Love Day Tomorrow

I celebrated Valentine’s Day with abandon when my wife was still at my side. I spent a silly amount on Hallmark cards and overpriced roses throughout our 41 years of marriage. I would do it all again! I do not think that there is such a thing as 'too much' when it comes to celebrating love and marriage.

I remember one Valentine's card I bought (just for fun) that was the size of a framed picture! The picture of the rose printed on the front was frighteningly large, almost grotesque. When Bev opened it, she laughed - "What am I supposed to do with this?" Her reaction was priceless, momentarily her surprise overcame her general disposition to be kind in her words.

Valentine’s Day is important even though it is commercialized and trivialized because love must be nurtured. It is a foolish spouse who neglects tender words and gentle caresses because “we said our vows and nothing’s changed.”  Love that is assumed easily dies. To the men particularly I say this; those who are really 'in love' are never too sophisticated for Valentine's Day. Romance is not about careful calculation or sophistication. It is a heart thing!

Of course, there will be plenty of fake love spread around tomorrow. Cards, chocolate, and flowers will be purchased to make an impression, to manipulate, or to just meet expectations. The symbols must rest on the reality if they are to be meaningful. Without genuine affection and esteem in daily words and actions, the roses or cards can become an offense.

Real love is not often portrayed in our pop songs and movies. In 2026 love and sex are all tangled up, a ‘hook-up’ supposedly the same as an intimate commitment of mind and body. Do not get me wrong about that. Sexual attraction is a part of love. The Bible is quite clear about that. There is an entire book devoted to it in the Old Testament. (Song of Solomon.)

Paul tells Christian couples "Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again. . .." (1 Corinthians 7:5, NLT)

I’m sure you know that but I will say it anyway. Love is more than pleasure and intimacy. This passage is a call to the best kind of Valentine celebration. We are taught that "Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. .... For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love." (1 Corinthians 13:7-11, 13, CEV)

The card, those red roses are nice, but they can never replace selfless giving of one’s self and time. We must seek to know the other person deeply, to understand and accept them even when their ways and ideas are challenging. The love described above will survive long after the hormones that spark sexual passions have diminished with age. It gives a beauty that really is more than 'skin deep.'

A final thought – Love is not just for spouse, family, or friend.

Real love is the very essence of the nature of God. Think deeply about these inspired words – “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”  (1 John 4)

Jesus said that all the commandments are summed up in just two –
1. “Love God whole-heartedly.”
2. “Love others in the same way that you love yourself.”

Even if you are not romantically tied to anyone - celebrate love! Love, like Christ loved you! It will change your world; yes, that love will come back to change you!

Here is a word from the Word- “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even the godless do that.” (Matthew 5:45-47)

Happy Valentine's Day.

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Just a speck in the universe?

Do you ever wake up in the morning and wonder if you matter if you really are more than just a passing speck of life in the universe? Sure, you are important to your family, perhaps to a small circle of friends, but are you truly valuable; do you matter?

We may not say it out loud, but we all tend to think about our worth. We look for value for ourselves in all kinds of things. Some seek physical attractiveness. Some accumulate wealth or symbols of it. Some pursue awards and titles. Some crave to be known. Yet we wonder – ‘do I matter?’  Age comes and beauty fades. Economies fail and wealth disappears. In time another takes our place.

Solomon, a king of Israel, enjoyed it all and yet in his old age he cynically wrote – “I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 2)

There is a lasting way to find purpose and significance in this world, one that endures time and change, which cannot be stolen or erased. We need not become cynical with time and age if we know what God says about us and our value!

Jesus teaches us that God knows the smallest detail about you and me! He said – “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. And you are worth more than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Matthew 10)

The Psalmist says of God. “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!”  (139)

Yes, we are known, valued, treasured, and made for His love, not just as a group, but each one of us individually.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, my favorite book of the Bible because of the truth of grace and purpose of which he writes, includes this passage. “God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2)

In spite of our failures and our frailties, He loves you and me and gifts us with life, valuing us as living examples of His “incredible wealth of grace and kindness.”  That’s something worth living for and truly a reason to know that we matter. We are part of the Divine Plan.

