What if you looked in your mailbox and found an envelope marked with Heaven as the return address? The world says many things about us. What does God say? The next several months we will display a new postcard with a new message. These postcards were written by one of the teens in our church.
POSTCARD #1
Dear child of earth,
You might claim you do not know me, but you do. I am the One who created you. I am all around in creation from a snowfall to the stars to a bird’s song. I am the One your soul searches for; I am the only One who can fill that empty place and longing in your heart.
But you are not Mine. You have committed crimes against Me, and you have not sought to know Me. This is a very grave matter, child of earth. Your soul hangs in the balance; it does not end when your life does. It continues in one of two places: in Heaven with Me, or in Hell with Satan, the prince of this world.
Where will you stay for eternity? That is the choice every man or woman must make. It is the choice you must make: not your parents, not your friends, not your pastor or priest. You. No, you think. No, I am a good person. I am not that bad! You have just added pride to the list of wrongdoings that condemns you.
Have you had an idol? No, I don’t speak of the figures made out of iron or brass. I speak of anything that you have placed above Me, whether money, romance, belongings, knowledge, or yourself. I know you have, child, because you have not made Me the love and joy of your life. There must be something in My place. That is idolatry, and it is against My perfect law.
Have you ever looked at your neighbor’s car and longed for it? Have you ever spoken the name of the Lord as an exclamation, as a curse word? Have you ever watched a show, looked at a picture on the Internet, seen a woman in the grocery store, and imagined what you would do with her if you were in a room alone? That is as bad in My sight as if you had actually performed the act. Have you ever felt hatred toward another man? That is the same in my sight as if you had murdered him.
But, you say, those standards are impossible!
You are right; no man can meet them. Only my Son could.
My precious Son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for you. He took every sin you—and every man—had and would ever commit. He took every curse word, every lie, every unkind word, every lustful thought, every theft, every murder, and received the punishment for them. In Heaven, He had riches, adoration, and praise. He left that to experience human pain, human tears, and human rejection. He left that to be whipped, spit on, and hung on a cross. He left that to feel the weight of every sin committed since the world’s beginning and to be separated from Me while He bled on the Cross.
He left that to save you.
Please accept His gift, child of this world. I want you to be a child of Mine, a child of the King. I want to set you free from sin. I want to give you a peace, joy, and fulfillment through Me that the world does not and cannot offer. Don’t delay. Life is uncertain! Recognize your need, and cry out to me. Anyone who calls to me with a truly searching and repentant heart will not be ignored or turned away. I promise.
Love, God
You might claim you do not know me, but you do. I am the One who created you. I am all around in creation from a snowfall to the stars to a bird’s song. I am the One your soul searches for; I am the only One who can fill that empty place and longing in your heart.
But you are not Mine. You have committed crimes against Me, and you have not sought to know Me. This is a very grave matter, child of earth. Your soul hangs in the balance; it does not end when your life does. It continues in one of two places: in Heaven with Me, or in Hell with Satan, the prince of this world.
Where will you stay for eternity? That is the choice every man or woman must make. It is the choice you must make: not your parents, not your friends, not your pastor or priest. You. No, you think. No, I am a good person. I am not that bad! You have just added pride to the list of wrongdoings that condemns you.
Have you had an idol? No, I don’t speak of the figures made out of iron or brass. I speak of anything that you have placed above Me, whether money, romance, belongings, knowledge, or yourself. I know you have, child, because you have not made Me the love and joy of your life. There must be something in My place. That is idolatry, and it is against My perfect law.
Have you ever looked at your neighbor’s car and longed for it? Have you ever spoken the name of the Lord as an exclamation, as a curse word? Have you ever watched a show, looked at a picture on the Internet, seen a woman in the grocery store, and imagined what you would do with her if you were in a room alone? That is as bad in My sight as if you had actually performed the act. Have you ever felt hatred toward another man? That is the same in my sight as if you had murdered him.
But, you say, those standards are impossible!
