Tag Archives: Love

The Story of Valentines

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Story of St. Valentine

“The story of Valentine’s Day begins in the third century with an oppressive Roman emperor and a humble Christian Martyr. The emperor was Claudius II. The Christian was Valentinus.

Claudius had ordered all Romans to worship twelve gods, and had made it a crime punishable by death to associate with Christians. But Valentinus was dedicated to the ideals of Christ; not even the threat of death could keep him from practicing his beliefs. He was arrested and imprisoned.

During the last weeks of Valentinus’s life a remarkable thing happened. Seeing that he was a man of learning, the jailer asked whether his daughter, Julia, might be brought to Valentinus for lessons. She had been blind since birth.

Julia was a pretty young girl with a quick mind. Valentinus read stories of Rome’s history to her. He described the world of nature to her. He taught her arithmetic and told her about God. She saw the world through his eyes, trusted his wisdom, and found comfort in his quiet strength.

“Valentinus, does God really hear our prayers?” Julia asked one day.

“Yes, my child, He hears each one.”

“Do you know what I pray for every morning and every night? I pray that I might see. I want so much to see everything you’ve told me about!”

“God does what is best for us if we will only believe in Him,” Valentinus said.

“Oh, Valentinus, I do believe! I do!” She knelt and grasped his hand.

They sat quietly together, each praying. Suddenly there was a brilliant light in the prison cell. Radiant, Julia screamed, “Valentinus, I can see! I can see!”

“Praise be to God!” Valentinus exclaimed, and he knelt in prayer.

On the eve of his death Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay close to God. He signed it, “From your Valentine.” His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory.

He was buried at what is now the Church of Praxedes in Rome. It is said that Julia planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship.

The Thieves of Faith, Hope, and Love

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quote-ten-boom-worryThere’s something about the start of a new year, a new season, or even a new chapter in our lives that causes us to hope for positive change. Oftentimes however, our past failures, mistakes, and even past sins can leave us in wonderment of whether or not we have what it takes to succeed in the things we want most for our lives – whether is it in business or relationships. We find ourselves struggling to overcome our fear of failing and we worry about repeating our past failures or making the same mistakes again. We live in uncertainty of whether or not we will fall back into destructive cycles that lead us into sin again.

When a person lives in fear of these things and worrying about their future, they strip faith from their thinking (“…the conviction of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen”). It robs them of the strength they need to press through whatever stands in their way of being successful. Instead of being filled with expectation of seeing their goals and aspirations fulfilled, and their future at its best, they live in constant anxiety and uncertainty, and experience the negative emotions that come from embracing fear and worry over that of faith and hope.

The result of this faithless worrisome mindset causes those who live in it to entertain thoughts that ultimately affect their determination to be successful in what they want to accomplish. A mindset rooted in worry robs them of the strength to persevere under hardship, trial, and tribulations; and, ultimate it affects the decisions they make (“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death”).

When we willfully choose to worry, we run the risk of being paralyzed and being unable to make important decisions in our lives or pursuing a course of action that is in our best interest. When we live in a place of fear and worry, we often shy away from commitment and rob ourselves of God’s best for our lives both in our personal and business success, and even in relationships.

Don’t let fear or worry control your life. It will rob you of your strength to succeed in those things that matter most to you. Allow faith, hope, and love to dominate your life, and fear and worry will not be able to have influence over your life.

 

You are Loved. Believe it!

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YOU ARE LOVED! You are not only loved, but you have worth – a great worth. You are loved so much and have so much worth to God that God Himself came down from heaven in the person of Jesus, His only Son, to live and to die on a cross in your place to make it possible that you could have a personal and intimate relationship with Him, the Creator of the universe.

Did you get that? That is how much you are loved and how much you are worth to God. He was willing to become man in the person of Jesus Christ, live a sinless life as a man, but without sin; and then willingly die on the cross for your sins and every shortcoming in your life. That is how much you mean to God; and how valuable and loved by God you are!

