The Bride of Christ thread

[Savedsis]

OH amen! Do you know that old southern gospel song..Bulah Land?? I LOVE that...makes me cry every time I hear it. So true. That is how I feel.

Yes, I like that song too....Praise God

 

[kisstheson]

Savedsis! That was a wonderful description of Heaven! I appreciate your longing heart for the Lord!

 

[Amylisa]

I am So happy to know the story blessed some of you!
Your words are so beautiful, SavedSis. And Charlie...and I am very grateful for your encouragement. Thank you so much.

Well, here is the 2nd part of the story. it's kind of a progression. The story of one individual bride, but representing any and all of His Brides. I hope it'll be a blessing. Thank you Amy for inviting me to post!


Bride’s Last Battle

Smoke rose from the landscape. In the distance, legions upon legions marched, their soiled
banners waving in the breeze. The gentle wind was not enough to blow away the murky haze
that blanketed the valley where thousands waged a fierce battle...a singular battle in the war
of the ages.

In the midst of the conflict one of Christ's own fought on. His Bride. His Beloved. As each
blow fell upon her, His heart received her suffering. His voice called out to her below-
"I am here, My brave one. Fight on. Fight for Me." She heard His voice in her soul as a
bloody sword met her upraised shield.
"You are not alone." She heard Him again as an arrow flew past her face, but the next one
found its mark below her heart. She cried out in pain. "Beloved!" He said. She looked up as
she stumbled forward. The pain increasing, she raised her arm to block another blow. The
blade missed, just glancing off her brow.
"A scratch" she told herself. "Not even one thorn from His crown." Then, "I can bear it," she
said to Jesus under her breath. She could not see it but He smiled tenderly as her words
reached His heart.

"Jesus, give me strength!" she cried to Him. "Help me - help me to fight for the Lordship of
my King!"
She drew a deep breath as she swung her sword in a wide arc, taking down a snarling
demon who had dared to mock her words. The Lordship of the King was not something they
would bear hearing without lunging in vicious attack. Bride felled that demon, but another
came close behind.
"For HIM!" she yelled as their swords clashed.
"No...No....NO," the evil being snorted and grunted with each meeting of their blades. His
yellow eyes glared into hers, trying in vain to instill fear into Bride's spirit. Then, "YES!!" she
yelled in one decisive note of triumph. The evil one lay vanquished in the dirt. Bride sighed
with exhaustion and wiped tears from her eyes with her torn hand. She sobbed.

"Beloved." She heard her Christ whisper again in her heart, in her ears, and she gratefully
acknowledged His voice even as she blocked one strike, then received another. Many more
fought on around her as Bride lifted her eyes to the fields surrounding. As far as the eye could
see there were legions, legions of evil but also legions of Good. The battle had raged for days,
unceasing and growing in intensity. She was growing tired, and in the heat of fighting Bride
did not realize the depth of the wound she had received below her heart. Her life was slipping
away.

She would have begun to despair at the enemy's sheer number - wave upon wave kept coming,
threatening to overrun the King's camp. But then the eyes of the righteous army brightened as
they beheld a great light in the sky. Thousands of God's chariots stood ready, revealed to their
eyes. As the King's warriors watched in rapt attention, the angelic hosts began to descend into
the valley of conflict, renewing the courage and strength of God’s army. They advanced with
a mighty shout and surged forward.

Bride's heart rejoiced and her eyes filled with tears. She raised her sword high into the air
above her and opened her lips to join the battle cry. But no cry came forth as she suddenly
slumped to the ground, her strength finally exhausted. The shouts from the battlefield faded
from her ears as she lay facing the gray sky. Her fingers lost their grip on her sword and it fell
silently from her hand. She lifted her gaze to a higher place in the clouds that rolled open to
her vision. A light that surpassed the angels' glow shone down and enveloped her with a peace
and warmth she had never known.

