Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. You knew that. Probably all too well.
While it is touted as a day filled with red balloons, boxed-chocolates, Hallmark cards, candlelight dinners and sexy lingerie, it is also a day of disappointment for many because there are no red balloons, boxed chocolates, Hallmark cards, candlelight dinners and sexy lingerie.
Here’s my word to you. Don’t let the enemy win. Don’t listen to his lies. God is so enthralled with you! And the enemy wants to distract you from that truth.
[typography font=”Cantarell” size=”24″ size_format=”px” color=”038BBC”]I want to encourage you to pay attention to God’s love song to you today– His passionate pursuit and relentless romance of your heart[/typography] .Let me share one of my “Valentine” moments from God.
I was riding on a chairlift at Keystone ski resort in Colorado. “Single,” I had called out while standing in line—the proper etiquette for those skiing alone. No one took me up on the offer to share the chair…and I breathed a sigh of relief.
I was alone.
I was glad.
As the gears churned and the cables strained to pull my metal chair up the mountain, I sensed God’s presence surrounding me. I wasn’t alone after all. Wrapped in the down of His love and zipped up with the security of His grace, I settled in for the brisk morning ride. The great Rockies dressed in winter’s garment of glistening snow stood tall all around me. Strong. Powerful. Majestic. Sure.
The lapis vault of heaven canopied the earth with wisps of feathery brushstrokes. Delicate. Winsome. Graceful. Changing.
It seemed as if the breath of God kissed my cheeks with the tingling crispness of that Colorado morning.
As the braids of metal drew me higher and higher, I heard a mother and her daughter begin to sing. “Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing. Power and majesty praise to the king. Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name.”
Like an old couple that warms with remembrance when “their song” comes on the radio, I basked in knowing that God had specifically pushed G-5 on the jukebox just for me. For they were singing our song—God’s and mine. It had been our song since I first heard the words in 1994. And it seemed God had just commissioned two of his children to serenade me. He was wooing me once again with music that wafted from behind and embraced my heart.
“He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing,” (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV, 1984 ed.).
God sang His love song and I drank it in.
I closed my eyes, captivated by His evident love for me. A moment of sudden glory in the Rockies. I didn’t want to get off the chair lift.
I thought of Peter’s words to Jesus after he had seen the transfiguration up on another high mountain two thousand years ago: “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” (Matthew 17:4).
Like Peter who had seen Jesus’ sun-drenched face illuminate and His body clothed in light, I didn’t want the moment to end. I wanted to pitch a tent and settle in.
But just as Peter had to return to the valley below, I had to return to the flatlands.
Treks down the hill are always part of the mountain peak moments of sudden glory. That moment in the Rockies, when God wooed me with our love song through the timbre of two of his children, He was simply giving me another reminder of His love for me.
Remember, He whispered. I have loved you, with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness, (Jeremiah 31:3).
I slid off the chair lift and onto the snow packed ramp. With a push of the poles and a dig of the skis, I headed back down the mountain once again. And our great love story continued from the peaks of the Rockies to the muddy, slushy, slopes and masses of people below. God had pursued and romanced my heart once again.
God has pulled out all the stops in pursuit of your heart. But many, I dare say most, don’t see it, don’t hear it, and don’t taste it.
“Blessed are your eyes because they see,” Jesus said, “and your ears because they hear,” (Matthew 13:16).
We yearn to be cherished as a rare treasure. We dream of a love that is fresh every morning with anticipation of what the day may hold. We long for a love that will not wane with time or diminish with the doldrums of everyday life.
And that is exactly what God wants to give you. I pray that you will hear God’s love song and find His love notes lavishly tucked in the moments.
That you will recognize the romance of God in the routine of your life. That is exactly what you can expect when in him we live and move and have our being becomes a reality in your life. It is then that you experience a sacred union with God.
“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you” – Jesus
How does knowing that God pursues you make you feel? Leave a comment below.
Comments 38
Thank you for the reminder of God’s wondrous love for us, for me. He clothes me in righteousness and love. I am reminded also with songs that He has created for us through His children. I LOVE Matthew West’s song, I am a Child of the One True King- “What love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called His children.” May we all remember His love is ever true!
I feel so thankful knowing the love he pours out to me and my family. He’s always on time and I am always willing.
That really was a beautiful moment for you.
Skiing in the Rockies, or anywhere, is not part of the “routine of my life” though. I’m thinking I’ll have to listen a lot harder during my 12+ hour day tomorrow for a love song, if I get time. Praying I don’t miss it.
Treasured, cherished, loved beyond anything you can feel in a human relationship. Thank you Lord for loving so unconditionally a sinner like me and teaching me how to love others in the same way.
Special. Loved. Cherished. Content. At peace. With much joy. I feel like singing and dancing for my King!
It makes me feel like I don’t want to miss a day without seeing God’s love. I want to get it and never miss it or take it for granted.
Sharon
as I read your Valentine email..I began to cry.
the part about being wrapped up in the down of His Love and zipped up in the Security of His Grace. ..