You are right; no man can meet them. Only my Son could.
My precious Son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for you. He took every sin you—and every man—had and would ever commit. He took every curse word, every lie, every unkind word, every lustful thought, every theft, every murder, and received the punishment for them. In Heaven, He had riches, adoration, and praise. He left that to experience human pain, human tears, and human rejection. He left that to be whipped, spit on, and hung on a cross. He left that to feel the weight of every sin committed since the world’s beginning and to be separated from Me while He bled on the Cross.
He left that to save you.
Please accept His gift, child of this world. I want you to be a child of Mine, a child of the King. I want to set you free from sin. I want to give you a peace, joy, and fulfillment through Me that the world does not and cannot offer. Don’t delay. Life is uncertain! Recognize your need, and cry out to me. Anyone who calls to me with a truly searching and repentant heart will not be ignored or turned away. I promise.
Love, God
- John 3:16-18— 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
- Romans 10:9 - 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.
POSTCARD #2
Hello, Dear Child of Mine!
It is my delight to write that name. Never let the business of life, or the doubts and fears the Devil hurls at you, wipe away that truth from your mind. You have cried out to Me, and I have answered. You are bought with my own Son’s blood. You are mine.
Dear one, the condition of one’s belongings reflects on its owner. You are a mirror; do not let smudges and smears to tarnish the image of Me that you show to the world. So many have been turned away and claim no desire to know Me because of Christian friends or family who have hurt them with some careless word or deed. Each of your actions has an effect that ripples far, far beyond you. Please, Little One, I do not want you to bear that guilt: the guilt of hearing someone bitterly renounce My name because of your unwise decision. I want you to be pure.
That may seem impossible in these times you live in, but nothing truly is. Not with Me! I’ll bring the paper towels and the glass cleaner; you bring a willing heart. Allow Me to cleanse you.
You will make mistakes, Dear One; you may one day carry the guilt I have spoken of. But do not despair! I sent my beloved Son, the Prince of Heaven, to rescue you with His death when all you had to offer me were pitiful, outward good works: filthy rags. Why do you think that after you make a mistake, I would quit on you? The work in your heart still goes on. Know this, Dear One! My love for you will never fail, and I never run out of paper towels.
Love,
Your Father
It is my delight to write that name. Never let the business of life, or the doubts and fears the Devil hurls at you, wipe away that truth from your mind. You have cried out to Me, and I have answered. You are bought with my own Son’s blood. You are mine.
Dear one, the condition of one’s belongings reflects on its owner. You are a mirror; do not let smudges and smears to tarnish the image of Me that you show to the world. So many have been turned away and claim no desire to know Me because of Christian friends or family who have hurt them with some careless word or deed. Each of your actions has an effect that ripples far, far beyond you. Please, Little One, I do not want you to bear that guilt: the guilt of hearing someone bitterly renounce My name because of your unwise decision. I want you to be pure.
That may seem impossible in these times you live in, but nothing truly is. Not with Me! I’ll bring the paper towels and the glass cleaner; you bring a willing heart. Allow Me to cleanse you.
You will make mistakes, Dear One; you may one day carry the guilt I have spoken of. But do not despair! I sent my beloved Son, the Prince of Heaven, to rescue you with His death when all you had to offer me were pitiful, outward good works: filthy rags. Why do you think that after you make a mistake, I would quit on you? The work in your heart still goes on. Know this, Dear One! My love for you will never fail, and I never run out of paper towels.
Love,
Your Father
- Matthew 5:16—Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20—What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
- Ephesians 5:8-10—For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
POSTCARD # 3
Hello, my Treasure.
I see you as you scroll through the news, as you sigh at the troubles your world has gotten itself into. Yes, dearest, I agree it’s a mess. So many have turned away from me; so many refuse to do what is right. Your world suffers because of it.
