Valentines Day!

Today is Valentines Day! A day of love, chocolate, cards, hearts, and pink. If you are married, you'll probably celebrate with cards and maybe a nice dinner out without the kids.  If you're not married but you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend, you will probably get all sappy and make everyone around you gag. But maybe you are one of the millions of single people this year.  All by your lonesome, no one to give chocolate to, no one to write a little poem for. Maybe you're one of the desperate singles who tried way too hard to get a date for Valentines. Or maybe you pretended like you didn't care about Valentines but you'll spend all day today crying because you think you have no one. No matter who you are, Valentines can still be a wonderful day!
Single? Don't stress about it! Your time will come! But you don't have to just skip Valentines this year! Use this day to show family that you care about them! Give a box of chocolate to your siblings. (They don't care how much you spent... It's candy!) Give your parents a card with a note in it telling them that you appreciate them. (That will make their week!) Call your grandparents and let them talk about their bingo friends and their neighbor's cat. Give your friends a hug and some candy. This isn't just a day for couples. Make it fun!
Single or not, you can do these things. But you could also bring this day to a whole new level. A level that once you get up there, is epic. A level that no one else around you will step up to. You can use this day to show your ultimate lover just how much you love him. You see, God wants to be your soul mate. Audio Adrenaline has a song titled "Soulmate."

There is a tremendous lover who would like to share
His wondrous love story with all those who would care
To listen to His still small voice He doesn't like to yell
and if you stop and take a chance I know you'll hear him tell

I...your soul's friend
I...your soul's love
I...your soul's hope
I wanna be your soulmate, your soulmate

He loves you and wants you to love Him. Spend a day talking with Him, letting Him know that you want Him to be your soul mate.

~Michaela

Why?

I know you've asked that question at least once before. Probably at least once today. You've asked it of other human beings. "Why would you do that?" "Why should I trust you?" "Why should I go to the store?" But you've probably asked it more of God.  "Why am I going through this?" "Why can't I feel You here?" Why? Why? Why? We cry in anguish, "Why?" We scream in anger, "Why?"
Why do we do this?  Because we, as humans, need answers and explanations for everything irrational in our lives. We want to see everything in the future. We think, "If I knew why this is happening, I could handle it better." We see things we don't understand, things we can't explain. We see pain, hunger, death, and loneliness in the world around us and we don't understand it. We see problems and we trust that God is able to fix it, but we don't see the results that we want right away. We doubt Him. We get angry and yell "Why?" We want answers that make sense to our finite minds.
Unfortunately for us, God does not act in ways that are humanely logical and reasonable. He uses things that appear to us to be illogical and unreasonable. But in the grand scheme of eternity, they are ingenious and perfect. His answers, His solutions are exactly what are needed for that person, in that circumstance, at that time. He is in control, and He knows what He is doing. He does not require you letting Him know that you don't understand, or that you don't approve. He doesn't need to waste His time explaining to you what He is doing. You simply need to follow His plan and do His will, and He will care for you. You will not want. He will care for you. Simply do as you are told, trusting that no matter the seeming absurdity of His instructions, it will work out for the good of those who love Him.
So next time you are going through a trial in your life that you don't understand, remember that God knows you. He is watching out for you. And He will not leave you. He will never forsake you. Remember. Always remember.
~Michaela