Bride lost her awareness of the world around her as her eyes at last found those of her King.
Jesus stood high above her and yet seemed close enough to touch in the same moment. He had
risen from His throne and was standing with His arm outstretched, smiling at Bride with eager
longing in His eyes. She saw Him extend His hand to her.
"Beloved," she heard Him say once more. "Come to Me. Come. Your battle is over."
Her hand reached up to His and she rose to meet Him, leaving her bloodied body on the earth
below.

 

[JohannAT]

I am So happy to know the story blessed some of you!
Your words are so beautiful, SavedSis. And Charlie...and I am very grateful for your encouragement. Thank you so much.

Well, here is the 2nd part of the story. it's kind of a progression. The story of one individual bride, but representing any and all of His Brides. I hope it'll be a blessing. Thank you Amy for inviting me to post!


Bride’s Last Battle

Smoke rose from the landscape. In the distance, legions upon legions marched, their soiled
banners waving in the breeze. The gentle wind was not enough to blow away the murky haze
that blanketed the valley where thousands waged a fierce battle...a singular battle in the war
of the ages.

In the midst of the conflict one of Christ's own fought on. His Bride. His Beloved. As each
blow fell upon her, His heart received her suffering. His voice called out to her below-
"I am here, My brave one. Fight on. Fight for Me." She heard His voice in her soul as a
bloody sword met her upraised shield.
"You are not alone." She heard Him again as an arrow flew past her face, but the next one
found its mark below her heart. She cried out in pain. "Beloved!" He said. She looked up as
she stumbled forward. The pain increasing, she raised her arm to block another blow. The
blade missed, just glancing off her brow.
"A scratch" she told herself. "Not even one thorn from His crown." Then, "I can bear it," she
said to Jesus under her breath. She could not see it but He smiled tenderly as her words
reached His heart.

"Jesus, give me strength!" she cried to Him. "Help me - help me to fight for the Lordship of
my King!"
She drew a deep breath as she swung her sword in a wide arc, taking down a snarling
demon who had dared to mock her words. The Lordship of the King was not something they
would bear hearing without lunging in vicious attack. Bride felled that demon, but another
came close behind.
"For HIM!" she yelled as their swords clashed.
"No...No....NO," the evil being snorted and grunted with each meeting of their blades. His
yellow eyes glared into hers, trying in vain to instill fear into Bride's spirit. Then, "YES!!" she
yelled in one decisive note of triumph. The evil one lay vanquished in the dirt. Bride sighed
with exhaustion and wiped tears from her eyes with her torn hand. She sobbed.

"Beloved." She heard her Christ whisper again in her heart, in her ears, and she gratefully
acknowledged His voice even as she blocked one strike, then received another. Many more
fought on around her as Bride lifted her eyes to the fields surrounding. As far as the eye could
see there were legions, legions of evil but also legions of Good. The battle had raged for days,
unceasing and growing in intensity. She was growing tired, and in the heat of fighting Bride
did not realize the depth of the wound she had received below her heart. Her life was slipping
away.

She would have begun to despair at the enemy's sheer number - wave upon wave kept coming,
threatening to overrun the King's camp. But then the eyes of the righteous army brightened as
they beheld a great light in the sky. Thousands of God's chariots stood ready, revealed to their
eyes. As the King's warriors watched in rapt attention, the angelic hosts began to descend into
the valley of conflict, renewing the courage and strength of God’s army. They advanced with
a mighty shout and surged forward.

Bride's heart rejoiced and her eyes filled with tears. She raised her sword high into the air
above her and opened her lips to join the battle cry. But no cry came forth as she suddenly
slumped to the ground, her strength finally exhausted. The shouts from the battlefield faded
from her ears as she lay facing the gray sky. Her fingers lost their grip on her sword and it fell
silently from her hand. She lifted her gaze to a higher place in the clouds that rolled open to
her vision. A light that surpassed the angels' glow shone down and enveloped her with a peace
and warmth she had never known.

