“Kiss me.” “Call me.” “I ♥️ you.” I mean….who doesn’t like to get heart-shaped candy that says, “Be mine!” (These conversation hearts began in 1847. Interesting story. You can read more about their history here: http://mentalfloss.com/article/61510/history-conversation-heart)
I’m not a big fan of how these sweetheart candies taste, but I love what they say! Words of affirmation are my love language, so as you can imagine, I’m a big fan of conversation hearts and Valentines.
My husband is great at giving Valentine’s Day cards! I have a stack of them he has given me over the years that I cannot bear to part with. They are always humorous and personalized. He adds his own hand-drawn pictures and speech balloons while sometimes crossing out the printed words. This year’s traditional exchange of valentines did not disappoint.
Now, my hubby always signs his cards, “143” which, of course, is code for “I love you.” (The numbers stand for the number of letters in the words “I love you” for those readers who just don’t get it!) He continued the tradition of writing this coded “love message” on notes he placed inside our boys lunch boxes. Our youngest son came home from first grade one day and asked, “Dad, I just have one question. Why do you keep writing one-hundred-forty-three on my lunch box notes?” (Clearly, we should have taken the time to explain “the code” to Jarred.) Once we shared the numbered message, Jarred was hooked. In fact, my Valentine’s Day card from him that year was decorated with hearts, flowers and the numbers, “332922.” I said, “Son, tell me about these numbers.” He said, “Oh mom, you know, it’s the code. It stands for “You. Are. So. Beautiful. To. me.” Although he had a lot to learn about coding, he sure knew how to get into my heart! Needless to say, his valentine card that year was a keeper, too.
I love reading God’s beautiful love story to us. His message of love is clear in His word. There are no hidden messages. Everything from Genesis to Revelation points to the love we long for: JESUS! The problem is our sin separates us from God. (Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Yet, God loved us. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
He aimed His perfect love arrow to planet earth 2,000 years ago through the gift of His son, Jesus, for the sole purpose of saving us. Christ died for us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:16-17) Jesus proved His great love for us by shedding His blood on a cruel cross – a death he did not deserve. He willingly gave His life. But, His love went further: Jesus conquered death. His resurrection proved He is the only one worthy of our love.
His love woos us… draws us to Him, and His words of love tell us how we can have a great love story of our own with Him. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Receiving His gift of love means agreeing with Him by saying “Yes, I am a sinner. Yes, I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose from the dead to save me. Yes, I repent (turn away from my old way of life) and…yes, with His help, I will live to honor the one who gave His life for me.”
His love comes with great promises. Romans 5:1 has this wonderful message, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The most amazing thing is that His love is always trustworthy. His love never fails and never leaves. Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
His Word assures us that we can grow in this love. Ephesians 3:17-18 says, “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of God.” This kind of love only happens through the Holy Spirit abiding in us. His love lives, and breaths and has the power to change lives. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us.”
His love in us enables us to love others with a 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy. Love does not boast. Love is not proud. Love does not dishonor others. Love is not self-seeking. Love is not angered. Love does not keep a record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects. Love always trusts. Love always hopes. Love always perseveres. Love never fails.
Hmmm…..Now that I think about it, I guess these words could be called God’s conversational sweethearts!
143!
Julie
❤