The Bride of Christ thread

[kisstheson]

Charlie,

I am only quoting part of what you said although I agree with your inspire post. I thought it was spot on!

"How do we shelter Jesus? I really need some help on this one! My only thought here is that we shelter Him when we continue to love Him in the midst of trials and tribulations, especially when go throught the trial of suffering ridicule and persecution for His sake. When we are bearing shame for His precious, lovely, Name, and we remain close and intimate with Him and do not forsake Him, we become a target for His enemies; and, in a sense, we suffer the reproach from His enemies that would normally fall directly upon Him. Joyfully, we willingly bear reproach for Him so that it will not fall directly upon Him. Surely our sheltering Him in this way is so precious to Him, as He indicated over and over that there is a very rich reward laid up in Heaven for all those who live in such a way! (Mattthew 5:11-12, etc.)"

Absolutely! I'm just going to add to what you said. Sheltering and comfprting Jesus to me is a very real thing. I believe that not only is He in Heaven but He is also with me, beside me and in me. In a very real sense Jesus goes throughout the world in search of souls. He is often met with rejection and abuse. So He at last comes to the door of His Bride. I take this literally. By faith I embrace Him, kiss His wounds, minister to Him, pour oil on His head. I think He is just as much present with me as when He walked the earth. My only "hinderance" is that I can't see Him with my natural eyes.

Here's the lyrics of a song the Holy Spirit gave me which I sing often to Jesus:

I kiss Your head Lord Jesus for Your head is beautiful like purest gold.

I kiss Your eyes for You eyes are like doves resting beside still waters.

I kiss Your cheeks for Your cheeks are like banks of aromatic spices.

I kiss Your mouth Lord Jesus for Your lips are lilies dripping choice myhrr.

I kiss Your hands Lord Jesus for Your hands were wounded out of love for me!

I kiss Your feet Lord Jesus how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news!

I kiss Your heart Lord Jesus for Your Heart was pierced for love of me!

I kiss You Lord Jesus for You are my Love, the fairest of ten thousand!

I remember a depiction of His passion that I saw in a Silent film that was made back in 1927 called "The King of kings." When the soldiers mock Christ they take garbage and pour it over His head. I often think how the world loves to pour garbage on Jesus and while they cannot ever do this again I think that Jesus feels it in His heart. So I often picture myself wiping the garbage from His soiled hair. It's like comforting that memory of His Passion when the soldiers so mistreated Him.

Here is a picture form my portfolio. The thorns represent the hatred of the world and Jesus has run into the protective arms of His Bride. He looks very much as He did in His Passion.

 

[JohannAT]

Amen, dear sister Amy! Thank you so much for adding to what I said. I knew that I definitely needed some help with that last question! (Feel free to add to my answers to the frist two questions as well!)

In retrospect, I was thinking more of "covering" rather than "sheltering". I really like how you tied together comforting Jesus and sheltering Him.

Sheltering and comforting Jesus to me is a very real thing.

Amen!

By faith I embrace Him, kiss His wounds, minister to Him, pour oil on His head. I think He is just as much present with me as when He walked the earth. My only "hinderance" is that I can't see Him with my natural eyes.

Again, a strong Amen! This is beautiful, dear sister, absolutely beautiful!

Do the lyrics you shared with us have a tune? That is such a sweet song to sing to our Beloved Jesus!

 

[kisstheson]

Thanks for the comments Charlie!

Yes the lyrics also have a melody.

I agree with what you said about how we give Jesus a drink and a place of rest. Here again I take this very much as literal. Mother Theresa had a life size crucifix hanging in the chapel with the words. "I thirst" written underneath it. One of the ways she gave Jesus a drink was by finding Christ in every indiviual and thus ministering to His need within the poor.

Jesus also said the the Holy Spirit would be like a well of living water springing up inside the believer. So the water we give Jesus is what He has already poured into us through the Spirit and that is our praise, worship and adoration. How delicious is this drink to Jesus!

His place of rest as you said is in our hearts. Yet I myself believe that I actually hold Jesus in my arms. Father Padre Pio said that the best way to overcome temption is to take the crucified Jesus into to your arms and while kissing His wounded side says, "I will not let You go until You help me to overcome this sin. (Whatever sin that might be.)

I see Jesus as a Person. (I know you do also.) And just like when we come to the door of a friend we would love to be greeted with a hug and given the best seat in the house, maybe a big convy easy chair...Jesus is not much different than we. Sometimes our practice of His presence is much too etheral.

What do you think?

 

[RobinLayne]

Thanks for sharing the website of Marion Colton. I loved the pictures and texts. I especially liked when she said compassion is half comfort and half passion.

Thank you also for the picture of the Bride looking at her reflection and seeing a beautiful creature with wings. It put in mind a song I wrote many years ago:


LIKE A LOVER

I see You roaring in the waterfall,
Sunny skies, and clouds, You made them all
for us.
I fell in love with the smile
in the glass today when I got up
with You.

