Hope For Today

Dear Friends, As I write this, Valentine's Day is fast approaching.  I'm sure that with that day comes all kinds of mixed emotions for many people.  Some will be eagerly anticipating it, especially if they are in the throes of new love (such as a certain young man I know!), for some it will be a reminder of their singleness when it seems as though everyone else is celebrating, for some there will be sad memories of love lost, others perhaps will be feeling that their relationships fall short of what they had hoped for etc. But today I want us to put aside these things to re-focus on God and his love for each one of us.  So, make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, get yourself comfy in your favourite chair, find somewhere you can be alone from others and let's quieten are hearts and minds so we can draw near to God and contemplate on his love for us.  Take your time as you read, stop and meditate over each verse. When thinking about what is real love and wh...

Dear Friends, As I write this Valentine's Day is approaching so it will probably come as no surprise to you that I have chosen to write about love.  I'm not talking about the romantic, sentimental, bunch of roses, box of chocolates kind of love, I'm talking about authentic, genuine, godly love.  It's a love based not just on feelings, it's not just a matter of the heart.  To love is a choice, it's a matter for the mind, an act of will.  We are to love consistently, whether we feel like it or not, whether the person reciprocates in love or not, and we should not use it or abuse it to manipulate others.  We read in 1 John 4:8 " But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (NLT)  God loves us with a love that we have never ever experienced before, and as we follow him and love him in return, his love flows through us to others.  Jesus, the Son of God, says to u...