Psalm 119:11 “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” 

This well-known verse is commonly memorized simply through exposure.  It is heard often from the pulpit, in Sunday school and in Bible Studies.  We are encouraged to memorize Scripture for our spiritual strengthening, well-being and health.  I often hear people complaining that they can’t memorize, especially as they get older, and I admit it is not easy.  It is a discipline. 

A few of our staff members are amazing in their Scripture memorization and retention.  I do okay with my memorizing but retaining it? That is another story.  Any good memorization plan requires review.  There are several “techniques” for Scripture memorization and some work for some while others work for others.  Find a way that works for you. 

I have met people over the years that have memorized hundreds, some thousands of verses from Scripture.  How are you doing in this area?  If you are like most, it is a weak area of your Christian walk.  This is not meant to put a guilt trip on you, not at all.  I have been a believer nearly 30 years and it is still a weak area of my walk, but I ‘m working on it. 

Good memorizarion plans and a solid review plan only deal with the first part of verse 11, “I have stored up your word in my heart…”  But the purpose of storing God’s word in our heart is not so we can impress people rehearsing Scripture or to win drills or to have them on the tip of our tongues. NO, the purpose is that we would not sin against God.  Memorizing the Word holds little value if it doesn’t change us, if it doesn’t lay down the guidelines of obedience for us.  Having a head full of Scripture is not the same as having a heart full of Scriputure which we live by and obey. 

I can memorize Scripture, but if it doesn’t change me then I might have as well memorized the dictionary.  To release the power of God’s Word in my life, I must not only memorize it, I must also chose to live by it.   “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” James 1:22.

May you experience God’s blessings today in a fresh and exciting way.  Open your eyes and behold your God all around you. 

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt is part of the Development and Addiction Recovery teams at America’s Keswick.  In addition to being a Biblical Counselor, she is a Women’s speaker for retreats, conferences and events.  She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study. She has been married to her husband John over 28 years.  She has 2 adult children and 3 grandchildren and 3 adult step-children with 7 grandchildren making 10 in all.  She delights reading and teaching, but mostly laughing at the funny things her grandchildren say and do.

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
(James 1:4)

           Have you ever found it difficult to maintain a daily quiet time with the Lord?  Do you ever experience your mind wandering during your prayer time?  Perhaps you start out on January 1st and determine resolutely to be disciplined to maintain your spiritual walk with the Lord, only to miss a day, then two, and your journey becomes a frustration to you because it isn’t perfect any longer.
         The daily walk with Jesus Christ requires discipline and practice.  Athletes, artists, dancers, hobbyists, and musicians practice their skills and abilities over and over until they become a part of them – like breathing.  I remember being assigned a 26-page piece of classical music. When I began it seemed an impossible task; however, if I broke it into smaller sections, working on it one segment at a time, it was not so overwhelming.  At times I would come into a troublesome three or four measures and if I would practice it over and over, it would become a part of me and I could play it in my sleep.
        Our spiritual life is really no different.  When we apply discipline to it, we find that it can be a very manageable task.  Ultimately we will not find it to be a task; it becomes a part of us, something that we love to do, and an activity we can’t live without.  Start with small, reachable, attainable goals.  This may seem ridiculous, but read one verse and think about it instead of trying to read a whole chapter or book.  Try praying for one minute instead of sixty.  I think you get the point.  Practice this over and over; remember you are on this spiritual journey for the long haul.  Remember also that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him  (Hebrews 11:6).  He will bless your effort and give joy in the journey!

Robert Hayes
Program Director

Writer for “Real Victory for Real Life” 
365 Devotional Thoughts in the Spirit of America’s Keswick
VOLUME 2
 To order a copy of “REAL VICTORY For REAL LIFE” 365 Devotional Thoughts in the Spirit of America’s Keswick, forworded by Dr. Joseph Stowell visit  www.americaskeswick.org  and click on store. 

 

 

There are times that I truly enjoy journaling my prayers and the prayer requests I am praying for. However, there are other times that I feel reading and writing my prayers have become a method and I find myself…well…bored.