Bride lost her awareness of the world around her as her eyes at last found those of her King.
Jesus stood high above her and yet seemed close enough to touch in the same moment. He had
risen from His throne and was standing with His arm outstretched, smiling at Bride with eager
longing in His eyes. She saw Him extend His hand to her.
"Beloved," she heard Him say once more. "Come to Me. Come. Your battle is over."
Her hand reached up to His and she rose to meet Him, leaving her bloodied body on the earth
below.

Dear Sister Amylisa!

O my, o my, o my! This is so wonderful! I have read and reread the second part of your story three times now, and I am just amazed at how wonderfully it compliments part one! Again, my heart has been touched very deeply. Your words are SO refreshing and encouraging!

Part one revealed a hidden, spiritual, purpose for our daily living - every day the great work of the Spirit goes on deep within us, as the Spirit works Elohim's righteousness in us. Part two reveals another marvelous purpose for our daily living - each day is an opportunity for us to bear the testimony of HIS Lordship, HIS Kingship! We can daily bear witness to the truth that Jesus is King, Jesus is Lord, to all the universe, especially the evil, rebellious, ones. Dear fellow Christians, may we never wallow in despair - remember the lessons in the two parts of this story - our lives are surely filled the highest meaning! Inwardly, the great work of the Holy Spirit daily takes place in us, and outwardly, we can daily be a living testimony to the Headship of the Great King!

I really appeciate that part two is very frank and forthright about the fact that the Christian life is a battle. There really are enemies all around us. The battle is centered entirely on who will rule, who will reign. We, His lovers, are called to the forefront of this battle. "'Jesus, give me strength!' she cried to Him. 'Help me - help me to fight for the Lordship of my King!'" Amen, dear sister. Amen and amen! We fight for Him, for His Lordship! We fight so that He will one day be able to take His rightful place as Head over all things!

O the rich, sweet, fellowship between Bridegroom and Bride, even in the thick of the battle! How encouraging that the battle does not cause us to stop pouring out our love to Him, or cause Him to stop pouring out His great love to us! I really love the portions of Part two where she cries out so to Him, and the portions where He speaks His words of encouragement so lovingly to her, right in the midst of the battle! Surely nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from the love of Christ! As the ending points out so beautifully, even death can not separate us from His great love. The ending is so precious - to us who believe in Him, death is not a defeat; rather, death is just a rising up to meet HIM! Hallelujah!

Thank you dear sister, for sharing these riches with us. Thank you so much.

 

[kisstheson]

"Who is this arising like the dawn,
Fair as the moon,
Reslendant like the sun,
Terrible as an army with banners?"
Song of Solomon 6:10

Joan of Arc

 

[Amylisa]

Thank you so much Charlie for your great encouragement! I am going to print out your posts and save them, to read when I feel discouraged.
Amy, thank you for the beautiful picture you posted! That is so cool! (I love Joan of Arc.)

Well here is the third part. This is based on a vision Yeshua gave to me a few years ago. It was a very brief vision but very clear. It is what started me writing. Amy painted a picture of this also, and I hope she will post that here too!


The Wedding Gown


Jesus entered the chamber where the celebration garments stood in readiness for the wedding.
As He crossed the threshold, His heart swelled at the realization that the time had at last come for
Him to be united to His long-awaited Bride. "All things are now ready," He whispered to
Himself. "Come to the Marriage."

In the corner of the room hung His robes, the white vestments gleaming in the lamplight, the blue
and purple and red glowing royally. His sword stood in its sheath, ready to be strapped to His
side for the ceremony. The symbol of a King. But now the only crown He longed for was His
wife. His eyes fell on her bridal gown prepared nearby and He sighed inwardly as He looked at it.
Tenderly He lifted its hanger and moved it close beside His own clothes so that their sleeves
touched. Standing back to admire the effect, He smiled and reached out to touch the fine fabric of
His Beloved's dress. It shone in His fingers. Truly it was a most beautiful gown. "Fit for the
Queen you shall be," He said to His absent love, and He smiled again to think of how delighted
she would be to see it. His own delight was in knowing her only happiness in the beautiful dress
would simply be because it represented her union with Him. His eyes misted as He envisioned
how she would look as she approached Him. The Great Hall was already prepared, adorned with
tens of thousands of candles waiting to be lit, every flower known to man and far more that were
not. The path she would walk to reach His side was strewn with never-fading roses....but He
knew His love would not even notice their fragrance. Oblivious to the grandeur surrounding her,
He knew her eyes would be solely on Him. As His would be on her...

