Make God Your Valentine

February 14th is a date dedicated to lovers worldwide. The opportunity to express romance with flowers, candlelit dinners, champagne, gifts and fireworks. It celebrates coupledom and a worldly perspective that love is only romance.

Unintentionally, it creates a sense of alienation amongst singles - evoking a feeling that without a romantic side kick, we are not whole, or worthy or special or fulfilled. This is the irony of a day dedicated to love becoming a dreaded day of loneliness and emptiness for significant members of our community.

The origin of Valentine’s Day is as confusing as the idea of the love it purports to celebrate. Depending on who you ask, legend has it that Valentine was a historical figure who secretly sent romantic letters to a love interest while in prison or even that the day of valentine was chosen because it was a mating season for birds!

Irrespective of its origin, romance and sexual attraction is the thread that weaves through the celebration rather than love. Therein lies the problem. Ask a million people what love is and you will likely receive a million different answers relating to romance - a description of passion and sexual longing.

Scripture describes love differently. 1st Corinthians 13 declares 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

God’s description of love is far from the dewy eyed, butterflies in the stomach feeling the world has sold us. Rather, it is a description of respect, empathy, compassion, sacrifice and unconditional giving. It is not necessarily emotive in its expression but deliberate in its target and purpose and definitely inclusive. One can safely say that it is the first equal opportunity law given to man.

Whereas a romantic sidekick can leave you when they “fall out of love”, the virtues of scriptural love are everlasting. As a matter of fact, 1st John 4:7-11 explains that this kind of inclusive love is an attribute of God himself so 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

With this assurance, on 14th of February and every day of your life, why not make God your Valentine?

02/02/2021

Genesis CLF Hamper Ministry

WE SIMPLY WANT TO BLESS YOU!

We are in unprecedented times. There is a pandemic raging and all of us have been affected in ways we could never have imagined even a couple of years ago.

Measures taken by governments to mitigate the effect on our physical health has at times led to a corresponding, albeit unintentional, adverse effect on our mental health, wealth and relationships.

We understand your anxiety and want to bless you with our hamper ministry.

We have partnered with a number of your favourite supermarkets, namely, Marks & Spencer, Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons, to provide you with free food. The food varies weekly and the amount is always subject to availability but can include basic everyday grocery items like baked products (mostly bread and pastries), tinned items (for example baked beans, tinned soup), fresh fruit and vegetables.

How the Genesis CLF Hamper Ministry can bless you

1. Simply ask for a hamper by emailing us at helpinghands@genesisclf.org or on our website with your details and we will contact you and discuss how we can best assist you.

2. Use the opportunity to reduce your grocery bill.

3. Have fun with the whole family trying out new recipes.

4. Enjoy the variety of ingredients and different dishes.

5. Top up your grocery with treats.

6. Contribute to safeguarding the environment and reducing food shortage.

7. Introduce this ministry to someone who needs a helping hand.

It really is a win-win situation. You win by being blessed and we win by embracing the opportunity to bless you!

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Gratitude - The Secret to Happiness

We live in a turbulent world, with its unexpected twists and turns. Our sense of security and purpose are not only challenged, but appears to be disappearing beyond our reach.

How can we overcome such unprecedented onslaught on our mental and physical health?

The answer is found in the ancient secret of practicing and developing an attitude of Gratitude. The Bible puts it this way: - Luke 16:10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (NIV version).

It is not how much we have, it is being able to recognise that what we do have is a blessing.

Nevertheless, forming a new life habit is initially always problematic because there is a mental cost in learning to switch our thinking from a proverbial half empty glass outlook, to embracing humility and gratitude in what we have already received.

9 Steps to developing an attitude of gratitude

1. Don't forget your salvation in Christ because it provides you with many benefits. An example is your free access to the creator of the universe.

2. Remember that your problems will not last forever, even if they appear so suffocating at present. You see, just as night will always give way to day, there is always an answer to every problem.

The book of Ecclesiastes states that there is nothing new under the sun. So, if you are going through something unpleasant, understand that someone else has already gone through something similar and through perseverance, managed to overcome. You too can overcome. The Bible is full of examples of ordinary people who despite setbacks, managed to overcome. The solution is yours to discover in faith.

3. Learn to forgive. Forgiveness is a decision, not an emotion.

Remember that at some point in all our lives, we may have intentionally or unintentionally hurt others. This may have been in a different way or different circumstances to the way we have been hurt. Nevertheless, we sought forgiveness from others so we must resolve to forgive those who do wrong things to us.

4. Be grateful for your loved ones, even those who are no longer with you. Be grateful that you were blessed to have crossed life paths with them, shared sweet memories and laughter. Be grateful for the beautiful memories they have left you.

5. Be grateful for your support system of church brethren, neighbours, kind work colleagues, kind strangers etc., who have been there for you or were there for you at your time of need.

6. Be grateful for your skills, experiences and natural giftings that God has blessed you with or has enabled you to acquire.

7. Be grateful for your life goals. It gives you momentum in life.

8. Be grateful for your positive contribution to the life of others. Resolve to give to those less fortunate than you - your love, time, money and attention. It’s a fact, giving to others helps you to acquire a grateful attitude.

9. Be grateful for who you are - your genes, cultural background and skin colour. God made you an original!

Shalom!

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