Well, to all of you love-birds out there, let me just say a hardy Happy Valentine's day, and for those of you who are celebrating your anniversary or just getting married on or around this date, God bless you and I pray that your lives together will be filled with Joy and your Home filled with laughter, and that you may grow a family that will love God and serve Him.

For those of you who have been reading your daily devotionals this past week, you will know that we have been speaking about "What's Love Got To Do With It?"

Many of you will know that title to be the Song Title of Tina Turner's #1 hit song, her very first, and culminated from  1993 film about her abusive relationship with Ike Turner - her husband and the person who discovered her in a little town of Nutbush, Tennessee. From the description of the Movie, and the Lyrics of the song, it's pretty easy to see that it was all one-sided and it was not about love - but about money and greed.

Just a a side note for your information... Tina Turner was 45 years old before she ever realized her first "hit" single which was that song, "What's Love Got To Do With it?"

So why even speak of a life such as Tina's - filled with such abuse physically and emotionally as hers was? We have already proven there was no love in that relationship and there is nothing at all pertaining to Valentine's day: why even bring it up on such an occasion as this?

Well, basically, the very story of Tina and Ike's hellacious life together is the script of many marriages without the Love of God at the center of it. And let me remind you today my friend, that the Love of God is not just something that is the tie that binds or should bind every marriage together... it is also something that is personal between you and God alone. There can not be a Godly relationship between you and someone else, if there is not first and foremost a Godly relationship between you and God. We spoke of that a couple times this week. You cannot have a "horizontal" relationship with others without first having a "vertical" relationship with God.

Now, let me clarify that when I say "horizontal" relationship I am not speaking of a "physical relationship" like that between husband and wife in the marriage bed, although it would be good for "all couples" everywhere to remember that statement before they enter into ANY "horizontal relationships" and find themselves in a world of hurt.

So we find that we are no longer at "the threshold" of Valentine's Day, but it is upon us and I so wanted to find something for today that no one had ever heard before. I didn't want this to be just another message about Valentine's day so I did a little research. For instance... did you know that according to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest "card-sending" holiday of the year? (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.) And just for your information, approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased mainly by women. Guys, guys, guys... we ought to be ashamed.

In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

How am I doing so far? Was that a good start on something NEW that you hadn't ever heard before? NO? YOU HEARD IT SOMEWHERE ALREADY?

Well what about the legends of Valentine's day? My research turned up at least three variations of how Valentine's day originated. This is good stuff... it's sure to be something you've never heard before.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Ever heard that one before? YES? Well what about the legend that suggests that St. Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured?

You heard that one too eh? Well what about the legend that tells that Valentine was just a man in prison who fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter. The legend tells that she visited him during his confinement almost every night and before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Ever head that one before? You have?

Well, one thing is for sure... although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, (let alone the fact that you may have heard them before) the stories certainly emphasize Valentine's appeal as a sympathetic, heroric, and, most importantly, "romantic" figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

Isn't it interesting how this day has risen to the scale of being heralded as the second most popular day - only after Christmas? But you've probably already come to that conclusion... so, I really haven't brought much new to the mix here on this special day have I? BUT WAIT!

Speaking of St. Valentine, I can't help but think of the greatest story of martyrdom of all times in our Lord Jesus Christ. Oh He wasn't known for creating fancy "lace" cards like Esther A. Howland - known as the Mother of the Valentine card, but he wrote I love you "in blood" when He laid down His life on that cruel tree of Calvary. But I'm sure you already heard that application in someone's Valentine's message throughout the years.

So...  maybe there's nothing new I can bring to your Valentine's day this morning. Maybe there's nothing anybody can bring. Perhaps... you alone can bring what it takes to make this day complete. What have you given to Jesus today? Have you given Him you're love. Have you asked him - forsaking all others, to take your hand in marriage? Have you devoted your life to His service? Have you taken the time to say, "I love you Lord" and then tell Him why? have you prepared a table before Him in the presence of your enemies, so that He could bless you and fill you with JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY?

OH HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME
OH HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME
HE GAVE HIS LIFE WHAT MORE CAN HE GIVE
OH HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME.

Do you love Him? Perhaps today should be the day we get started on that "vertical" relationship with God so that we can love our wives and our husbands like we ought to and see the wonder of His hand at work in all that we do as a couple. That can't help but to spill over into our families and our other relationships on a daily basis.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into Thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Words of Song by William True Sleeper