That just overwhelmed me..
Thank you.
I will learn to listen to His love songs
to me.
thankyou Sharon
love in Christ….betsy…Col 1..27
Special. There are times when I wonder what my place in the world is and where do I fit in, but when I’m riding in my car and listening to the music and enjoying the scenery that’s when I know that God is with me and loves me and is pursuing me just waiting to shower more and more love on me. Even when I don’t deserve it.
Priceless!!!
Thanks so very much for a beautiful
valentine’s msg from Jesus. …
I know I needed it.
I pray to listen to all His love songs
to me.
blessings to you Sharon…
Betsy
Sent
I can’t express how overcome I am with emotion right now; at the very thought that the Creator of the universe loves and pursues me! What an awesome privilege it is to be so dearly loved and met with grace despite my rejection of Him. I do hear His voice and see His pursuance of me daily. It took many years with the Lord to recognize He was there everyday walking with me, talking with me, and loving me even though I wasn’t “tuned” in. I’m so glad that I’m learning to be still and quiet my soul, so that I can “tune” in to His love. What an awesome, loving, kind, and grace-filled Father we have!
Thank you for loving me, Lord…I love you!!!!
It makes be feel wanted and needed.
This is so beautiful A few days ago I was upset and began praying for answers. I opened my Bible to the passage, “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17). That was days ago and ever since then I keep seeing this particular passage online in different devotionals and emails. I know it is a message from God for me that He loves me and has already taken care of all my worries and cares. Each time I see it, it is a gentle reminder to keep my faith & keep believing because God has not forgotten me and he will never forsake me. Thank you for yet another reminder today!! God bless you always!
Thank You!
Thank you Sharon for this visual picture & reminder that I’ve had the exact same experience, only it was in Vermont climbing the chair lift at Killington. How precious are these moments. May we recognize them more frequently!
Loved, and that I truly do matter. I know that I do matter to God. However with my marriage, I do not feel so specail, my husband is struggling with letting go of the selfish desire, to put his needs first and everything else second. I have been praying daily, for him to truly and always put God first, others second, and himself third. For once he does that he will truly began to be the husband and father he is to be, as opposed to occasionally, being their for me and our children. Thank you I did need this reminder, I love my little blessings that are two growing boys, and I am so thankful I have my husband, he just truly needs God’s help with getting his life back into perspective as the way God yearns for him to be. I know with my continual prayer God will intervene. Our marriage again will go back to be successful, instead of barley surviving. Thank you that anyone that does read this, just pray a quick prayer with me whenever you remember for my husband. For he does have thick walls, around his heart on this matter.
Amazed and grateful.
I do have these times with our Father. And I feel treasured and loved. Sometimes I have them when I’m awake and I have them when I’m asleep. I’ts funny you talked about your moment way high in the rockies watching the beauty of the snow everywhere. I love snow! I live in the Northeast, so we’ve had so much of it lately! While most are complaining, I’m basking in it! I look at it out the window at nite when I’m going to sleep and I love waking up to more snow falling. I have dreams from too. Last month I had a dream where were under water and He was pulling me along and there was a beautiful, beautiful warm light, I believe the light was Him and He was telling me how much He loves me and He kept telling me so many loving things. I could feel His love. I can’t remember everything He was saying, but He kept telling me how much He loved me. His love was all around me! That’s the only way I can explain it. Just like you said, wrapped in the down of His love and zipped up in the security of His Grace!
Then 2 sundays ago, I dreamed I was back in my mom and dad’s backyard. (In real life, the house has been torn down). It was very late at nite, and very dark and even the house was completely dark. But I was standing there so happy to be there and I was even saying to myself I feel so blessed to able to be here. I was filled with happiness. But, I don’t kno why because in real life, it was not happy, it was pretty awful for the 17 years I lived there. So, anyway, as I’m standing there I hear a voice say “this is your Father” and I believe He repeated it, but I’m not sure. And then what do you think comes out of the sky? A BIG SNOWBALL! As it was started to fall
I wasn’t looking forward to Valentin’s Day. My husband died 4 years ago. After reading your piece I remembered Zephaniah 3;17. It is one of my favorites. It is True. God does love Me. The song you heard is one of my favorites also. God does love Me. He is my Valentine and I am His. The God who created all the universe loves Me. Thank you!
sorry, I didn’t get to finish. As it started to fall, it was in the shape of a teardrop. So, I don’t know if I caught or picked it up, but as I was looking at it, my sister calls me and tells me she either dreamed or heard a voice say to me “this is your Father”. And I just started crying so hard, tears of joy! I knew when I woke up it was confirmation that, yes, this IS my Father speaking to me. And since then we’ve had lots of snow and lots of cold too. But, He does talk to us in so many ways. Awake and asleep. Even tho there’s some stuff going on right now, I know He is here with us and I feel His love. I think He gives those moments to us to hold on to when we’re going thru really hard things or when we feel like we’re alone. I don’t think I can think of anything on this earth that I treasure and hold on to as much as “those loving moments with Him”. I couldn’t survive without them. He truly loves us so much. And if you spend quiet time alone with him and listen, He will talk you and you will feel His love. God really does send valentines, Usually when we least expect it, but need it the most. Thankyou Sharon for sharing your valentine message with us! xo
Thank you, Sharon! We are wrapped in Christs love like His Valentine.
