Unveiling Hope

I Heard You

I heard you last night. Through all those tears and all the words you choked on – I heard you – I heard your heart. My desire has been to hear your heart for as long as I can remember.

Oh, I know you’ve spoken to me many a time. I don’t discount any of what you’ve shared, not ever. I realize you’ve shared before, you’ve confessed many things to me. You’ve cried, you've told me your dreams and yes, you’ve even told me what frightens you. But last night was different – you know it was too.

Last night you brought tears to my eyes. Somewhere between your disappointment, your fear, and the dreams you’re afraid to dream was your heart – stripped bare and surrendered to me for the first time ever. You spoke to me and then you waited for me to answer and you listened. You really listened! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to tell you how very much I love you?

You said that you’ve never been able to go to “that place” with me for fear that you’d experience so much emotion that you’d explode, lose control, even die a little inside.

But you went there anyway and you went there with me; you went there for me. You let me in to that place in your heart where only I could fit –  a place where the only one ever meant to fit was me. Last night you gave me your heart and I promise I will not break it. You went to the place where I’ve already been for you.

I can’t promise that life will always be fun and filled with laughs, but it sure will be different. No matter what you go through, from now on, whether good or bad – we’ll always be there together. I can’t promise that you’ll never experience pain again, or that everything you don’t like about your life will be instantaneously changed for the better, but I can promise this: you’ll be transformed – from the inside to the outside. I’ll give you a kind of peace that surpasses any experience you may encounter. I promise that if you follow me, I will always be at your side – always and forever. I heard you.

 

A Psalm of Hope and Praise

What are words? What greatness is in my words to render my gratitude for your awesome faithfulness?

Your words are power. They speak truth; they give and take life. Your strength is in Your Word. You whisper and mountains move.

You are Righteousness. Justice and judgement are on your lips.

Who am I that You should love me with the greatness of your wonderful heart? Your precepts abound; You reveal to me the wonders and secret mysteries of Your Word. You have inscribed them on my heart.

That I should love as you love is my soul’s desire. You speak loudest to me in your silence, for it is then that you hold me closest. I am lifted up in Your hands.

Your glory rises above all things; it fills the heavens and gives hope to all who praise You and walk in Your ways.

Your Spirit resides in me. Through Him comes wisdom. You give me understanding. You have planted eternity in my heart and soul.

Apart from you, O God, there is nothing good in me – You are Holy. You make your Temple within me.

I have no need that remains unfulfilled. When I surrendered my heart to You, all my desires became for You - first and above all. You are the Giver of Life. There is no hope without You.

My praise is my worship. I exalt Your Holy Name.

Though my body may die, my love will live on for You. You are my one desire. All my life is in Your mighty hands. I will praise You in the bounty of your blessing and I will praise You through the storms.

Because You love me I am.

I Love You

 

Beloved, I hear the emptiness of your heart echoing through the heavens. You’re lonely. You’re hurting. You feel unloved – even though you know there are those who love you. You’ve been searching and you’re tired. You wonder if anyone will ever be able to look inside that place you cannot reveal and speak to your heart.

I ache for you and I will not give up. My love for you is steadfast. Each morning you awaken, you don’t see me, but I’m there. I’m knocking and hoping you’ll let me in. I know what you’re longing for can only be filled by me, by my presence; it’s why I created you. I want you to know my love. I want you to experience my infinite love for you. I long for your love more than you long to be loved. I ache for you, but I will not force myself on you.

I wait patiently, each day filled with a new hope that today will be the day you accept my love and everything else I have to offer you. No one can love you the way I love you. Won’t you call me? Will you answer my knock? Will you invite me into your life? I won’t give up ever. Won’t you be mine?

“I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul,” Psalm 31:7.

The Unopened Gift

Conceived through the Spirit of the Most High God to a virgin mother;

Reconciling His Father’s love for the world, manifested in sister and brother.

The breath and seed of God's great plan blossomed in miraculous birth,

A blessing for all people - His agape love - bringing Peace on Earth.

Born in a manger made of wood,

He gave His life as only He could.

He laid down His head on a pillow of straw,

Then laid down His life to fulfill the Law.

The prophets knew, foretold to many, of this impending day.

Who knew, or thought, or understood, He’d begin His life in hay.

The Child of God, His only Son – a gift to man was sent,

From Heaven’s throne into our midst to celebrate – not lament.

The Greatest King came down to Earth, in the flesh of a baby boy

To teach us mercy, love and grace, to give His Peace and Joy.

He traded in His Royal Crown to live among us all,

He took upon Him what was ours, and then He took our fall.

He lived His life with purpose and vision,

And left His command – the Great Commission.