As the vision swirled in His mind Jesus turned again to His Beloved's dress. He had fashioned it
for her Himself. White gold, yards of shimmering fabric spun by His angels. His hands reached
for the crimson robe that would grace her shoulders~ His beauty, His fair one. He had ransomed
her with His life's blood and given His very flesh and soul for her, and the crimson robe would
bear silent testament. Oh, His sweet Love! Before she was born He had loved her. He had sought
her, wooed her and won her. He had taught her patience and trust and had worked His beauty in
her willing and tender soul. He had fought for her and protected her heart for this day. And now
at last His faithful desire would be rewarded. She had come to Him in the garden and said ‘yes’
to His proposal, and how His heart had rejoiced at her anxious longing for their betrothal period
to end! Now remembering their shared pain, His eyes filled with tears and a cry rose in His
chest.
Jesus' tears came slowly at first and then became a rushing torrent as the floodgates of His soul
opened. Love so long denied! The faithful promise of His Father had sustained Him, and in turn
He had sustained His Beloved during their separation that had seemed would never end.
"I will be back," He had told her again and again. "Don't despair, Dear One! I WILL return for you."
Jesus' words now echoed into the empty room. And at last the time had come! He wept for
gratitude to Adonai, He wept at His memory of eons of unfulfilled longing; He cried for His
Bride, for all the tears she had wept in her longing after Him. She didn't know He had kept each
one in the very center of His soul. He wept fresh tears as He recalled every song of praise she had
ever offered to Him and to His beloved Father, many precious sacrifices given in the midst of her
trials and pain. A sob rose in His throat at the thought of His Beloved's face. Jesus gathered her
gown into His arms and buried His own face in the cloth. His tears became diamond drops that
held fast to the dress and adorned it still further. "As your tears adorned Me with jewels for My
heart, so mine shall adorn you!" He cried. "All creation shall witness how I love you! I bled for
you, oh My darling... I lived for you, I died for you, I rose to live for you again. I ever lived to
intercede for you and now at last you shall possess your King! I am yours, and you.....you are
Mine!" He whispered hoarsely to Himself, to His Father and to His Beloved, for it was as though
she were already in His arms.
Already in His arms....at the thought Jesus roused Himself. He gently hung the gown back to its
waiting place on the wall beside His robe. It was time to inspect the banqueting halls.
Everything must be perfect.

 

[kisstheson]

Thank you so much Charlie for your great encouragement! I am going to print out your posts and save them, to read when I feel discouraged.
Amy, thank you for the beautiful picture you posted! That is so cool! (I love Joan of Arc.)

Well here is the third part. This is based on a vision Yeshua gave to me a few years ago. It was a very brief vision but very clear. It is what started me writing. Amy painted a picture of this also, and I hope she will post that here too!


The Wedding Gown


Jesus entered the chamber where the celebration garments stood in readiness for the wedding.
As He crossed the threshold, His heart swelled at the realization that the time had at last come for
Him to be united to His long-awaited Bride. "All things are now ready," He whispered to
Himself. "Come to the Marriage."

