The History of Valentines Day

Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Valentines Day?  Thanks to Macon Newby, a friend of mine, I've just learned the reason behind Valentines Day.  Valentines Day now has new meaning new meaning:

In 269A.D, Valentine was young, wealthy and in love.  He also was a Christian.  Young Valentine intended to consummate his great love by taking his girlfriend as his bride.  Soon he would be wed! 

But his pleasurable, orderly world came crashing down around him when the Roman emperor declared all that Christians were illegal citizens and guilty of treason.   In order to escape persecution, all they had to do was say, "Caesar is Lord."  

Valentine refused. 

All Valentine would say was, "No, Jesus is Lord!"  Rather than deny Christ, young Valentine was arrested in the crackdown.

In jail, awaiting execution in the arena, he wrote love letters to his girlfriend.  Beautiful, passionate letters assuring her of his great love.  But theirs would be a love not lived out.  Arms never entwined in the embrace of husband and wife. 

On February 14, 269 A.D., young Valentine was put to death, martyred for Jesus Christ.

Gives new meaning to Valentines Day, huh?   Would I be as brave?  Would be as diligent?  What a blessing to still live in a country where we can love and worship Jesus Christ openly.  A gift I probably all too often take for granted.

Happy Valentines Day!

Tomorrow: 

A Recap of Friday's lunch - Speaking a Man's Language with Respect

Thanking God for the Little Things!

Psalm 118:28

You are my God and I will give you thanks...

Do you take time to thank God for the small things?   I firmly believe it delights Him when we do. 

Let's start the THANKSGIVING SECTION!

Note:  This was videoed at a friend's house last Monday.  We did 4 videos in one sitting - that is why you hear me reference Monday.  Sorry for any confusion. 

• Double click on blog title to open the video if you are having trouble.

All I'm explaining is the top of the page. 

Notice, I'm starting in the body of the journal.  Turn to whatever day it is.

• Notice "Monday" on the side -
• Notice the bullets I spoke of in the video.  This is where I thank God for the ways I see His hand at work in everyday life.  The blessings from the day before.  The sweet moments that could have only been gifted by Him.

I really believe that it matters to God when we are thankful in the small things!  God is at work in our everyday lives.   Pray for eyes to see His invisible fingerprints!

Help me to wake up Lord!

1.  Iron Sharpens Iron - THIS Friday 2/10/12!

BONUS:

February is WORKSHOP MONTH!

Register Early and save!

https://www.easyreg.org/cgi-bin/easyreg/registrationdbase/EVYDCJTNIM/signup.pl

2.  Christ Baptist Raleigh NC - this Thursday 2/9/12!
If you are in the Raleigh area: I will be at Christ Baptist, Newton Rd, this Thursday evening from 7:00-8:00pm.   I'll be speaking on marriage. Would love to meet you! Let me know if you can come!
Mark 1:35

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed."

Someone emailed a great question that many of you may deal with.

Question:
"I am a night owl.  I'm 37 and have been this way since I was a teenager.  How do I go about switching to having morning devotions?  I currently have evening devotions, but would really like to switch to the morning. 

On the rare occasions that I've actually been able to spend time with God in the morning, it's really been refreshing & the day seems to go much better."

Answer:
First of all, MANY Godly women read this blog.  So if you have suggestions in addition to mine, I welcome them.

PRAYER  is where I believe you must start.  "Lord, help me to rise early so that I can spend time with you."

Let's go to Scripture to see what the Bible says about morning quiet time:

Mark 1:35, See above

Psalm 119:147, "I rise before dawn and cry for help..."

Isaiah 50:4, "He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen as one being taught."

I don't want to be legalistic because I believe God can speak to us anytime He wants.  Yet, Scripture seems to give precedence to a morning quiet time.  And you nailed it, there IS something refreshing about starting your day this way. 

For me personally, there are so many voices that clamor for my attention - the voices/emails of iPhone; my to do list; my work load and my responsibilities - all good voices.   Yet in the morning before I start entertaining these voices, I've learned that I can more clearly discern God's voice than any other time of day.  Not to mention, I feel like I'm at my best when I start with God in the morning.

So just as Jesus asked, I echo, "Are you willing?" 

Are you willing to be intentional about going to be earlier so that you can wake up earlier?  Are you willing to start slowing down earlier in the evening? 

I'm not trying to get you to be like me, but these practical things God has shown me so that I can wake up earlier.

1. No email in the evening -  no planning the next day -  this keeps my mind buzzing.  Not to mention, my family needs my attention during those hours. 
2. I start slowing down by 8:00 at the latest.  In the winter, I have my PJ's on my 7:30 - teeth brushed so that I don't eat anything else.  (This also helps the waist line.)  Be careful with sugar/caffeine in the evening as well.
3. I have school age kids - so homework, packing lunches, etc... are time managed so that they too are slowing down and getting ready for bed.
4. I am in bed by 9 or 9:30.

This takes diligence and discipline.  And now, it's habit.

So I ask, "are you willing?"  

If so, start with prayer.  And when you pray, understand: 

God wants you in His Presence more than you can ever imagine!  He will delight to answer the prayer of helping you to get up in the morning...  But you must be willing.

I'll be praying for you.  Would love to hear how God answers.

Tomorrow:  We'll pick up with the Thanksgiving section of the Prayer Journal