Love on a Budget

We all know the stuff and somewhat nonsense behind our modern Valentine’s Day celebrations, but having fun with celebrating the love that makes relationships real is never a negative or a waste.

When our children were young, and until they left home, we had a tradition of giving them each $5 with which they were to buy a small gift of love for every family member. This wasn’t love on a budget, but simply giving within our means. For our family Valentine’s Day dinner, we had five small gifts at our place settings. Every one of us had such fun in the buying, the giving, and the receiving. All around, we shared our love through this activity – just another small, yet special, way to show our love for one another.

Why do we desire to remind one another of our love? I believe it is because we feel so much more able to face the reality of life with the strength of knowing we are loved. My body and mind will still operate without it, but not at it’s best. Like my car when my gas tank is empty…not good (and I bet a lot of you know what it is like to know your car is about to stall because you waited to gas up…) My love tank needs to be consistently topped up. I know I am not the only one with a love tank.

God doesn’t do love on a budget, at all!! He doesn’t wait to fill my tank. I mean, I gave according to my lack of riches, but God? He gives according to the riches of His glory! I was heart blessed with these verses in Ephesians 3:14-19 this week, and simply hoped you could be, too.

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (ESV)

Yes, I pray for you! As I certainly hope you do for me 💖 That you know Christ as your Saviour, that you have faith in His love daily, that the Holy Spirit in you helps you to see the amazingness of His love towards you, and that you are strengthened through it, so that you can share God’s love with others!

Celebrate love, my friends! “Love is of God.” “Love is God.” 1 John 4:7,8

Plant both feet firmly on His love, let Him fill your love tank, and let it flow through you, not just on Valentine’s Day, but each and every day! Not love on a budget, but according to God’s riches!