Enough Love to Go Around - Andrea Merrell

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
I Corinthians 13:13 NIV

My hands flew to my mouth, my breath caught in my throat, and tears sprang to my eyes. Standing in a little gift shop in Dillsboro, North Carolina, I was staring at a plaque that read, “I never knew how much love my heart could hold until somebody called me Grandma.” If you have grandchildren, I’m sure you will agree that a truer statement has never been made.

Love is a funny thing. It has to be given away in order to grow and multiply. Just like God gives us the measure of faith, He pours His very own love into our hearts and it’s up to us what we do with both—invest and get a return, or horde and become stagnant.

Many parents (and grandparents) worry while awaiting the birth of a second, third, or fourth child. They fear they can never love another child as much as they love the first. The truth is, when we finally see the next baby face-to-face and hold that tiny bundle in our arms, our hearts begin to overflow with love and we cannot imagine life without this new little person. Love just keeps on growing and spilling over.

Sometimes we can be selfish with what God gives us. We carefully pick and choose who to pour our love into. We act like there’s only so much love to go around and we need to ration it and strategically decide how to use it. That’s never God’s plan. Agape love (the love of God or the God-kind-of-love) values everyone as valuable and precious. It puts others first and is always giving. When we allow God to take up residence in us, that’s the kind of love He brings with Him—in abundance. We can keep it packed away, saving it for a “rainy day,” or we can draw from it moment-by-moment and live a life of peace, contentment and unspeakable joy.

The song says, “Love makes the world go ‘round.” The Bible says there is faith, hope and love, but the greatest, by far, is love. You may not think you have much to give, but you always have love. The more you give, the more you get back . . . and then some.

For God so loved that He gave . . .

So, what does He expect from us? Love extravagantly. Receive love gratefully. Love is what life is all about.

Love never fails. Try it—you won’t be disappointed.

Happy Valentine’s Day!



Andrea Merrell is a freelance writer and editor with a passion to help others see God’s Word as practical and relevant for ordinary, everyday life. She has written material for ladies’ groups, marriage retreats, skits, websites, and brochures, and is currently working on three novels and countless devotions. Andrea is a staff writer and copy editor for www.ChristianDevotions.us and www.DevoKids.com, and lives in South Carolina with her husband (and best friend), Charlie. Visit her website at www.andreamerrell.com. Read Andrea's devotions.

Three Dots ... Three Days - Lisa Keck

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 (NIV)

In Braille code one to six dots are used to represent letters, punctuation, words, or to change a word. When the letter C stands alone it becomes the word can. But if you put dots 4-5-6 before the C it becomes the word cannot. Those three little dots wield much power, changing a positive into a negative.

What else has such power—three days. Over 2000 years ago, three days changed the course of human history. Jesus died, spent some time in a borrowed tomb and rose again, conquering death. He also conquered the devil changing what he can do, into what he cannot do in the life of the believer. For those who are in Christ, Satan no longer has the power to condemn. We are sinners saved by grace. Now that’s not an invitation to sin but an understanding that fallen man needs a covering.

The devil can no longer use shame to make us feel guilty for our wrong doing. The bumper sticker fades but the message remains: Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven. So the next time someone tries to make you feel unworthy of Christ’s love, just remember, He chose to die for you.

Unfortunately, Satan hasn’t read the memo. He’s still going to try to condemn and control. When you stand firm in Christ’s power Satan cannot control you. It’s a message that’s hard to apply.

Our lives seem so out of control but we can give that control over to God. When we allow Him to reign, rust corrodes Satan’s tool box, filled with big and small things designed to turn us away from God. But rust doesn’t deter him from trying to wield the sledgehammer of alcohol and drugs. Rust doesn’t stop him from reaching for the drill of distraction or any of the other tools.

Satan can try to use his tools but he cannot succeed when I am in Christ. When I pray, I never forget to thank Him for Calvary. Those three days changed my history. And now, it’s the first of blessing I count.

How will you let those three days change you?

Lisa Keck is a happily married mother of two. She home-schools her children and is a volunteer Braille transcriber. In her free time she enjoys writing and doing crafts.

Wedding Day - Terri Kelly

"I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10

“You have to see these wedding pictures.” My sister crowed after recently attending a friend’s wedding.

Weddings are a big deal, aren’t they? The music, the flowers, the dress--not to mention the bride and the groom-- all need to meet certain specifications and expectations.
The words have to be right, the promises have to be kept, and the wedding beautiful and edible. Pressure.

The preparations for food, for clothes, for guests are downright tedious and eat away at your pocketbook. Thank goodness I’m not in the middle of wedding plans for my children yet. Thank-you, Lord. Oh and while I’m praising you, will you please prepare their future mates? Thank-you, again, Lord.

I wonder. What is the best part of a wedding ceremony? Without doubt, other than wedding cake, the best part of a ceremony is the moment the groom sees his bride. No, the best part is the wedding kiss. No—that’s always too long. The best part is the exchange of wedding vows—yes.

“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'till death do us part.”

If you’ve neglected the daily ceremony of dressing as God’s betrothed, start over and walk down the aisle of faith, allowing Him to lead each day. Where are you in your relationship to Christ— just engaged, honeymoon period, seven-year-itch, silver or golden years, or uncommitted? Jesus wants to be your lifelong partner. Clothe yourself in His salvation.

Prepare for your vow: Something old: read the Old Testament Something new: read the New Testament Something borrowed: wisdom from Godly mentors Something blue: A reminder of your vow—a blue bookmark, a blue Bible cover. Be creative.

As you unite your life with Christ, for better or for worse, beware of the uninvited guest who gobbles up the cake and contract. His specialty, the devil’s-food-contract, should not be served or eaten on any occasion.

Cherish the love that is given you. Delight in the Lord and His blessing of the perfect mate.


Terri Kelly is blessed with a daughter and son and calls North Carolina home, with her husband, Allan. Allan and Terri work in their extra time on their business, http://www.davincisplayground.org/, which is currently undergoing a transformation. Terri Kelly is a wife, the mother of two gifts from God, and a teacher with a Master of Arts, Terri write tips for teachers, mothers, and women at her blog: www.davincisclassroom.wordpress.com She believes she’s encountered enough mama dramas to write for decades and is currently working on a children’s book.