Valentine Day, like no other day of the year, compels us to think about relationships– especially with those of the opposite sex. Whether it is a cute young couple smitten with “puppy love”; newly weds, filled with excitement; a couple with three kids who find it hard to find time for each other; or an old couple with arthritic hands, making sure they don’t squeeze too tight— they are all thinking about love. The chances are good that before the day is over they will have said “I love you”. If wisdom prevails that will certainly happen!

“I love you”–three short simple words, but O so big in meaning! It is a phrase that should be on uttered every day of the year. If real, it is more than a duty, it is pure delight. And it is desperately needed. That short phrase has great power. It can–
–make a small child feel ten feet tall and able to conquer the world.
–make a troubled teen feel accepted, important, and secure.
–make a stressed out housewife feel like a queen.
–make a weary husband feel like Superman.

That little phrase can get attention, break down barriers, transform enemies into friends, restore relationships, calm fears, create courage, banish doubts, instill peace, thrill hearts, provide joy, strengthen the weak, mend marriages, and 1001 other things never imagined.

That short little phrase is more meaningful than a great composition by a famous composer, more beautiful than a sunset, more powerful than a whirlwind, more helpful than an army, more healing than a doctor. This day should remind us to say “I love you” everyday to those who are near and dear to our heart.

It’s strange how certain words stick with us throughout our lives. We not only remember them, we are, for good or bad, greatly influenced by them. I recently ran across a good example of this while reading an article. It said:

Years ago, a “Dear Abby” (Arizona Daily Sun [1/10/99]) column ran a story by a retired schoolteacher. One day she had her students take out two sheets of paper and list the names of the other students in the room. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down by their names.

She took the papers home that weekend and compiled a list for each student of what the others had said about him or her. On Monday she gave each student his or her list.

Before long, everyone was smiling. “Really?” one whispered. “I never knew that meant anything to anyone.” “I didn’t know anyone liked me that much!”

Years later, the teacher went to the funeral of one of her former students, who had been killed in Vietnam. Many who had been in that class years before were there. After the service, the young man’s parents approached the teacher and said, “We want to show you something. Mark was carrying this when he was killed.” The father pulled out of a wallet the list of all the good things Mark’s classmates had said about him. “Thank you so much for doing that,” Mark’s mother said. “As you can see, Mark treasured it.”

A group of Mark’s classmates overheard the exchange. One smiled sheepishly and said, “I still have my list. It’s in my top desk drawer at home.” Another said, “I have mine, too. It’s in my diary.” “I put mine in our wedding album,” said a third. “I bet we all saved them,” said a fourth. “I carry mine with me at all times.” At that point, the teacher sat down and cried. And, she used that assignment in every class for the rest of her teaching career.

That story shows how much we all need encouragement.—-THINK ABOUT IT!

“ Who will rise up for me against the evildoers ? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?“–Psa. 94:16

Archimedes, the famous Greek mathematician / physicist said, “Give me a standing place out yonder in space, a fulcrum, and a lever long enough and strong enough, and I will move the world!“. God isn’t asking us to move the world. He commands us to stand up and speak up—whether people listen or not.

We’ve all heard the old adage, “Stand for something or you’ll fall for anything”. While that makes a point, it should also be said, If you don’t stand for the right thing it’s because you have fallen for the wrong thing. It’s not enough to put your stubbornness on display by standing for “something“– what we stand for matters. To stand for the wrong thing is just as bad or worse than not standing for anything. While it is best to speak the truth, it is better to remain silent than to speak a lie. Of course we should neither lie nor remain silent, but  stand for the truth.

What you stand for determines what you stand against, and who stands against you—don’t be surprised if some are members of your own household, or those you thought were friends. Those who stand for what is right will always be opposed by those who are wrong. Don’t let them back you in a corner or scare you into silence. Stand up and come out fighting. Let them know that you’re not going to lay down and take it anymore. The problem today is that instead of standing against the world we keep moving along with it, a step or two behind, but with it nevertheless. It’s time that we rise up, stand up, and speak out! As Christians we have the only message that can literally transform lives and meet the deepest needs of man. How dare we remain silent!