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         My bride, you've been a faithful lover for many years--an ardent lover, a passionate lover, a 100% lover. You have been as one of the brides that has filled her lamp with plenty of oil, and has always been ready to do My will, to come to Me, to love Me, to love My sheep. You've been ready to go, ready to stay, ready to pioneer, ready to do anything I ask. Faithful to love Me, faithful to read My Words of love to you, faithful to live them and to pass them on. You have given your all as a faithful bride. You have given your life, your mate, your children, your mind, your heart, and all your strength.
         You have already been a faithful and loving bride through many years--although you may not feel like it, for feelings are deceptive. You do not have to feel romantic and passionate to be a 100% bride. I do not measure your love for Me by the feelings you have for Me, and you cannot judge whether you are passionate or not by the feelings you have.
         I judge by the heart--by how much your heart gives to Me, by how much you are willing to love Me. This is real passion. In My sight, if you say the love words by faith, even though you do not have the feelings to go along with them, this makes you an ardent and passionate bride, because you are loving Me by faith!
         As it is in many other areas, just because you do not feel a certain way, does not mean you are not. There are many people who do not feel beautiful, but they are beautiful. There are many people who feel incapable, but they are capable in My strength. There are people who feel worthless, but this does not make them worthless. There are many times when how you feel is the opposite of the truth--like the sinner and the self-righteous hypocrite. The sinner felt unworthy and like he was not close to Me. He felt like he was worse than the dirt on the street, yet in My eyes he was a jewel of great price, a beloved bride, a sweet lover.
         So do not feel condemned. When you say the love words by faith and out of obedience without the feelings to back them up, in My eyes this is counted as passionate love, fervent love, a burning and compelling love for Me!
         What great love this is, and how I adore you for loving Me this way, for you are giving Me everything and holding nothing back. You are giving Me your all, and what can be more passionate and ardent than a lover who gives everything? There is no greater love than a love given through sacrifice.
         Oh, how I love you, and how I am proud of you for giving your love by faith without the feelings to accompany it. So do not be condemned and confused, for I know that you love Me passionately, with all your heart. I am pleased with your giving, and I am thankful, My beautiful and passionate bride.



Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family