accept the covering of His Blood. That's HIS valentine to you--for all time!
"Lord, I bow humbly at Your feet. I feel the convicting power of the Holy Spirit; I admit my wrong and I ask for Your cleansing and covering. I rise to walk in Your grace and love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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A-Devo-a-Day for Vacation Inspiration 
A Hurting
Word...