I was touched and inspired by the testimony of Jelly Roll, a country artist, at last week’s Grammy awards. He offered a powerful testimony crediting Jesus and his wife for saving him from an awful past of addiction, drug-dealing, and prison. "Jesus is for everybody," he said, asserting faith belongs to the broken, not just the polished. A life once worthless by all accounts was made new by faith and from that loving grace he found, a new value and way of living emerged!

When we accept the grace of God, by faith, we are both humbled and made noble in the same moment. We realize that our worth can never be attained by any effort we make and yet we know that we are “royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. … Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” (1 Peter 2)

Yes, our lives are short, and our earthly accomplishments are soon eclipsed. But, in Christ Jesus, we are of great worth – now and for eternity. Believe it, friend. This truth will change your life. It provides freedom from pride and fear, and it is a reason for joy.

I close with yet another amazing passage from God’s Word, our word for today. BE encouraged, called to higher purpose by the Truth. “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.”  (1 John 3)

Believe it. Live it. Find new joy.

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This race we run.

Last night I watched the spectacle that opened the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy and what a show it was: so well done and classy!  Hundreds of athletes walked and danced their way into the games, eager to compete, to show off their skill, and to pursue a medal.

As I watched a thought recurred in my mind. “This show is not really the heart of the Olympics. The real stuff has been happening on ski slopes and ice rinks for years. What these young athletes achieve now will be result of what they have done with discipline in preparation.” 

Nobody just parties their way to the international competition. 
They work … hard!

Our Christian life can take a lesson from them. IF we hope to know the best of what God has prepared, if we want to serve in the most effective way for Christ Jesus, if we desire to find the richest reward in eternity, we need to understand the importance of focus and discipline.  Paul was inspired by the athletes of his day and tells us - “Run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.”  (1 Corinthians 9)

There is an important point to be made before we go on – we cannot earn God’s favor, nor is eternal life in Heaven the result of human effort. We are made children of God by faith and because of His grace – period. Jesus gave Himself for us, made peace with God on our behalf, and offers the gift of spiritual life to all who will receive Him.

However, the Christian life requires focus, purpose, choice, and discipline. Spiritual maturity does not just come with age or time. We grow into the fullness of the life of the Spirit by learning, practicing, and sacrificing.

In my early years I thought that being a good Christian would result from an experience found in some revival meeting or through some ecstatic moment in prayer. I lived on a spiritual roller coaster going from one emotional height to another with long dips in valleys of discouragement. I questioned why I could not seem to find the richness of Christ that I read about in stories of great Christians.

Then I found a book that changed my Christian life. Richard Foster wrote The Celebration of Discipline in 1978, outlining the daily choices we can make that open our minds and hearts to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.  He explained the value of meditation, study, solitude, simplicity, submission, service, and worship. These were not to be practiced incidentally or at my convenience. They were daily choices, like the regular training of an athlete. What a difference I found as I became purposeful in my Christian life, moving beyond a focus on my emotions.

I learned to serve, to love, to forgive, to remain steadfast in commitment through the ups and downs of daily life in this present age. No longer focused on myself, I looked to Christ and His Word for identity and for hope. When my race is over my true hope is not that others will say – “What a great guy Jerry was.” Rather, I pray that it will be said, “What a great God he served!”

The best reward will be hearing those words of my Savior – “Well done, faithful servant!”

Are you growing into spiritual maturity?
Are you serving with joy in a way that honors your spiritual gifts?
Are you loving extravagantly, as you are loved?

Remember, the aim is not perfection, it is growth. Let’s grow together.

Here is a word from the Word, my testimony. “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things.”  (Philippians 3)

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