Day of Love

So again, I am a little late on this post.
BUT better late than never!

I received a letter this past week from one of my leaders in high school.  How fun is that?  I am 24 years old and my leader for Young Life in HIGH SCHOOL still keeps in contact with me... that is awesome!  She usually just drops little notes here and there but it is always such a blessing to hear from her.
She sent me a note, with a picture taken a couple of years ago and this letter somebody wrote from God.

I wanted to share it with you.  It is a letter that takes God's words and puts them in a letter.  So every word in this letter is in scripture.

Dear Child,

You may not know Me, but I know everything about you... I know when you sit down and when you rise up.  Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.  For you were made in My image.  In Me you live and move and have your being.  I knew you even before you were conceived.  I chose you when I planned creation.  You were not a mistake.  For all your days are written in My book.  I determined the exact time of your birth and where you live.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made.  I knit you together in your mothers womb.  I brought you forth on the day you were born.  I have been misrepresented by those who don't know Me.  I am not distant and angry, but I am the complete expression of love.  I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.  For I am the perfect Father.  Every good gift that you receive comes from My hand.  For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.  My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.  Because I love you with an everlasting love.  My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore.  And I rejoice over you with singing.  I will never stop doing good to you.  For you are My treasured possession.  I desire to establish you with all My heart and all My soul.  And I want to show you great and marvelous things.  If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me.  Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart.  For it is I who gave you those desires.  I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine.  For I am your greatest encourager.  I am the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you.  As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to My heart.  One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes.  And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.  I am your Father and I love you even as I love My son, Jesus.  For in Jesus My love for you is revealed.  He is the exact representation of My being.  And He came to demonstrate that I am for you and not against you.  And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.  Jesus died that you and I could be reconciled.  His death was the ultimate expression of My love for you.  I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love.  If you receive the gift of My son Jesus you receive Me.  And nothing will separate you from My love again.  Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.

I have always been Father and will always be Father.

I am waiting for you.

Love,
Your Father

I just think it is perfect on the day of Love to think about God and His love for us.  We are only able to show love because He first loved us.  I think it is awesome that we have a day where we are actually showing God's love all day when we love others.  Because He is love.  And I think that it is sad that on this day people are actually showing a love that is not real, because so many do not know the real love, Jesus.  So I pray that on this day (or week or whenever) you can take these words above and that they would be real in your hearts.  Because the only true love is the love that comes from the Father.