Walk The Part

Often we hear that we are to live as citizens of Heaven always looking to the eternal and not towards things of this world that are temporary. But what does it look like to walk as a citizen of Heaven? It’s important for us to know, so that we can know where we stand, so that we can ask God for guidance and correction, and so that we can respectfully and with grace guide our brothers and sisters in Christ in how to walk and live as citizens of Heaven themselves.

• To walk as a citizen of Heaven means to have a focus on the glory of the life that is to come in fullness, completion, and perfection in and with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we walk as citizens of Heaven we also hope and confidently wait in expectation for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.     

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— (1 Corinthians 2:9)                         

   ”  Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1-5)

• To walk as a citizen of Heaven means to walk with our heads always towards the heavens instead of looking down and being rooted in our circumstances, our fears, our doubts, and our anxieties in the knowledge that we are walking in the footsteps of Christ who ascended into Heaven.

  ^“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our  body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)

“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15: 51-53)

• To walk as a citizen of Heaven means to live at peace and in harmony with all people no matter who they are, where they are from, how different they may seem, or the wrong that they have done.

            “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6: 17-19)

• When we walk as a citizen of Heaven we begin to look towards a brighter and eternal future rather than finding our joy, hope, and satisfaction in the temporary things of this world which can become idols in our hearts drawing us away from relationship with the one true God.

            “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
            

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

• As we walk as citizens of Heaven we begin to renew our minds daily with the Word of God and seek the will, the power, and the strength of our Lord by the power of His Holy Spirit, to apply it to our lives and be not only “hearers” of the Word but “doers” also.

            ” Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  (Romans 12:2)
         

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)            

    “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 3:17

   ” But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)

• One way that I know that I am walking as a citizen of Heaven is that I begin to become more bold and courageous in proclaiming the Good News of the gospel to the lost.

            “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)
           

“I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. (Luke 12:8-9)

• Walking as citizen of Heaven we also look different in that we take on more and more the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We begin to live, walk, and love with the faith and the reassurance that our Savior has been resurrected and has conquered death so that we might have eternal life here and now and in the future where He has gone to prepare a place for us.         

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)                                                    

 ” In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? (John 14:2)

Prayer:

May we all walk with our heads upwards towards Heaven in joy and in praise knowing that we will be raised one day to Heaven to be with our Lord for all time. May we seek to bring others along with us, never looking down on the lost though we ourselves are not meant for this world. May more souls be won to Christ by His power indwelling in us, all to His glory and to His honor where they will be stored up for us in Heaven by His remembrance of them. We thank You Lord for this day and for preparing a place for us in Heaven. In Jesus name. Amen.

Perishing (Im)Perfections

¹⁶ “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. ¹⁷ And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” (1 John 2:16-17)

Ten days ago I was blessed with the gift of a new laptop as an encouragement for me to continue with God’s blog. I praised God for the blessing and thanked Him for the added help this would give me, I thanked the giver, and then I waited in a panicked impatient frenzy for it to arrive at my door. I mean I was a shameful sight to see: up all night, calling the night before it’s arrival Christmas Eve, then pacing and standing by the door waiting for hours to hear the knock that would signify it’s arrival.

When hours later the computer finally arrived I forgot to praise God, I forgot all about my friends for a time, and my eyes grew wide and clouded as life began to pass me by while I became trapped in the fraudulent perfection of tech. In ten days I was serving God on that computer while all the while waiting for an opportunity to get the chance to tell somebody about how great my laptop was. Nobody asked though and yet that didn’t deter me at all. I continued to serve God while all the while becoming more and more distant from Him. Oh but God didn’t leave me there. He settled me down and put me in my place. Praise the Lord!

On Sunday morning after online service I stepped away from the computer and when I came back the power light was red after it had been fully charged. When I attempted to charge it again the light turned blue, the fan began to make a loud and obnoxious sound, and my 10 day perishing perfection had dropped dead.

I cried out to God with a trumpeting sound of, “WHY?!!!” and He humbled me. A light bulb went on, not on my computer unfortunately, but over my head and I ran to God asking Him to forgive me for idolizing a man made creation of this world.

This verse from 1 John 2:16-17 speaks to many of us. There are so many things in this life to fall for and to fall in love with. It’s alright to love them and it’s perfectly accepted by God to offer Him praise for helping man to be able to make such wonderful and useful things. But we must remember that they are just things and not to go overboard like I did.

