Valentine's day

Last year something was read before we worshiped through song on Valentines Day. I'd like to reproduce that here since it is Valentine's Day yet again. Here it is:

Today, as you all know, is Valentines day. Whether you like it or not, enjoy the holiday, hate the holiday or are indifferent to the holiday, you have thought about romance this week. It has been everywhere, on billboards, in ads on television, radio and the newspaper, and people are talking about it. For each of us, our hearts are in different places. Some have recently been broken, and this holiday is reminding us of what could have been and is met with tears. Others' hearts are cold, possibly jaded from some previous hurt. For some, our hearts may have just received that spark, kindling feelings that were not there before or bringing feelings that had been smoldering to life. For some of us, our hearts are burning brightly with a passion for another which is returned. And still some of us may be feeling unrequited love, our hearts going out to someone who doesn't even know we exist. For many of us, our hearts have been in different places as the years have gone by on valentines day. Life is fluid -- the days go by and our passions change. What might be so important to us today may mean nothing to us tomorrow. Yet there is one thing that has never changed since the beginning of time, and that's God love for us. He gave each of us the ultimate Valentine's Day gift when He sent His only son to die on our behalf. On your behalf. He knew you before you were knitted in your mother's womb, and because He wanted to spend eternity with you, He sent His one and only son to die on the cross. All He asks is that we return that love.

So in just a minute we're going to be worshiping Him through song. Tonight, let's bring Him more than a song. Love makes us all into fools. Who here hasn't done something in the name of love that, looking back, was extremely foolish in the eyes of the world? Yet, we didn't care, we had eyes only for that individual we were being a fool for. As David said, after having marched back into Jerusalem before the Ark of God, after having stripped his robe and danced as a fool for those watching, but with a glorious love for God, " I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes." So tonight, as we serenade God, remember those words of David, and remember that, no matter where our hearts are tonight, God's love for us burns bright. Don't let His love be unrequited. Give yourself over to Him. Have eyes only for Him. Love makes us fools, and we don't care. Tonight, as you sing and dance, have eyes only for the one you love, who loved you first, before you were ever born. Let these songs, no, let your heart be your valentine to God tonight.