Mail Running Slow? God is Not! Rejoice!

Back a few months ago I joined “Arkansas Women Bloggers”. I saw it as another opportunity to share God’s Word with more women.  Since I’m not a foodie or a fashionista blogger and I don’t really sell anything, I wondered if I would even have a place there. But I joined and it has been fun. We had a handmade ornament exchange secret pal type event to participate in if we wanted to, and today is the day we all are supposed to blog about the ornament we received, who it was from and whatever else about it each of us wanted to share.

Sending an ornament to a complete stranger is a little scary. Who knows what you will get from the one who got your name or if you’ll get anything at all. Even if you do everything right on your end, it still can come to nothing if the person at the other end doesn’t fulfill their pledge. I love crafts but seriously I don’t have time to make things much anymore. Still, I wanted to participate so I made a little paper Christmas tree to send to my blogger. I think it met her personality and I hope she liked it.  I sent it, along with a copy of the devotional book, praying that God would send His Word to the right woman at just the right time.

This morning as I write this blog I realize that I have been left empty handed. Like the proverbial recipe exchange, try as I might to send the right amount of recipes to the right amount of people and gingerly place the right name at the top of the email list, I usually get one to no recipes in turn.  The un-received gift says much to me.

The reason the intended ornament has not arrived may never surface. Lots of things happen – the mail is running slow, things get lost, and people get sick. I pray that whoever got my name was not ill, had no family tragedy and that they just had a moment of forgetfulness. Regardless of what happened, they have been prayed for and that’s a wonderful gift in and of itself. The ornament package may yet arrive, who knows.

Mostly it speaks to my heart just how thankful I am that Jesus meets every one of His promises to me. He never leaves me hurting or wanting or feeling left out. He’s indeed my best friend, my Father, my closest brother and more. He thinks I’m worth it. Worth the time and effort. Worth the pain and agony. Worth the trip to hell and back.  Neither He nor I have to rely on the postman to receive all that He says is mine based on His desires towards me. He’s not a slacker, He won’t forget and He keeps each and every single promise He has ever given me.

And, just so I’ll remember, He put all His loves songs, love promises and love words into a beautiful Book just for me! How awesome is He and how wonderful are His thoughts towards me. I am worth it all!

Oh beloved, you may be facing an empty nest, an empty tree or an empty heart. Every single person you ever trusted or loved may have forgotten you, turned their back on you or worse. But not the Lord! His love songs are not just for me – they’re for you as well! Open His Book of Love this morning and read! Each Word of love was written by the Holy Spirit because He loves you. Each Word was breathed by the Heavenly Father because He’s for you. And each Word is sealed by the Blood of the Lamb because He gave it all for you!

Thank Him this morning for though your gift may not have arrived, the Unspeakable, Unsurpassable, Wonderful, Eternal, Extravagant, Beautiful Gift has arrived just for you! He has proven His love for you, He will show you how much He cares for you and that’s all that really matters.

Psalm 119:114  You are my refuge and my shield; Your word is my source of hope.

Isaiah 40:6-8 People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.

Isaiah 49:4 I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the LORD’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.”

Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.

Hebrews 10:35  So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!

Isaiah 40:28  Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding.

Zephaniah 3:17  For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”