"Love Letters"

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth."-Song of Solomon 1:2

Dear Friends,

A few nights ago, i was up in the attic, rummaging around searching for some special treasures. I wasn't sure they were up there, but I had a hunch so I started looking through a few old boxes that had my first pair of Nike basketball shoes that my husband had bought me in the 10th grade. We met when I was 14 and he was 19. They were white leather high tops with a black Nike swoosh...i loved those shoes and i imagined they made me run faster and jump higher on the basketball court. I saw a scrapbook that had a picture of yellow roses that Johnny sent me for Valentines one year we were dating and in that scrapbook is still the red cellophane wrapper from a box of heartshape chocolates he gave me when we were dating. There was an old high school annual, trophies from softball and volleyball, a pair of blue knee pads from my college basketball days, and a book of poems i had written during high school containing some of my deepest emotions from those days. The LORD didn't disappoint me in my search, and there in one of the boxes was "exceeding abundantly beyond all i ask or thought." I found some "love letters" that my husband had written me before we got married. We dated for 4 years during my high school and junior college years. Not only was Johnny pursuing me during those years, but the "Lover of My Soul," was also pursuing me, and CHRIST captured me to be HIS bride, the end of my sophomore year in college. I stopped dating Johnny then because he wasn't a CHRISTian and the HOLY SPIRIT was teaching me from GOD's WORD that i wasn't supposed to be dating someone who wasn't a CHRISTian. II Cor. 6:14 Little did I know, a month after i became a CHRISTian that GOD would save Johnny, when he was all alone down in his basement reading through the gospel of John. GOD broke his heart over his sins. That summer we dated a little but after going to a Bill Gothard conference together i really felt the LORD was leading me not to date him anymore, and it broke his heart. Later that summer, i went off to school at the University of Montevallo, and he stayed home and worked for General Motors. He was back home praying as hard as he could the LORD would change my heart, and wrote me "love letters," while i was at Montevallo. I had forgotten about these letters to be honest, when i was looking for his "love letters," to me,(i was looking for cards he'd written me since we have been married) but, oh, what precious memories these letters brought back, as i felt the tender emotion that my husband (my wanna be husband then), had written them with. They rekindled a new passion in my heart for my dear husband after i read his "love letters," and I gained an understanding of the difficult time that was for him as he walked in faith, praying the LORD would open my heart to him. It was so sweet to read in them about Johnny's growth in the LORD as a young CHRISTian. He wrote about how he was reading the WORD, spending time in prayer, going to church, and being encouraged by some older men in CHRIST. He wrote about the desires CHRIST was putting into his heart about the future, possibly about going back to school and becoming a medical doctor and going to the foreign mission field, and he wrote about his love for me. He did go back to school, but didn't go the medical school route. Instead he finished in business and psychology and went on to seminary and got his Master's in Theology preparing for the foreign mission field. After i got sick, our foreign mission field became our home town, and that's where the LORD has kept us the past 16 plus years. As i read, he wrote about how he was trusting GOD in our relationship before he won me over and he wrote how he couldn't believe how quickly the LORD changed my heart after he'd won me over and he was so happy. He said some other really tender things that are so dear to my heart. After the LORD won me over through Johnny's unconditional love, we went out once after we had been broken up for several months, and he proposed to me. I said "yes," Thanksgiving weekend 1982, and we were married the following May 28. I am so thankful i did say, "yes," and my husband has kept his promises to me for the past 26 years and loved me as CHRIST loves HIS bride, the Church. GOD has allowed our journey of marriage to take many twists and turns, and we've experienced good times, bad times, sad times, and joyful times and how i thank the LORD for my dear husband who has stood by me, "for better or for worse, for richer or for poor, in sickness and in health, til death do us part." When he got home from work night after i had read those letters he wanted to know what was up with me... he could tell I was really glad to see him, my welcome home kiss to him was a little more enthusiastic than usual. Hannah Beth told him i had just gotten through reading some of his "love letters," to me. Well, 26 years later, i can say GOD used those letters to "woo" my heart to my husband then, and he's still using them to "woo" my heart to him.

