It’s Valentine’s Season Ladies.  That means I’ve been cutting out paper hearts and making heart shaped crayons with 4 little boys in preparation for school parties.  It means the stores are filled with candy and jewelry, red and pink everywhere!  I hope it means my husband is planning right this moment a romantic and loving surprise for me!!!  Past all the hype and the marketing, isn’t it wonderful to get a special and surprising “Valentine”—a sonnet of love delivered to your heart and your heart alone?  You bet it is.
God has a way of sending Valentine’s to his children just when they need them—like the one they got in Babylon.  Picture it.  You’re in exile.  You’ve lost your home, your dignity, your self respect.  You cheated on God by putting others before him.  You committed adultery while taking advantage of the Lord’s goodness.  Again and again you chose to turn your back on the one who gave you everything.  And so he sent you away.  Away from the Temple, away from Jerusalem, and really away from him.  And now here you are—alone in an exile of your own making.
Then one day Elasah comes from Jerusalem with a big red heart valentine!  Inside is a letter from the LORD himself!  And what does he say?  I love you!  Isn’t that surprising???  Here we should be getting divorce papers and instead the Lord says, “You have a future with me!” 

 â€œWhen seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you.” 
Jeremiah 29:10-14
 
Isn’t it great that God doesn’t play hard to get?  He’s there for us when we call him and his love is ever present February 14^th and every other day in the year.   When you’re feeling less than adored, under-appreciated and used more than loved; then remember the heart of Jesus.  Everything God said and did is one giant Valentine with your name on it! 
So Happy Valentine’s Day!