Christianity, Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Happy Valentine

Happy Valentines Day to all. I found the perfect way to start Valentine’s day from one of my favorite devotionals, “Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotionals”

O love the Lord, all ye saints. (Psalm 31:23)

Blest be Thy love, dear Lord, that taught us this sweet way,
Only to love Thee for Thyself, and for that love obey.
?J. Austin

Secular songs of romantic expressions abound on this day. For the Christian, a hymn about love is also appropriate for Valentine?s Day, and no sweeter expression of one?s love for Christ can be found than these anonymous lines from an early American folk hymn.

For the early Christians, February 14 was a special day. Tradition tells us that a man by the name of Valentine was a Christian doctor who went about doing good deeds wherever he could, in imitation of his Master.
Valentine became a good friend and helper to the Christians, who were being persecuted by the cruel powers of the Roman Empire. It is believed that the good doctor was eventually imprisoned because of his loyalty to his fellow ?followers of the Way.? After he was beheaded on February 14, that day was observed each year in Valentine?s honor by the early Christians.

As time went on, however, Valentine and his deeds of kindness were forgotten. Because February was near the beginning of spring, with its feelings of romance, the day became a secular holiday celebrating romantic love. Tokens of love and affection were given to sweethearts and friends, starting the custom that we still practice today.

Dr. Valentine gave his life for his fellow Christians because of his deep love for Christ. We too can express our love for the Savior with these simply stated yet profound words ? ?but how much I love Thee my actions will show.?

I love Thee, my Savior, I love Thee, my Lord; I love Thee, my Savior, I love Thee, my God: I love Thee, I love Thee, and that Thou dost know; but how much I love Thee my actions will show.
O Jesus my Savior, with Thee I am blest, my life and salvation, my joy and my rest: Thy name be my theme and Thy love be my song; Thy grace shall inspire both my heart and my tongue.
Oh who?s like my Savior? He?s heaven?s bright king; He smiles and He loves me and helps me to sing: I?ll praise Him, I?ll praise Him with notes loud and clear; while rivers of pleasure my spirit shall cheer.

Osbeck, K. W. (1990). Amazing grace : 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions. Includes indexes. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications.

0 comments
• Share
• Share on Twitter

Technology, Monday, February 13, 2006

Back Seat Boredom

Want some tips on caring for kids during those long car rides?

Backseat boredom among children could be a new driver for the worldwide electronics industry. Computer games, I-Spy and MP3 players are among the best products to prevent children from getting board in the back seat of a car, according to a new report. Click Here

the best games for keeping children entertained are: 1. I-Spy; 2. MP3/iPod/music systems; 3. computer game and consoles; 4. car-eoke; 5. built-in car DVD systems; 6. car bingo; 7. the number plate game/TLA (three letter acronyms); 8. I went to the market; 9. consequences; and 10. connections/word association.

 

Christianity, Monday, February 13, 2006

Unloved on Valentine’s Day?

Feeling alone or unloved on Valentine’s day? God has something that can lift your spirit.

From today’s entry in “The Christian’s Secret of a Holy Life”,

My sister has had a glorious experience during her recent illness. She has entered into this life of abiding in Jesus, and is finding that it is a blessed life. She says she has been baptized with the Holy Ghost?that she feels that she never before has known what it is to be buried with Christ and risen with Him to newness of life. She is just overflowing.
Yesterday I had a similar letter from Abby Folwell who has also entered upon the way of holiness. She says that always before this Jesus has been in Heaven and she on earth, and faith has built a bridge between her soul and Him. But now, He is with her, is dwelling in her and it is no more she that lives but Christ that lives in her.
And I, too, know what it is to abide in Christ and to have Him abiding in me! I never did before. I never dreamed there was such a life to be lived before. One with Jesus! Oh how perfectly wonderful it is! All His wisdom and His righteousness and His sanctification are mine now, just as before His redemption was. I have had no wonderful manifestations, such as others seem to have had, but I have Jesus! He is my all and in all, and I am satisfied that He lives in my very soul. I could write all day of Him, of His love, His mercy, His grace, His power. I trust Him & He does save me.
?To Sally, 1866

Smith, H. W., & Dieter, M. E. (1997). The Christian’s secret of a holy life : The unpublished personal writings of Hannah Whitall Smith (February 13). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

What a wonderful joy they experience with Jesus. Everyone who wants this can have it. It may have cost God a lot, but he doesn’t charge you anything.

“The Spirit and the bride say, ?Come!? And let him who hears say, ?Come!? Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17, NIV)

News, Friday, February 10, 2006

Bird Flu reaches Africa

Experts feared the bird flu might reach Africa. This is a prime place for the virus to mutate. There is very little veterinary infrastructure to handle the infection of birds in Africa.

When birds become infected, they need to be killed so that they do not continue to infect other birds. This requires veterinary and other services to manage the bird population. However, Africa is severely lacking in this area. So the virus has more opportunity to mutate and perhaps become capable of transmitting from human to human.

Read the entire article at CNN’s website: Click Here

Family, Friday, February 10, 2006

Happy Valentines Day

Want a happy valentines day? How about every day?

Recent studies show that “altruistic” love, or self-sacrificial love is shown to make married people happier. But in general, people who show altruistic love are generally happier people. For Christian’s, Jesus Christ is the ultimate model of altruistic love. He sacrificed his life for our eternal happiness.

Read the complete article on WebMD: Click Here