L-O-V-E

Tonight my prince and I are going to a hotel (yay for groupon!) to celebrate Valentines Day. I love Valentines day, and I've been wanting to write a post about Love (It just seems appropriate) 

I am completely in love with my prince. He is my best friend, my helper, my encourager, and my partner for life. I love being married to him! But...I cannot talk about love and marriage without talking about God. In fact, I truly believe that I cannot fully love my husband without God.

Our key verse for our wedding was 1 John 4:19

"We love because He first loved us" 

The world tries to paint us a tainted picture of love. It often portrays lust instead of love. It tells us we must find our soul mates, and that they will complete us. It encourages us to love only when we feel loved in return, and if we don't FEEL ooshy gooshy feelings then we must have fallen out of love. The world's love is selfish, draining, and short lived. 

God has shown us a different love. This love is sacrificial and unending. It is patient, kind and selfless. It does not depend on the other's performance or love in return...it is unconditional. This love does not only consist of feeling, but it is a choice. God's love is unchanging, giving, and constant.

Which love would you rather have?

The thing is...on our own we can only love with the world's love. It might work for a little while, but it is not true love. In order to fully love someone, we must first receive God's love. He made this love available to us when He sent His son to die on the cross for our sins. 

I love my prince with all my heart. But before this was possible, I had to give my heart to God...as His love fills my heart, I am able to love my husband. 

So as you celebrate Valentines Day, think about why and how you love?

I love because Jesus first loved me!