"For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:5

I LOVE Valentine's Day. Sometimes when I tell people this, they give me a strange look and I feel somewhat like a little girl who just told someone they are going to be a princess when they grow up. "That's nice." I picture them saying while patting her on the head. I'm sure people find it odd that I get so excited about it, because I've never received a "romantic" Valentine in my life. I've never even really had a date. But for some reason, when the month of February comes around and all the decorations and candy and teddy bears start lining the shelves, I still jump up and down inside (and sometimes outside) when I see that Valentine's Day is coming. I told one of my friends once, I think I've figured out part of the reason for this. Valentine's Day is a vivid splash of color in the midst of a long stretch of grey winter that can leave me feeling rather grey myself some days.

This Valentine's Day, I stopped before running ahead with work for the day to take a look outside at the beautiful Valentine God sent. The ground is covered in a blanket of white, sparkling snow, and as the sun peeked over the trees, it made the snow light up with beautiful shades of pink and gold. Under my window there is a bright red cardinal, hopping around looking for food in the snow. As I sat down to this picture, a song came to mind. I hope it adds a splash of color to your soul this Valentine's Day, as it did for me.

"O Worship the King, O glorious above

And gratefully sing His wonderful love;

Our shield and Defender the Ancient of Days,

Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail;

In thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail.

Thy mercies how tender how firm to the end,

Our maker, Defender, Redeemer and friend."

Thank you Father that your love never fails, and You are our perfect Valentine. Even though this life is usually not a bed of roses, thank you for the gifts you send every day that touch our heart. May you open our eyes to see them today, and remind us of your unfailing love. Thank You Father, may we learn to love You with all our hearts, souls and minds.

Have you ever sensed you were exactly where God wanted you to be? Right smack in the middle of his will? Normally when I envision being where God wants me, I picture myself "ministering" to people and being "effective." I picture measurable change in others and myself. So what's wrong with this picture? First, there's way too much "I" and "me" smeared all over that picture. It makes things a little blurry. The second thing wrong with this picture is: it's not necessarily realistic. Of course, there are those times we can see growth in leaps and bounds, both in ourselves and others. Yes, there are times we feel like we have front row seats at the parting of a Red Sea in our own lives. But there are also plenty of times I fail to see anything good or constructive results in my situation. I don't necessarily doubt that God is working. Mostly I feel disappointed with myself. I feel like I have failed, and something must be wrong with me.




In fact, something IS wrong with me. Something has been wrong with me since the day I was born. It's called sin. But wait a minute, didn't God take care of that at the cross? Absolutely. "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14. Although sin still rears it's ugly head, sometimes on a daily basis, God has provided a way to deal with it: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. Why does he do that? "If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins..." 1 John 2:1. Because I am now God's child, I know God looks at me through Jesus, who made the way for me to enter God's family.


As I recognize, with extreme gratitude, these truths about who I am, there still remains a question in my mind. If I am doing my best to walk with God one step at a time in my daily life, recognizing and turning away from my sin when I become aware of it, will I always see results? Should I always be able to recognize and feel God working through me? If I don't, does that mean I'm not where God wants me to be?


Last week my mind was wandering as I sat in a group of people. (It does this far too often I'm afraid.) I was wandering through the tangled web of my own thoughts. I felt tired, emotionally and physically, and I wondered if I would ever move on and be "normal." I'd been slowly working through some grief issues over the past few months, feeling at times as if I was slowing the process down. I honestly don't remember now what we were talking about that night, but as I sat there staring at my Bible on the floor and working through my thoughts, I sensed God's gentle and quiet whisper. "Kara, I have you exactly where I want you." This statement took me by surprise. I thought of all the prayers I pray to get beyond certain situations, for the pain to go away, to be used by God. You mean, God's will isn't just something I hit every once in a while when my aim is just right? I determined that night to look into the statement more. Before I could, however, God made a point to bring the answer to me, both from His word and from crash courses.


"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21


"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9.


"The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." Proverbs 16:33.


"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." John 14:1


"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory."

Psalm 73: 23-24


Kevin remarked in Bible Study a few weeks ago that this was a hard passage to swallow. I understood what he was saying at the time, but I understood it from experience this week.


Concerning his "thorn in the flesh" Paul says: "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.


Even when we find ourselves in situations where all we can see is our weaknesses, our failures, and our UN qualifications, God is still working out His plan in our lives. Being in the center of God's will has very little to do with me, and everything to do with God.


I have you exactly where I want you, and My grace is sufficient for you.


Father, it's easy for me to forget these truths. When I find myself in a disturbing or difficult situation, help me listen carefully to hear you whisper, "I have you exactly where I want you." This is an amazing truth Lord. Your purposes will be accomplished no matter how much I mess up. Thank you that You allow me to be on Your side. Thank you that Your hands are big enough to hold me, and the rest of the world.


Photo courtesy of my brilliant photographer brother Ben. :) Thanks Ben! http://www.flickr.com/photos/minkypaw/