Happy Valentine's Day!

Hello everyone…and a “Happy Thursday”…and even more…“Happy Valentine’s Day!” Welcome today, to “A New Day of New Hope Blog”…through the Risen Hope Ministries! I am so happy to have you with me…and I pray that you will truly experience the depth of God’s love, as you walk through this brand new day!
 
Well…nothing could be better; then to enjoy a holiday in pink and red, while looking out my window, to a white winter’s day! As I’m sitting here today…thinking on Valentine’s Days gone by; I am thinking on something that is sitting in my front window of the living room…and that is a stuffed bear that my husband had given me…many years back, for a Valentine’s Day gift. I call this bear “Brownie”…and I have him sitting on a window seat; because I have no other place big enough for Brownie. He’s one of the biggest bears I have seen…that is a stuffed bear and he has red heart shaped pads on the bottom of his feet and he is just the sweetest thing! Even though I enjoy seeing Brownie in the living room every day; he can never give me love, like a true and living God can.
 
You know…ever since my husband and I chose to help our international friend overseas…for almost the past seven years…the budget has tightened and my husband and I have agreed to no gifts at all…even for our birthdays; but you know…I have come to see that the material things don’t bring eternal happiness…only Jesus does…and to be honest with you…even though there was a time, when I enjoyed gifts…flowers and candy; I have found a better happiness in my heart…and that’s when I’m able to bring a smile to someone else’s face.
 
Even though Valentine’s Day is a time to show our love for others…through a box of candy…a bouquet of flowers or a card that holds much meaning; these things don’t mean a thing, unless there’s a heart attached to them. After years of living a dysfunctional life, I have come to see what real love means…and it’s not a love of words alone; but a heart that truly helps those words to take flight and soar above everything around me.
 
You know…when I think on the true meaning of love, I think about God…because He is the true definition of love…and when our hearts are attached to His…then just think; we are plugging ourselves into the greatest love that we could ever experience.
 
For some…you may have never been given anything special on Valentine’s Day; but instead of flowers…candy or a card; may I offer you a love that will fill every empty void within your life…a love that will be the light of your life and will never be quenched? I have truly come to see that there is a love that will never hurt us…a love that will never walk away…and a love that will always listen and be completely devoted to us…and this love comes directly from the heart of God.
 
Well…I have truly enjoyed our visit today…and I hope that you will have a great Valentine’s Day! No matter what you do today…just remember that it’s what you experience within the heart; that truly makes you feel loved! Take care and I will hope to be back with you again tomorrow…God bless!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
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