In the corner of the room hung His robes, the white vestments gleaming in the lamplight, the blue
and purple and red glowing royally. His sword stood in its sheath, ready to be strapped to His
side for the ceremony. The symbol of a King. But now the only crown He longed for was His
wife. His eyes fell on her bridal gown prepared nearby and He sighed inwardly as He looked at it.
Tenderly He lifted its hanger and moved it close beside His own clothes so that their sleeves
touched. Standing back to admire the effect, He smiled and reached out to touch the fine fabric of
His Beloved's dress. It shone in His fingers. Truly it was a most beautiful gown. "Fit for the
Queen you shall be," He said to His absent love, and He smiled again to think of how delighted
she would be to see it. His own delight was in knowing her only happiness in the beautiful dress
would simply be because it represented her union with Him. His eyes misted as He envisioned
how she would look as she approached Him. The Great Hall was already prepared, adorned with
tens of thousands of candles waiting to be lit, every flower known to man and far more that were
not. The path she would walk to reach His side was strewn with never-fading roses....but He
knew His love would not even notice their fragrance. Oblivious to the grandeur surrounding her,
He knew her eyes would be solely on Him. As His would be on her...

As the vision swirled in His mind Jesus turned again to His Beloved's dress. He had fashioned it
for her Himself. White gold, yards of shimmering fabric spun by His angels. His hands reached
for the crimson robe that would grace her shoulders~ His beauty, His fair one. He had ransomed
her with His life's blood and given His very flesh and soul for her, and the crimson robe would
bear silent testament. Oh, His sweet Love! Before she was born He had loved her. He had sought
her, wooed her and won her. He had taught her patience and trust and had worked His beauty in
her willing and tender soul. He had fought for her and protected her heart for this day. And now
at last His faithful desire would be rewarded. She had come to Him in the garden and said ‘yes’
to His proposal, and how His heart had rejoiced at her anxious longing for their betrothal period
to end! Now remembering their shared pain, His eyes filled with tears and a cry rose in His
chest.
Jesus' tears came slowly at first and then became a rushing torrent as the floodgates of His soul
opened. Love so long denied! The faithful promise of His Father had sustained Him, and in turn
He had sustained His Beloved during their separation that had seemed would never end.
"I will be back," He had told her again and again. "Don't despair, Dear One! I WILL return for you."
Jesus' words now echoed into the empty room. And at last the time had come! He wept for
gratitude to Adonai, He wept at His memory of eons of unfulfilled longing; He cried for His
Bride, for all the tears she had wept in her longing after Him. She didn't know He had kept each
one in the very center of His soul. He wept fresh tears as He recalled every song of praise she had
ever offered to Him and to His beloved Father, many precious sacrifices given in the midst of her
trials and pain. A sob rose in His throat at the thought of His Beloved's face. Jesus gathered her
gown into His arms and buried His own face in the cloth. His tears became diamond drops that
held fast to the dress and adorned it still further. "As your tears adorned Me with jewels for My
heart, so mine shall adorn you!" He cried. "All creation shall witness how I love you! I bled for
you, oh My darling... I lived for you, I died for you, I rose to live for you again. I ever lived to
intercede for you and now at last you shall possess your King! I am yours, and you.....you are
Mine!" He whispered hoarsely to Himself, to His Father and to His Beloved, for it was as though
she were already in His arms.
Already in His arms....at the thought Jesus roused Himself. He gently hung the gown back to its
waiting place on the wall beside His robe. It was time to inspect the banqueting halls.
Everything must be perfect.

 

[Savedsis]

Savedsis! That was a wonderful description of Heaven! I appreciate your longing heart for the Lord!

Thanks so much....God bless you...

 

[Savedsis]

In God's book man is heading somewhere. He has an amazing destiny. We are being preared to walk down the church aisle and beome the bride of Jesus.
We ae going to live with him. Share the throne with him. Reign with him...We count...We are valuable. And what's more, our worth is built in! Our value is inborn.
You see, if there was anything that Jesus wanted everone to understand it was this; A Person is worth something simply beause he is a person...That is why he treated people like he did...
Listen closely...Jesus' love does not depend upon what we do for him..Not at all. In the eyes of the King, you have value simply beause you are..You don't have to look nice or perform well...Your value is inborn...Period..
Think about that for just a minute..You are valuable just beause you exist...Not beause of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are....

