The hammer holds

I was early with my Valentine's Day post, so here are some words of encouragement, courtesy of Bebo Norman. This song played repeatedly in my CD player when I was an young Christian, but I am still being molded and shaped by the Maker, always waiting to see what he has for me next.
That shaping can often feel like hammering, leaving us in pain and wondering why we had to experience the latest trial. But as we continue to walk with God, the pain of that shaping is subdued as we begin to understand that all that hammering and the burning flames were transforming us into something different, with a new purpose.
I have to realize it is not always for me to know what comes next, but to rest in the fact that God is in control. Easier said than done.
And if you like this song, check out Bebo's early stuff, especially Ten Thousand Days.

A shapeless piece of steel, that's all I claim to be
This hammer pounds to give me form, this flame, it melts my dreams
I glow with fire and fury, as I'm twisted like a vine
My final shape, my final form I'm sure I'm bound to find

So dream a little, dream for me in hopes that I'll remain
And cry a little, cry for me so I can bear the flames
And hurt a little, hurt for me my future is untold
But my dreams are not the issue here, for they, the hammer holds

And the water, it cools me gray, and the hurt's subdued somehow
I have my shape, this sharpened point, what is my purpose now?
And the question still remains, what am I to be?
Perhaps some perfect piece of art displayed for all to see

So dream a little, dream for me in hopes that I'll remain
And cry a little, cry for me so I can bear the flames
And hurt a little, hurt for me my future is untold
But my dreams are not the issue here, for they, the hammer holds

The hammer pounds again, but flames I do not feel
This force that drives me, helplessly, through flesh, and wood reveals
A burn that burns much deeper, it's more than I can stand
The reason for my life was to take the life of a guiltless man

So dream a little, dream for me in hopes that I'll remain
And cry a little, cry for me so I can bear the pain
And hurt a little, hurt for me, my future is so bold
But my dreams are not the issue here, for they, the hammer holds

This task before me may seem unclear
But it, my maker holds

Happy Valentine's Day

When women envision “romance” or think of a “romantic night out,” they typically think of a man surprising them with flowers and a candlelight dinner, all in an attempt to impress her. Men would probably add that the night would get a little more “personal.”
Love makes people do and believe crazy things, like the lie that says love is what you make of it, or those who mistake romance and lust for love.
The only real, true love comes from God. The only type of “romance” we will ever experience is believing that God loved us so much that he sent his only Son to be a sacrifice so we would not have to live an eternal life in the worst place imaginable – a million times worse than any natural disaster area.
When I met my wife, I fell for all the cliches. It was love at first sight, despite what I thought of her outfit (it was the first time I saw someone wear tights under a skirt). I barely knew her name, and didn’t know her last name, but that didn't matter because I knew I would give her mine. There was something radically different about this woman, and it wasn’t just her clothes. It was her genuine love for Christ that was most attractive (other than her obvious physical beauty).
For some reason, it is often harder to feel that same unrequited love toward God than it is toward a member of the opposite sex. My love for God was not love at first sight. I knew all the Sunday School stories and even believed in God from quite an early age. But I spent most the next 10 years getting entangled in the holes of the world’s romantic lies, believing that I could be satisfied by earthly love or alcohol or the pursuit of money. Everything in our society promises enjoyment, most of it immediately or your money back. I am not the first person to say that this is simply not true.
What makes it different when I say it? Admittedly nothing, other than the fact that I am just like you and lived those lies for years, even after deciding to follow Christ. I never thought I had much to offer anyone, but that was a lie too. We all have influence over the people around us. Even me. Even you.
So with Valentine's Day coming up, whether you will be spending time with a loved one or not, enjoy some time with the One who loved you first. Consider what God means to your life, if you believe he's real, if you believe he can move in your life, if you believe he has, if you believe he loves you.
And for some light reading, check out some history on Valentine's Day, named for several early Christian martyrs.