One morning Diane Hunt and I were praying together at staff prayer. Diane began to pray for the provision of a car for Dina Seaton. After praying that request Diane realized that was a prayer request from the day before. She was quick to apologize for praying “off the wrong page.” I had not been at staff prayer the day before and did not know of Dina’s need for a car. But I knew that my brother-in-law had a car for sale. After our time of prayer I saw Dina. I told her I knew of a car for sale. My brother-in-law had a Honda Civic he was selling. Dina laughed saying she had been praying for a Honda! Later in the day Jack emailed pictures showing a vehicle in good condition for a good price. Although it was dark green and not black it seemed to us that God was providing! About a week later Dina and I went to see the car and she was able to purchase it. It was apparent that the Lord was leading Diane so that I would hear this request and be able to be part of what the Lord was providing for Dina.

I share this to say that, yes we can get ourselves into a prayer rut by saying the same things over and over, but structure can be good. Writing requests and prayers helps me remember. But there is much to say about praying “off the wrong page.” Surely the Holy Spirit was working through Diane to pray for Dina so that I would know of her need. Regardless of what encourages us to pray, the important thing is that the Holy Spirit leads us and puts on our hearts the things we should be praying for. We should never be so structured in our prayers that we are not sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. We should never be so sloppy in our prayers that we just “bless the missionaries” all day. Go ahead….write your prayers, pray through a list but always remain open to be praying for what the Lord wants you to pray for. Sometimes we don’t need to write or read we simply just need to listen and just pray!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thess. 5:16-18

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:13

Blessings,

Kathy Withers

 

Kathy’s on staff at America’s KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 27 years.  They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local Church and has taught Sunday School and Bible Studies for women. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God’s Word.

How Great Are Your Works
A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
    to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
    and your faithfulness by night,
3 to the music of the lute and the harp,
    to the melody of the lyre.
4 For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;
    at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
5 How great are your works, O LORD!
    Your thoughts are very deep!
6 The stupid man cannot know;
    the fool cannot understand this:
7 that though the wicked sprout like grass
    and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
8     but you, O LORD, are on high forever.
9 For behold, your enemies, O LORD,
    for behold, your enemies shall perish;
    all evildoers shall be scattered.
10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
    you have poured over me fresh oil.
11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
    my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.
12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the LORD;
    they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the LORD is upright;
    he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.  (ESV)

Commentary:
What better interpretation of the first three verses of Psalm 92 could we present than Isaac Watts’ classic hymn of the faith:
How good it is to thank the Lord,
And praise to You, Most High, accord.
To show our love with morning light,
And tell Your faithfulness each night;
Yea, good it is Your praise to sing,
And all our sweetest music bring.

      Vocal and instrumental music should be offered to the Lord because it is a gift from the Lord.  God graciously provides such a gift even to those who offer Him no thanks for it.  Intricate flower blossoms may be admired in a lovely bouquet or in a formal garden, but the source of their beauty is the mind of God.  This is true of musical arrangements as well. 
      The Psalmist is made glad and he triumphs because of the greatness of the LORD’s works and the profoundness of His thoughts.  Not only are His thoughts “deep” (v5), they are very high (Isa 55:9), “precious” (Ps. 139:7), and numberless ({Ps 139:18).  They are “to all generations” (Ps. 33:11) and directed toward us individually (Ps. 40:17).
      What kind of thoughts does He have towards me? See Jeremiah 29:11.  Wonder of wonders!  His thoughts are knowable through His prophets. (See also Amos 3:7, 4:13).
      Verse 8 is a high mountain above the valley of verse 7 where we live while the enemy flourishes.  When our eyes are upon the mountain, our horns are exalted above the horns of the wicked (Ps. 75:10), and we flourish and bring forth fruit because we are planted in the house of the LORD.
     
“The Psalms” Author, Don Kelso
     
APPLICATION
Music is a gift from God and should be offered to Him from our hearts.  His gracious gift ministers to us as we offer it to Him through our worship.

