SCRIPTURE: Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor [trouble] a door of hope. Hosea 2:14-16 NIV
THOUGHT: They claim Valentine’s Day is a Hallmark holiday, but I don’t buy it. Like any other sacred holiday that can get hijacked by culture, it stands as a reminder of true love, and not even Eros love, but something far greater. Saint Valentine never married, but historians believe he was martyred because he married Christian couples against the law of the time. That’s Agape love. Love divine – excelling every other kind of love we can find or feel or act upon.
Many years ago, I felt abandoned, forsaken by my spouse. But I had also abandoned and forsaken that greater, higher lover of my soul. In my grief, I returned to that lover, God, and found something I didn’t expect. A tender-hearted love, not condemnation, not criticism, but compassion. A wooing, calling, rescuing love. One that satisfied my deepest longings to be seen, known, protected, pursued. One that had the power to turn the valley of trouble into a door of hope.
A forever Valentine.
Be the strong arms that hold me
When I wake up cold and lonely,
Talk to me of secret things
While I wait for sleep to come
Wrap me in the robe you gave me
Tell me again you won’t forsake me
And I’ll tell you how you won my heart
In this scorching desert sun…You speak tenderly, speak tenderly
Amy Clemens “Speak Tenderly” 7.16.06
There is nothing in this wilderness but you
Speak tenderly, speak tenderly
I am captured by your beauty
And my soul is satisfied
My soul is satisfied
PRAYER: Oh God, thank you for your Agape heart that rescues, redeems, restores and teaches us how to really love each other.
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Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
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