 

[JohannAT]

In God's book man is heading somewhere. He has an amazing destiny. We are being preared to walk down the church aisle and beome the bride of Jesus.
We ae going to live with him. Share the throne with him. Reign with him...We count...We are valuable. And what's more, our worth s built in! Our value is inborn.
You see, if there was anything that Jesus wanted everone to understand it was this; A Person is worth something simply beause he is a person...That is why he treated people like he did...
Listen losely...Jesus' love does not depend upon what we do for him..Not at all. In the eyes of the King, you have value simply beause you are..You don't have to look nie or perform well...Your value is inborn...Period..
Think about that for just a minute..You are valuable just beause you exist...Not beause of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are....

Dear sister Savedsis,

What encouraging words! Amen to all you shared, dear sister.

In God's book man is heading somewhere. He has an amazing destiny. We are being preared to walk down the church aisle and beome the bride of Jesus.
We ae going to live with him. Share the throne with him. Reign with him...We count...We are valuable. And what's more, our worth s built in! Our value is inborn.

To walk down the church aisle and become the bride of Christ - amazing destiny indeed! This is all so precious. What a glorious destiny is ours - all because of Him! I really love this part - "We are valuable. And what's more, our worth is built in! Our value is inborn."

O, to see the intrinsic value of people the way Jesus does! To love all mankind and be willing to lie down our lives for others - O, to be more like Him!

 

[JohannAT]

Thank you so much Charlie for your great encouragement! I am going to print out your posts and save them, to read when I feel discouraged.
Amy, thank you for the beautiful picture you posted! That is so cool! (I love Joan of Arc.)

Well here is the third part. This is based on a vision Yeshua gave to me a few years ago. It was a very brief vision but very clear. It is what started me writing. Amy painted a picture of this also, and I hope she will post that here too!


The Wedding Gown


Jesus entered the chamber where the celebration garments stood in readiness for the wedding.
As He crossed the threshold, His heart swelled at the realization that the time had at last come for
Him to be united to His long-awaited Bride. "All things are now ready," He whispered to
Himself. "Come to the Marriage."

In the corner of the room hung His robes, the white vestments gleaming in the lamplight, the blue
and purple and red glowing royally. His sword stood in its sheath, ready to be strapped to His
side for the ceremony. The symbol of a King. But now the only crown He longed for was His
wife. His eyes fell on her bridal gown prepared nearby and He sighed inwardly as He looked at it.
Tenderly He lifted its hanger and moved it close beside His own clothes so that their sleeves
touched. Standing back to admire the effect, He smiled and reached out to touch the fine fabric of
His Beloved's dress. It shone in His fingers. Truly it was a most beautiful gown. "Fit for the
Queen you shall be," He said to His absent love, and He smiled again to think of how delighted
she would be to see it. His own delight was in knowing her only happiness in the beautiful dress
would simply be because it represented her union with Him. His eyes misted as He envisioned
how she would look as she approached Him. The Great Hall was already prepared, adorned with
tens of thousands of candles waiting to be lit, every flower known to man and far more that were
not. The path she would walk to reach His side was strewn with never-fading roses....but He
knew His love would not even notice their fragrance. Oblivious to the grandeur surrounding her,
He knew her eyes would be solely on Him. As His would be on her...