But no! Don’t let your brow furrow with worry that way. Don’t keep your eyes on the world, on what other people are saying or doing. Keep your eyes on Me. Peter looked down at the waves, and he began to fear. When His eyes were fixed on me, He knew Who ruled the waves, and he had peace.
I rule them still, dearest. The storms of life still answer to my command.
Look at the years my people spent moaning under the whips and hot sun of Egypt. Look at the years Israel was scattered and ruled by barbaric kings. Look at the day my Son was crucified, when my children wept and even the sun was darkened.
Everything looked hopeless then, even as they look hopeless to you now. But I was in control. I am still in control now.
Nothing—no war, famine, threat, political party, or even death—can separate you from My arms. Nothing. You might not be able to see My hand at work, but trust that it is there. You may not be able to see My plan, but believe that I have one.
You may feel powerless in your dark times, Little One, but you have a choice to make. It will not be an easy one to uphold, not when anxiety or depression grip you in their clutches, but it is worth it. Dearest, chose to Trust Me.
And rest in this promise, Little One: This world is still mine. And one day soon, I will make it new.
Love,
Your Father
I see you as you scroll through the news, as you sigh at the troubles your world has gotten itself into. Yes, dearest, I agree it’s a mess. So many have turned away from me; so many refuse to do what is right. Your world suffers because of it.
But no! Don’t let your brow furrow with worry that way. Don’t keep your eyes on the world, on what other people are saying or doing. Keep your eyes on Me. Peter looked down at the waves, and he began to fear. When His eyes were fixed on me, He knew Who ruled the waves, and he had peace.
I rule them still, dearest. The storms of life still answer to my command.
Look at the years my people spent moaning under the whips and hot sun of Egypt. Look at the years Israel was scattered and ruled by barbaric kings. Look at the day my Son was crucified, when my children wept and even the sun was darkened.
Everything looked hopeless then, even as they look hopeless to you now. But I was in control. I am still in control now.
Nothing—no war, famine, threat, political party, or even death—can separate you from My arms. Nothing. You might not be able to see My hand at work, but trust that it is there. You may not be able to see My plan, but believe that I have one.
You may feel powerless in your dark times, Little One, but you have a choice to make. It will not be an easy one to uphold, not when anxiety or depression grip you in their clutches, but it is worth it. Dearest, chose to Trust Me.
And rest in this promise, Little One: This world is still mine. And one day soon, I will make it new.
Love,
Your Father
- Psalm 27: 1, 3,4—The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
- Philippians 4:6-7—Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
POSTCARD # 4
Hello, Beloved!
I am a God of pleasure.
I chuckle because I know you will do a double take and read it again. Yes, that was not a typo. I am a God of pleasure.
No, I do not use the word “pleasure” to mean sinful indulgences. It means the blessings that I as Your Father delight in giving to you, My child.
Find pleasure in the sunset, but do not worship the creation above the Creator. Find pleasure in that new book you bought with the extra money I supplied, but don’t neglect reading the most precious Book of all: the Bible, My Words to you.
I give you many daily pleasures—blessings— to be enjoyed. Enjoy them! But even innocent pleasures can grow into an obsession or something that distracts you from Me. Dear One, I want you to find your heart’s greatest pleasure in Me! Any earthly pleasure is like a crumb of a saltine compared to a table loaded down with a feast.
There is pleasure in serving Me! There is pleasure in speaking to Me, in reading My Words to you! I want you to explore the wonder and pleasure of walking in fellowship with Me today. It is waiting for you. Don’t miss out!
Love,
Your Father
I am a God of pleasure.
I chuckle because I know you will do a double take and read it again. Yes, that was not a typo. I am a God of pleasure.
No, I do not use the word “pleasure” to mean sinful indulgences. It means the blessings that I as Your Father delight in giving to you, My child.
Find pleasure in the sunset, but do not worship the creation above the Creator. Find pleasure in that new book you bought with the extra money I supplied, but don’t neglect reading the most precious Book of all: the Bible, My Words to you.