I thank you for sharing with us. I don’t celebrate Valentine’s day I’m not married nor seeing someone… I’ve been hurt so many times in love… I’ve never seen it the way u put it God pursuing me. Knowing that my Jesus loves me so, makes me feel good I’m wanted n loved by r heavenly Father warms my heart with joy!!! Thank you Jesus 4 loving me!!!
Thanks Sharon for sharing that beautiful Valentine message. Blessings to you on your ministry for Jesus.
Thank you for God’s Valentine to us, It makes me feel completely wrapped up in the Lord’s loving blanket, feeling cherished, treasured, adored, completely peaceful and content. There is nothing human or materialistic on this earth that can bring these feelings, that only knowing our Father and his Great love for us can bring.
Your story and all the comments have been so inspiring and comforting to me. It is amazing how many marriages will not be celebrating Valentines day tomorrow because love has gone cold or was never there in the first place. God is an ever present companion. He can mend every broken relationship. All he needs is our acceptance and our invitation. I am a widow 10 years this july and was blessed to have had a near perfect marriage and I truly pray for the almighty to touch and heal every broken or shaky marriage IJN, Amen!
Thank you for such a great reminder. Matthew 13:16, as I was driving to work I heard it again. My prayer daily is more of God and less of me. As I close my eyes right now I feel His presence and love wrap me. Am a single parent and will be celebrating at Ronald McDonald house in Long Beach, California making dinner for the family members of children with cancer.
we need to know and remember to trust in the Lord and keep our thoughts on and ways on him and we can not go wrong.
Dear Sharon,
Your message is soooo comforting. This is coming in God’s perfect timing. There is a lot of hurt and misunderstanding right now. Do you have any recommendations for a version for males? I know someone who needs to hear just what you have written, with a male version.
Author
I think it applies to men just as much as women. Men need to be reminded of it too.
Valued more than the value I put on myself.
Thank you for your inspirations today. Today is my birthday.God’s words gives me the strength to continue.
Author
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SITA! YOU ARE LOVED!
Thank You, LORD, for Your ever giving love. That I don’t have to be alone n I’m not because your love is always forever with us, even when we don’t feel it, you’re here in our hearts, your dwelling place.
Sharon, what a beautiful way to start my day… feeling His great love! Have a blessed weekend!
I went to see the movie Winter’s tail last night. There was a Great part in it when this one guy was talking to lusifer ( yes the devil). He said how he felt like the angels and good was defeating evil!
That was so calming to see in a movie.
Its hard to be alone on holidays and days for love.
I Do know God is there because the moon was bright and shining on the beautiful snow!
This came at a time when I was needing to hear it. Thank you, Sharon, for reminding me of His love today. Karen
It is a true blessing that I know without a shadow of doubt that GOD pursues me on a daily basis. Recently the songs of Meredith Andrews off of her Album Worth It All have echoed & resonated in my very soul & when I awaken in the middle of the night or upon awaking in the morning the lyrics of Strong God, Worth It All, Start With Me, All I Ask, Burn Away, or The Gospel Changes Everything come to mind & I am singing in worship to Our Father in Heaven. In pursuing me He places songs in my heart & mind to sing praise & worship to HIM..Without HIS pursuit I would not have the desire HE places with in me to praise & worship HIM at all times & I would be most miserable. Thank You Sharon for sharing Your GOD’s love Valentine message In Christ’s love Miss Rusty 🙂
This is beautiful maybe realize that all I NEED is the LORDS love he never leaves me. A few weeks ago it was Valentines an my Boyfriend left a message he dosent want to talk to anybody see anyone, something is wrong with him I didn’t do anything wrong. We haven’t seen each other in 3 weeks he is a Christian but has turned away from GOD he hasn’t gone to church, an he stopped doing his morning devotions an prayers. Before me he was married 22 years an his wife had numerous affairs on him, because of that he had trust issues with me. I felt abandoned an hurt when he started acting this way, yelling at everyone, being argumentive, Now this week he says he is going to a Christian counsel that he needs help something is wrong with him. He said if I can be patient well he works thru this GREAT but if I can’t he UNDERSTANDS. I’m confused is this love what would a Christian women do. At the moment I go too a moms time out at the church an a BIblE study an I have the women their praying for him, I really would like us too work out if it is GODs will. In the mean time I’m getting on with my life looking for a job raising my two children, an involved with my church an though this I’ve gotten closer too my loRD. I know god loves me an never abandon me, his relationship with me is what his important. If Chuck an I our meant too be than Gods will be done if not he has better plans for me. God Bless Jo