L.O.V.E. by Louisa Guzman

Valentine's Day...

hearts, cupid, blown kisses, chocolate, flowers, couples holding hands, romantic dinners,

These are the images that come to mind because society has imposed them on us. These days, even as early as the day after New Year's stores are decorated and filled with pink and red hearts of every size. But has Valentine's day ever brought images to your mind of a man or woman sitting at home alone eating dinner in front of the TV?

Do you ever think about the divorced or widowed man or woman who doesn't receive flowers or candy on Valentine's day anymore because their spouse is gone? Have you ever thought to send a Valentine's day card to the single person who prays each morning that this may be the day Mr. or Mrs.

walks right into their life?

And what about the man or woman who has made the choice to remain single in order to serve God better? - don't all of them still deserve love and affection on Valentine's day and every day?

Valentine's day is just one day, but ironically and unfortunately, it is a day on which many feel anything but love. Valentine's day isn't just for couples. Valentine's day is for everyone. Love is for everyone. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son" [John 3:16].

God loves us all, and so we must love everyone as well.

Jesus tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:13 that "the greatest of these is love". Matthew 22:39 reminds us to "love your neighbor as yourself". So why is it so difficult to love one another sometimes? After all, doesn't love conquer all, as we are reminded in 1 Peter 4:8, that we are to "love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins"?

1 Corinthians 13:4 says that "love is kind". On Valentine's day and every day, be kind to one another - to everyone - not just those you love or who love you back. That's easy! But when you love and are kind to those who don't always reciprocate, now that's demonstrating the love that Jesus asks of us in Luke 6:32, "for if you love those who love you, then what credit is that to you?" It isn't even as difficult as you may think, because if you love Jesus, then you have the Spirit in you, and "the fruit of the Spirit is love" [Galatians 5:22].

Like most people, I too, am guilty of selecting the only the ones I love from a box of Valentines chocolates. Long after the holiday those few pieces are left in the box,

sitting there, waiting for someone to love them too.

This Valentine’s day, "let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" [Hebrews 10:24]. This Valentine’s day pick that chocolate no one loves, give it a taste, and see if you can find something about it to love. In the same manner, connect with that "unloved" person and consider how you can love them, the way Jesus loves you.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Rainbows in the Clouds by Idalia Ortiz

Some may say that clouds are depressing or unsettling. I find clouds to be comforting and peaceful. As my friend and I drove home from Sunday church service, there were clouds in the sky and it was raining. She and I noticed a couple holding each other, covering themselves with an umbrella as they stood on the boardwalk. I thought to myself how beautiful. I felt such a peace and the Lord’s presence.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. “— John 14:27 NIV

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”— John 16:33 NIV

I’m so grateful that even though we sometimes are surrounded by clouds, God is always in the midst of them. He holds us tightly, covering us from pending storms. And in those clouds, you see a rainbow appear. There’s a quietness and stillness that’s comforting in knowing that God is with us.

Matthew 8:23-26.

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

In Isaiah 4:6, the Lord provides a canopy:

“It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain. “

God is so with us, I marvel of what He has done and is doing:

In Genesis 9:12-17 God says to Noah:

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

Wow! God’s covenant to Noah is for all generations and that means, it's for us today. What a loving God! So when you look up and there are clouds above, remember that God will cover you and embrace you in the storm. And, you may even get to see His rainbow. He is such a good, good Father, thank you Jesus.

On Purpose by Louisa Guzman

You might have read my article from last year titled, "One Word" or maybe you are already familiar with the "One Word" concept. Instead of making new year's resolutions you probably won't keep, you select one word to frame the entire year.

Some of my past words have been: FORGIVE CHANGE, WISDOM, CONNECT.

For example, the year my word was WISDOM, I sought wisdom daily in God's Word and found in Proverbs 8:11 that wisdom is more precious than rubies! I tried to make wise choices and wisely selected my words before I spoke. Last year, because my word was CONNECT, I worked hard to connect deeply with God, attempted to connect in more meaningful ways with those around me, dis-connected from social media as much as possible.

Are you getting the picture?

There are tons of possibilities, but before you choose a word you should, of course, pray about it. 2 Chronicles 18:4 advises us to "first seek the counsel of the Lord", so ask God to reveal the word that will bring about the most glory to Him and the biggest blessings to you in the coming year.

Think about what your word will mean for every aspect of your life. The year my word was CHANGE I truly experienced change in all areas of my life: in my relationships, in the way I ate, slept and treated my body, in the way I handled money. I even changed the way I studied the bible - all of which brought about even more change.

So after much thought and prayer, the word that God has given me for 2020 is PURPOSE. Purpose: "the reason for which something is done or created, or for which something exists" - I exist to live for Jesus and will resolve to be intentional and purposely take steps to keep Jesus at the forefront every day in 2020. Purpose: "a person's resolve or determination" - I am determined to live each day with good intention and purposely find ways to do good things for those around me. God has a purpose that was created uniquely for me - I am motivated to find it and purposed to carry it out in 2020.

So why don't you borrow my word for a minute and purposely think about what your word for the year could be?

Happy New Year!