Now perhaps you’re not as bad as me with technology but maybe there’s something else in this world that has your attention and is distracting you from fellowship with the one true God. I invite you to give it to God and let it go. Maybe not from your life entirely but from the space in your heart reserved for God, that it now has taken over.

May I invite you to pray:

Lord I thank You for the blessings we have in this life and for Your creativity and the knowledge You have given to man to be able to produce such wonderful things. Thank You for blessing me with all of the things I need and forgive me Lord for those times I allow the perishing perfections of this world to come between us. Help me to see what they are in my life and help me to acknowledge and turn back to You, seeing that it is by Your hand that they have been made, and it is by Your will that they have come to my need. Lord may I never falter and allow the things of this world make me lose sight of my God. Bring me close to You and draw me in. Thank You for Your mercy and Your compassion for the forgiveness of my sin. I love You Lord. In Jesus name. Amen.

A Teapot Steamed Up

Last night I had a dream and woke up singing a song you may have heard: “I’m a little teapot.” If you never heard the song let me teach it to you and invite you to listen to it.

“I’m a little teapot short and stout. Here is my handle, here is my spout. When I get all steamed up, then I shout, “Tip me over and pour me out.”

I don’t know who wrote the song but I do remember singing it as a little girl and doing the little dance that goes along with it. I have no idea what my dream was about but I knew God was telling me something through the little song I woke up singing this morning. I wasn’t sure what it was but I immediately laughed to myself at the often startling ways God gets our attention.

As the morning went by and then the afternoon I couldn’t get the song out of my head and I asked the Lord to tell me what He meant and this is the verse that came into my head and hit my heart.

“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.” (Psalm 96:1-2)

It’s amazing how a song unrelated to God can still proclaim His glorious meaning. This song once sang by a little girl now had an entirely different meaning to this saved woman. Lo and behold! It was a new song on this day.

When I think of the little teapot I now see myself and I see you. You may be tall or like me and the little teapot short and stout; it doesn’t matter because I’m pretty sure at some point in your life you have either felt small or been made to feel smaller than you are.

But you are a child of God and you have a place. The little teapot has a handle and a spout both of which are much needed if it’s going to be of much use. You are made more complex and substantial than that teapot for you were created by the God who made both heaven and earth.

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” (Psalm 139:14)

The psalmist gives God thanks and praise for making them so complex and for God’s outstanding work in them. Jesus says that you are more important to him than the sparrows He created so you must know that you are definitely more important to him than a teapot man has fashioned.

“So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31 AMP)

When a teapot is filled and begins to boil and steam as the little song says, we tip the pot over and pour it out. When we are filled to overflowing with the good news of the gospel, with the great grace of our God to bring us to salvation, with the complexity of how we are made and how His thoughts of us are so lovely, so precious, so merciful, so compassionate, so understanding, so wise, so pure, so generous, and so kind we too begin to pour out the good news to everyone with ears to hear and eyes to see.

Ask God to fill you up today with an overflow of His goodness until you get steamed up and on fire for Him like the little teapot gets when filled to boiling with water. There is someone out there who needs Mercy, to know God’s love, and who needs to hear the good news.

When you are making some tea or boiling some water remember the good things the Lord has done for you, and may your mind be filled with a new song to sing proclaiming the good news of salvation for all to hear and to see. When God puts a song in your heart and in your ears no matter how insignificant, small, or strange it might seem I pray you will listen and find His meaning there. But remember to proclaim it for it would be a sad thing not to share.

Be blessed to be a blessing today and may your steam rise into a new song for you to share telling the greatness and the goodness of our God, to everyone everywhere.

Study on Songs VIII.

Today we are finishing up our study on the Song of Solomon and I pray that you learned a lot about God, His love for you as His child and His love for us the church.

The last chapter of the Song of Solomon is the two lovers having a conversation with one another. In the first three verses we see the joy of sexual intimacy within marriage and warnings against sexual activity before marriage and yet we can also see this as a markings of our own marriage to the church of God, the intimacy of our relationship to God, and also the joy of a life of purity.

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4)

The bride wants a more intimate communion and fellowship with her husband and as we become more acquainted with Christ we begin to notice that our hearts begin to thirst for more of His presence and more of His Holy Word.

When we come before Christ we are His brothers and sisters and it is this same familiarity that the bride wants to have with Solomon that we too long to have in Christ without being ashamed or despised by anyone for any reason. Christians are priveleged to be able to speak of Christ as the Bridegroom of the church, as our friend and also as our brother.

