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Saturday, April 19, 2008

Love Letters

      I love a good love story.  Nathaniel pursues Cora in “The Last of the Mohicans”.  Lancelot saves Guinevere, riding off in the sunset on horseback.  Adam and Eve alone in the garden walking with God in the cool of the day, aware only of each other and their God.   There’s something about a good love story that stirs my heart.

      We are living in the greatest love story ever told.  So much of life around us distracts us away from the realization of how deeply we are pursued and loved, but that does not lessen the facts.  The bride price has been paid, we have been chosen, we are loved with an everlasting love.  Do you see Papa’s pursuit of your heart each day?  

      When I met my husband he was in the Coast Guard stationed on board a ship in Virginia  while I was in a small town in Tennessee.  It was before the time of e-mail, and free long distance.  There was not much access to the phone so our main communication was through letters.

      Letters became the lifeline of our relationship.  At first they were filled with basic information, sharing our hopes and dreams, but as time progressed we began to speak more tenderly of our affection and love.  Eventually, each letter became a sacred, cherished declaration of love.  I couldn’t wait to get home from work to check the mailbox.   Sometimes the wait would get the best of me so I would leave at lunch in hopes of finding one waiting.  

     Getting a letter was like hitting the jackpot.  I couldn’t wait to break into the envelope and see what my David had spoken to me.   My heart, like a dry sponge soaked up each word, memorizing and savoring them like a fine delicacy.  Line upon line told me of how greatly I was wanted and pursued.  I read each one over and over again, wearing natural creases into the pages.

      The letters continued to come until my beloved came to take me as his bride.  At the wedding, joining our hearts as one, we declared our love in the presence of friends and family.  My bridegroom had come, taken his bride and now the wedding feast would begin.

     What would have happened, I wonder had I read the letters out of obligation or responsibility.  What if I spent time perusing them because my love expected me to.  Wouldn’t it have taken something out of it?  And what if I had been told that if I want to know my love I needed to read his letters of instruction, wouldn’t that have left them dry and empty?

     When I was a young believer I was told that God’s word was my instruction manual.  Just as I wouldn’t drive a car without reading the manual I shouldn’t be a Christian without reading the Word.  Every good soldier reads their instruction manual, right?  So, I did.  And Papa in His mercy blessed my attempts.

      I remember when Papa began to whisper to me about His word being a love letter.  He reminded me of my letters of love from my David.   With that picture in mind, the precious Words left by my Papa began to take on a different meaning to me.  Now I could see that it was a book full of kisses from his mouth to my heart not an instruction manual.  Love is hidden in each page.  With each revelation of affection hidden in Papa’s Word a love letter is delivered to my heart’s mailbox.  

    Leviticus is a difficult read in my opinion, but in his whispers He tells me that I would be living Leviticus had He not come and rescued me, fulfilling the requirements for the law on my behalf once and for all.  

     In the story of Elijah by the brook being fed by ravens, Papa shows me that He will provide for me, sometimes through extraordinary means.  In Hosea, Papa reveals His relentless pursuit in the story of Gomer.  In John, the verses of the lost sheep tell me that He will hunt me down until He finds me.  The story of Gideon tells me that He sees me in the way He created me, not in the way I see myself.  The chronicle of Joseph reveals to me that He prepares me and calls me out at just the right time.  And Revelations tells me of my future wedding.

     Line upon line, story upon story, verse after verse, the declarations of Papa’s everlasting love pour out.  My Papa loves me so profoundly that He has written to me to tell me.   Page after page He declares to me how desperately He loves me.  How could I not draw away to a quiet place to read and remember?

     His Word is a kiss from His mouth to your heart.  Read and remember how greatly He loves you.  He’s left a love letter in your mailbox today.  Let Him love you through His Word.

   “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth for your love is more delightful than wine.” Song of Solomon 1:2

Jewelz
You can find Julie at her blog:  Jewelz Sightings

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18 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

Very awesome, bless you.

April 18, 2008 at 11:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Julie,

What a beautifully written story of God's great love for us! I am blessed by your gift of writing.

Much love!
Amy

April 18, 2008 at 11:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Julie,

What a beautifully written article about God's great love for us! I am blessed by your gift of writing.

Much love!
Amy

April 18, 2008 at 11:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Some time back, I read "The Divine Romance" by Gene Edwards. It was really my first glimpse into the idea of God's pursuing love. I had always believed Him to be a stern father, fair but distant, and basically unaffected by my life. Realizing that Father God's love for us is alive and passionate and full of life has radically changed how I understand everything He does (or doesn't do.)
The God of the universe - pursues us, calls us, loves us and gave everything to be with us. It's very much a love story.

