Valentine Musings

Do you remember Valentine's Day in (primary) grade school?  The day held forth the promise of cupcakes and cookies and kool-aid brought in by the Moms.

Decorated brown paper bags that had been painstakingly embellished, were taped to the front of your desk.  Empty bags but open and beckoning, hoping 2 receive paper heart-shaped treasures dropped into them through out the day.  Oh the expectation, anticipation and bated breath!

Who could possibly explain that a  bag full of small white envelopes holding corny, folded valentine's with silly sayings, meant that you were counted in and not on the outside looking in?

How many were painfully aware of the rejects and rebuffs? Not knowing that you were Already CHOSEN.  Already LOVED.  Already desperately desired as aValentine?

This Valentine's Day, I pray that you will embrace the Love that is ALREADY yours!  I pray that you will turn and find your deepest desires not just met but fulfilled beyond all expectations and that you will be overwhelmed and swept away by the Lover of Your Soul. The ONE who knows you better than you know yourself and is as close as your  own skin because that is where HE desires to be, under your skin, in the crevices of your heart and in every area of your life!   

HE was there at each and every Valentine's day from your past, both the happy and the sad ones.  Before you were even born He hummed and sang over you: 

"I am your Valentine, Will you be Mine? Will you supine and your heart let Me entwine?  I will be the song your heart sings, with words and melody that only Heaven brings!  I love you so, more than you know, and I shall lovingly watch you grow. I shall wait for you, wait for you, wait for you My Love! For I died for you, bled for you, rose to give you life anew!  I call to you, and woo you, and draw you to Me, your whole life through.  So come to Me, dine with Me, recline with Me, and let me sing to you!  Laugh with Me, smile with Me, cry tears for Me that others may know My Love that's True, for don't you know I've cried tears for all of you?  Flow with Me, Grow with Me, Then Go for Me, and Show for Me the Love that I gave to you. Reach for Me, Teach for Me, Use the Gifts I've Given to you.  Love's the Key that opens the door, and there is so much more, just waiting for you to explore!  So Come my Valentine, let your heart incline and feast on My Love sublime." Jesus

Loving Kindness

I was talking with my friend and we were discussing Loving Kindness. She actually called to say how much she enjoyed yesterday's post.  And one of her comments just confirmed to me that I was to write a post for today about Loving Kindness!  

Today is her birthday, and I pray that God's 
loving kindness is showered on her all 
day long in tangible, and measurable ways! :-)

Did you know that Loving-kindness is mentioned directly and indirectly by use of the same Hebrew Word 248 times in the Bible? Twenty-seven of those times are found in the Book of Psalms!

David was well acquainted with God's Loving Kindness and loved to extoll the fact that God is Loving and Kind. After all, he had experienced God's loving kindness and mercy in many different situations. 

If you look at the word in Strong's Concordance you will find that it is also used as "Mercy" in other verses like Lamentations 3:22-23  
"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

King Solomon makes an unusual comparison between the righteous man and the unrighteous one's concept of "tender mercy" (ie: compassion) in Proverbs 12:10  A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. This comparison shows that without God, there can be no such thing as loving kindness or tender mercies!

Loving Kindness is from God. He embodies Love in every fashion and expression. It is an intrinsic part of His nature.  Yet, it was impressed upon the hearts of the writers to repeat this over and over, either by way of giving Praise and Honor to God, or by way of reminding us their fellow human beings that God IS good and His thoughts towards us are honorable, loving and kind! (Jeremiah 29:11)  

His Loving Kindness endures for ever!  
Believe it!  Receive it!

Psalm 106:1  Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136:4  To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.   

Mercy is the same word that is used for Loving Kindness elsewhere. It is also translated as: 
goodness, kindness, faithfulness,deeds of devotion(2), devotion(1), devout(1), faithfulness(1), favor(2), good(1), kindly(7), kindness(32), kindnesses(1), loveliness(1), lovingkindness(176), lovingkindnesses(7), loyal deeds(1), loyalty(6),mercies(1), merciful(2), mercy(1), righteousness(1), unchanging love(2). 