“But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-50)

“Oh, that you were like a brother to me,
Who nursed at the breasts of my mother.
If I found you out of doors, I would kiss you;
No one would blame me or despise me, either.
² 
“I would lead you and bring you
Into the house of my mother, who used to instruct me;
I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranates.
³ 
“Let his left hand be under my head
And his right hand embrace me.”

(The Bridegroom)

“I command you to take an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem,
That you do not rouse nor awaken my love
Until she pleases.”

The Shulammite Bride)

“Under the apple tree I awakened you [to my love];
There your mother was in labor with you,
There she was in labor and gave you birth.
⁶ 
“Put me like a seal on your heart,
Like a seal on your arm;
For love is as strong as death,
Jealousy is as severe and cruel as Sheol (the place of the dead).
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
[A most vehement flame] the very flame of the Lord!
⁷ 
“Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor can rivers drown it.
If a man would offer all the riches of his house for love,
It would be utterly scorned and despised.” (Song of Solomon 8:1-7)

In verses 8-12 the chorus speaks of having a little sister in the bride and this can bring to mind for us the presence of babes in Christ who we are to fellowship with and assist in their spiritual growth. We should protect them and enclose them as verse 9 says, “with planks of cedar”, protecting and teaching them how to guard their hearts from temptation and from the darts of the enemy. We should also let them know of their value in the church and in the kingdom of God building them up as it were on “a turret” of silver (v.9)

The remaining verses remind us that we either are or once were young Christians ourselves and that the Lord granted us favor by His grace to be saved and to finally find peace with Him (v.10).

As Solomon has a vineyard so our King and Lord Jesus Christ is the vine that we cling to for strength, for life, and for nourishment.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1)

In verse 11 everyone was to bring a thousand pieces of silver; or shekels, amounting to about an hundred and fifty pounds for the fruit of the vineyard. This shows the fruitfulness of the vineyard since the price for its fruit was so expensive. God has blessed us in turn with great usefulness in the ministry of the gospel as we come to find great blessings in bringing souls to Christ, and that the fruit of His labor through us is more dear to Him than pieces of silver.

“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins [each one equal to a day’s wages] and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?” (Luke 15:8)

Christ’s ministers are His soul gatherers, and the collectors of His fruit.

“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and  purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you.” (John 15:16)

Although we all have different gifts we still bring in the same amount as others do all for Christ’s pleasure, delight, and glory.

The Shulammite Bride)

¹⁰ 
“I was a wall, and my breasts were like the towers.
Then I became in the king’s eyes
As one [to be respected and allowed] to find peace.
¹¹ 
“Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon;
He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers;
Each one was to bring him a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
¹² 
“My very own vineyard is at my disposal;
The thousand [shekels of silver] are for you, O Solomon,
And two hundred are for those who tend the fruit.” (Song of Solomon 8:10-12)

The closing verses are the end of this conversation and Solomon wants to hear his wife’s voice one more time. Her response is that she wants him to come quickly to take her home.

(The Bridegroom)

¹³ 
“O you who sit in the gardens,
My companions are listening for your voice—
Let me hear it.”

(The Shulammite Bride)

¹⁴ 
“Hurry, my beloved and come quickly,
Like a gazelle or a young stag [taking me home]
On the mountains of spices.” (Song of Solomon 8:13-14)

We too should be waiting for our King to come and to take us home again. Jesus is going to return one day and bring us all home to Him. Let us keep right on awaiting his return and let our hope be ever on the heavens knowing this is not our home. A better life and a brighter day is yet on the horizon.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

Study on Songs VII.

Chapter 7 in the Song of Solomon at first glance appears to be a delightful devotional from Solomon to his bride. He lavishes her with strong words of seduction and passion and his bride responds in kind in agreement with his love for her. If we look we can also see a representation here of Christ and His relationship to believers as well as with the church. We too have this much love for our own King as He has for His own body of believers the church and for each individual that is a part of the body.

Admiration by the Bridegroom

7 “How beautiful are your feet in sandals,
O prince’s daughter!
The curves of your hips are like jewels,
The work of the hands of an artist.
² 
“Your navel is a round goblet
Which never lacks mixed wine.
Your belly is like a heap of wheat
Surrounded with lilies.
³ 
“Your two breasts are like two fawns,
The twins of a gazelle.

