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Be Mine! by Peggy Lively For a couple of weeks, I had been anxious about making an important decision and was really asking God for wisdom and direction regarding this situation. Then one morning as I prayed, I felt an incredible peace about this decision. I did not receive a clear answer or direction, but simply peace that God was in control and that He would lead me in the right direction. Being filled with this peace, my heart’s response to God as I prayed was, "I love you, I love you, I love you." Surprising myself a little, I felt like Will Ferrell in the movie Elf when he delivered his "Christmas Gram" to his father. Will Ferrell plays Buddy the Elf, and his childlike enthusiasm and excitement explodes from his mid to late-thirty year old body. Buddy is ecstatic to meet and to get to know his real father for the first time. However, Buddy’s father does not initially share this same enthusiasm. He quickly has security called to remove Buddy from his office. As we come with childlike faith and enthusiasm to our Heavenly Father, He does share our enthusiasm. And the beauty of it is that He loves us even more than we love Him. He says to Israel, and to all those who choose to follow Him, "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life." (Isaiah 43:4) He also says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1) If we believe in Him and choose to follow Him, we belong to Him. In Malachi, He says that we are His jewels and he spares us from condemnation if we trust and obey Him: "‘They shall be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.’" (Malachi 3:17, NKJV) Another version of this verse says, "They will be my special treasure. I will spare them just as a loving father spares his son who serves him." (Malachi 3:17, NIrV) We are valuable to Him, His jewels, His special treasure. Do you believe this? And if that isn’t enough, we are told that nothing can separate us from His love for us. Paul says, "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) This is amazing, unquenchable love. Valentine’s Day is approaching, and this day can leave many feeling depressed and lonely if they don’t have a "Valentine." But if you believe in Jesus as your Savior, He says, "You are Mine. You are my jewel, my treasured possession, and nothing will ever keep me from loving you." No earthly Valentine will ever love you like He does. Rejoice in this; He rejoices over you! "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17