“The Psalms Application”  Author, Don Kelso

Submitted by
Pat Spies
Development

 

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all our heart, and
Do not lean on your own understanding

     I don’t know what a day will bring, but I do know the One I can Trust to bring me through a day.  Some days are uneventful, while others have events that can swallow us up in fear & worry that will develop into attacks of anxiety.  Why is it so hard sometimes to trust the One who created me and gives me the breath that I breathe?  The answer is simple – the minute I take my eyes off the Lord and His Word, His plan, His promises, His mercy, His grace, His steadfast love, His loving-kindness, His goodness, His patience, ________, ________ I will rely upon my own resources: now that can be downright dangerous “relying upon my own resources” which is empty. 

     He gives and He takes away – yet I know that TRUSTING the one who gives and takes away, I’m safe in Him. That doesn’t always mean that I embrace some of the things that the Lord  gives or takes away, but I know the waste of time and energy it takes to fight against His plan.  As we depend on the Lord, His plan will give us whatever we need to bring us through life’s roads.  He never said it would be easy, and I can attest to that.  The Scriptures are full of people who trusted God and those who detested Him.   These Scriptures are not just good stories, they are real life experiences, and we can learn from them. The Scriptures are inspired by God.  I encourage you to do a study of Women in the Bible, and I assure you, you will be blessed. 

“All the Women of the Bible” by Herbert Lockyer.  You’ll discover how the lives and character of different biblical women mirror the situations of women today.

     Many years ago while I was on a long flight and I was reading “Trusting God” by Jerry Bridges.  As I read one of the chapters, Jerry describes God’s sovereignty by relating that God is even in charge of the nuts and bolts on airplanes.  Wow, I wanted to jump up and shout “God’s in charge, don’t fret”…..Yikes, if I did that today they’d probably land the plane and put me off.  Truly, I was so excited.  Why?  I was very anxious flying. I wanted to see my family and crazy thoughts kept coming into my mind.  I knew that the Lord was comforting me and teaching me to TRUST Him no matter what a day may bring. God is in control – yes even with nuts and bolts that hold airplanes together.  Man may tighten them, but God keeps them in place, or He may allow them to come loose.  Whatever happens in our lives, God’s hand is in it and we can rest assure that TRUSTING Him is the best decision we can make.  However, remember this, even if we kick the brick at first, He still cares and loves us unconditionally.  And He will get our attention. 

      He gives and takes away – He gives the air we breathe.  He holds the key for life and death….He is all knowing, All powerful and is Everywhere.  He never sleeps!!!!

     Have you told anyone today about Jesus?  Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, NO one comes to the Father except through me” ( John 14:6 ESV).

     Today: we can talk about Jesus to various religions, and they may even agree. Last week I heard a man of God, who I love and trust, say “We can talk about Jesus to people of other religions, but when we say that Jesus is the only way to the Father in Heaven that is when they become disagreeable.” Why am I sharing this?  We all need warnings from time to time: not everyone we listen to on TV, YouTube, Twitter, emails, books, etc. are talking about the Jesus of the Bible.  Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and he resurrected on the third day, and ascended into Heaven and is sitting at her right hand side of our Heavenly Father.  “Only Jesus can Save”. 

Blessings,
Pat Spies
Development

 

Eucharisteo, remembering with thanks, this is the bread.  We take the moments as bread and give thanks and the thanks itself becomes bread.  The thanks itself nourishes.  Thanks feeds our trust.

           And it swells up in me and I can’t stop it, this surging sense of emancipation.  Over a steering wheel in a white pickup, I can’t help this glorious laugh, the laugh of the unafraid and the bold, the giddy hope of the bread carriers, the manna eaters.

           Until home and Promised Land and complete clarity, I’m a wanderer crossing bridges, wanderer eating manna, eating mystery.  For really, as long as I live, travel, is there ever anything else to eat?  I either take the “what is it?” manna with thanks, eat the mystery of the moment with trust, and am nourished another day-or refuse it….and die.  Jesus calls me to surrender and there’s nothing like releasing fears and falling into peace.  It terrifies, true.  But it exhilarates.  This, this is what I’ve always wanted and never knew: this utter trust, this enlivening fall of surrender into the safe hands.

