Happy Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's day! It's just a special day to remember to tell people that you love them. We always get the kids a special valentine and some candy (like my parents always did with us) and we normally exchange cards---so you see it's not really about doing anything fancy. Romance is definately wonderful and knowing someone took time to think about you in a special way means a lot...but spending a lot of money and buying over the top gifts are not what it's all about. I know that there are people who are all into the extravegance---and that's okay if they still have the sentiment behind it. Would they be as happy if they had just gotten a homemade card and a passionate embrace? I'm gonna go somewhere with this today that might make some very uncomfortable. That's okay--it's what's on my mind.
Greed and envy are two sins that I think are VERY overlooked in our society because we are such a "keepin' up with the Jones's" kind of people. We ooh and ahh over women's diamonds...we are impressed with grandeous gifts of love...we see something special in a store and just "have to have it!" I am guilty of this as well. In the past I've wondered---what would life be like if we hadn't gone into full time ministry and had kept our high paying jobs? But those times are few and fleeting because the rewards and blessings we've recieved since entering ministry and being obedient have been far greater than any that money could buy.

Greed....n. An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs, especially with respect to material wealth I think we can even take excessive out if we are talking biblical. More than what we need. If you put it in those terms we are all greedy. And in this country we are. The cars we drive, the homes we furnish, the clothes we wear, the restaurants we eat at. Not need. Need? Is it wrong to make enough money to afford nice things? I don't necessarily think that is true. But if you aren't tithing and are feeling the DESIRE to have something just because you feel you deserve it or simply must have it...that's sinful. Indulgence. Gluttony. Greed. The love of money is evil.

Envy...A feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another. As you can see by this definition....possessions or qualities. So that means someone's gifts and talents as well as what they own or have. Know that a synonym for envy is COVET. As in You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.' Remember that one?

Be content. In all and every situation. Keep your head in the heavenly realms and you won't be swayed by earthly desires. Your body and mind will follow.

Today bask in the beauty that is your life. And thank God for what you have as well as what you don't.