The Bride of Christ thread

[kisstheson]

Janet,

Oh my gosh...WELCOME! I was so excited to find your post here tonight. I wrote a lengthy response to you but accidently deleted the entire thing! Since I am such a slooooow typest I will just say (for now) that I have the same picture of the knight and the lady hanging in my apartment. I also love the link you posted. What a beautiful picture and the words are so true.

I hope you will continue to share with us and be a part of our circle around Yeshua.

I'll be back to share some more about what you talked about.

 

[Janet2008]

Yes. I feel that love goes beyond words with Him. I sometimes feel frustrated and think to myself, "Shouldn't I have a WAY to express this groaning love to Him?" and when nothing adequate comes to me, I just cry and groan to Him. I sing to Him and cry as I do, but even that is not enough. It's refreshing to know that there are others out there that experience this "wordless" love with Him that is beyond spoken words or song... sometimes you just hold Him in your arms and just groan.

Whew....

And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. -- Romans 8:26

Sometimes, my talk with God consists of, "Precious Jesus, I .... " and then the rest of it is just feelings, groanings. Love. Tears. The tears are mostly because I know he understands that which I can never find the words for.

 

[Janet2008]

Janet,

Oh my gosh...WELCOME! I was so excited to find your post here tonight. I wrote a lengthy response to you but accidently deleted the entire thing! Since I am such a slooooow typest I will just say (for now) that I have the same picture of the knight and the lady hanging in my apartment. I also love the link you posted. What a beautiful picture and the words are so true.

I hope you will continue to share with us and be a part of our circle around Yeshua.

I'll be back to share some more about what you talked about.

Oh! I'm so sorry you accidentally deleted it. I would have loved to hear what you had to say. But I do plan on sticking around for some time. There is so so much I want, no... need to read in this thread.

And knowing you have the same painting is just.... too cool.

 

[knownbeforetime]

I heard this song the other day and thought it was very powerful..

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r15gpynyQnw

I am not yours, not lost in you,
Not lost, although I long to be
Lost as a candle lit at noon,
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.

You love me, and I find you still
A spirit, beautiful and bright,
Yet I am I, who long to be
Lost as a light is lost in light.

Oh plunge me deep in love – put out
My senses, leave me deaf and leave me blind,
Swept by the tempest of your love,
[FONT=&quot]A taper in a rushing wind.

The poem is by Sara Teasdale (1884 - 1933) and the composer is Z. Randall Stroope (still alive, LOL, can't find a birthday for him)[/FONT]

 

[Janet2008]

Oh my. That is so beautiful...

 

[kisstheson]

And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. -- Romans 8:26

Sometimes, my talk with God consists of, "Precious Jesus, I .... " and then the rest of it is just feelings, groanings. Love. Tears. The tears are mostly because I know he understands that which I can never find the words for.

Precious, dear and sweet the most beautiful tears of Jesus...precious, dear and sweet the tears of His Bride. Our groans and sighs are but echos of His own wordless expression. More for Jesus.

 

[kisstheson]

Oh! I'm so sorry you accidentally deleted it. I would have loved to hear what you had to say. But I do plan on sticking around for some time. There is so so much I want, no... need to read in this thread.

And knowing you have the same painting is just.... too cool.

it wonderful to have another sister join in our fellowship. (We are hoping to see more "john the beloved's" too!)

About the painting. Its by John Waterhouse who is one of my fave artists. I love the pre-raphaelite artists and model alot of my paintings after their works.

 

[kisstheson]

knownbeforetime...Have a most excellent birthday girlfriend!

The video was incredibly beautiful, the melody so haunting and full of glorious harmony. The lyrics well... However I am glad about one thing. I am glad that I am already His.

 

[Janet2008]

it wonderful to have another sister join in our fellowship. (We are hoping to see more "john the beloved's" too!)

About the painting. Its by John Waterhouse who is one of my fave artists. I love the pre-raphaelite artists and model alot of my paintings after their works.

When I first saw the print, I was in a hardware store picking up some paint. I walked by it and thought, hmm...nice. But while shopping, I couldn't find what I was looking for and found myself having to walk by it several times, each time seeing something else. The intensity of the longing, the deep secludedness of the thicket, that the knight was trying to resist (though not really) knowing that in his heavy armour, he would not be able to rise again without help, but the last time I passed by, I realized she had wrapped her hair around him, drawing him to herself. I was just dumbfounded, and started crying in the store. I quickly looked away, tried to compose myself, finish my shopping and went home. But the image haunted me until I had to go back and bring it home with me where it belonged.

