Prepare Your Heart For Valentine's Day

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lays down his or her life for someone else." -Jesus

Human relationships need a lot of sowing, watering and cultivating. Don't expect magic on Valentine's Day if you have not prepared the soil. Jesus said that our hearts are like soil, and what we plant won't grow unless the soil is well prepared and the conditions are right. In interpersonal relationships, two hearts have to be prepared if Valentine's Day is going to be a success. We still have a few days before Valentine's Day, so let's get started with heart preparations, now. First, work on your own heart, then give full attention to the heart of the one with which you want to impress, win, or renew a deeper relationship.

Here are 14 aspects about the heart you need to develop:

1. An honest heart. Tell yourself the truth about where things are right now. You have to know the truth before you can do something about it.

2. An open heart. Are you open to the truth? Are you open to change? Are you open to input from God and others?

3. A praying heart. If you are not praying for the one you love, you will never have the kind of relationship that will satisfy and grow.

4. A sweet heart. Have you rid yourself of all bitterness and anger? Are you getting bitter or better in your attitude toward your sweetheart (and those you love)?

5. A tender heart. Have you completely forgiven your mate of everything? Does it show that you really care?

6. A single heart. Do you seek to please your beloved one alone, or are there rivals in your heart?

7. A devoted heart. Are you willing to give yourself unreservedly to your sweetheart? What is your level of commitment?

8. A soft heart. Like a tender heart, except willing to overlook future mistakes, letting nothing irritate you. Are you pliable enough to fit their expectations and not your own?

9. A kind heart. Are you willing to do whatever it takes to make your sweetheart happy? Will you express how much you care?

10. A pliable heart. Can you change to meet the needs that you have been unwilling to meet? Are you flexible?

11. A teachable heart. Can you learn? Can you grow in understanding of your sweetheart? Can you change to meet their expectations?

12. A touchable heart. Do your sweetheart's tears get to you and change your heart?

13. A humble heart. Can you take criticism without barking back? Do you humble yourself to serve your sweetheart?

14. A good heart. We are never good enough to earn God's favor, but we have to learn to want to do the right thing for the one we love.

Put them all together and you can develop a LOVING HEART. To say, "I love you" to a person means that we are willing to actually make changes to your old heart and begin to love more like God loves us. You have your work cut out for you from now to Valentine's Day! Don't think that a last-minute Valentine's Card will do. Start repairing broken bridges today. Develop a heart for God and for your sweetheart that will win the day and give your loved one the Happiest Valentine's Day ever.

Lord, create in us a clean heart. Create in us a better heart than we have ever had. We know that You are the source of all love. Pour into us that love so that we might be better at loving You and others. We don't want to wait to grow in the most wonderful trait ever given in heaven and earth.... Your marvelous love. In Jesus' name. Amen!

Learning to lean on the Lord for more love,

Pastor Ken Mettler

Faith Fellowship Church, Luck, WI

This week:

Sunday at 10 AM worship service @ Faith Fellowship in Luck - message: Dealing with Pride

~~~~

The purpose of life is not happiness, but glorifying God. Happiness is a byproduct. When you don't seek it, you get it.

“When we are securely rooted in personal intimacy with the source of life, it will be possible to remain flexible without being relativistic, convinced without being rigid, willing to confront without being offensive, gentle and forgiving without being soft, and true witnesses without being manipulative.”

― Henri J.M. Nouwen

Another good idea is to call 715-483-9202 for a singing valentine this week.

Weekly Schedule @ Faith Fellowship:

Wed. at 7 PM is prayer meeting / Fri. at 7 PM is prayer for the nation

Sat. at 7 AM is Men’s Bible & Breakfast  

Sun. 9 AM is Sunday School / 10 AM is Worship 

Faith Fellowship -Our Forever Family, 2597 State Hwy 35, Luck, WI

Ken Mettler, Pastor (715) 475-7666

Sponges, Christian Testimony

There are 5 sponges laying on your kitchen counter top. Each member of your family has been cleaning up different areas of your home, but all the sponges look the same. You are curious as to what was cleaned in your home, but you can't tell by looking...they all look the same...so what do you do?

You squeeze each sponge to see what comes out.

As you squeeze the first sponge, you see that cola comes out, and so you decide that someone cleaned the kitchen with that one. Upon squeezing the second sponge, you find tub and tile cleaner - that one was used to clean the bathroom. Next, in the third sponge, you find motor oil - hubby was cleaning the garage! In the fourth sponge, baby powder puffs out when it is squeezed - yep, the baby's nursery was done with that one! And finally, in the last one, is floor wax - that was the one you used on the hall floor!

As you lay the last one down, you look again at their similarity - and they all look the same until they're squeezed. Christians are the same way.

As life squeezes us, different things come out; anger from one, a need for revenge from another, tears from one, remorse from yet another - also greed, untruth, lust - and finally, from one saint, pours forth the love of Christ.

Just like the sponge, we can only squeeze out what is put in - stay in the Word daily, and be in continuous prayer, so that when life puts the squeeze on you (and it WILL), Jesus, and Jesus ALONE will shine forth from you!

Have a blessed, squeaky clean day!