Valentine's Day

It was my turn to share in morning staff devotions this week, and our theme this year has been our testimonies/ what is God up to in your life. I shared briefly on Tuesday about why God sent me to Africa - which was to change and mold me. I ended on the note that I left very happy to leave and return to the U.S.

Wednesday, I focused more on the longer I was away, the more I’ve seen the value of what God did in my life while I was there. Seeing as this Sunday is Valentine's Day, I wanted to try to tie this in as well, but well, I don't exactly have any experience with dating/marriage! I'm really not the best candidate to talk about this, but I am an excellent candidate to talk about God's unconditional love.

While the media might hype about this being a special day for couples/romance, as a believer, I can use this day to realize that God is seeking and pursuing me (and His bride, the church). I can look back just during my time in Uganda and see God’s unconditional love pursuing me throughout the entire time. He was pursuing me and saying I love you while I had no family there; he was pursuing me when my luggage was having a week’s holiday in the UK and my teammates who were practically strangers reached out to me; he was pursuing me when I was afraid I’d get Malaria, Ebola, (insert other weird African diseases); he was pursuing me when all my friends left after the first school year and I thought I was alone; he was pursuing me when the bus from Rwanda crashed. I saw how he does have plans for me, awesome plans for me (even though I try to keep telling him my plans are better.;o))

I’ve felt fortunate to grow closer to Him as I cried out to him daily. While I might not know earthly valentine type love, I can def. say I know the heavenly love of my gracious and amazing Father. It reminds me of what Matthew 10:29-31 says: "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

So Happy Valentines Day everyone and take time this weekend to remember who our true Lover is!