A Divine Valentine

A Valentine might sing you a love song, but God sings the greatest love song in the universe.
"The Lord your God...will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing." ~Zephaniah 3:17

A Valentine might give you a rose, but God gave the most beautiful rose - Jesus.
"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." ~Song of Solomon 2:1

A Valentine might take you out to dinner, but God has invited you to the most amazing feast ever given.
"Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb." ~Revelation 19:9

A Valentine may bring you chocolate, but God gives something sweeter, His Word.
"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth." ~Psalm 119:103

A Valentine may be far away, but God is always with you.
"I am with you always." ~Matthew 28:20

A Valentine might give you something, but God has given you everything.
"God...gives us richly all things to enjoy." ~1 Timothy 6:17

A Valentine may love you for a lifetime, but God loved you before you were born, and will love you for all eternity!
"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love...with lovingkindness I have drawn you."
~Jeremiah 31:3


Taken from an e-card from Dayspring. All Scripture is NKJV.

Black Friday

Wow. I tell you what, wow. I have never seen lines so long in my life! Well, except at Disney World. I spent Thanksgiving with Jenni Simpkins and her family in Indiana, and, while dining on the most incredible baked beans I have ever had in my life, we made plans to visit certain stores at ungodly hours of the morning.

That was before Jenni found out that Edinburgh Outlet Mall opened all its stores at midnight. So, we took about an hour and half nap then it was off to the Outlet Mall. As we approached the mall, we could see a long line of red taillights snaking off the exit ramp (Jenni's mom said it was backed up for 3 miles on the highway!). We took pictures and laughed.

The parking lot was so full that we parked at McDonald's. At this point we were both seriously wanting breakfast food, but (grr) they "weren't serving breakfast yet." So, two double cheeseburgers, a diet Coke, and an ice water later, we set off across the frozen expanse of a parking lot. Note to self: Don't move to the tundra.

To sum up the Outlet Mall--lots of stores, tons of people, lines that stretched to the next county, and so-so deals. However, I got in a lot of walking and talking with Jenni.

Next, we moved on to JCPenny's. They had a really good deal on a luggage set (that I desperately needed), and Jenni saw some things she liked, so we got to the store at 3:30 for their 5 AM opening time. By this time, we had recharged on a couple of cappuccinos. So there we sat in her Cavalier, slurpping down lukewarm pseudo-coffees before 4 in the morning. Once again I had to ask myself, What in the world am I doing?

4:25 rolled around and we disengaged ourselves from the warm haven that was Jenni's car and sprinted in Icelandic temperatures (okay, so it may have only been in the 20's, but I live in Florida!!) to the door. 36 minutes later, I had secured my red 5-piece luggage set. Success!

After our rather full morning of shopping (all before six AM), we crashed into our beds again to dream of $$ saved and empty checking accounts.

And they're off!

One of the coolest songs I ever sung in choir was "Camptown Races" by Stephen Foster (yes, I went to a Christian high school, and no we didn't sing it in religious services).
"Camptown ladies sing this song...Doo-dah, Doo-dah..."
So, anyone who doesn't know, "Camptown Races" is about--*gasp*--horse racing. But, I said all that to say this....

I'M AN OFFICIAL BLOGGER!! Or as Isaac Owens would say, a "blimmer."