Love is in the air! Just in case you, don’t watch t.v. or get news flyers delivered to your home or you haven’t been to any retail establishments or eateries in the last week or so….it’s almost Valentine’s day!

Do you remember those candy hearts that have words printed on them, like BE MINE or LOVE ME? The candy’s are called Sweethearts® and thanks to Google I was able to do a little research on this valentine candy of my youth.

Actually this particular candy has stood the test of time. It was first created in 1866 by Daniel Chase who created the first conversation hearts by designing a machine that would press food dye letters on to candy lozenges.

Through the years, Sweethearts® sayings have reflected how North America and its culture has changed. They’ve added Sweethearts® in different languages, rolled out new Dazzled varieties, and even added and dropped sayings based on how people communicate.

Get this…from mid-February to January the Necco company produces about 100,000 pounds of the iconic candy hearts each day, which adds up to billions of candy hearts—more than enough for everyone in the world to have one. The company boasts that Sweethearts® are the best selling Valentine’s Day candy, yup,even better than a box of chocolate!

I remember getting two very specific candy hearts from a boy in my grade 2 class. One said ‘BE MINE’ and the other said ‘KISS ME’. He was sending me a very clear message. My feet didn’t hit the ground for days! There is power in words.

Did you know that God sends us a very clear message too? The things He left in His Word were left for us because He loves us. And each message from God is sweet to the taste. However, sometimes we don't read or pay attention to them.

Like these, for example:

BE MINE - God wants us to accept His love.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

ALL MINE - God loves us and will keep us.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30

TRUE LOVE - God loves us with true love as only He can.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness”. Jeremiah 31:3

LOVE ME - God wants us to love Him.

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Luke 10:27

SWEET TALK - God's Word is His love letter to us.

How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

God has left many more sweet messages for you. Messages about HIs amazing love and and grace for each of us. We just have to dig into His Word to find them.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Join us this Sunday at 11 am as we talk about just how sweet our words are ;) Be sure to invite a friend!