Saturday, July 2, 2011

Mailbox Sheltering: The Final


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The sealing ministry of God the Holy Spirit is God’s final stamp of approval which guarantees that you will be in heaven forever. ~John Farley


Did you ever get a letter with the letters SWAK on the back flap?  If so, I don't need to tell you the letters stand for "Sealed with a kiss."  Most of us who received love letters saw this acronym on our envelopes -- and wrote it a few times ourselves.  However, it was actually begun during WWII when soldier boys were writing their sweethearts back home.  Only they used SWALK -- sealed with a loving kiss.

Hundreds of years before the gummed envelopes were sealed with a kiss, envelopes were sealed with wax.  (I wish I still had my seal from childhood days.  It added a specialness to personal mail -- ah, the nostalgic thought -- the burgundy puddle of wax, the press of the seal, the permanent embossing left on wax.)

A seal on an envelope was an indisputable seal of authenticity.  While reading this bit of trivia, a verse in 2 Corinthians came to mind -- [God] set his seal of ownership on us.

My mother at her writing desk
God has sealed us, signifying our redemption through His Son.  It's a seal of grace.  Undeserved, unmerited and amazing.  We are His.  I believe if we are wearing God's seal, the imprint of His Son, Jesus, will be evident in our life.

Sealing wax came in different colors: black for mourning, red for business, green for surgeons, white for religious orders and yellow or brown for ordinary people.  I want God's sealing wax on my life to be red -- red for the blood that cleanses me from sin.

Just as we heat the wax in order to apply it to our envelope flap, so we, too, are sometimes burned by the fire of life.  It is then our choice which seal of approval we will accept.  Beeswax was used for seals of long ago.  But because of the neutral and varying shades it was found that people could open the letter and reseal it with new wax; thus the need for a personal seal.

I refuse to allow Satan a chance to reseal my justification and sanctification, creating in me a mere imitation of who I am in Christ.  I want others to see Authentic Child of God written on my life.  I want His seal of approval.  I want the imprint of Jesus to be evident -- my heart sealed by God Himself.

O to grace how great a debtor?
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee...
Here's my heart Lord take and seal it --
Seal it for Thy courts above.

As we close this series of Mailbox Sheltering, I want to thank you for all your beautiful comments.  It's been obvious to me that many of you treasure the letter writing process.  You have pledged to put mail in someone's box.  I find joy in your friendships.  In many of you I see God's seal -- I hear Him say, "This is my seal. She is mine.  Learn of me through her."  With your seal from God, you shelter. You shelter your family, your church family and your "world-wide" family.  God sees and is pleased.  I feel and am blessed.  

When our sheltering on earth is over, those of us sealed by God will rise to meet Him.  I can't wait to meet Rebecca, Miss Kathy, Jen, Charlotte and Ginger, Glenda, Debbie and all of you who shelter me with your words.  I see God's red seal of redemption shining through you and one day I'll meet you around the throne. 

32 comments:

Sleepyeyed Rhon said...

Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Pam - what sweet thoughts - I look forward to meeting you and all the lovely sisters in the Lord God has been introducing me to in our blogworld!

Yes, I had the privilege of seeing my mother off knowing she went forth with God's seal - and I shall see her one day, too.

Love the little history trivia about the sealing wax. I have a few sticks and seals - display them with all my vintage writing implements. I shall set a goal to take up quill, ink, and paper, and had write a letter to someone who needs a touch of beauty this summer. And seal it with wax - red - for Christ's blood - and being about the "business of the Lord!"

Thanks for the inspiration!
Joy!
Miss Kathy

Kay said...

Your series on Mailbox Sheltering has been an encouragement to me. I love to write letters and have felt it was a much needed ministry. Your articles have encouraged me to keep it up!

Elizabethd said...

I too remember sealing letters with my granmother's sealing wax!

Claire Justine said...

Thank you for the following,you have a lovely blog,from a new follower...

Rebecca said...

What a Day that will be! I just got thinking about how much larger my "circle" will be thanks to blogging!

Misty said...

Oh what a beautiful post, you have so much knowledge and I feel a bit of it pours from you to me with each visit I make here. I love it! I too want to be sealed in red!

Blessings,
Misty

Marisa and Brittany said...

Your posts are so uplifting, Pamela, and I truly have enjoyed your mailbox series! Beautiful!

Marisa http://www.meyouandcreamedcorn.com/

Sharon said...

Pamela,

This was just precious. I learned so much about the history of sealing wax - and I was tremendously blessed by the words you shared about God's personal seal on us. What a privilege to be sealed by Him, to have our names written in His Book of Life.

Yes, Lord - here's my heart - take and seal it.

SWALK - Sealed With A Loving King!

GOD BLESS!

Little Birdie Blessings said...