And it makes me want to laugh,
And it makes me want to cry,
Halalu! I love You!
Halalu! I love You!

You hold me in Your arms,
like a lover, I'm kept safe from all alarms
by You.
I'm growin' taller like a redwood tree,
the soil so rich, oh, how can it ever be?

Because You
make me want to laugh
and you make me want to cry,
Halalu, I love You!
Halalu, I love You!

 

[RobinLayne]

When we are bearing shame for His precious, lovely, Name, and we remain close and intimate with Him and do not forsake Him, we become a target for His enemies; and, in a sense, we suffer the reproach from His enemies that would normally fall directly upon Him. Joyfully, we willingly bear reproach for Him so that it will not fall directly upon Him. Surely our sheltering Him in this way is so precious to Him, as He indicated over and over that there is a very rich reward laid up in Heaven for all those who live in such a way! (Mattthew 5:11-12, etc.)

I never thought of this. I am still a timid soul afraid of offending people and afraid of persecution. I tend to figure that if they get mad it will do them no good to to witness to them. Let me think a long while on what you have said, Charlie.
I agree with everything you have said. I will add the words Jesus said himself, that whatever we do for the least of his brethren, we have done for him. We satisfy his thirst and give him shelter by looking at others with God's eyes and helping them.

 

[kisstheson]

Robin.

This poem is so lovely and beautiful! Thanks! I'm glad you liked the pictures of the joyful Jesus and the one of the girl looking at her reflection. Isn't that just breathtaking?

I have a picture that I want to post to go along with the theme of welcoming Jesus but it is in a book called "Christ in the Fine Arts." I have to go to library to get it though. I can't wait to post it here.

So please guys come back late Monday to check it out. I'm sure you'll be blessed!

 

[knownbeforetime]

I've written parts of a story. I've got nothing but character names and random dialogue though.

It all started with a line that popped into my head. "It was the first time she had ever danced." My intention was to write a poem but it soon developed into one of the random bits of aforementioned dialogue.

I really want to tell you all about it but I don't want to spoil it.... All I can say is that it's an adaptation of a very popular story.

my poetry is at www.fictionpress.com/~knownbeforetime

For your listening pleasure:

I Need You To Love Me by Barlowgirl
A Little Longer by Brian and Jenn Johnson
Beautiful One by Jeremy Camp
Fix You by Coldplay
Come and Listen by David Crowder
Here Is Our King by David Crowder
Deeper by Delirous
Inside Outside by Delirious
From the Inside Out by Hillsong United
Right Here by Jeremy Camp
This Man by Jeremy Camp
Sweetly Broken by Jeremy Riddle
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Sound of Melodies by Leeland
Hanging By A Moment by Lifehouse
Breathing by Lifehouse
Everything by Lifehouse
Spin by Lifehouse
Only Hope by Mandy Moore (or Switchfoot, whichever you prefer)
Nothing But The Blood by Matt Redman
Hungry by Matt Redman (I think... Oh well, it's a popular tune)
Here With Me by MercyMe
Homesick by MercyMe
So Long Self by MercyMe
Anything ever sung by Misty Edwards. I particularly like her song called "I Am Yours"
Brave by Nichole Nordeman
Grace by Phil Wickham
Divine Romance by Phil Wickham (Phil is in the same category as Misty. Brian and Jenn Johnson too.)
Bless the Broken Road by Rascall Flatts (or Selah, again, whichever you prefer)
Breathe Into Me by Red (hard rock warning, some screaming and loud guitar and drums)
Already Over by Red
Lost by Red
Be My Escape by Relient K
Days of Elijah by Robin Mark (not sure why, I was lead to put it in the list)
How Deep The Father's Love For Us by Sarah Sadler
Mercy Reigns by Shane and Shane
E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come by Paul Manz (choral piece)
Your Love, Oh Lord by Third Day
Love Song by Third Day
I've Always Loved You by Third Day (I've always cried while listening to this song...)

 

[kisstheson]

My sister,

You just HAVE to tell us about it because we would LOVE to read it! Aren't you just dying to hear the input of others? Of course you are! Will you please post a portion on this thread? Give us just a taste!

That's quite a list there of love songs to Jesus. Some of them I sing at my church. Have you ever heard Josh Groban's Jesu Joy of Men's Desiring? Girl...it's ta die for! I have to listen to the one you mentioned by Third day that makes you cry.

Now to read some of your poetry.

To everyone else (when they show up hopefully sooner than later.) Looks like I won't be able to post that picture I was talking about until late Tuesday night. The Library is closed on Monday casue it's Labor Day.

P.S. LBT can you possibly post the link to the song "I have always loved you" by Third Day here?