“Your neck is like a tower of ivory,
Your eyes the [sparkling] pools of Heshbon
By the gate of Bath-rabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon
Which looks toward Damascus.
⁵ 
“Your head crowns you like

Mount Carmel,
And the flowing hair of your head like purple threads;
I, the king, am held captive by your tresses.
⁶ 
“How beautiful and how delightful you are,
My love, with all your delights!
⁷ 
“Your stature is like that of a palm tree
And your breasts like its clusters [of dates].

I said, ‘I will climb the palm tree;
I will grasp its branches.
Let your breasts be like clusters of the grapevine,
And the fragrance of your breath like apples,
⁹ 
‘And your kisses like the best wine!'” (Song of Solomon 7:1-9)

We see that Solomon has given his bride a new name “Princes daughter.” In Psalm 45:13 the church is referred to as the Kings daughter giving us insight into this new way of viewing this particular chapter of the word of God.

“Glorious is the King’s daughter within [the palace];
Her robe is interwoven with gold.” (Psalm 45:13)

The splendor of her robe interwoven as it is with gold speaks to the royalty of those who sit in the churches pews or who minister right now from their homes. As a part of Christ’s royal family we are clothed by Him in splendor and He cherishes us greatly.

Solomon speaks of his brides body and we can become acquainted here with the beautiful lens through which Christ sees every member of the church body.

“From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love.” (Ephesians 4:16)

As we grow together and move together in unity with one another it brings God great joy. As Solomon gets joy in the dance of his brides hips. Our Lord sees the working of our hands and our feet even if only dressed in sandals (v. 1) as beautiful and most lovely as they are set on His work of ministering about Him, bringing messages of encouragement from His word to one another, and also to those who have never heard it. What a joy to know that we each are a delight to our Lord no matter how small or insignificant our place and our work may appear to us to be!

Holiness here is shown as a stately and strong presence in the nose of the bride of Solomon in verse 4 and her neck which is like a tower of ivory. The church stands towering above the enemy and every arrow he throws at us to prevent us from speaking of our Savior and flourishing in the love of Christ. Solomon speaks of the stateliness of his bride and we must remember that together we are just as refined, stately, and honorable to King Jesus.

The Union of Love

¹⁰ 
“I am my beloved’s,
And his desire is for me.
¹¹ 
“Come, my beloved, let us go out into the country,
Let us spend the night in the villages.
¹² 
“Let us go out early to the vineyards;
Let us see whether the vine has budded
And its blossoms have opened,
And whether the pomegranates have flowered.
There I will give you my love.
¹³ 
“The mandrakes give forth fragrance,
And over our doors are all [kinds of] choice fruits,
Both new and old,
Which I have saved up for you, my beloved.” (Song of Solomon 7:10-13)

The closing of this chapter shows the union of this marriage of love between Solomon and His bride and the union of Christ, again with the church. We are joined together with Christ at all times, and whether we are praying or singing songs of praise and worship, crying out to Him in deep longing for His return, or holding one another together for His glory, we are in fact His and the Lord’s desire is for us (v. 10).

Never forget that the fruit of the spirit is a beautiful aroma to our Lord and that whether you know it or not you are special and leave a lasting and most blessed impression on the body of the church, that is our Lord’s.

You have a place. You have a presence. You are a part of a whole with a stately and royal appearance. No matter what you are going through and no matter your suffering and the state of your scars. You are His and He is yours to His glory in the heavens and to the joy of all the stars.

Study on Songs VI.

In chapter 5 of the Song of Solomon the Shulammite bride has lost sight of her groom in a dream and felt her heart soaring in longing for him, as our hearts often long for God when He seems to be far from us. She goes out to look for him and the city guards come up against her as well as the chorus of those we have come to see as a chorus of fellow believers, as they want to know what she sees in her groom as many have questioned us as to why we are devoted to our Lord.

In chapter 6 of the Song of Solomon we see the chorus inspired to seek Solomon out for themselves after hearing the praise on the lips of the Shulammite bride. She had many a good thing to say about him and I wonder today what good things have you to say about our Lord?

The praise that we reserve for Him while bringing glory to God and benefiting our own hearts and minds also is of benefit to those who don’t believe in our Lord or who may have stepped behind in their walk of faith. It brings glory and honor to God when we praise Him and just think of how much honor we do Him when a flock of His sheep join with us in giving all glory and honor to our King. So when you praise Him today don’t just do it to yourself, for yourself, and by yourself. Share your praises and watch them bloom.