As the vision swirled in His mind Jesus turned again to His Beloved's dress. He had fashioned it
for her Himself. White gold, yards of shimmering fabric spun by His angels. His hands reached
for the crimson robe that would grace her shoulders~ His beauty, His fair one. He had ransomed
her with His life's blood and given His very flesh and soul for her, and the crimson robe would
bear silent testament. Oh, His sweet Love! Before she was born He had loved her. He had sought
her, wooed her and won her. He had taught her patience and trust and had worked His beauty in
her willing and tender soul. He had fought for her and protected her heart for this day. And now
at last His faithful desire would be rewarded. She had come to Him in the garden and said ‘yes’
to His proposal, and how His heart had rejoiced at her anxious longing for their betrothal period
to end! Now remembering their shared pain, His eyes filled with tears and a cry rose in His
chest.
Jesus' tears came slowly at first and then became a rushing torrent as the floodgates of His soul
opened. Love so long denied! The faithful promise of His Father had sustained Him, and in turn
He had sustained His Beloved during their separation that had seemed would never end.
"I will be back," He had told her again and again. "Don't despair, Dear One! I WILL return for you."
Jesus' words now echoed into the empty room. And at last the time had come! He wept for
gratitude to Adonai, He wept at His memory of eons of unfulfilled longing; He cried for His
Bride, for all the tears she had wept in her longing after Him. She didn't know He had kept each
one in the very center of His soul. He wept fresh tears as He recalled every song of praise she had
ever offered to Him and to His beloved Father, many precious sacrifices given in the midst of her
trials and pain. A sob rose in His throat at the thought of His Beloved's face. Jesus gathered her
gown into His arms and buried His own face in the cloth. His tears became diamond drops that
held fast to the dress and adorned it still further. "As your tears adorned Me with jewels for My
heart, so mine shall adorn you!" He cried. "All creation shall witness how I love you! I bled for
you, oh My darling... I lived for you, I died for you, I rose to live for you again. I ever lived to
intercede for you and now at last you shall possess your King! I am yours, and you.....you are
Mine!" He whispered hoarsely to Himself, to His Father and to His Beloved, for it was as though
she were already in His arms.
Already in His arms....at the thought Jesus roused Himself. He gently hung the gown back to its
waiting place on the wall beside His robe. It was time to inspect the banqueting halls.
Everything must be perfect.

O Sister Amylisa! This third part is incredibly precious. What a glimpse into the depths of love in the heart of our Beloved! And what a glimpse into the unfathomable intensity of His longing for His Bride! O my! To see our dear One so overcome with love! Dearest Lord, You know this touches me so deeply! Thank you for these precious words.

What really beautiful thought - no earthly crown, no physical crown, will be of interest to Him on that day, the only crown He will long for is His wife! And for the Bride, the beautiful wedding garment we will wear on that day will only be beautiful to us because it will remind us of our union with Him! How beautiful we desire to be for Him, the very One who has made us so utterly beautiful.

What a scene - the most splendid wedding ever, but all that He sees is her, and all that she sees is Him! To know that one day the great longing in the hearts of the Bridegroom and His Bride will be fully satisfied! What a blessed hope - the days of tears, the days of longing, the days of trials and pain, will one day come to an end and days of utmost joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction will begin and will last for all eternity!

O dear sister, that last section! It is so rich! He remembers our all our tears of longing, all our songs of praise, all our sacrifices to Him. They are jewels upon His heart forever! Again, what purpose to our daily living - we can daily be adorning His heart with jewels that will last forever! Our romance with Him today will be remembered forever!
And to see Him so overwhelmed with love! I can not add a thing to what you wrote here - it is simply too beautiful, too profound, and too touching. Altogehter lovely!

 

[kisstheson]

So many beautiful words...Savedsis, Amy Lisa, Charlie, you all bring tears to my eyes.

The Gospel of John was on TBN tonight, the final scenes and final chapter where Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him and then gives Peter charge of His sheep and then John closes out his book with, "And many other things Jesus did in the presence of His disciples and I suppose if they were all to be written down the whole world could not contain the books that would be written."

And then you know the story is ending and Jesus is leaving to go back to the Father. As Amy Lisa knows, I really hate that part. I don't want Jesus to leave!

Reading this part of Amy's story opened that wound of longing for Jesus again...

"I will be back," He had told her again and again. "Don't despair, Dear One! I WILL return for you."

Oh He is with us in spirit, of course but we miss Him, do we not? We sigh after You Jesus! I can't even write this without crying. Thank you Amy Lisa for the beautiful story that portrays so well the longing also in His heart.

 

[Pennelope]

This whole thread is a wonderful inspiration. Thank you so much, all, for posting. "My heart longs for God, for the living God. When will I see the face of God?"

