February 2016

From Steve’s Desk:
The song Love is a Many Splendored Thing was written in 1955 by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. It was made popular when it was used as the theme of the movie, “Love is a Many Splendored Thing,” starring William Holden and Jennifer Jones. That year it won the Oscar for its musical score. Since its debut, it has been recorded and re-recorded by the Four Aces, Ringo Starr, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Shirley Bassey, Nat King Cole, Barry Manilow, Neil Sedaka and numerous others.
This song underscores love as splendid, which means grand, glorious, magnificent, and brilliant. Each of these words is quite a description of the love that we can share in our relationship with each other. The word “many” adds even more to the song’s title and to the description of love. It is an adjective that denotes more or the most, however it is used with “splendored”. In this song, it could mean that there are many reasons love is so special, or that love is the most special, or splendid above anything else. Can they both be true depictions? Yes, indeed!
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:13
Love is the greatest gift of God. It is the greatest gift He has given to us to share with each other on many relationship levels. The love of family, friends, pets, things, and even chocolate! We are created by God with the ability to love and the need to be loved. This is an amazing gift of God himself that we can share with each other. It isn’t just to share with others, it is also a gift to share with Him.
He gave, and gives, us love in hope that we will choose to love Him in return.
The expression of our love for God and to God is so important.
We have to tell HIM and show HIM. How is this done? Well, in our prayers and worship we tell and show God how much we love Him. We also show Him our love for HIM by being obedient to His commands. Remember that Jesus stated that if we loved him, we must keep His commands. We also show our love for God by loving each other.
“6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.” I Corinthians 13:6-8a
Loving God is more than just words or actions. Loving God is also submission, obedience, and trust. To sum it all up, loving God is living for HIM, with HIM and because of HIM.
This month is a time when we celebrate LOVE, but let us not forget that love is a many splendored thing because of the one who gave us love. It is a part of HIM. That means it is the MOST SPLENDID GIFT that we can relish, cherish and share!
LOVE – It is splendid! Know that you are loved. Live like you are loved. Share love.