 

There is no Joy without Trust
I can feel all the sinews releasing, the opening of the heart chambers; the unfurling of a life into one reverberating, exultant yes! “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV).

 

Yes in Christ!
To the Enfleshed Yes who said yes to this moment and yes to last year’s illness and yes to the cracks of my childhood and yes to the nail and yes to my name in the Book of Life, hear me say YES! Not “I’m worried.”  Not “I’m stressed out.”  Not “I’m anxious.” Not “I’m too afraid.” Hear me say thank you.  Hear me say Yes!  Watch me live life of yes:  To all that was and is and is to come.  The power of sin and death and fear-sent-from-the-Enemy are forever ended because we can trust in the bridge even if it’s caving, in God even when it’s black, in manna-nourishment even when we don’t know what it is.  The God whom we thank for fulfilling the promises of the past will fulfill His promises again.  In Christ, the answer to the questions of every moment is always Yes.

 

The answer is always YES!

 

One Thousand Gifts – Ann Voskamp a writer with DaySpring (a division of Hallmark). www.aholyexperience.com

 

 Submitted by:
Pat Spies
Development

 

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises… (2 Peter 1:2-4a)

 My husband and I were privileged to minister at a Bible conference on the bay.  As we sat on the beach, we constantly observed planes flying back and forth carrying advertisements.  Trailing behind the plane would be banners urging the crowd to buy this or that or visit a popular restaurant.

 As we were about to eat lunch in the dining hall, a plane carrying a sign flew over the bay, dropped its sign, and headed for an open area on the ground.  As it descended it managed to hit the sand and land safely.  Very quickly we learned that the plane had run out of gas.  After the pilot put fuel in the plane it was soon on its way, but the pilot and those watching on land were given quite a scare.

 “How true to life,” I thought.  As you meet people who claim to know Jesus Christ as personal Savior, (and sometimes advertise that faith) some seem to run out of gas!  Perhaps it has been discouragement, a problem or “bump in the road of life” that has caused them to halt in their spiritual journey.  I am reminded in God’s Word that, in spite of problems or discouragements, and in spite of feelings, I need to constantly be “put in flight.”  I need to base my life on the Word of God and rely on the power supply of God to keep me going.

 The Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 1:6, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

 Christian, we have no need to run out of gas spiritually, for there is a limitless supply to God’s presence, protection, and provision.  Let’s trust Him!  His grace will keep us going and carry us through.

Carolyn Hibbard

Writer for “Real Victory for Real Life”  365 Devotional Thoughts in the Spirit of America’s Keswick
VOLUME 2, pastor’s wife, mother, and grandmother

 To order a copy of “REAL VICTORY For REAL LIFE” 365 Devotional Thoughts in the Spirit of America’s Keswick, forwarded by Dr. Joseph Stowell visit  www.americaskeswick.org  and click on store. 

 

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented
by those who don’t know me.
John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4
And I’ll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7
I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Father’s Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications
(c) 1999-2011 www.FathersLoveLetter.com
Submitted by: Pat Wenzel, WOC Graduate

 

In the fall I had the opportunity to interview a pastor who years ago was involved in smuggling Bibles into a closed country that was unfriendly to Christianity.  I was fascinated by his stories and close calls of getting caught but he made numerous successful trips across the border and back delivering many Bibles to hungry underground believers. 

I have not been so successful in my smuggling attempts and, truth be told, what I am smuggling is not helpful to anyone, especially myself.  I recently heard a pastor make this statement, “I tend to smuggle my works into the Gospel”.1  Isn’t that true of all of us? We have such a hard time accepting that the Gospel of Grace is all of God – we do absolutely nothing to accomplish our salvation. 

We want to smuggle in : A regular quiet time, Bible reading, good deeds, paying tithes, asking forgiveness of a friend, not drinking, smoking or playing cards, wearing the right clothes, not wearing the wrong clothes, going to church, going to the right church, serving others, making meals for the sick, praying, etc. The list is as long as our own imaginations.  Now don’t get me wrong, MOST of these things can be good and evidence of a healthy love for our Savior but none of them contribute one iota to our salvation. 