 

[knownbeforetime]

Well, alright. My story is an adaptation of Cinderella. It's more allegorical than literal. The Prince Charming of the story isn't literally Jesus as in your stories. Anyways...

List of main characters:
King - Great King/Lord
Prince Charming - Prince Joshua/Lord
Cinderella - Kallah/Aqar
Step-mother - Izabel Satana
Step-sister - Sarah Satana - one step-sister for this story
Fairy Godmother - This is split into two parts. One is Nabi, a spokesman of the King. He is a wise man and old. His forever companion is Ruach. Ruach is a dove. This dove has lived longer than Nabi. Nabi does not know where he came from but he knows that a fountain of wisdom and truth flows from this bird. Nabi also knows that the dove is not subject to him.

An excerpt:

It was the first time she had ever danced. She had thought about it often. Imagined it. Twirled around in the fields in a rhythmic sway when her stepmother wasn’t looking over her shoulder. However, in these mental machinations, she never imagined that dancing included touching. She swayed alone in her dreams.

The only things she ever touched were dirt, pigs, chickens, and trees. Touching things was not a pleasant experience for her. She did not even experience human touch when she was disciplined. When she disobeyed, she got a switch put to her backside that she cut for herself so her stepmother wouldn’t have to dirty her hand.

Tonight, right now, she felt the warm hand at her back. It rested there. It was not pushing her. She felt the other hand clasped in hers, covering it, caressing. Her hand had wearily reached for his shoulder as she had seen the other couples do. His eyes alone made her want to run and take cover. She could not stand to have his eyes on her. No one had ever gazed, the only word she could think of, upon her. She had only ever endured the glares of her stepmother. However, his eyes actually wanted to rest where they were.


I apologize in advance to those who actually know Hebrew. I did the best I could with what I had.

 

[RobinLayne]

Bravo! The words about touch brought tears to my eyes! Please keep writing! And if you will, post the whole story on the site when you're done!

 

[kisstheson]

My goodness! LBT this is so beautiful and well written. You must keep at it. Like Robin I was very moved by the paragraph about touch and her step mom not wanting to dirty her hands but instead used a switch. Really what contrasting images you paint...the step mother's hand contrasting Prince Joshua's gentle hand. You are more than welcome to post your writing here. I would follow with interest.

I know you said your story is an allegory so I take it to mean that the Prince whose name is Joshua represents Jesus? Correct? The Dove is like the Holy Spirit?

I hope you don't mind if I share this poetic version of my Prince but here I call Him Prince Valiant. Here Jesus speaks as Prince Valiant:


Prince Valiant and The Sleeping Beauty

Excerpt from The Poet Jesus


"Do not go!" cried the squire and all the royal court.
"This mission is truly of a dangerous sort!
You are the fairest, the purest, and best.
No thorn should marr Your holy breast.
Send others! Let other's perform the deadly deed!
Let them enter the wood on swiftest steed!"
But I am Valiant and My quest is right.
Only he must go who is a virtuous knight.
No thorns can barr, or castle keep,
nor stony walls, or towers steep,
Darkened forests, the dragon fierce,
My sword of truth shall evil pierce!
The castle holds My princess fair.
The red rose does not compare.
Her beauty renown throughout the land.
Many a knight came to win her hand.
None was so pure as to break the spell,
Of thorns that hid her beauty well.
Each one who dared – upon the thorns impaled.
Many tried and many failed.
Sleep came upon the victims all.
Entrapping them in a thorny wall.
I alone am that Knight without blame.
Love's holy weapons darkness cannot claim.
Purity I bear.
The armor of light I wear.



The sleeping beauty of My coming dreams.
She beholds My face, gentle, serene.
My Name is known in many tongues.
Throughout My kingdom My praise is sung.
At My approach the thorns give way.
And darkness fades in radiant day.
At once I ascend the tower stair!
I hasten to answer her silent prayer.
Straight to My love, My rose among thorns,
Straight to her lips My kiss is borne.
Like cooing dove her precious sighs.
O see! She opens her lovely eyes.
Her beauty drove deep love’s arrow sweet.
My heart is singing with joy complete.
The spell of sleep now 'tis broken,
With loves most holy token.
The pure kiss from a Knight who is true.
My name is JESUS. My one love, 'tis you!"


This is an illustration by Donna Smallenberg where Christ is pictured as the Prince.

 

[JPPT1974]

Love that picture as Jesus is
Indeed a Prince of all of us!
Waiting to take us away.

 

[Amylisa]

Love that picture as Jesus is
Indeed a Prince of all of us!
Waiting to take us away.

Amen!!!!!

 

[Amylisa]

You know the song from Godspell, "By Your Side" ?
This was probably the first song I would sing to Him. It still always brings me to tears when I think of it.
I change the words a little bit...

When are You coming
when are you coming
Jesus take me with You
For my hand is cold
and needs warmth
When are You coming?

