Valentines Day Special: Part Two

Valentine's Day is supposed to be a day where we celebrate the love in our life. Unfortunately it can also be a horrible day for those without the One in their lives. What would you say to me if I told you that everyone has the opportunity to be loved by the One everyday? It's true. It can happen. First, I want to talk about the five Greek words for love and then we will talk about the One.


When I think about the FOUR Greek words used to explain love I realize just how limited the English language can be. The Greek language uses the four different words at its disposal to explain the difference between the love you feel for your husband and the love you feel for your cheeseburger. In English it's just love. What a shame. No wonder people don't really understand what love means.


The first Greek word for love is Storge (στοργή) his means affection. I think when most people talk about their love for their cheeseburger they are talking about storge love...I hope.


The second Greek word for love is Philia (φιλία) this is a love between friends. You love your best friend, that's philia love. Ever wondered why the City of Brotherly Love is called Philadelphia well I think you are starting to get the picture now.

The third Greek word for love is Éros (ἔρως) this is romantic love or could also be translated erotic love. It is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing, but it doesn't have to be strictly sexual in nature. When we think about the commercialized version of Valentines Day the ad agencies are more than happy to sell us eros love. It can strong and passionate but it is often short lived. This is the love used to describe dating and marriage.


The final Greek word for love is Agápe (ἀγάπη) this is the unconditional love of God. Agape transcends any other kind of love out there. It is perfect and unconditional. Many people believe they agape their spouse or their boyfriend or girlfriend, but in reality the only person truly capable of perfect agape love is God. It is a sacrificial love.


Now...about everyone being loved by the One...


If you haven't figured it out by now, the One that I am referring to is God. God is waiting for each of us. He gave himself sacrificially to bring agape love to us. If we are willing to accept His sacrifice and ask forgiveness for our sins, He will never stop giving us the agape love we crave and were in fact created to receive. He wants to have a real and living relationship with us. He wants to be our Valentine, our love, and our desire. Even when we as humans fail, His agape love never will!


As husbands, wives, boyfriends, and girlfriends, we should be doing our best to give our significant other agape love. We should be willing to forgive and work through problems. Yes, there are times it won't be easy. Yes, we will fail. We are not God! We can only try to imitate and practice His agape love the best way we can. Thankfully, He is there to set the example in our lives if we will only start a relationship with Him.


Make God your Valentine this year and you will never be alone again!

Married to the Funny Guy

My husband, Jimmy, has started a new blog. While I was reading it this morning, I laughed at all of his jokes and rolled my eyes at some of the things I know he said just to get a rise out of me. Jimmy is the funny guy. Right now he has undertaken a challenge to watch 365 different movies in one year--not one per day exactly--and blog about them. Part of this came from his own conviction about us owning just over 360 movies not to mention the ones we rent, Netflix, and see in the theaters. We're three posts into this blog and his posts are really good. He just has a way of drawing people in and making them laugh that I find more than a little intimidating. His quickness to laugh and be crazy--to be the funny guy--is a natural icebreaker. It amazes me! I wish I had a little bit of his natural, God given talent for making new friendships. It would make life so much easier.

As Christians, we should exude Christ in a way that draws people to Him--much the same as Jimmy uses humor. We are the light of the world. When all else is darkness people naturally gravitate toward the light. We shouldn't hesitate to share the good news with them. We shouldn't use the fact that it might not come naturally to us as an excuse to push people away or not share the love of Christ with them. It can't come naturally to all of us. Some of us--like me--will have to work really hard to build those relationships with people, but that doesn't mean I should give up. Don't let your fears and doubts about who you are or the gifts you have or don't have hold you back. Be who God created you to be--even if it isn't the funny guy--and share Christ in anyway you can!

If You're Interested...

• to learn more about Jimmy and his 365 day movie challenge, visit his blog  the 365 Blog Challenge.
• to learn more about the design work that I do, please visit my website Mustion Design