I give you many daily pleasures—blessings— to be enjoyed. Enjoy them! But even innocent pleasures can grow into an obsession or something that distracts you from Me. Dear One, I want you to find your heart’s greatest pleasure in Me! Any earthly pleasure is like a crumb of a saltine compared to a table loaded down with a feast.
There is pleasure in serving Me! There is pleasure in speaking to Me, in reading My Words to you! I want you to explore the wonder and pleasure of walking in fellowship with Me today. It is waiting for you. Don’t miss out!
Love,
Your Father
- Ecclesiastes 2:24— There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God
- Matthew 6:33—But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
POSTCARD # 5
My Dearest,
Somedays, you just don’t know what you want. You long to do something, to be something, but you have no idea what.
Please, Little One, don’t let it fret you. Your soul may be a puzzle, but I am the One who designed it!
I can see the deepest longings and questions in your heart, your biggest fears and dreams. I understand the human soul; I created it. It is My masterpiece as much as the glittering stars or a waterfall. I know sometimes to you it seems just as mysterious as a wonder of nature. You have days where you don’t understand yourself and can’t say what you want or are looking for, but I know your soul. I love it. And listen to Me, Little One: your soul won’t be satisfied by whatever new philosophy or belonging the world can offer.
Let your search for meaning end here with Me; let Me guide you on a grand adventure. Let Me help you explore your soul! Let Me help you uncover its deepest desires and longings. Let Me shape them into the beautiful pearls they could be when cultivated by the Master’s hand!
Your soul is precious to Me, a treasure bought by the blood of My Beloved Son. Dedicate your thoughts, your will, your desires to Me, and I promise they will be in good hands!
Love, Your Father
Somedays, you just don’t know what you want. You long to do something, to be something, but you have no idea what.
Please, Little One, don’t let it fret you. Your soul may be a puzzle, but I am the One who designed it!
I can see the deepest longings and questions in your heart, your biggest fears and dreams. I understand the human soul; I created it. It is My masterpiece as much as the glittering stars or a waterfall. I know sometimes to you it seems just as mysterious as a wonder of nature. You have days where you don’t understand yourself and can’t say what you want or are looking for, but I know your soul. I love it. And listen to Me, Little One: your soul won’t be satisfied by whatever new philosophy or belonging the world can offer.
Let your search for meaning end here with Me; let Me guide you on a grand adventure. Let Me help you explore your soul! Let Me help you uncover its deepest desires and longings. Let Me shape them into the beautiful pearls they could be when cultivated by the Master’s hand!
Your soul is precious to Me, a treasure bought by the blood of My Beloved Son. Dedicate your thoughts, your will, your desires to Me, and I promise they will be in good hands!
Love, Your Father
- Psalm 51:10—Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
- Ezekiel 36:26-27— A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
POSTCARD # 6
Dear Child,
Sometimes you feel like you are not strong enough. You feel like you are not strong enough to love someone who is unlovable, to overcome your fear, to face that challenge.
Let Me speak frankly: You aren’t.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be. I am!
It hurts Me to watch you struggle alone in vain. Let me share My dream for you, child: that you will find your true worth, your fulfillment, your compassion, your strength, and your rest in me. Accept from Me what you cannot find in yourself; I delight to give these things to you!
It is my joy to hear your pleas and reply with an answer that it is above all that you can ask or think.
So lay aside your pride, Beloved, and ask Me. The world might say I am a crutch and that you are weak to lean completely on Me, but choose to listen to the truth. I am the only Source of true strength! My strength like a spring spilling out cool water, never running out. Ask me for a drink of it, Little One, and I will always give it.
Love, Your Father
Sometimes you feel like you are not strong enough. You feel like you are not strong enough to love someone who is unlovable, to overcome your fear, to face that challenge.
Let Me speak frankly: You aren’t.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be. I am!
It hurts Me to watch you struggle alone in vain. Let me share My dream for you, child: that you will find your true worth, your fulfillment, your compassion, your strength, and your rest in me. Accept from Me what you cannot find in yourself; I delight to give these things to you!