 

[Janet2008]

What a beautiful song. I have often wondered what it would be like to be smothered in love. This song, drowning, lost in the depths, so close that we smell just like Him...

(sigh) yes, huge smiles....
Here's another one I found. It's a love song to Him.
I'm "youtube" happy today. Just bear with me!

GOD'S ROMANCE... ONLY YOU CAN SATISFY....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqSajkvoZk8

 

[Janet2008]

Hope you don't mind me pulling things back out from previous posts. If you'd rather I not do it, please let me know. I'm a real twit when it comes to 'proper forum etiquette.' My spirit wants to go on, but my body is getting tired. He's shown me much today. I've been so starved, that I don't want to stop, but I know it is better if I reflect on the things He has told me today.

Goodnight all. May He hold you tenderly in His arms throughout the night.

 

[Shulamite]

Good Morning Janet,

I am glad that anything I said encouraged you! Yeah!
I don't want you to retreat from CF. I feel you are being drawn to this thread for a reason. Nothing is coincidence with Him.
I can identify with you when you said that others can hurt you when you share too much about this intimacy with Him. I have been there many times. Yeshua used that to teach me discernment and that they are private and precious pearls of romance and intimacy that are kept between He and myself as Husband and Bride. It's a learning process and it's sometimes painful (at least I am speaking for myself! )

Please feel free to quote from earlier posts in this thread. It's a blessing to see it resurface here!

Oh I understand the longing tears. I have had them for years. Kisstheson is right, the tears, the wordless ache and love and yearning is only an "echo of His own heart" for us. What we feel for Him is really a mirror reflection of what He already feels for us.

Oh the revelations of this marriage with Him. They get more intimate and more tender by the day. Please stay and fellowship with us.

 

[Amylisa]

So many things to respond to....

let me just add my WELCOME to Janet!
And Servant! SO Glad to see you here again!

I have been busy with sick kids here the past week or so, off and on. Hopefully the worst is now over.

Amy, yeah...I felt at home seeing the painting here that Janet posted! Smile!!

 

[kisstheson]

Here's a couple of things I wanted to share.

Janet you mentioned your reluctance to share your private walk with the Lord openly. You were afraid others would misunderstand. We have all felt like that and have from time to time encountered those who have misjudged our realtionship with Christ. This really hurts and could make you never want to expose your heart again. Sometimes Jesus does want us to use wisdom and to keep the "secrets of the King" private. "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter." .(Proverbs 25:2) But there are other times He wants us not to give a hoot or care about what others think and to reveal what he has shown us. "What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops." Matthew 10:27

As an artist I am willing to risk being misundertoood because I want to both encourage and challenge people to come closer to Jesus. If I never put my art out there I wouldn't have met some of the dear friends I know today. The sharing of my art was what made these fellow lovers of Jesus join in fellowship with me.

So basically I wanted to applaud you for stepping out and sharing your love for Jesus with us. Please know that we will always try to make this a safe place for you. I said "try" because none of us are perfect.

The other thing is what you mentioned about the picture of the knight and his lady. You're right that she is tying her hair around him. You may know this already but in medieval times if a lady had chosen a knight she would tie a perfumed scarf or ribbon around his neck or arm. If you look closely she is actually putting a scarf around the knight and trying her hair to the end of it. this was called "the love knot." and was meant to send a clear message that she had chosen him! The knight would wear the love knot where ever he went, even into a battle. Think of how how this relates to our Princely Knight, Jesus! As he goes out into the world seeking lost souls he battles the coldness and hardness of resisting men and women who will not submit to his loving Lordship. Our love knot surely must comfort him. he knows that there is one who is always thinking about him and loving him.

It's obivious in the picture that the beautiful maiden has so captivated this knight that he kneeling unristing to her.he also has entered the wood after a battle as you can see by th eboken alnce he is holding. Maybe he faught a battle such as the above mentioned or perhaps he has been fighting a dragon and has just rescued her.

This is a beautiful represebtation of Christ and his bride. She only has eyes for him, has tied the love knot around him clearly saying, "you are my one and only." her long hair is a symbol of a healthy devotion for Christ. (remember mary magdalene wiped his feet with her long tresses?)

Lastly, note the heart on the sleeve of her dress. This bride is literally wearing her heart on her sleeve! LOL! Just like we do on this thread. Braggin' on Jesus and loving him is all we seek to do here. but she is also barefoot which signafies that she is humble. In our love for him we must not let the sin of pride enter our hearts and think we are more spiritual than others.

