love

Valentine love from my husband

This was posted on my church's website by a lovely lady named Carolyn Bahr.

Blessed me immensely, thought it would you too.   

A Letter to My Beloved Daughter

My Precious Child,

Today, I want to remind you how much I love you. You are a crown of beauty in my hands and I delight in you. (Isaiah 62:3-4)

I, the Creator of the Heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1), am your Abba, Papa-God (Rom.8:15). Long before I laid down the earth’s foundations, I chose you as the focus of my love, to be made whole and holy by my love. (Ephesians 1:4) I wasn’t attracted to you and didn’t choose you because you were big and important—the fact is, there was almost nothing to you. I did it out of sheer love, keeping the promise I made to your ancestors. I stepped in and brought you out of slavery. I amYOUR God, a God you can depend on. I covenant to love you for you observe my commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:7-9) I formed you in your mother’s womb…I know every bone in your body (Psalm 139:13-16) and the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30).

Nothing can separate you from my love – neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing… NOTHING can separate you from my love (Romans 8:35-38 ). There is no where that you can run, where you are out of my sight. If you go up to the heavens, I’m there. If you fly on the wings of the dawn, I’m there!  If you settle on the far side of the sea, I’m there! I know when you sit. I know when you stand. I even know the very words you are going to say before you speak them (Psalm 139:1-12). I KNOW YOU!

Don’t be afraid, I have redeemed you. I have called your name. You are mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end—Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.  (Isaiah 43:1-4)

I love you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 3:13) I am theLORD your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, Do not fear, I will help you.  (Isaiah 41:13) My Loyal love will not run out. My mercies will never dry up. They are created new for you every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-24)

I long to stack blessings upon you. I wait with arms wide open to provide an escape from this unkind world you live in. I will hide you safely away from all opposition and silence all gossip against you. (Psalm 31:21)

I forgive all your sins – every one! I heal all your diseases – every one! I redeem you from hell – save your life! I crown you with love and mercy – a paradise crown! I wrap you in goodness – beauty eternal! I renew your youth – you’re always young in my presence! (Psalm 103:3-5)

I make everything come out right; I am sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, and rich in love for you! I don’t treat you as your sin deserves, or hold grudges forever. In fact, I have separated your sin as far is the east is from the west. I dare you to try to take it back! Remember, my daughter, my love is ever and always eternally present to you. (Psalm 103:6-12) My love is higher than you can ever imagine!  Every cloud is a flag to my faithfulness to you. I will reveal my glory to you, dear one, and will reach down to help you when you call to me. (Psalm 108:3-6)

I know what I’m doing, Dear One. I have it all planned out for you—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed. (Jeremiah 29:11-14) I know all your needs. I can provide for them all. (Matthew 6:8) I am your portion. I am enough. (Psalm 73:25-28) Don’t forget to ask – and it will be given to you. Seek – and you will find. Knock and I will always open my door for you.  (Matthew 7:7-8)

My beloved, I know you struggle to understand and receive my love. I, your God, will cut the calluses on your heart and on your children’s hearts, freeing you to understand and receive my love. (Deuteronomy 30:6) If you will let me, I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. l’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands (Ezekiel 36:26:27)

I am generous in love, huge in mercy and long to extend grace to you, my child. I will scrub away your guilt and soak out your sins in my laundry. (Psalm 51:1) I will set things right for you and rescue you from your enemy’s anger. I will save you from bullies. I am your Rock and towering Salvation! (2 Samuel 22:50-51) 

I am here to be your cheerleader (Yeah! Rah!) and to help you persevere. My love will hold you fast. When you are upset and beside yourself, I will calm you down and cheer you up. (Psalm 94:17-19) I will listen to you very intently as you lay out your case before me. When you call out for help, I will be gracious and save your life. It is I who makes things right. I am a compassionate God who loves to take the side of the helpless; when you are at the end of your rope, I will save you! (Psalm 116:1)

You must know that I am not a high priest who is out of touch with reality. I’ve been through weakness and testing. I’ve experienced it all – all but the sin. So, walk right up to me and come and get what I am willing and ready to give. Take my mercy and accept my help! (Hebrews 4:14-16) 

If your heart is shattered, do not despair. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape my attention. (Psalm 51:16) I love you and will make you strong. I am the bedrock beneath your feet, the castle in which you live. I am your rescuing knight. I am the high crag in the rock where you can seek shelter. (Psalm 18:1)

Look for my love, my child. I am ready and waiting to come to your rescue in bad times. In lean times, I will keep your body and soul together. (Psalm 23:6) My love for you is meteoric, my loyalty astronomic, my purpose titanic, my verdicts oceanic. Yet, in my largeness, nothing gets lost; not you or even a mouse slips through the cracks. (Psalm 36:5) I will remember you when you are down, my love never quits. I will rescue you from the trampling boot, my love never quits. I take care of everyone in time of need.  My love never quits. My love never quits! (Psalm136)

My darling, did you know that I rejoice over you with singing? (Zephaniah 3:17)  Here is some perspective for you…I love you with the same intensity that I love my son, Jesus! (John 17:23, Ephesians 2:4-5) I will guard you as the apple of my eye. I will never abandon you. I will never, no NEVER, forsake you. (Deuteronomy 32:10, Hebrews 13:5)

I will never betray you or take my love from you. I will not fail you.  (Psalm 89:33-34) You are my possession, a special treasure. Don’t ever forget it. (Exodus 19:5-6)

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me, my child. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matthew 11:28-30) 

Come to me and I will strengthen you by my Spirit – not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength – that my Son, Jesus Christ, will live in you as you open the door and invite Him in. I will firmly plant your feet in love so that you can take in all the extravagant dimensions of my love for you! Reach out and experience the breadth of it! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives in me. I can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever guess or imagine or request in your wildest dreams! I am at work within you, my Spirit gently calling you to a deeper relationship with me. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

Come, my daughter! Come! My arms are open wide. I am waiting to hold and shelter you in my loving embrace. Come! Say, “Yes!” to my extravagant proposal of eternal life, freedom and intimacy now and forever! 

Believe!

Receive! 

Come!

I love you!

Your Heavenly Father