It is my joy to hear your pleas and reply with an answer that it is above all that you can ask or think.
So lay aside your pride, Beloved, and ask Me. The world might say I am a crutch and that you are weak to lean completely on Me, but choose to listen to the truth. I am the only Source of true strength! My strength like a spring spilling out cool water, never running out. Ask me for a drink of it, Little One, and I will always give it.
Love, Your Father
- John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
- Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
POSTCARD # 7
Dearest One,
I see how your heart ache for your friends, your family, for those around you. You see so much brokenness and pain in this fallen world, and you long to take just a bit of that away.
Speak an encouraging word. Ask what you can do to help with a willing and ready heart. Provide a listening ear. Give a gift, make a meal, and help ease a burden. Rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep. By doing so, you prove your faith through your actions. You are sharing the love of my Son with the world.
But, my child, you realize there is only so much you can do. You feel helpless; in that moment, your heart breaks because you give of yourself freely with both hands, and it never feels like enough.
Dearest, worrying won’t help your loved ones. It will only hurt you: rob you of your peace and your joy. Your compassion is a treasure and a blessing to cling to, Beloved, but it doesn’t justify worry. I don’t want you to just trust your own needs to me; I also want you to trust me with the needs of others. When you can’t do anything for them, entrust them to the One who can soothe their storms. You don’t have to be (and can’t be) their savior because I am. Bring their needs before My throne of grace and leave them there; your Father’s hands are more than capable of holding them.
Love, Your Father
- Colossians 3:15-17
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. - 1 Peter 5:6-7
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you
POSTCARD #8
Oh my precious, frail child of dust,
How often you fall into the deadly mazes of this game called comparison. You see someone with a different or greater talent than yours and despair.
Dear One, yes, I require your best in everything. I don’t demand you excel, shine, be at the top of your class, and win awards in everything. Your best and excellence in an area may be two completely different things: your best is what I ask for.
I give my children different gifts and in different measures. Remember the parable of the talents? The man who had been given two talents made two more; the man who had been given five talents made five more.
Beloved, did the master scold the man for only having four talents when he returned because his fellow servant had made ten?
No.
What did he say?
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful…”
Beloved, I don’t want you to covet others’ talents. I don’t want you to become bitter. I don’t want you to believe deep down that you can not be a good testimony for Me in your family, community, and church without the talents I have given them.
You might not be able to give me their best. I don’t ask for that. I ask for your best.
Every gift I give, Little One, is good. The gifts I have given you are good. I want you to go out with those good gifts, however large or small, unique or common, and use them in My name. I just want you to be faithful with what you have been given, and I will reward you with much.
Give me your best, and I, Your Heavenly Father, will give the increase.
Love, Your Father
How often you fall into the deadly mazes of this game called comparison. You see someone with a different or greater talent than yours and despair.
Dear One, yes, I require your best in everything. I don’t demand you excel, shine, be at the top of your class, and win awards in everything. Your best and excellence in an area may be two completely different things: your best is what I ask for.
I give my children different gifts and in different measures. Remember the parable of the talents? The man who had been given two talents made two more; the man who had been given five talents made five more.
Beloved, did the master scold the man for only having four talents when he returned because his fellow servant had made ten?
No.
What did he say?
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful…”
Beloved, I don’t want you to covet others’ talents. I don’t want you to become bitter. I don’t want you to believe deep down that you can not be a good testimony for Me in your family, community, and church without the talents I have given them.
You might not be able to give me their best. I don’t ask for that. I ask for your best.
Every gift I give, Little One, is good. The gifts I have given you are good. I want you to go out with those good gifts, however large or small, unique or common, and use them in My name. I just want you to be faithful with what you have been given, and I will reward you with much.
Give me your best, and I, Your Heavenly Father, will give the increase.
Love, Your Father
- Matthew 25: 22-23- He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
- Colossians 3: 23-24- And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.