Valentine's Day!

Scrumptious cupcake made for CSO's Sweetheart Swing!

This holiday was 20 times more fun when it involved decorating a mailbox and receiving valentines and candy while eating cupcakes in 5th grade. I always looked with anticipation towards this day... a day of wearing pinks and reds, and giggling over that cute boy a few chairs down. (The ones who gave me Harry Potter valentines always stole my heart!)

I still carry a little of that excitement with me. And though I've never had (nor will I ever desire) the routine 'candy-flowers-dinner' trio that has become the norm, this day will always be a little more than a normal day.

So, because I think this day is not about being miserable, but having an excuse to be especially excited about LOVE (GOD!), I leave you to mull this over. It applies whether you are single or taken:

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,

To have a deep soul relationship with another,

To be loved thoroughly and exclusively.

But to a Christian, God says, "No, not until you are satisfied,

Fulfilled and content with being loved by Me alone,

With giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me.

With having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone.

Discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found,

Will you be capable of the perfect human relationship,

That I have planned for you.

You will never be united to another

Until you are united with Me.

Exclusive of anyone or anything else.

Exclusive of any other desires or longings.

I want you to stop planning, to stop wishing, and allow Me to give you

The most thrilling plan existing . . . one you cannot imagine.

I want you to have the best. Please allow Me to bring it to you.

You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things.

Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am.

Keep listening and learning the things that I tell you.

Just wait, that's all. Don't be anxious, don't worry

Don't look around at things others have gotten

Or that I have given them

Don't look around at the things you think you want,

Just keep looking off and away up to Me,

Or you'll miss what I want to show you.

And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love

Far more wonderful than you could dream of.

You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready,

I am working even at this moment

To have both of you ready at the same time.

Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me

And the life I prepared for you,

You won't be able to experience the love that exemplified your relationship with Me.

And this is perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love,

I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me.

And to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly. I AM God.

Believe it and be satisfied.

St. Anthony of Padua

Answering the Call.

FOCUS Conference was incredible. Any words I have to say are going to cheapen the deep and profound impact it had on my heart, but I will try anyway.

Jesus loves me so much. And He loves you. His love is so faithful. In my smallness, I can't even begin to comprehend His greatness. He is calling out to you, desperately chasing after your heart, desiring to be in your presence, desiring to be carried to others through the tabernacle of your very body.

God knew what He was doing when He created you. That struggle you're going through right now, those questions you're asking (and maybe feel guilty about), He knew you would be there... He created you for this very moment. He didn't make a mistake.

He is calling you to be the person He created you to be. He knows you are capable. Even while you stumble there, He waits-- perfectly patient-- for you to walk in to His open arms.

We spend so much time running away from those arms, as if the things we face there will hurt us.

But that is impossible.

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope.When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you, says the LORD, and I will change your lot; I will gather you together from all the nations and all the places to which I have banished you, says the LORD, and bring you back to the place from which I have exiled you."

What a promise that is. What hope we have! Give thanks to the Lord for He is good... His love is everlasting!