This post paints that picture perfectly. Awesome! Just awesome. And thanks for refreshing my memory.

April 18, 2008 at 11:48 PM  
Blogger Mocha with Linda said...

Thanks for this reminder. He is Love!

April 19, 2008 at 7:14 AM  
Blogger Cheryl said...

That is a wonderful way to look at the Bible! You really have a way with words. Thanks, I needed that today. God Bless~

April 19, 2008 at 7:57 AM  
Blogger Shanda said...

I really enjoyed your article. I can say that even though I know God is pursing us I often struggle with how to truly grasp this concept. Your words were an encouragement to keep my heart open...
Thanks
shanda

April 19, 2008 at 8:48 AM  
Blogger Tea with Tiffany said...

Julie,

Thank you for sharing your heart and the heart of our Lord! His word is our love letter and his kisses. Beautiful. You are writing truth in a way readers can embrace.

Great examples too.

I am proud of you for sharing this precious, heartfelt devotion. I look forward to many more.

April 19, 2008 at 9:03 AM  
Blogger Peculiar said...

This was such a wonderful "love story." It sure brings a fresh perspective on reading His Word; takes us out of 'obligation' to read it to pursuing Him and His Word with all diligence because we just can't wait to see how He can love us any more than He already does! Thank you for this post. I really appreciated today!

April 19, 2008 at 9:19 AM  
Blogger windycindy said...

My husband and I had a long distance relationship for three years before our marriage. I knew if we could make it through that, our marriage would have a pretty good chance! Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

April 19, 2008 at 12:05 PM  
Blogger Amico Dio said...

Julie,

God shared this same revelation with me some time ago and I have never looked at the bible the same way again.

Beautiful post!

April 19, 2008 at 1:02 PM  
Blogger Tammy said...

Lovely post! I do love His Word and enjoyed enhaling His love letters just this morning. :) Thanks for writing!

April 19, 2008 at 1:19 PM  
Blogger lori said...

What a beautiful post....I have a BOX of letters from my "honey" that date back to the 80's....they get older with each passing day...heirlooms....

I LOVE the analogy to HIS LOVE LETTER....wow! I too had a revelation about reading "that LETTER" some time back and I've been so completely changed....
It's not out of "obligation or responsibility" but LOVE....just as I felt when one of those letters from my "love" arrived so many years ago.....I open my "LOVE LETTER from MY BELOVED" the same way...
beautiful Julie!!
loved it!!
Letting HIM love me through HIS word!!
lori

April 19, 2008 at 2:03 PM  
Blogger Laura said...

Beautiful, Julie! What an awesome reminder through your own love story of His love for us! These words truly speak to me about how I approach my morning Bible time. It has been a while since I have felt that sweet anticipation of reading a love letter just for me. You have given me a much needed change of perspective. Thank you, friend!
Laura

April 19, 2008 at 8:18 PM  
Blogger Colleen said...

What a tender and precious reminder of the unfailing love of my LORD. Thank you for reminding me of His romantic qualities. I went and purposefully stood in front of the picture from our wedding, where my Larry is looking across my father at me with the most smitten smile. When I first reviewed the proofs, I almost skipped over the picture because I thought my neck looked thick (23 and vain at the time). Now it is the most precious of all! My groom looked on me with adoration. He still does today. But, what a wonderful reminder of how our Groom looks at us.

Thank you again for your reminder!

April 19, 2008 at 8:39 PM  
Blogger Tracy Berta-daughter to the King, wife, mother, speaker, writer said...

Julie,
This is beautiful! God revealed the same thing to me a few years ago when I was cleaning out our basement. I found love letters that my beloved had written to me twenty years earlier. They were tender and sweet and I, too, poured over every line. I had forgotten about those letters over time! God showed me how important it is to read (not out of obligation, but out of love) His beautiful letter to me daily. I NEVER want to forget His sweet words to me!

Many blessings,
Tracy

April 19, 2008 at 8:56 PM  
Blogger Gretchen said...

There is no substitute for the written word, especially on paper. ;) I know that The Holy Bible is God's love story to all of us. I really need that reminder to feed that relationship, however, much as I need a reminder to feed my marital relationship with my spouse. Beautiful post, Julie.

April 20, 2008 at 10:04 PM  
Blogger Laura Paxton said...

This forever-love story is so encouraging. Thanks for the reminders!

April 21, 2008 at 6:49 PM  

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It is good to hear from you... thank you so very much for leaving a note on the table. That makes us smile!

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