“Live and love as I have done, speak to all and many –

Father said let none be lost, not one, not two, not any.”

God’s precious Son, who never sinned, but prayed for the elect,

An unopened Gift from God’s own hand, a gift that many reject.

With great passion and purpose from His birth to the Cross

This still wrapped gift is not only your loss.

He was born to seek out that which was lost, and to rebuke the devour

Will you still not unwrap God’s cherished gift? Open it this hour!

His life was short; our days are too – numbered, counted, and few

Choose now, today, whom you will serve – His life He gave for you.

Love came to us, from Heaven’s Gate – through His only Son,

To tell you the Good News my friend- You’re a chosen one!

Accept this gift – unwrap it now – it’s life’s eternal treasure

For the giver is God and God is Love – Love - in endless measure.

Make haste and open your gift today – please, don’t hesitate

For when He comes, a second time, it will be too late.

Love came down at Christmastime so you and I could live;

Love returned and sent His Spirit so you and I could give.

May the Peace, Grace, and Joy of our Saviour be with you today and always. Merry Christmas to all my brothers and sisters in Christ – I love you all and pray for you daily. Love Hope.

Sincerely Yours

You’ve been calling out to me. I’m writing you to tell you that I’ve heard you; your calls have come to me in a heavenly fragrance. You haven’t heard my response; you’ve been listening to the sound of your tears above my still small voice.

I thought I’d try to reach you by writing you a letter, something you can save and treasure throughout the ages until I can hold you in my arms and wipe away all your tears.

Do you really understand how much I love you? I know this time isn’t an easy time for you. I know that thoughts have been saturating your mind, your heart, your soul, sapping away at your strength. Remember, I am your strength. I love you with an unfailing love. It breaks my heart to see you beating yourself up the way you do. Please, please stop. Don’t you realize that I gave my son so that you could find rest in him, so that you and I could be connected? Can you fathom how far my love reaches?

I know that you’re trying not to worry about things you don’t understand. Rest assured in my love. Stop trying so hard to understand the whys, whos, hows, and whens. My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than yours. You will understand one day, this I promise.

It’s not my will to see you in pain. It’s my will that you see me through your pain, that you understand my love which surpasses any feelings you have.

I see in you what you fail to see in yourself. I look beyond your flesh, your bones, your transgressions and your feelings. I see into the depths of your very soul. My spirit speaks directly to yours and when they connect, we are one – inseparable. Look beyond the reflections of this world. Look inwardly – for it is there you will find me – always – without fail.

I’m not hurt when you cry out, “Where are you, Lord.” I know that when all this blows over, you see that I was with you all along. Don’t be upset with yourself. I can handle whatever life throws at you. I can handle whatever you throw at me. I don’t get angry with you. Your sincerity is what I love about you. In your most vulnerable moments, I shine through you. Let them see me, reveal me through your heart.

Don’t be afraid. Depend on me. Trust in me. Lean your head against me; feel my heart beating for you. Feel my spirit being breathed into you. Live and love like there is no tomorrow.

I am with you always until the end of age, when we will be together for all eternity.

Sincerely yours,

Jesus

Thanksgiving

I thank you, Father, that you love me so much that you would have sent your Son for me and me alone. I can never begin to express my love and appreciation for your sacrifice. I will never be able to fathom a love so deep and uncompromising that you gave what you loved most. This love you shared with Jesus, this love and reverence that he carried in his heart for you included me.

I thank you, Jesus for your love. I thank you for the time you spent being homeless. I thank you for all the time you spent away from your family. I thank you for putting up with all the ridicule, disrespect and mockery, for facing the loneliness when you were abandoned by your friends. When justice did not prevail your loving kindness did. I thank you for the physical and emotional torture you endured. I thank you that your love for me embraced the cross. While history teaches that three nails held you to the cross, your infallible word teaches that it was your love that kept you there. Thank you for what must have seemed an eternity of separation between you and your beloved Father. Because you expressed your love, I’ve been adopted into your family. Those nails were meant for me.

While I wish I could say that I would have done the same for you, we both know that wouldn’t be true. If I am purified today, it’s only by virtue of your incomprehensible love for me.

I thank you for the two children you left with me, to care for, until you come back. I thank you for trusting me with them and everyone else you place on my paths. I boldly ask you bless me abundantly with the gifts of your Spirit to enable you to use me as you see fit.

To you my Sweet Saviour, to you I give my love. To you I give my heart, my everything. I surrender to you in love and thanksgiving.

A Father's Love Letter

Still Waiting

I’m so glad you’re reading this letter. I’ve been trying to get your attention for some time now, yes – you. You have no idea how I’ve desired to have these few moments together, just you and I – so I could tell you what’s been on my mind – how I feel.

