The Circle: Who's Your Valentine?

This month I am co- hosting the Circle linkup with Kiki from In it's time, who if you don't know, she's awesome, her eye for design and her heart for Jesus are such an encouragement in my life. Through her blog and exchanging emails, we have really bonded. I guess you could say she is one of my "blogging friends." With that said, Kiki we so have to meet someday girl! 

 
As we decided on a theme for this month, we knew we wanted to focus on Love, but more importantly God's love. So this month we want you to link up a Valentine  weather that valentine be to other people or to God, that's up to you. We just want to hear from you, and since valentines day is right around the corner, we thought this would be a great idea! With that said, here's my Valentine...

God,
Thank you for the many blessings that you have provided for this year. I remember back before I got into Grad school, wondering what I was going to do and the anxiety of not knowing was taking over. One night I was sitting in my room and praying after I had applied to Liberty University that week, I remember saying: "If this is where you want me to go, i will go", and the next day as I checked my email there it was: Congratulations You have been Accepted! I remember feeling excited and scared at the same time. Excited for a new adventure and scared because I didn't know anyone there and I would be far away from home. But as soon as I came to visit in October, i knew this was the place you wanted me to be, it all felt so right. Since starting in January you have been teaching me to trust in your plans and not my own, because let's face it your plan is so much better than mine. Even though i am far away from my family, i feel right at home. So this valentines day, i thank you for your good and perfect plan, and the love and grace that you give me each and every day. As a reminder that your mercies are new each morning.

1 John 7-21 says it all: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
¹³ This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."

 So, now it's your turn  link up below with your valentine! And head on over to Kiki's blog and check her's out too!