Happy Heart's Day!

I have never been much for celebrating Valentine's Day. I haven't liked what it's stood for, and I hate the commercialism of it. But in this current season of life, I am up for celebrating anything and everything, even silly holidays. Since today is a work day, I took to celebrating Valentine's Day with my love on Saturday, our date day. I themed the day with hearts, but with a twist, in that each time I gave my husband something heart-shaped, I tried to tell him something I appreciated about him. I almost forgot with the first one, though!

I started that day with a heart-shaped Hershey's chocolate chip caramel Kreme doughnut. (Thank you, Krispy Kreme for the Valentine's Day theme!) I had some heart shaped Cheerios on hand as a back-up, less sugary breakfast.

I attempted to make pizza with heart shapes for dinner (pan pepperoni pizza for him and thin crust radish pizza for me).

We did some date night questions from our heart jar.

Then we made a Valentine's Day cookie house (since we never got around to a gingerbread house this Christmas).

All in all, a fun day, and a day worth celebrating. I guess not every day can be that way, but maybe we can find ways to celebrate a little every day? Especially with/for those we love?

Dismissing Compliments

"You're doing a good job," my supervisor told me.

"Yeah, and now I need to get well." I replied. (I've been feeling under the weather for awhile.) I've been waiting to hear those words of affirmation at work, and then I totally dismissed them! Why did I do that?

I am a perfectionist, and I work hard. I want affirmation. I often get fussy when I feel undervalued or underappreciated. Realizing how I dismissed this comment makes me ask, questions of myself, however. "Do I really recognize it when people give me approval? Or do I blow it off?" If I'm blowing people off or discounting what they say, who am I complain? They're giving me what I've asked for, and I'm dismissing it.

When I think about my relationship with God, I wonder if I treat him the way I sometimes treat affirmation. How many blessings of God do I dis-acknowledge or dismiss? Meanwhile, I complain about what God hasn't given me. No good! That doesn't honor Him or benefit me.

So here's to reopening my eyes and my ears, to recognizing and acknowledging compliments when given. To appreciating God's gifts and complaining less. After all, Philippians 2:14 says to "do all things without complaining" (New King James Version, emphasis mine). I've got a ways to go on that one.

Biblical Affirmations

I waffle back and forth on whether positive affirmations are biblical. So when asked to write a letter to myself describing why I'm unique, I decided to make a list of verses that tell me who I uniquely am in Christ:

1. God created me in His image to showcase aspects of His infinite character (Gen 1:27).
2. I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps 139:14).
3. God has a specific plan for my life (Jer 29:11).
4. God's love for me is everlasting (Jer 31:3).
5. God delights in me (Zeph 3:17)
6. I am not condemned (Rom 8:1). Harmless quirks and preferences aren't sin.
7. I have roles to fulfill as a member of the body of Christ (Romans 12).
8. My brokenness allows Christ's glory to shine through (2 Cor 4:7).
9. In my weakness, Christ exhibits His strength (2 Cor 12:9).
10. I am a minister of God's grace in its various forms (1 Pet 4:10).

Now to you, readers. What do you think about positive affirmations? What are your favorite scriptures about identity in Christ? Please comment below.