Not only are you are loved and of great value to God, you have a purpose in this life! Do not accept the lie that says that your life has no destiny or purpose. Your circumstances do not matter, your birth right, your place in this life before men. YOU have a destiny and purpose that is special to God. He said that “before you were in your mother’s womb,” He knew you. “For I know the thoughts I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” You are NOT a mistake! You ARE special! You ARE unique and perfectly made by God and for His purposes. Make no mistake about it.

Reject every thought that tells you when you fail that you have no potential or everything is hopeless. It is a lie! You have great potential! When you feel that there is no hope, please KNOW that there IS HOPE and that God is FOR you! YOU ARE LOVED! There is nothing on earth or any principality in heavenly place that can steal away this love. It is forever and it is everlasting. You ARE loved.

If you would like to learn more about this kind of love, and how you can know that you can experience this sort of love in a real and intimate way through a personal relationship with a living God who knows you and sees you just how you are and where you are, and still longs to be close and intimate with you, please write us at ruined (at) ruinedfortheordinary.com.

Your life matters! We care. Write us today to learn more about how you can experience the power and peace of this kind of love in your life right now, today! Someone is waiting to help you. Someone cares! Please write us today!

Know Your Qur’an: Qur’an 9:5

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The ‘Verse of Sword’ “…then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush…”

Qur'an pagesFor those who nullify the way of Mohammed as a peaceful religion and the ‘cure for the ills of modern culture, this verse from the Qur’an cannot be overlooked by rational minds. It invalidates over 100 less hateful verses – verses Muslims still use in trying to portray Islam as peaceful and tolerant world religion. Qur’an 9:5, like all of the more hate-filled verses which advocate violence towards anyone that does not accept and follow Mohammed’s teachings, set a standard of terror to be reigned upon unbelievers of the Muslim faith.

Verses of hate towards non-believers of Islam as written in the Qur’an represent 60% of the Qur’an. Non-believers, as defined by the Qur’an are anyone that is not a Muslim. In contrast to Mohammed’s teachings as found in the Qur’an, Holy Scriptures as found in the Bible quote Jesus Christ as consistently saying something quite different. While Mohammed said to kill infidels/unbelievers, Jesus, the Messiah brought an entirely different message to the world hundreds of years earlier. In contrast to Mohammed, the man who began Islam, Jesus Christ said:

“Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” (Luke 6:28)

“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (Matthew 5:44)

“…do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” (Matthew 5:39)

“The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

You will be known by your fruitJesus spoke of how you could tell a person’s true nature in life by their actions. He said, “Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions,” (Matthew 7:20). Whether you are a Christian or a Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist, this timeless Truth spoken and lived out by Jesus stands as the standard for what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable in life. You will be known by the fruit you produce. Does what you do in your life produce Life or death? Do your actions show Love to your fellow man or do they advocate violence? Does Islam?

I am continually drawn back to the Biblical definition of what love is. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians about what God’s Love looks like being lived out in the lives of those who profess to know and love God. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 we read in part what God’s love looks like being lived out, and it is in stark contrast to what Mohammed taught. Christians are compelled to love others as themselves, and as Christ loves.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…”

When you study the Bible – the Old Testament and New Testament alike – and every other document in history that relates to or speaks about the true nature of God and His Son Jesus, this Truth of what love is shines all the brighter in a dark and dying and corrupt and violent world. In contrast to the teachings of Mohammed, the Messiah Jesus spoke of loving everyone whether they were followers of Him or not. In contrast to the teachings of Islam, God loves everyone and wants no one not to spend eternity away from His love and goodness. “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9).

Ask yourself this question each time you see violence caused by ‘religion’ in the world or how you or those around you treat others in and around their lives. Does the ‘god’ that you follow after offer hope, forgiveness, and peace, or does what you believe and follow and promote self-centered or hate-filled mandates that are not rooted in the definition of what Love is (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)?

If you are wondering how to have world peace, of how to best live your life out so that people will remember you for something beyond that of you just having lived and died. If you want to combat violence and hate and injustice, consider the idea of loving others instead of hating them because they are different. God loves everyone the same. Why shouldn’t we?