Hosea 2:16  And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; [your Husband and Champion] and shalt call me no more Baali. [Master.] {Strong's definition}
Hosea 2:17  For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
Hosea 2:18  And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.
Hosea 2:19  And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
Hosea 2:20  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know {Yada-intimate knowledge by relationship} the LORD. {Strongs 3045}

Do you see by this verse, and all the many references that God has put into the Bible, that He is looking for a Love relationship, built on trust and fidelity? 

He wants to assure us of His intentions!  Loving Kindness, Mercy, Favour, Faithfulness, Unchanging Love...this is a Lover, wooing His Love.  This is One who is Love-sick and so in love with His intended!  This is our Lovely Jesus, drawing us with cords of Kindness and everlasting love and mercy, reaching to where we were and some still are, in degradation, sin, filth, squalor, self righteous rags covering the festering wounds brought about by the sinful world we live in!

With tender loving gentle hands and eyes of compassion, He speaks "Peace" and "Healing."  He wipes away the the stench, and lifts us from the dunghill, he cleanses us with His own Blood and the Water of His Word, and puts on us clothing that befits Royalty;  Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses.

He gazes tenderly at us, and speaking adoringly to us," You are My Beloved. My Eternal Prize Possession and Desire!  I Love you more than you can ever imagine. I Cherish you beyond your comprehension. I have not come to condemn and reproach you, but to release you from the heavy chains and shackles that have weighed you down for so long.  I have come to bring lightness to your step, songs of joy to your heart, new life to be lived in a new way, in the Kingdom that I have Prepared and have longed to share with you! 

Will you Trust Me?  Will you let Me into those hurt places, those dark places, those places that you shield so fiercely, to avoid being discovered and exposed?  I know they are there.  Try as you might, you cannot hide those broken areas from My gaze.  But will you allow Me to undress you and be exposed to the healing rays of My Love?  For unless you will allow Me, I shall be forever relegated outside the door, to continue knocking and asking for entrance into those private, shameful, distressful areas that you are so afraid of anyone ever seeing.
  
But I do not look with the same kind of eyes that men look with.  I look with Eternal Eyes, that see through the portals of time to where you will be, when you come to Me and let Me set you free.  I see the beauty hidden deep within, beneath all the layers of pain and sin. Living in this world brings sting and stain, but I have come to give you Life again!  I know your faults and failings better than you, and I have pledged to see you through... to completion in Me. Complete and Restored and Celebrated in Me! Fully Free! Living Life Abundantly! 
For there is an abundance of My Grace for thee.

So, now come! Take My hand. 
Do not be shy- look me in the eye. 
Listen not to the enemy's lies.  
Let all those things melt away, 
underneath the gaze of My Loving Eyes.

What will you answer?  What will you say? 

Will you close the door and run away? 

Or will you be brave and let Me in, 

to pierce the darkness and route the sin?

Love is calling, and kindness too.  

My tender mercies are waiting for you..."

Your Lovingkindness
Psa 86:5; 63:3; 130:6
Lord You are good to me,
Ready to forgive
Abundant in mercy,
To those who call upon You.
(Chorus)
Lord Your lovingkindness is better than life, (2x)
(Bridge)
As the watchman waits for the morning,
My soul waits for You. (2x)

Another Version about God's Loving Kindness:

Thy Loving Kindness

          C                       G7
 Thy loving kindness is better than life
                                   C
 Thy loving kindness is better than life
                          C7            F
 My lips shall praise Thee, Thus will I bless Thee
         C         G7             C
 I will lift up my hands unto Thy Name

           C                 G7
 I lift my hands up unto Thy Name
                             C
 I lift my hands up unto Thy Name
                          C7            F
 My lips shall praise Thee, Thus will I bless Thee
         C         G7             C
 I will lift up my hands unto Thy Name

© 1962 Singspiriation Music
Words and Music by Hugh Mitchell

References: for loving kindness:
 
