Faithful Love (Part I)

This is an obligatory post in homage to Valentine's Day. I actually had another idea for a post that I was going to write about, then realized I should be timely and throw some kind of nod to V-day.

I partly didn't want to do a V-day post because I wanted to avoid sounding like a single, lonely, churchy girl throwing out cliches about how even though I'm single, God loves me. But I realized there's nothing cliche about Divine love, so hey some might label me a "single, lonely, churchy girl," but I'll take it because I know I'm loved:-).

So there's no romantic love to celebrate in my life, but I'm grateful to celebrate faithful love. Love revealed to me in the kindness of friends and strangers. Evidenced through the healing of deepest pain. Given by the ones who gave me life. Staring back at me from the mirror and defined by the One more faithful than faith.

Faithful Love Playlist

Here are 10 songs celebrating faithful love. So if you don't feel like rockin' out to mushy love songs or bitter anti-love songs, check out these:-) :

1. "Healed" Nichole Nordeman

We stutter and we stammer till You save us
A symphony of chaos till You play us...

Amazing lyrics. A beautiful song for broken hearts.

2. "Hold Me Now" Jennifer Knapp

Point your finger and laugh if you choose

To say my beloved is borrowed and used

She's strong enough to stand in my love...

I couldn't find this song anywhere online, but it's by one of my favorite artists. Another reminder of perfect love in the midst of our brokeness.

3. "Private Party" India.Arie

I’m having a private party
Ain’t no body here but me, my angels, and my guitar singin’

baby look how far we’ve come
I’m havin’ a private party
Learning how to love me
Celebrating the woman I’ve become...

One of the most profound lessons I continue to learn is how to love myself, even in the moments when it feels hardest to do so.

4. "Back to Life" Corneille

You loved me back to life
You loved me back to life
Your love’s that powerful

I associate this song and the next one together because I combined them and made a little "Love Medley." Corneille's singing about another human, but his words describe the way God has been a mighty, loving grip holding me together when I'm falling apart.

5. "Love Like This" Natasha Bedingfield

All my memories, they've got you in them

No use climbin' trees with no leaves in them

All my broken dreams you fixed...

Again a song about human love that aptly describes the way God hasn't exactly fixed my broken dreams, but has given me new ones through His love.

6. "Kind and Generous" Natalie Merchant

You've been so kind and generous

I don't know how you keep on giving
For your kindness I'm in debt to you
And I never could have come this far without you
For everything you've done, you know I'm bound

I'm bound to thank you for it....

Dedicated to all the friends, mentors and community that have shown me kindness along my journey.

7. "Your Joy" Chrisette Michele

No one loves me just like you do
No one knows me just like you do
No one can compare to the way my eyes fit in yours
You'll always be my father
And I'll always be your joy

I'm incredibly blessed to have a father who loves and cherishes me. He has never ceased to support and believe in me.

8. "Living Prayer" Alison Krauss

In Your love I find relief,
A haven from my unbelief.
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God, to Thee...

Not much I can add to the words of Alison Krauss

9. "None But Jesus" Brooke Fraser/Hillsong United

When You call I won't refuse

Each new day again I'll choose...

This is the song I always play when I feel jacked up and far from God. Somewhere within it I feel God come close, even when I feel unlovable.

10. "Faithful to Me" Jennifer Knapp

I have cast my lots, dropped my guard, searched aimlessly,
for faith to be faithful to me
Through another day, another trial,
Another chance to reconcile
To One who sees past all I've seen,
and reaching out my weary hand,
I pray that you'd understand,
You're the only one who's faithful to me...

Ending aptly with another beautiful song by Ms. Knapp that says it all.