Loving Imperfection

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LOVE….. When you consider all the complexities of the human heart, and of all the things that detract from our ability to find true love, it really is a miracle to find someone that will love us for who we are, and bear up under the reality of our imperfect nature for a life time.  Let’s face it. Loving imperfection is not something that comes naturally. It takes something supernatural to happen in our hearts towards another person.

Be willing to become like that of the individual you most hope to find to be your soul mate.

Be willing to become like that of the individual you most hope to find to be your soul mate.

Sometimes people set their standards so high for what they want in a soulmate that they are even to attain unto their own standards. My suggestion to those frustrated with finding Mr. Right or Miss Right is to be willing to become like the individual you hope most to find in life as a soulmate.

Don’t live a double standard by expecting someone to be more perfect than you are, more together, more on top of their game, in better health or with a better attitude than you are willing to have for yourself. That is hypocrisy in its most perfect sense when it comes to love relationships.

Be willing to become what you most desire in a soulmate and you will find that you can save yourself a lot of time and aggravation in your search. They will find you.

God’s Grace Gift to You

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Men, love your wives a Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.

Encouragement for those of you who are struggling in a relationship right now:

GOD CARES about your heart and the heart of the one you love. He does not want your love to die, but you cannot have the best of everything in your love life without having Him at the center of it. (keep reading… there is hope)

It’s never too late for two people who truly love each other to stop the destructive things they are doing to harm their love relationship, and start doing things that bring life to their relationship. All too often couples speak death and entertain thoughts of death and division when they are wounded or angry or frustrated. They even look elsewhere for intimacy during these times. STOP IT if you are doing this. Repent from it!

When two people are willing to go deep and find the richness that comes from thoughtful and honest communication about what they need, what pains their hearts, and how they feel, God can work in their hearts. When this happens, you will end up with a stronger, more passionate, and more meaningful relationship then ever before. The love you have is worth fighting for so don’t give up on it!

MEN!!!! If you have wounded the heart of the woman in your life through your foolishness, insensitivity or even willful sin – REPENT!  Stop what you are doing that is wounding her heart!!! Stop it! REPENT (turn away from it)!!! Remove anything from your life that is a hindrance in protecting her heart. Nothing is more valuable to you in this life than a woman who has truly given her heart to you – NOTHING!

She is a grace gift to you from God. BUT DO NOT THINK that you can abuse such a gift and not run the risk of losing it forever if you do not change our ways. Rid your life of anything that she feels is damaging your relationship with her and pursue her with your WHOLE heart as if she were the very air that you breath.

WOMEN!!!! You may be the one who is wounding your man’s heart through your insensitivity to his insecurities. You may even be the one who is being unfaithful and breaking the commitment you have made to him after years of frustration in your relationship with him. This is NOT of God. You are in his life to refine him and be God’s instrument of grace to perfect him into the potential man you first saw in him. Don’t jump ship just because you are tired of the journey or frustrated with the situation. Stop!

True love is worth fighting for. If you have a man who if deeply in love with you no matter how big of a jerk he is at times, there is hope. God put you in his life to DE-jerk him. Just remain faithful to the work at hand in helping him reach his full potential as a man and the lover of your soul. YOU will be blessed for it.

When he is a jerk in the things he says or is doing, tell him. COMMUNICATE!!!! Lovingly take him by the hand, look into his eyes, and tell him how he is hurting your heart. Then, be willing to forgive and move forward with what you know is real in your heart towards him – the desire and love that brought you to him in the first place.

YOU must be willing to be true to your love and the grace gift you have been given. Do not open yourself up to anything (any other man’s affections) that could be dangerous to the love you have for the man you have been given who love you so deeply. He is a gift to you.

If you have been unfaithful while you have been apart, stop it. Don’t just admit it, but confess it and repent of it. God’s grace is sufficient and He will heal your relationship if you are willing to let your heart be true to the one you have been given.

MEN AND WOMEN!!! Love conquers all. Love covers a multitude of sin. Love never fails. If you don’t ‘feel’ in love, it’s ok. Act in love and your faith for love will grow, and your feelings will follow close behind. Just don’t give up on love.