References: for loving kindness: 

http://lexiconcordance.com/hebrew/2617.html

AV - mercy 149, kindness 40, lovingkindness 30, goodness 12, kindly 5,

merciful 4, favour 3, good 1, goodliness 1, pity 1, reproach 1,  wicked thing 1; 248

favour  Esther 2:17. Job 10:12. Daniel 1:9.

good   Nehemiah 13:14.

goodliness  Isaiah 40:6.

goodness   Exodus 34:6. 2 Chronicles 32:32; 35:26. Psalms 33:5; 52:1; 107:8, 15, 21, 31; 144:2. Proverbs 20:6. Hosea 6:4.

kindly  Genesis 24:49; 47:29. Joshua 2:14. Ruth 1:8. 1 Samuel 20:8.

kindness  Genesis 20:13; 21:23; 24:12, 14; 40:14. Joshua 2:12, 12. Judges 8:35. Ruth 2:20; 3:10. 1 Samuel 15:6; 20:14, 15. 2 Samuel 2:5, 6; 3:8; 9:1, 3, 7; 10:2, 2; 16:17. 1 Kings 2:7; 3:6. 1 Chronicles 19:2, 2. 2 Chronicles 24:22. Nehemiah 9:17. Esther 2:9. Psalms 31:21; 117:2; 119:76; 141:5. Proverbs 19:22; 31:26. Isaiah 54:8, 10. Jeremiah 2:2. Joel 2:13. Jonah 4:2.

lovingkindness   Psalms 17:7; 26:3; 36:7, 10; 40:10, 11; 42:8; 48:9; 51:1; 63:3; 69:16; 88:11; 89:33; 92:2; 103:4; 107:43; 119:88, 149, 159; 138:2; 143:8. Jeremiah 9:24; 16:5; 31:3; 32:18. Hosea 2:19.

lovingkindnesses  Psalms 25:6; 89:49. Isaiah 63:7, 7.

mercies   Genesis 32:10. 2 Chronicles 6:42. Psalms 89:1; 106:7, 45; 119:41. Isaiah 55:3. Lamentations 3:22, 32.

mercies'   Psalms 6:4; 31:16; 44:26.

merciful   1 Kings 20:31. Psalms 117:2. Proverbs 11:17. Isaiah 57:1.

mercy  Genesis 19:19; 24:27; 39:21. Exodus 15:13; 20:6; 34:7. Numbers 14:18, 19. Deuteronomy 5:10; 7:9, 12. Judges 1:24. 2 Samuel 7:15; 15:20; 22:51. 1 Kings 3:6; 8:23. 1 Chronicles 16:34, 41; 17:13. 2 Chronicles 1:8; 5:13; 6:14; 7:3, 6; 20:21. Ezra 3:11; 7:28; 9:9. Nehemiah 1:5; 9:32; 13:22. Job 37:13. Psalms 5:7; 13:5; 18:50; 21:7; 23:6; 25:7, 10; 31:7; 32:10; 33:18, 22; 36:5; 52:8; 57:3, 10; 59:10, 16, 17; 61:7; 62:12; 66:20; 69:13; 77:8; 85:7, 10; 86:5, 13, 15; 89:2, 14, 24, 28; 90:14; 94:18; 98:3; 100:5; 101:1; 103:8, 11, 17; 106:1; 107:1; 108:4; 109:12, 16, 21, 26; 115:1; 118:1, 2, 3, 4, 29; 119:64, 124; 130:7; 136:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26; 138:8; 143:12; 145:8; 147:11. Proverbs 3:3; 14:22; 16:6; 20:28, 28; 21:21. Isaiah 16:5. Jeremiah 33:11. Daniel 9:4. Hosea 4:1; 6:6; 10:12; 12:6. Jonah 2:8. Micah 6:8; 7:18, 20. 

Zechariah 7:9.

pity  Job 6:14.

reproach  Proverbs 14:34.

thing Leviticus 20:17.

—Exhaustive Concordance (KJV Translation Frequency & Location)

Bible Dictionary Strong's Concordance H2616

Ripe for the Picking

Song of Solomon 2:15

(AMP) [My heart was touched and I fervently sang to him my desire] Take for us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards [of our love], for our vineyards are in blossom. 