Can you believe it?  Jesus doesn’t need or want our help to save us?  Seriously, if we were responsible for only one millionth of our own salvation, we would mess up that one millionth.

I have been reading and journaling Romans one sentence at a time.  Having read the book dozens of times before, this journey through has been eye-opening.  The words “free gift” appear six times in chapters 5 and 6.  Paul doesn’t want us to miss it. 

1. Romans 5:15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.
2. Romans 5:16  And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.
3. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
4. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8-9 sums it up, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 

We know this is true but WHY O WHY do we keep trying to smuggle in our own works?  Why do we try to pay towards a debt that has already been paid in full? 

I think the only way we can deter our smuggling activities is to rehearse the Gospel regularly, reminding ourselves of the Grace of God and the totality of our salvation He paid for with His blood.  Never move on from the Gospel.

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is part of the Development and Addiction Recovery teams at America’s Keswick.  In addition to being a Biblical Counselor, she is a Women’s speaker for retreats, conferences and events.  She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study. She has been married to her husband John over 28 years.  She has 2 adult children and 3 grandchildren and 3 adult step-children with 7 grandchildren making 10 in all.  She delights reading and teaching, but mostly laughing at the funny things her grandchildren say and do.  

 1 (the statement was not original with him but he was not aware of who said it)

February! Ah, sweet February! Tis the month that the country is abuzz with the marketing of romance and “love”- an appeal to the huddled masses to purchase all the candy, jewelry and cards possible to express L-O-V-E to the people in your life. It’s not lost on this observer that the majority of that marketing is to prompt men to buy for the women in their lives. I’m just saying. But that’s another story.

On the way to work the other day, I heard this statement: “Valentine’s Day is the romantic day of the year”. My immediate thought was, “No! I don’t think so.” That thought led me down a number of mental pathways:

One-what is the history of this day; what’s it all about? 

Two-what does it have to do with anything in the life of the believer?

So, being who I am I decided to Google(r) it and refresh my memory along with yours.

Here’s what I found:
? “Valentine’s day is the second most celebrated holiday around the world, second to New Year’s Day
? It began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus
? The most popular martyrology associated with Saint Valentine was that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire; during his imprisonment, he is said to have healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius. Legend states that before his execution he wrote “from your Valentine” as a farewell to her.”

? “The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as ‘valentines’). Valentine’s Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.”1

So now that I’ve recapped the history my thoughts go back to the original statement about Valentine’s Day being the most romantic day of the year. While that  may be true in some sense, I’d like to offer another day that tops all the others when it comes to expressions of L-O-V-E.

My personal preference for the title of most romantic day of the year is Good Friday.

Far above and beyond romantic (“displaying or expressing love or strong affection”)2 is agape (“THE GOD KIND OF LOVE”).3 Within such love lies every aspect and speck of love we shall ever need embodied in Calvary’s Cross and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It has nothing to do with feelings or romance. It was everything to do with God’s choice to love a broken, fallen, lost and dying humanity with Himself.

“Holy God, in love, became
Perfect man to bear my blame
On the cross He took my sin
By his death I live again”.4

Dear ones, it’s no better; goes no deeper; satisfies more fully; accomplishes more completely…than this: Amazing love, how can it be? Selah!

Our challenge today in living visibly victorious is this: remember that we are loved with an everlasting love and we must take that love as Jesus did, to a world that is lost, dying and without hope.

May it be so today that we live, love and be to the glory of the One who sits of the Throne!!

Stephanie Paul

Stephanie Paul serves as part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Director of Women’s Addiction Ministry. She has been married for almost 30 years to Sesky Paul who is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. Stephanie serves alongside him as Care Group leaders in their church. They have two grown children.
Her single focus in ministry at Keswick is to image Christ in grace and truth to wounded and hurting women, encouraging them to make Jesus the truest Lover of their soul and the One in whom all hope lies.

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine’s_Day
2 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/romantic?s=t
3 http://ask.reference.com/web?q=What%20Is%20Agape%20Love?&o=100100
4 http://sovereigngracemusic.org/Songs/The_Gospel_Song_(Reprise)/16