{"id":10771,"date":"2013-02-14T19:38:45","date_gmt":"2013-02-15T01:38:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bekahcubed.menterz.com\/blog\/?p=10771"},"modified":"2013-02-14T19:38:45","modified_gmt":"2013-02-15T01:38:45","slug":"thankful-thursday-valentines-through-the-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bekahcubed.menterz.com\/blog\/2013\/20130214-10771.htm","title":{"rendered":"Thankful Thursday: Valentines through the years"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Thankful<\/a>I’ve been marvelously blessed to have wonderful men and women around me throughout my single years–men and women who have encouraged and blessed me every day–but especially on Valentine’s Day.
\n<\/p>\n

This week I’m thankful…<\/b><\/p>\n

…for Kara’s card<\/b> and the accompanying Scripture
\nOne year, while I was in college, my Bible study leader sent me a Valentine with a kind note and the verse:<\/p>\n

“For your Maker is your husband\u2014 the Lord Almighty is his name\u2014 the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.”
\n~Isaiah 54:5 (NIV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The verse and the note were such a blessing to my bruised single soul.<\/p>\n

…for Erik’s chocolates<\/b>
\nThree years ago, Erik wanted to bless the single ladies in our church–and while he ultimately decided that flowers were way too expensive, he and Cathy gave us all chocolates. Erik’s care and concern reminded me of God’s care–and gave me courage to continue along my single journey, knowing that I was single but not alone.<\/p>\n

…for Valentine’s Dinner<\/b> with the girls
\nTwo years ago, we girls got together around Valentine’s Day at Anna’s and my house. It was lovely to share my season of singleness with so many wonderful, God-honoring girls. <\/p>\n

…for Cathy’s earnest desire<\/b>
\nAt the aforementioned Valentine’s dinner, Cathy expressed her desire to see us all well married. She told of attending a function for a semi-local Christian school and finding herself scoping out the men in the crowd–wondering if maybe she could find us suitable husbands from among the teachers. It was so encouraging to have the friendship of a woman who affirmed and supported and loved us in our singleness–but who also knew our desires to be married, and sought the Lord on our behalf.<\/p>\n

…for my Mom’s text<\/b>
\nLast year, my mother sent me a texted Happy Valentine’s Day–which put a smile on my face in the midst of a busy day. My mother has consistently loved me and listened to me, through every season.<\/p>\n

…for my newest Valentine<\/b>
\nA year ago, I had no idea how life would be changing for me. I was thinking about starting to seriously search for a home to buy–but was wondering if I was giving up on the idea of marriage. Little did I know that only a year later, I’d be only a month away fro marrying my Valentine–a man who loves me and leads me with patience and care. His love has been a great stabilizing force in this new season in which I find myself.<\/p>\n

…for my oldest Valentine<\/b>
\nThe many things I’m thankful for this Valentine’s Day have been gracious gifts from a loving God. But nothing can compare to my very first Valentine’s Day. No Valentine is more precious than the One God purposed and executed nearly 2000 years before I was even born.<\/p>\n

I am overflowing with thankfulness for the Valentine that so clearly demonstrates God’s undeniable, unalterable love for me.<\/p>\n

Many times, over a dozen Valentine’s Days, I asked with mixed emotions: “How much do You love me? How much do you love me when I am still single? When I am struggling? When I can’t see the end of the pit I’m in? How much do You love me?”<\/p>\n

And, like the saying stitched on the “confirmation” quilt reminds me, Jesus’ response was “This much.” And He stretched out His arms and died.<\/p>\n

Thank You, precious Savior, dearest to me above all. <\/p>\n

Thank You for giving me Yourself–my best ever Valentine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’ve been marvelously blessed to have wonderful men and women around me throughout my single years–men and women who have encouraged and blessed me every day–but especially on Valentine’s Day. This week I’m thankful… …for Kara’s card and the accompanying Scripture One year, while I was in college, my Bible study leader sent me a … Read more Thankful Thursday: Valentines through the years<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/bekahcubed.menterz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10771"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/bekahcubed.menterz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/bekahcubed.menterz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bekahcubed.menterz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bekahcubed.menterz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10771"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/bekahcubed.menterz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10771\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10772,"href":"http:\/\/bekahcubed.menterz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10771\/revisions\/10772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/bekahcubed.menterz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bekahcubed.menterz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bekahcubed.menterz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}