(MSG)Then you must protect me from the foxes, foxes on the prowl, Foxes who would like nothing better than to get into our flowering garden. 

Ripe for the picking” is a decidedly American colloquialism although there may be corresponding phrases in other cultures and languages.  It is the language of flim-flam men and con artists.  It signifies that they have pinpointed someone that they feel is vulnerable and naïve, therefore an easy target for a scam! Not a nice scenario at all.  But, in gardening, it means that the fruit or vegetable is ripe, fully mature and ready now to be harvested.  
  
But there is a spiritual as well as a natural application here. In the natural, there is a couple of critical junctures or times during the growing season, when the crop is most vulnerable.  The first being when the first blade of the seed presses through the soil into the light.  The roots are not yet deep and the whole plant is extremely fragile. It must be protected.

The other time is when it is flowering.  This is when pollination takes place and the fruit (or vegetable) is being set.  If the blossoms are destroyed, or the branches during this point there will be no fruit that year.

In Song of Solomon, the maiden is imploring her love, to protect their flowering garden from the little foxes so that it won’t be spoiled.  This is at once both practical and spiritual – an allegory if you will. 

The little foxes are actual foxes that live in Israel. They are smaller in size than the American Red Fox.  Probably a little know fact about foxes is that they are omnivorous, and opportunistic hunters. That means that although they like meat, such as moles, voles, grasshoppers and crickets, as well as small mammals and birds, they will eat seeds, nuts, berries and fruit!  They will even pilfer food from garbage cans! 

So, the maiden is concerned about their vineyards, with good reason!  Chasing voles and moles which burrow into the ground, and trying to dig them up in a vineyard will not only disturb the flowers, but destroy the roots of the vines, possibly killing the entire plant. The little known fact, I spoke of, is that foxes have a sweet tooth! They love honey, strawberries and grapes! The older foxes can adeptly pluck the grapes from the vine, but the younger ones actually would tear out the entire vine, thus destroying future crops as well.  No wonder she was concerned about the vineyard being ravaged by these little foxes!

In the natural and spiritual, you have some harvest that is ripe for the picking!  You have planted seed, you have watered it with your prayers and you have spoken words of Faith.  You have applied yourself at your job, you have studied hard in school… There IS a harvest from your labors. But, beware of the little foxes that want to spoil your vines. 

The word spoil in the Hebrew means this: to destroy, spoil, deal corruptly, offend, to spoil, corrupt, offend, to be ruined, to be broken, to pervert, withhold.

What are these little foxes that come into our lives, to steal our fruit, and destroy our harvest?  I will point out some to you, and I suggest that you seek God to have Him reveal your specific ones!  Little foxes in the Spiritual are petty annoyances, grievances, and offenses that come to try to cause you by your own actions to undo the works of Faith that you have been standing in. These actions include speaking negatively, losing one’s temper, being snared in unforgiveness and bitterness, or being tempted to act corruptly to get dishonest gain or advantage.  Other little foxes are distractions, false responsibilities that cry out that you should take them on, and busyness that keeps you from spending quality time with Your Beloved and King- the Lover of your soul.

Song 8:6-7 (MSG)  Hang my locket around your neck, wear my ring on your finger. Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing-- it sweeps everything before it. Flood waters can't drown love, torrents of rain can't put it out. Love can't be bought, love can't be sold-- it's not to be found in the marketplace.

Guard your Love Walk in the Lord against the little foxes! Remember the Fruit of the Spirit! Keep an eye on your harvest!  Whatsoever a man sows that he will also reap. Gal. 6:7 If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated. Luke 6:38

The enemy has sent little foxes to you.  He also wants to sow tares into your field.  He wants to discourage you and pull you off track.  Don’t let yourself become “ripe for the picking” by the enemy. In due season you WILL reap, if you faint not. So be strong, be alert, keep your armor on, and walk in Love so your Faith will keep on working. This is a now word for you.