I found your blog through Shore Girl. What a warm, comforting and encouraging place to be. I'm very happy to have found you. Thank you for being obedient and following what the Lord has in mind for you. Your ministry is far reaching I'm sure, more than you may ever know. ~ Abby

Andy said...

Finally, an inspirational blog that is rooted from Christ! I'll look forward to getting inspirational thoughts from your next posts soon.

And thank you for dropping by my blog..


Smiles from,

Andy at wordsandpen.com

Kimberly Walker said...

Beautiful.
Great blog! Came across your blog from one of the blog hops, and looking forward to reading more of your stuff. I am now following... feel free to follow back if you like!!!!
Stop by my blog to participate in my weekend 6 in 1 blog hop.
All the best,
Kim
A Spicy Boy, A Cat, and My Fat Ass

MTJ said...

Hi Pamela,

Thank you for sharing a post that encourages to continue the personal approach to communication; writing! I regret that over the years I have embraced technology that has made communication convenient, but quite impersonal.

Writing allow us to leave an indelible impression on another person because it reveals a part of who we are. A letter may age over time, but the impact of that moment when the envelope is opened remains everytime it is opened and once again read.

Blessings and peace.

MTJ

Judy said...

Hi Pamela,

Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment. Yes, it is wonderful to be sealed with God's Holy Spirit. He speaks with us, leads us and guides us into His will for our lives. He is our compass until death. I wish you and your family a happy July 4th weekend.

Blessings,
Judy

Karen said...

Lovely post, Pamela. Happy Fourth to you and your family!

Renee said...

Beautiful post!

Georgia said...

wonderfully written!!! i love learning nre things,,,,i will also sharee this with my mom who doesn't have a computer.

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Dear Pamela,
I so enjoyed reading your post. They are always inspiring and filled with interesting facts; thank you for sharing.
I love receiving a card or letter in the mail with a seal on it.
Most of all, I am thankful that I am sealed in Christ for all eternity!
Thank you for your visit and your sweet comment! Wishing you a lovely Fourth of July celebration.

Blessings,
Sandi

A multi-dimensional life said...

This series has been such a blessing to my heart! Thank you for your beautiful words and gentle reminders. I love the analogy here between the sealed envelope and our seal in Christ as well as the wax and the fire! Such a great visual connection.
I hope you are enjoying the holiday week-end. Happy Independence Day!

Gayle said...

Interesting and inspiring post!

Janis Van Keuren said...

Once sealed with the ownership of Christ and the Holy Spirit, we are sealed for good. Isn't it reassuring to know that Satan cannot snatch us away.
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, no one can snatch them out of my hand." John 10:28
Thank you for reminding us of the permanence of a seal and what it means.
Blessings,
Janis

Esther Joy said...

Thank you for your encouraging words about "My Keeper" post. I almost used the verse about "Who are kept by the power of God" and thought again about that with your SWAK remark, sealed and kept by the Holy Spirit!

Patti Hanan said...

I remember using candle wax and a seal on special letters. What a beautiful analogy with how we are sealed by God with his seal of grace, undeserved, unmerited and amazing. Thank you for these words of encouragement.

Becky Jane said...

Thinking of all those soldier boys sending and receiving letters with a SWALK. The postmen had to have had many tender deliveries!

Nikki (Sarah) said...

this was a great post. I never knew what SWAK was...but I like how you showed His puts His seal of ownership on us.....I am so grateful...He sealed me to be His...thanks for this wonderful message.

Ruth said...

Pamela,
I have enjoyed reading your posts. The mailbox theme has been very interesting and I appreciate the analogies you make for the Christian's spiritual journey.
The hymn you quoted has been a favorite of mine. I feel the pull of the world or busyness or the pleasures of life and I know I'm prone to wander. You wouldn't think I'd ever wander after knowing intimacy with the lover of my soul. How grateful I am that he has enveloped my heart and affixed the seal!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Pamela,

What a beautiful post! I am glad that I am sealed too.


I didn't know about the colors of sealing wax being for different purposes. I use red.

Blessings
Deanna

cottonfieldfarm said...

Dearest Pamela,
Thank you for the nice comment you left on my blog. I truly enjoyed reading your blog as well. What a beautiful story, full of interest and inspiration. What a blessing to have the seal of God stamped on our souls! Thank you for your encouragement!
God bless. Regina

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

Oh, we loved our sealing wax when I was in college. :)

Thanks for your friendship and your letters via the computer.

Fondly,
Glenda

Esther Asbury said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Esther Asbury said...

How well I remember sealing every love letter I wrote my sweetheart with S.W.A.K!
Beautiful comparison to being sealed with God's seal.

Unknown said...

I've loved the Mailbox Shelterings -- the way that we can love and serve all in a letter. So fitting, too, as we have a love letter from God sitting on our bedside tables -- our Bibles!