Mutual Delight in Each Other

(The Chorus)

6 “Where has your beloved gone,
O most beautiful among women?
Where is your beloved hiding himself,
That we may seek him with you?” (Song of Solomon 6:1)

The Shulammite bride answers by letting the chorus know that her king is tending to his people and that even though he has other responsibilities in the kingdom they are still very close to one another and their love for each other even when they are apart doesn’t diminish in its intimacy and intensity.

King Solomon was an affluent king and he had plenty of people I’m sure under him to take care of and to ensure were treated well and governed right. But no matter how wealthy or popular a king is there is none like our King, our God, our Father, our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ who governs so well, upholds Justice so good, who loves us so much, and has compassion and mercy for us that is everlasting.

There was a time when I didn’t want to share God with others. Like a child who wants their mother or father all to themselves I felt some defiance towards God that He wasn’t and couldn’t be all mine. I have a tendency to hold on tightly to those I love not wanting to share them with anyone and there have been times when I too have been stingy with His love.

Having recently grown up just a little I now see as the Shulammite bride does that God is as much mine as I am His and that even though He watches over a grand flock of sheep He somehow has enough grace and mercy and love to give and He doesn’t give less or more to any of us for God is not a respecter of persons. This means that He shows no favoritism as man often does.

³⁴ “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” (Acts 10:34)

(The Shulammite Bride)

² 
“My beloved has gone down to his garden,
To the beds of balsam,
To feed his flock in the gardens
And gather lilies.
³ 
“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine,
He who feeds his flock among the lilies.” (Song of Solomon 6:2-3)

The remaining verses of the Song of Solomon are Solomons words to His bride about the love that has for her written in beauty. I believe that the Lord wants you to know and to understand that He loves you and while He has no favorites He is very attentive to all of your needs, your problems, your dreams, your hopes, your desires, and all of the good, bad and the ugly and when He looks on you He is right there fully present holding on to every word, every thought, as well as every tear shed. He loves you dear one and as your soul loves Him so more than that, does He love you.

(The Bridegroom)

⁴ 
“You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling,
As lovely as Jerusalem,
As majestic as an army with banners!
⁵ 
“Turn your [flashing] eyes away from me,
For they have confused and overcome me;
Your hair is like [the shimmering black fleece of] a flock of [Arabian] goats
That have descended from Mount Gilead.
⁶ 
“Your teeth are like a flock of ewes
Which have come up from their washing,
All of which bear twins,
And not one among them has lost her young.
⁷ 
“Your temples are like a slice of the pomegranate
Behind your veil.
⁸ 
“There are sixty queens and eighty concubines,
And maidens without number;
⁹ 
But my dove, my perfect one, stands alone [above them all];
She is her mother’s only daughter;
She is the pure child of the one who bore her.
The maidens saw her and 

and called her blessed and happy,
The queens and the concubines also, and they praised her, saying,

¹⁰ 
‘Who is this that looks down like the dawn,
Fair and beautiful as the full moon,
Clear and pure as the sun,
As majestic as an army with banners?’
¹¹ 
“I went down to the orchard of nut trees
To see the flowers of the valley,
To see whether the grapevine had budded
And the pomegranates were in flower.

“Before I was aware [of what was happening], my desire had brought me
Into the area of the princes of my people [the king’s retinue].” (Song of Solomon 6: 4-12)

In the last verse the chorus calls out for the return of the bride wanting to gaze at her and perhaps watch to see what it is that was so beautifully extraordinary about her. Let us too walk in a most pleasing way to our Lord so that people will want us to return in hope of figuring out what has happened to us and why we are so graciously different than expected and than we were before.

(The Chorus)

“Return, return, O Shulammite;
Return, return, that we may gaze at you.”

(The Bridegroom)

“Why should you gaze at the Shulammite, As at the dance of the two armies?” (Song of Solomon 6:13)

We should be aware however not to get too carried away by the gaze of the people but listen to our Lord and Savior and let our words, deeds, actions, and victories reflect His, all to His honor and glory. He loves us and this is not to be taken for granted or seen as a way to glorify ourselves or Lord it over others.

I pray you will see your worth in Christ today and that your words and actions will lead others to look to Christ as their Lord, their Savior, and their Redeemer rather than to see you as the one they should be following. In Jesus name. Amen.

A Study on Songs V.

There are times when we get a sense of distance from God and if you have ever felt this way you know that it isn’t a good feeling at all. We may find that we have lost joy in our Bible reading, have trouble praying, or that our devotionals have become stale and dry. Sometimes our busy schedules get in the way, we have unrepentant sin that lingers in our spirits, and at other times we just seem to lose the fire that we had when we were first saved.

