LOVE
Sunshine for the Valentine's Day Blues
By Stacie Ruth Stoelting
Guest Columnist
CBN.com –
Feel sick (or sick of) this Valentine’s Day? Do you have the Valentine’s Day Blues? Singles get it. But so do married people. The day catalyzes many emotions into a full-blown case of the blues.
One of my least favorite Valentine's Days occurred a few years ago: As a single, I felt sick –physically sick- from an infection. Yes, I had to go to a doctor on Valentine's Day.
Believe it or not, I wound up having fun with the nurses that day. Why? In spite of feeling physically sick, I asked Jesus to give me love, joy, and purpose for the day. He did. Impossible, you say? Hey, nothing’s impossible with God.
So do you miss having a Valentine? Did yours die? Or did he/she leave you brokenhearted? Meet Jesus. He heals hearts. Read it and believe it: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [curing their pains and their sorrows]”(Ps. 147:3, AMP).
Face the facts and embrace the face of Christ. Even if you had the most charming husband/wife in the world, you’d still be unhappy. Why? Unhappy singles wind up as unhappy spouses. If singles derive their meaning and love from Jesus, they translate this into married life, too.
Singles, let Jesus multiply your options. Single out Jesus and make Him your first priority. He has a way of bringing the best at the right time, in the right way.
God always keeps His Words of love. He said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love…”
Loving words must be backed up by actions. Many unsuitable suitors exist. But some of the loveliest talkers suffer from spiritual paralysis. Loving words from an unloving heart is like music coming from an obnoxious singer.
Have you ever met a singer with a beautiful voice yet an ugly heart? As a Christian recording artist, I seem to wear a sticker that says, “Do you sing?” I have certainly met wonderful singers. But I’ve also encountered a few kooks. One stands out in my memory. The singer felt so confident that the person actually pulled out a CD player in a public parking lot and belted out a clamorous number! (For once, I was speechless.) Another time, a person sang a composition spontaneously to my sister and me...while in a Panera Bread.
Seriously, the fact remains: God desires loving hearts -not noisy big heads. Love remains the main thing for our Heavenly King. "IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."
Notice how it said "inspired by God's love for and in us"? We cannot truly love without first believing and receiving God's love in our hearts.
Have you asked Jesus in your heart? He's infinitely better than any Valentine! He loves you more than any Valentine card could ever express! Let's pray and tell Him we love Him. (Click here to get a new life with Jesus.)
Now, here are some tips to overcome the “Valentine’s Day Blues” with some shining love!
- Think of three platonic, same-gender pals lonelier than yourself. Call them.
- If time is of the essence, send mp3 gift songs (or entire albums!) of your favorite Christian recording artist.
- Memorize and share sweet verses of God’s Word about true love. And text them to your friends.
- Sign up for prayer as you wait! (My prayer group of +2300 weekly prays for singles waiting for spouses. Let us pray for you! We pray for people on first name basis only. Join us at www.PrayingPals.org. We also pray for all kinds of prayer requests…not just those of waiting singles.)
- Write a Valentine to Jesus. (I know it sounds unrealistic. But it’s not. It’s absolutely essential for marrieds and unmarrieds to do this sort of thing for our Heavenly King. I’m not kidding!)
- Visit a widow/widower in a nursing home.
- Remember to say, “I love you, Jesus.”
Jesus never leaves. He never dies. He never harms. Run to Jesus and enjoy His loving arms! He fulfills Isaiah 40:11 (NIV): "He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart." As you savor the arms of your Savior, perhaps you'd like to pray with my poem:
Jesus, be my Valentine.
Heal this hurting heart of mine.
Grant me love for Thee and Thine.
Jesus, be my Valentine.
The great thing is that He says, “Be Mine.” “And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure)…”(Malachi 3:17, AMP).
 Going thru a rough time? Join Stacie Ruth’s prayer group at www.PrayingPals.org. After Stacie Ruth met Jesus, her life blossomed with true joy and purpose! Life’s blows hurt her, but Jesus heals and strengthens her. Now an author, actress, and recording artist, she laughs at the irony and praises God, who uses unlikely people...like herself. Discover why she wrote a book at age 15, sang for the 43rd President, been pictured in major media (i.e. The New York Times, USA Today), and keynoted conferences since she was a teenager. To watch video clips, worship Jesus with music from her album, or get in touch with her ministry for women, visit www.brightlightministries.com.
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