There's another piece of poetry that has always spoken to me about the longing for union of my heart with God and the struggle while we're still in the world. It's a change of pace and style from what's been posted so far, so please forgive me if it hits a jarring note. (The last three lines really hit me.)

Holy Sonnets - XIV
by John Donne

[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua] Batter my heart, three-person'd God ; for you
As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy;
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me. [/FONT]

 

[kisstheson]

This whole thread is a wonderful inspiration. Thank you so much, all, for posting. "My heart longs for God, for the living God. When will I see the face of God?"

There's another piece of poetry that has always spoken to me about the longing for union of my heart with God and the struggle while we're still in the world. It's a change of pace and style from what's been posted so far, so please forgive me if it hits a jarring note. (The last three lines really hit me.)

Holy Sonnets - XIV
by John Donne

[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]Batter my heart, three-person'd God ; for you[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend;[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]I, like an usurp'd town, to another due,[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]But am betroth'd unto your enemy;[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]Take me to you, imprison me, for I,[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Book Antiqua]Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me. [/FONT]

Incredible sonnet! I invite you to please post more. I'll be back later to ponder this some more. It is so deep and rich. Thanks!

 

[Amylisa]

Penelope, that poetry is absolutely beautiful! I love those words. Thank you for sharing them with us here.

Amy, thank you for posting your beautiful painting with the story!!! I love this painting, it is one of my very favorites.

Charlie, thank you for more of such encouraging words. Thank you so much. And I am Very glad you were blessed.

The part of the story that was in the vision was Jesus, kneeling almost to the floor, His face buried in His Bride's gown, sobbing. It was such a quick image, but it changed me! He is so beautiful and kind. Amen!!! Even so, Come Quickly, Lord Jesus!!!!!!

 

[EarthMomma]

Beautiful thread, catching me speechless.

 

[kisstheson]

WOW! Hey EarthMomma! Great to see you!

 

[kisstheson]

I wanted to comment on this verse from the beautiful sonnet Pennelope shared:

"Except You enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me. "

In the illustrated I have posted the Bride is wrapping a chain around Jesus' arm. She is demonstrating that she has chosen Christ to be her one and only. She is claiming Him all for herself. This is what maidens did, especially in medievel times. They would tie a scarf around the beloved's arm or entwine a lock of their hair with a portion of clothing that belonged to their true love. It was known as the love knot.

Notice the picture. The Savior has His arms locked around the Bride forming His own love knot. We love Jesus because He first loved us, just like the verse from Pennelope's poem observes. We cannot love Jesus unless He first pursues us. Isn't that what He is doing daily?

Here is part of a sonnet Jesus gave me.

"So ardently she sought My gentle heart to claim,
To bind it with a cord and hold it fast with chains.
But the chains she sought to form are weak compared to Mine.
My chains are more powerful to hold and to bind.
Yea, even from eternity past,
I bound her to My heart and held her sure and fast!"

Jesus will never let go of His Bride!

 

[EarthMomma]

WOW! Hey EarthMomma! Great to see you!

And great to see you dear one, and be in your presence, for you ALWAYS cause me beautiful meditations upon our Wonderful Savior and Lord!

And I loved the sonnet and reflections and responses.
What a glorious way to start the day!

The coolest part this morning is that God has opened my eyes to my lover's ever-presence -- here and now and forever.

Love, your sister in Christ,
EarthMomma

 

[EarthMomma]

O, to see the intrinsic value of people the way Jesus does! To love all mankind and be willing to lie down our lives for others - O, to be more like Him!

Amen to seeing the way Jesus does, letting His love work through and in us! This story is so beautiful, and the responses so uplifting. May God grant us eyes to see and ears to hear, and a heart to comprehend His love, so we can let it shine thru us for His glory!

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
​

John 15:7-14 KJV.

I love Him SOOOOO much that I simply have to love you too!

In His love, by His love and grace,
EarthMomma