I saw you looking up at the full moon last night. I watched its brilliance dance off the reflection in your eyes. I was trying to get your attention but, your mind was somewhere else; you were worried about something. I wanted nothing more than to be there for you – to hold you and make everything alright. I tried to dry a lone tear from your cheek with the summer breeze from your balcony but, you closed the door and turned on the air conditioning. I watched you as you tossed and turned.

You’re so beautiful when you sleep. Sometimes, when you’re really soundly asleep, I’ll pick you up and hold you; sometimes I’ll even rock you. I just want to be with you.

You got up a couple of times during the night. You didn’t see me at the end of your bed. I wanted to wrap you under my wing and keep the chill off you but you pulled the blanket up over your head.

In the morning, I sent a bird outside your window to serenade you. I guess you didn’t like that song because you put your head between the pillows. I let you sleep a little longer. I wanted so desperately to give you my peace to start your day.

I know things haven’t been all that great for you lately. You’ve been going through some stuff. I hear your secret thoughts. I don’t mean to intrude – it’s just that I love you so much that I just know what you need before you need it. I long to give it to you, but you don’t seem to want ask –not for the really important things anyway. You seem to think that my love comes with strings attached. It doesn’t. I wish I could convince you of that. I won’t give up on you no matter how far away you try and push me. I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. I’m just waiting here at the door. All you have to do is seek me and when you seek me with all your heart, I’ll be found.

I saw you with some of your friends today. You were standing outside complaining about the heat; I sent a little sun shower to cool you off but, then you began complaining about the rain. So, I sent you a rainbow to remind you of my everlasting pledge to you. Someone pointed it out to you and you allowed yourself to enjoy it however briefly. I haven’t seen you smile from your heart for too long. My eyes filled with tears – sorry – but, I made it rain again.

Later on, you were sitting at your computer reading something, kind of the way you are now, you were awe struck – you had a lump in your throat and you tried several times to choke it back. You didn’t realize that what you were trying to keep inside was love. It’s a love I placed inside you before you were born. I gave it to you as a gift – to do with as you pleased but to be honest I was hoping against hope that you would want to share some of it with me. You see love is something that needs expression to grow otherwise it dies. It seeks expression because love grows as it sows. I don’t know what you were reading but it sure had your attention. For a second or two, I was jealous. I wished that you would have fixed your attention that intently on me. I saw another tear roll down your cheek; this time, it was my tear.

I long for you to love even a portion of the love I have for you. I keep sending people to show you and tell you about my love for you because you won’t listen to me, or you don’t believe me. I’m not angry with you. How could I be? My love for you abounds – it knows no limit, no condition. I’m patient. I’ll wait – for as long as it takes, I’ll wait for you to draw near to me and when you do I will draw nearer to you. I will set your feet upon a rock. I will protect you. I will comfort you. I will forgive and forget. I will show you mercy and compassion and clothe you in my unfailing love.

I will wait as long as it takes because I love you.

Abiding Love

For my First Love:

There I stood barely breathing, secluded in the barren field, tormented, scarred and scorched like a sunflower in the midday sun. You came to me. Did you hear my call? For your hand was outstretched and beckoned me. You lead me to a garden that I had only dreamed of. Your kindness touched me to the depth of my very soul, leaving me weak but secure within your strength.

Who am I that you should look upon me with your loving heart, that you should call me friend and lover? In my wonder, I see my reflection in your eyes and I see that I am beautiful. You say of me that I am more precious than all the gold and sapphires. Yet, I know it is because I am in the shadow of your love. Your voice is a melody to my ears and your name the song of my heart. Your words are my sustenance. I am enveloped by your love. You have made me your bride before all who see. Your love radiates in me, a beacon in the darkness of night. You keep me under your wing. Your kiss replenishes my hope, for with you, I am perfect because you love me.

I give myself to you wholly: body, soul, heart and mind. Because I am in you and you in me we are one – inseparable, betrothed, woven together into one fabric. You are my perfect love. Your arms warm me in the coolness of the night; their strength rescues me from the thorns. Your love speaks promises of eternity. You hold me in high esteem crowning my head with your glory. From you flows quenching waters. I thirst for you, my love. You fill me. You complete me.

Was I not once weather beaten by the winds? Was I not once a tree stripped of her bark? No more. You are my refuge, my shelter from the elements. My heart, once buried in the tomb of the world, is now alive. Your beauty illuminates my essence. I delight in you. My heart leaps in my bosom at your sight. I cannot contain myself. I am a wild flower blossoming in love. I am a bird gliding and soaring, a river that cannot be contained. Because you take my breath away, again I am barely breathing.