 

[Shulamite]

Very well said, Amy. The intimacy and romantic secrets Yeshua shares from His heart should never be seen as a way to be prideful over others. I agree. The enemy can come in easily and attack in that area, especially when we are fellowshipping with others who have not had this intimacy given or revealed to them. Well-said.

We are to minister to them and bear witness to the truth in love, without pride. As Paul said, "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."

Also, you made a great point when you quoted Yeshua when He told us to proclaim from the rooftops what He has whispered in our ear. It's a paradox at times because there are things between He and I that I know He's asked me to keep private (exclusive) and I will do so forever, then there are things He doesn't seem to have a problem with me sharing. I ASK HIM before I do. His feelings come first and what He wants shared is His to do in me, but I agree that sharing our joys in this intimacy with Him brings Him glory and Joy!!!

Great post Amy!

 

[Amylisa]

Amen amen!!!

 

[knownbeforetime]

Any Phil Wickham fans?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3nKjWkDBosE

The fullness of Your grace is here with me
The richness of Your beauty's all I see
The brightness of Your glory has arrived
In Your presence God, I'm completely satisfied

For You I sing I dance
Rejoice in this divine romance
Lift my heart and my hands
To show my love, to show my love

A deep deep flood, an Ocean flows from You
Of deep deep love, yeah it's filling up the room
Your innocent blood, has washed my guilty life
In Your presence God I'm completely satisfied

 

[kisstheson]

Another great video! Thanks!

I brought a little spring with me...

 

[Janet2008]

Here's a couple of things I wanted to share.

Janet you mentioned your reluctance to share your private walk with the Lord openly. You were afraid others would misunderstand. We have all felt like that and have from time to time encountered those who have misjudged our realtionship with Christ. This really hurts and could make you never want to expose your heart again. Sometimes Jesus does want us to use wisdom and to keep the "secrets of the King" private. "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter." .(Proverbs 25:2) But there are other times He wants us not to give a hoot or care about what others think and to reveal what he has shown us. "What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops." Matthew 10:27

This part I do need to consider more, to understand the difference of when to speak and when not to, I know He is moving me in this direction, and it is why I've had the courage to post in this thread at all. Thank you for the scripture references, it will be a place for me to start. And I really appreciate the insights all of you have given in this area too!

This is a beautiful represebtation of Christ and his bride. She only has eyes for him, has tied the love knot around him clearly saying, "you are my one and only." her long hair is a symbol of a healthy devotion for Christ. (remember mary magdalene wiped his feet with her long tresses?)

Lastly, note the heart on the sleeve of her dress. This bride is literally wearing her heart on her sleeve! LOL! Just like we do on this thread. Braggin' on Jesus and loving him is all we seek to do here. but she is also barefoot which signafies that she is humble. In our love for him we must not let the sin of pride enter our hearts and think we are more spiritual than others.

Oh my... I never thought about the heart on her sleeve, or significance of the long hair and bare feet. Tears of joy! Thank you so much for mentioning it!


Totally agree on the pride issue. He's worked on me in that area a fair bit. There has been so many times that He has had new Christians tell me things so profound that it moves me to tears. (Even from non-Christians). I think I've learned that God can work through anyone, and that the things we utter are not so much coming from ourselves, as coming from Him. It is really hard to become prideful when you are giving the credit to where it truely belongs.


Thank you, everyone, for making me feel so welcome here. It feels really nice.

 

[Janet2008]

Good Morning Janet,

I am glad that anything I said encouraged you! Yeah!
I don't want you to retreat from CF. I feel you are being drawn to this thread for a reason. Nothing is coincidence with Him.
I can identify with you when you said that others can hurt you when you share too much about this intimacy with Him. I have been there many times. Yeshua used that to teach me discernment and that they are private and precious pearls of romance and intimacy that are kept between He and myself as Husband and Bride. It's a learning process and it's sometimes painful (at least I am speaking for myself! )

Please feel free to quote from earlier posts in this thread. It's a blessing to see it resurface here!

Oh I understand the longing tears. I have had them for years. Kisstheson is right, the tears, the wordless ache and love and yearning is only an "echo of His own heart" for us. What we feel for Him is really a mirror reflection of what He already feels for us.

Oh the revelations of this marriage with Him. They get more intimate and more tender by the day. Please stay and fellowship with us.

Thank you! I do intend to stay! Thank you too for posting in that other thread that you found me in. I sorta kinda followed you here.