"Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.”- (Ps 36:10).

Someone once said, "Success is when those who know you the best are those who love you the most."

Years ago a self-assessment tool was developed by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingram called the Johari window. The Johari Window helps us realize where we are in our ability to know who we are and for others to know who we are. Real transparency in communication takes place when those we associate with us know who we are after we discover who we really are. See if you can identify what category you might fall among these four:

Transparent Life The transparent life is the life we should desire. I know who I am and others know me. There is nothing hidden. I have come to know who I am as an individual and basically people get what they see in me.

Bull-In-The-China Shop This person is blinded to the things that others recognize about him. The solution to becoming a transparent person is to get feedback from those around us about the blind spots in our personality. We must ask for the feedback and be willing to respond to their input.

Aloof/Hidden Secrets This person lives in a secret world. They don't allow others to know about themselves. They know themselves but are fearful of letting others know. Those around them do not know them either. What do others really know about you? Have you allowed yourself to get close enough to others to share who you really are inside?

Hidden Potential This is a combination of Bull-In-A-China Shop and Aloof/Hidden Secrets. It is the saddest of all conditions. These people don't know themselves and others don't know them either. This means both parties have to invest the energy to communicate and get feedback from one another.

How about you? Why not take a step to find out who you really are in the eyes of others. It could change your life. 

KNOW THEREFORE THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GOD; HE IS THE FAITHFUL GOD, KEEPING HIS COVENANT OF LOVE TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDS. ( DEUTERONOMY 7:9 *NIV )

Today being St Valentines Day, a day when we honor those we love, let us not forget to honor our Heavenly Father as well!

After all, there is no way humanly possible to measure the love that GOD has for each of us. The Prophet David explained it best when he wrote; Your love, O Lord , reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. YOUR RIGHTEOUS- NESS IS LIKE THE MIGHTY MOUNTAINS, YOUR JUSTICE LIKE THE GREAT DEEP. O LORD , YOU PRESERVE BOTH MAN AND BEAST. HOW PRICELESS IS YOUR UNFAILING LOVE! BOTH HIGH AND LOW AMONG MEN FIND REFUGE IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS. ( PSALMS 36:5-7 )

  Therefore let us do as JESUS CHRIST taught us when HE said, 'LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.  ( MATTHEW 22:37 ) For after all, THE LORD WATCHES OVER ALL WHO LOVE HIM BUT ALL THE WICKED HE WILL DESTROY. ( PSALMS 145:20 )

  So tell GOD how much you love HIM when you pray, today and every day! Also thank HIM for all of the Blessings that HE has given to you as well. Then before you know it you will be saying, I WILL SING OF THE LORD 'S GREAT LOVE FOREVER WITH MY MOUTH I WILL MAKE YOUR FAITHFULNESS KNOWN THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS.  ( PSALMS 89:1 )

Have a wonderful Valentines day, and know that GOD smiles every time HE thinks about you, for you are HIS Valentine Forever. Amen!

KNOW THEREFORE THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GOD; HE IS THE FAITHFUL GOD, KEEPING HIS COVENANT OF LOVE TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDS. ( DEUTERONOMY 7:9 *NIV )

"'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.'" At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Matt 4:19-20).

Do you recall how good it felt when you were chosen to be on a team? It makes one feel special to be preferred over another.

During the time of Jesus rabbis' were well known in their community. Each rabbi had a following of students. Jesus was developing as a "superstar" rabbi. He was unlike the others. He did things differently. He often confronted the accepted thinking of other rabbis and Pharisees. The younger men had great respect for Jesus, the rabbi. To be selected by Jesus would be a great honor because most rabbis would usually select only the cream of the crop in the community as their disciples. By these standards, Peter and the other disciples would not have qualified. But Jesus had a purpose in mind for Peter and the disciples.

God is the one who calls people into relationship with Himself and to their calling in life. It is for His purposes, not ours. Jesus chose each of his disciples from the workplace instead of the rabbinical schools. They did not choose Jesus, Jesus chose them and it was deemed a great honor in their culture to be chosen by such a rabbi (Jn 15:16).

Jesus called you into relationship with Himself because His desire is for you to be a faithful priest in your work life, family, and city. "I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind." (1 Samuel 2:35). He desires that you be a willing participant in his agenda. He has not called you for your purposes, but His.

Sometimes we think it's all about us. It has to be all about Him in order for us to fulfill what is in His heart and mind for His overall plan for His Kingdom. He doesn't need us, but He has chosen to use us.

God has an agenda for planet earth. He has chosen you and me as the primary instrument for accomplishing His plan. Are you willing to be his faithful priest and king to do what is in His heart and mind? Why not say "yes" to His agenda.