celebrate love

http://globaltableadventure.com/2012/02/09/recipe-sunrise-biscuits-mbatata/

celebrate love

the theme of my day

as I baked heart shaped sweet potato biscuits

representing Malawi known as

the warm heart of Africa

celebrate love

as I prepared a special dinner

as I took care dressing

as I smeared sweet fragrance behind my ears

celebrate love

as I chilled the wine

as I lit candles for the dinner table

celebrate love

as I met my man at the door

greeting him as always

after a hard days' work

I am full

to overflowing

stuffed and warm and blessed

I am most like my Lord

when I love

and I love 

yes, I love indeed

 

how do I love?

Valentines Day draws close.

A gift for my husband is hidden until tomorrow.

I will cook with extra attention.

Perhaps we will share a bottle of white zinfandel with dinner.

We will celebrate the one that God created out of two.

We will speak words of love.

What is this love?

For many schooled in literature or poetry

the words of Elizabeth Barrett Browning come to mind:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I can't get past this opening line.

How?  How do I love?

How do I love my husband

my family, my friends

how even do I love myself?

How do I participate in this most impossible and supernatural of acts?

How does a heart, once hard, terrified

shattered by pebbles, stones, boulders thrown

trust enough to risk?

How does such a heart

continue to crack, allowing light to spill in

and compassion to bleed out?

How does what was broken

still bend into the shape of love?

The questions swirl and rush

but a quiet voice trembles clear

louder than the noise.

Only because I Did.  

Only because I Will.

Only because I Am.

And in the freshening calm, I remember.

We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. 

First we were loved, now we love. 

He loved us first. 

John 4:19 The Message

 jamming with Bonnie





and at The Grove with Velvet Ashes

 

True Valentine

For Christmas I wrapped a present for Jesus.  For Valentine's Day I wrote Him a love letter.  As the true lover of my soul, He wrote back, words like:

Is it hard for you to understand My ways? I spoke to My disciples in parables. But let Me be clear now. My love is here and My love is true. Nothing will change My love for you.

Click here to read more, where I'm sharing about love letters today at Internet Cafe Devotions

 

Valentine letter to Jesus

Image via WikipediaThis year I wrapped a Christmas gift for Jesus, so it seems right that I also give Him a valentine.  Here then, is a love letter to the One Who Is Himself love:

My dear Lord Jesus,

It feels odd to be writing this letter to you. I don’t know if I have the words to express all that is in my heart. You Who gave everything for me, a lost and bitter woman, how do I thank You?

How do I describe You? Glory beyond glory. Someone beyond imagination, in fact so far beyond imagination I struggled to believe in You. What a day it was when I surrendered that first time, giving You entry into my life, knowing that things had to change. And change they did indeed! Because of You. Because of Your love. Because of Your patience.

I have lost so many desires for the things of this world. They have grown tasteless. And those that still retain a taste, it is bitter and unpalatable. It is You I seek. It is You I desire. I want to soak in Your fragrance, the sweetness and spice. You spoke to me once about waiting in a garden for me and that I was to make myself ready. Are you still waiting? I couldn’t bear to think You had already gone.

I love You, Lord Jesus, even as I am not sure I know You, I love what I know. And I love what I have imagined. I love knowing that you searched for me as a lost lamb and hold me gently in Your arms. Oh, to feel those arms around me. Perhaps I am afraid to come close because once in Your presence I would never want to leave. Help me to surrender again, all that I am and all that I have, so I would have no fear of leaving something behind and can fully get lost in Your presence. Perhaps then I can take that presence to others who do not know You.

Here I am, my Lord, my Savior, the only One who could redeem my life. Here I am waiting. Help me to come into Your arms. Help me to love as You love. So when I say “I love You, I love You, I love You” it is with the love that You Yourself taught me.

Don’t you know you are already in My arms? I have not for one moment ever let you go. There are times that you feel I am distant, but it is you, not I who’s thoughts wander away. My thoughts are for you, not against you, always and forever. The forces of the enemy and the forces of the world you live in would have you imagine there is distance between us, but that is not the truth. There is not even a breath between us. If you could really feel how close we are, you would feel cradled and warm. Not a thought of yours escapes Me. I know your thoughts before you do, My dearest one. I know when you will be misled and I ache until your thoughts return to Me. Yes, I still wait for you, will forever wait for you. For even as I have you, I want more and more and more of you. The same hunger that you desire to have for Me, already burns within Me for you. You are the one I bled for. You are the one I died for. You are the one I claimed as My own when I rose again in victory.

Is it hard for you to understand My ways? I spoke to My disciples in parables. But let Me be clear now. My love is here and My love is true. Nothing will change My love for you. It was and is and ever will be, just as I Was and Am, and evermore Will Be. Learn to rest in that truth and shut out any voice that tries to tell you otherwise.

And yes, you are questioning if your love is good enough for Me. That makes Me giggle, it tickles Me. Who do you suppose instilled that love in you? It is already My love living within you, My dear. But if you want to give Me more, then give Me more, I will receive it!

Oh Lord Jesus, how I thrill to hear of Your unfailing love. Yes, let me love You more! Let me cast away thoughts of unworthiness, for indeed I am not worthy, but it is not about me. I am Yours, now and always, and righteous in my Father’s eyes because of You. Oh if I could I would kiss You!

My Valentine

Today I sing praise to my God and King
He orchestrated a love beyond any I could imagine.
He knew what I needed and in His faithfullness brought Rick into my life.

I thought I'd want a valentine who would write for me
fancy poetry and prose
instead I have Rick who never fails to say he loves me
plain and simple and true
every day

I thought I'd want a valentine who would buy me flowers
instead I have Rick
who plants me a garden full

I thought I'd want a valentine for a season
instead I have Rick
for a lifetime

He is solid and loyal and strong in the Lord, the place my heart has found its home.

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love [for love waved as a protecting and comforting banner over my head when I was near him].
Song of Solomon 2:4 Amplified