From far beyond where the horizon lies
Where the horizon lies
And the land sinks into
mellow blueness, oh please,
take me with you

Let me skip the road with You
Help me give myself
help me give my self

You shall call us to you there, you shall call us to you there
And there we will talk
Of our walking
Time shall be soon, Lord
And when the Father says, "enough"

You will call us up to You, singing~
"Meet your new road"

Then I'll take Your hand
Finally glad~ finally glad
That I am here
By Your side
By Your side
By Your side.

 

[kisstheson]

Amy Lisa!

I have always loved that song from Godspell! I like your version. It's so important that we have this heart for His return. May He gives us the grace.

Here's a picture of both the male and female Bride journeying in search of the King and the Kingdom. They both look so royal! They want to be "home' with the King!

 

[JohannAT]

Dear ones,

So many beautiful pictures, stories, songs and poems here lately! Everything is so lovely and really captures the longing of the Bride for her beloved Bridegroom!

 

[kisstheson]

The Bride welcomes Jesus!

O Jesus,Thou art standing
Outside the fast closed door;
In lowly patience waiting
To pass the threshold o'er;
Shame on us, Christian brethren,
His name and sign we bear,
Oh shame, thrice shame
To keep Him standing there.

 

[RobinLayne]

Such beautiful pictures and words! I love you all!

 

[Amylisa]

My goodness! LBT this is so beautiful and well written. You must keep at it. Like Robin I was very moved by the paragraph about touch and her step mom not wanting to dirty her hands but instead used a switch. Really what contrasting images you paint...the step mother's hand contrasting Prince Joshua's gentle hand. You are more than welcome to post your writing here. I would follow with interest.

I know you said your story is an allegory so I take it to mean that the Prince whose name is Joshua represents Jesus? Correct? The Dove is like the Holy Spirit?

I hope you don't mind if I share this poetic version of my Prince but here I call Him Prince Valiant. Here Jesus speaks as Prince Valiant:


Prince Valiant and The Sleeping Beauty

Excerpt from The Poet Jesus


"Do not go!" cried the squire and all the royal court.
"This mission is truly of a dangerous sort!
You are the fairest, the purest, and best.
No thorn should marr Your holy breast.
Send others! Let other's perform the deadly deed!
Let them enter the wood on swiftest steed!"
But I am Valiant and My quest is right.
Only he must go who is a virtuous knight.
No thorns can barr, or castle keep,
nor stony walls, or towers steep,
Darkened forests, the dragon fierce,
My sword of truth shall evil pierce!
The castle holds My princess fair.
The red rose does not compare.
Her beauty renown throughout the land.
Many a knight came to win her hand.
None was so pure as to break the spell,
Of thorns that hid her beauty well.
Each one who dared – upon the thorns impaled.
Many tried and many failed.
Sleep came upon the victims all.
Entrapping them in a thorny wall.
I alone am that Knight without blame.
Love's holy weapons darkness cannot claim.
Purity I bear.
The armor of light I wear.



The sleeping beauty of My coming dreams.
She beholds My face, gentle, serene.
My Name is known in many tongues.
Throughout My kingdom My praise is sung.
At My approach the thorns give way.
And darkness fades in radiant day.
At once I ascend the tower stair!
I hasten to answer her silent prayer.
Straight to My love, My rose among thorns,
Straight to her lips My kiss is borne.
Like cooing dove her precious sighs.
O see! She opens her lovely eyes.
Her beauty drove deep love’s arrow sweet.
My heart is singing with joy complete.
The spell of sleep now 'tis broken,
With loves most holy token.
The pure kiss from a Knight who is true.
My name is JESUS. My one love, 'tis you!"


This is an illustration by Donna Smallenberg where Christ is pictured as the Prince.

Beautiful! Especially the poetry!!!

Oh if it wasn't for Him I would not survive.

 

[Amylisa]

Thanks for sharing the website of Marion Colton. I loved the pictures and texts. I especially liked when she said compassion is half comfort and half passion.

Thank you also for the picture of the Bride looking at her reflection and seeing a beautiful creature with wings. It put in mind a song I wrote many years ago:


LIKE A LOVER

I see You roaring in the waterfall,
Sunny skies, and clouds, You made them all
for us.
I fell in love with the smile
in the glass today when I got up
with You.

And it makes me want to laugh,
And it makes me want to cry,
Halalu! I love You!
Halalu! I love You!

You hold me in Your arms,
like a lover, I'm kept safe from all alarms
by You.
I'm growin' taller like a redwood tree,
the soil so rich, oh, how can it ever be?

Because You
make me want to laugh
and you make me want to cry,
Halalu, I love You!
Halalu, I love You!

This song is wonderful Robyn! I haven't been here much and am just starting to catch up on reading.
These words are a blessing and are very encouraging.