I recently the biography of John Newton's life and what a sweet, sweet love story his life was...that of JESUS CHRIST "wooing" him and loving him unconditionally through years of John Newton being a reprobate, turning his back on the LORD, becoming an atheist through the influence of false teaching, blaspheming the LORD, and doing all he could to persuade others to turn their backs on CHRIST. I know i mentioned him several times in my emails in recent weeks as the one who wrote the great hymn "Amazing Grace," but after i read his biography i have such a greater appreciation of just why he wrote "Amazing Grace." John Newton you remember, was greatly influenced by John Wesley, who was saved when he was 35 after being very legalistic and thought he was a CHRISTian for years, and George Whitefield, the Great Awakening preacher. John Newton's mom, was a Dissenter from the Church of England, which meant that she didn't believe in the formal ritualistic teaching of the church of England, but being saved by grace alone through JESUS CHRIST. She was a godly mother and she taught John how to read the Scriptures by the time he was four and he could read Latin at age six. He was only 7 years old when his beloved Mother who prayed that he would become a pastor one day, died. John's Dad remarried, and John resented his stepmother, and never felt like she loved him and did not have a good relationship with his Dad. He became a bitter and angry young man, and was very rebellious. Except for a brief period in his young teens when he became "reformed," John became a true reprobate...carousing with the women, swearing, disobedient, lying to his Dad, undependable, and a real trouble maker on the ships he worked on. In the biography it tells over and over of times that GOD intervened in John Newton's life to either save him from death, break him of his stubborn and rebellious pride, direct his paths to people who helped him, and finally to lead him to a saving faith in the LORD JESUS CHRIST when he went through a terrible storm and the ship he was on almost sunk.
One of the sweet themes throughout the book is the supernatural and enduring love God gave him for his wife...they had such a sweet and intimate relationship. He met her when he was 17 and she was 14 and he loved her throughout all the trials and struggles and separations he went through being on slave ships for years. He begged her to write him, while he was away...and to wait for him to marry her. Though she didn't return his love very much during those years, he continued to love her through all the obstacles he had to endure to win her heart. He was kidnapped by a "Press Gang," and made to join the Enlish Navy. On one of the ships John was on, he would read the Bible so he could make fun of GOD to those on the ship. Eventually, GOD used HIS word from HIS "love letters," to break John's heart over his sin. Many,many months and trials later, he made it back to England, a new creature in CHRIST. The girl he loved so much, and wrote love letters to was still not married, and GOD gave John Newton the desire of his heart, and she became his Bride. GOD in HIS sweet love for John Newton, though such a reprobate and blasphemer, saved him, not because he deserved it, but because of GOD's amazing love for him. GOD replaced John's anger and bitterness with HIS love and he went on to become a pastor as his Mother had prayed, a hymnwriter, and beloved husband. GOD use John Newton so mightily in England and around the world as he was instrumental in the slave trade being abolished. He was the one who because of his background in the slave trade, was able to influence William Wilberforce, a Christian and member of Parliament to fight against the slave trade, and to stay in politics to make a difference for CHRIST. What an inspiring story of GOD's "wooing" and redeeming love in the life of John Newton. Now, when i sing "Amazing Grace," i have a much greater appreciation of the amazing love that CHRIST had for John Newton and for me and you to "woo" us to HIM through HIS unfathamable love for you and me.

I have been thinking so much recently of GOD's "love letters" to me and how much JESUS loves me...how much HE pursued me as a teenager, when i was walking in sin and the paths of the world. JESUS just kept loving me and pursuing me and never let me go. HE won my heart, captured it , one March night in 1982, and i have been HIS bride ever since. HE has kept loving me and "wooing," me through this journey of life and truly "the longer i serve HIM, the sweeter HE grows." I have read through HIS "love letters," many times through the years, and each year, HIS "love letters," become more and more dear to me, as HE helps me understand more and more how much HE loves me. HE truly is the "Lover of our Soul," and is our Husband, and pursues us, and cares for us so very tenderly. When HE saved me from my sins, HE instantly gave me a supernatural love for HIS "Love Letters,", and opened my eyes to understand HIS WORD in a way that i never had before. Thankfully, HE has kept that supernatural thirst in my heart for HIS "love letters" and in it HE :


- "Woos" me to HIM through HIS HOLY SPIRIT:

"No one can come to ME unless the FATHER who sent ME draws him..." John 6:44
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3.

- He shows me HIS path to salvation:

"that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."
I Corinthians 15:3-4, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9
"But GOD, who is rich in mercy, for HIS great love wherewith HE loved us,even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with CHRIST, (by grace ye are saved;) Ephesians 2:4,

-Keeps me from sin:

"Thy WORD have i hid in my heart that i might not sin against THEE." Psalm 119:11

He reminds me over and over and over how very much HE loves me and you:

"For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"And I will betroth thee unto ME forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto ME in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies." Hosea 2:19

"He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth ME: and he that loveth ME shall be loved of my FATHER, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." John 14:21-oh the sweet, sweet kisses of JESUS that manifests HIMself to us.

"But of HIM you are in CHRIST JESUS, who became for us wisdom from GOD-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."I Corinthians 1:30

I could go on and on and on and on and on, and not began to touch the surface of the depth of love that our JESUS, our Bridegroom, our Redeemer shares with us in HIS "love letters," to me and to you...you're just going to have to read HIS "love letters," yourself and find out how very sweet HIS kisses are, and how very much HE loves you and me.

Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, knew the deep, deep intimacy of the love of JESUS . He knew what the kisses of JESUS felt like, tasted like, and he shared that sweet and intimate love to all who would listen. In his April 1 Morning and Evening devotion book, he writes:


"Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth."
--Song of Solomon 1:2
For several days we have been dwelling upon the Saviour's passion, and for some little time to come we shall linger there. In beginning a new month, let us seek the same desires after our Lord as those which glowed in the heart of the elect spouse. See how she leaps at once to Him; there are no prefatory words; she does not even mention His name; she is in the heart of her theme at once, for she speaks of Him who was the only Him in the world to her. How bold is her love! It was much condescension which permitted the weeping penitent to anoint His feet with spikenard--it was rich love which allowed the gentle Mary to sit at His feet and learn of Him--but here, love, strong, fervent love, aspires to higher tokens of regard, and closer signs of fellowship. Esther trembled in the presence of Ahasuerus, but the spouse in joyful liberty of perfect love knows no fear. If we have received the same free spirit, we also may ask the like. By kisses we suppose to be intended those varied manifestations of affection by which the believer is made to enjoy the love of Jesus. The kiss of reconciliation we enjoyed at our conversion, and it was sweet as honey dropping from the comb.
The kiss of acceptance is still warm on our brow, as we know that He hath accepted our persons and our works through rich grace. The kiss of daily, present communion, is that which we pant after to be repeated day after day, till it is changed into the kiss of reception, which removes the soul from earth, and the kiss of consummation which fills it with the joy of heaven. Faith is our walk, but fellowship sensibly felt is our rest. Faith is the road, but communion with Jesus is the well from which the pilgrim drinks.
O Lover of our Souls, be not strange to us; let the lips of Thy blessing meet the lips of our asking; let the lips of Thy fulness touch the lips of our need, and straightway the kiss will be effected."


I have to confess, after reading those "love letters" from my husband sure did warm my heart towards him, and just reminded me how he loved me and pursued me, and wanted me, above all others to be his bride. What an honor and a privilege! JESUS wants you and me, above all others, to be HIS Bride. He has elected and chosen us and HE paid the price for our sins to redeem us from our sins, that we might be HIS forever and ever:

"Blessed be the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in CHRIST, just as HE chose us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before HIM in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by JESUS CHRIST to HIMself, according to the good pleasure of HIS will, to the praise of the glory of HIS grace, by which HE made us accepted in the BELOVED." Ephesians 1:3-6

HE wants us to spend time with HIM growing in our intimacy with HIM and letting "HIM kiss us with the kisses of HIS mouth." HE longs for us to spend time with HIM each morning, reading HIS "love letters," before the day begins. HE loves us, encourages us, gives us direction, wisdom, peace, assurance that HE is with us and "will never leave us or forsake us." HE gives us HIS strength for the day to obey HIM and serve HIM. HIS mercies are new every morning, and "all i have needed Thy hand hath provided, GREAT is THY Faithfulness, LORD unto me"...the Lover of My Soul.

Taranda Greene, www.thegreenesgospel.com sings a beautiful song that Dottie Rambo wrote called "Love Letters," on their "Far Down the Road," CD. Dottie Rambo went home to be with the LORD last year after much suffering in this life and now she is in the presence of the "Lover of her Soul," JESUS CHRIST. I wish i could share a recording of Taranda singing this song with you because she sings it with such tender emotion. It goes straight to your heart of the depth of love JESUS has for us, as HE reminds us how much HE loves us, and wants to "name us and claim us as HIS own..."
JESUS is still "wooing" today, those who don't know HIM as LORD and SAVIOR yet. HE wants "to claim you and name you HIS own." Surrender your life to HIM today, the LOVER of YOUR SOUL, before it is too late. Let HIM who gave HIS life for me and you, "kiss us with the kisses of HIS mouth." May we drink deeply of our SAVIOR's love and feast on HIS "love letters," written to HIS BRIDE, you and me.

With all HIS love,
mitzi


"Love Letters" by Dottie Rambo

"I was going through memories and treasures today
Found YOUR love letters I'd hidden away
There was tender emotion with each stroke of YOUR pen
I opened the letters and read them again.

Then I counted the gifts YOU had given so free
YOU never stopped giving with no word from me
They were wrapped with silk ribbons with notes marked in red
I turned through the pages, here's what YOU said

Chorus:
Remember I love you with a love I have loved you
I'd like to claim you, name you my own
Remember I love you with a love I have loved you
When you doubt that I do count the tears scattered through
MY love letters to you

By the light of the candle I picked up my pen
Words don't come easy how do I begin
Oh I pray I've not waited to long to reply
Angel bear my letter to my love in the sky

Just read your answer with tears in my eyes
And YOU tell me that the stage has been set for the GROOM and the BRIDE
Oh i shutter to think just how sad life would be
If I had never read YOUR love letters to me.