The fifth chapter of the Song of Solomon tells us of the Shulammite Brides separation from her lover and how deeply she misses him when he’s not around her, to the point of going out into the city to search for him. I’m sure many of us have felt the separation from someone close to us that we love very dearly and it’s sad to say that many of us are going through this very thing right now. But as the Shulammite Bride learned about her lover we can learn from God exactly what it is about Him that causes us to love Him so much and that He is larger than our feelings (1 John 3:20). Although we may feel far from Him, He is always closer to us than we can ever think, hope, or imagine.

The Bridegroom)

5 “I have come into my garden, my sister, my [promised] bride;
I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam and spice [from your sweet words].
I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey;
I have drunk my wine with my milk.
Eat, friends;
Drink and drink deeply, O lovers.” (Song of Solomon 5:1)

In this first verse before the dreaded separation between him and his bride Solomon expresses his love and satisfaction for her. God is always satisfied with you. Before the separation from Him you may be feeling He was right there happy with you, just as even now he is right there waiting in hopeful expectation for your return to Him. Did you ever notice that no one ever speaks of God returning to us? That’s because we are the ones who get distracted and fall away. But praise the Lord! Our God is always right there with us.

“Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

The Shulammite Bride)

² 
“I was asleep, but my heart was awake.
A voice [in my dream]! My beloved was knocking:
‘Open to me, my sister, my darling,
My dove, my perfect one!
For my head is drenched with the [heavy night] dew;
My hair [is covered] with the dampness of the night.’ (Song of Solomon 5:2)

Sometimes when God is knocking we are not ready to receive Him into our hearts. But when we cry out to Him in the midst of our darkness His light will most assuredly pour in and flood our hearts and spirits with it’s warmth. So even if our hearts don’t seem “right” for Him running towards Him is always the perfect response.

“If you direct your heart [on the right path]
And stretch out your hands to Him,
¹⁴ 
If sin is in your hand, put it far away [from you],
And do not let wrongdoing dwell in your tents;
¹⁵ 
Then, indeed, you could lift up your face [to Him] without moral defect,
And you would be firmly established and secure and not fear.” (Job 11:13-15)

“I had taken off my dress,
How can I put it on again?
I had washed my feet,
How could I get them dirty again?” (Song of Solomon 5:3)

God wants you to be in fellowship with him, to speak to him, to walk near to Him no matter how sinful, how dirty, how hopeless you feel. God is a loving Father, a caring and understanding friend, and a most gracious and compassionate Savior.

¹⁵ “Today [while there is still opportunity] if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your heart, as when they provoked Me [in the rebellion in the desert at Meribah].” (Hebrews 3:15)

Don’t just come to Him today. Run to your Redeemer for your ransom from sin and death has been paid by Him forever.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

“My beloved extended his hand through the opening [of the door],
And my feelings were aroused for him.
⁵ 
“I arose to open for my beloved;
And my hands dripped with myrrh,
And my fingers with liquid [sweet-scented] myrrh,
On the handles of the bolt.
⁶ 
“I opened for my beloved,
But my beloved had turned away and was gone.
My heart went out to him when he spoke.
I searched for him, but I could not find him;
I called him, but he did not answer me.” (Song of Solomon 5:4-6)

When we make the Lord wait for us His presence will seem distant and we are left in frustration and at times may be stirred to anger at God and blame Him for our own impatience. Then He stirs up in us a desperate longing to find out where our Lord has went and what He’s up to.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

Just as the Shulammite bride has to face the watchmen in the city and be pushed and prodded by them we too have to face the enemy of this world when we are on our search for the living God.

“The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me.
They struck me, they wounded me;
The guardsmen of the walls took my shawl from me.
⁸ 
“I command that you take an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem,
If you find my beloved,
As to what you tell him—
[Say that] I am sick from love [sick from being without him].” (Song of Solomon 5:7-8)

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Yet there are still those around us who will ask us why we are searching for our God at all inquiring as the chorus did to the Shulammite bride, what makes Him so special. Sometimes these are even those who had at one time stood in awe of God with us. At at other more prominent times the questions come from those who were never acquainted with God to begin with.

(The Chorus)

⁹ 
“What is your beloved more than another beloved,
O most beautiful among women?
What is your beloved more than another beloved,
That you should so command us to take an oath?” (Song of Solomon 5:9)

Our response to them all should sound with the admiration and praise the Shulammite has for Solomon and even more so because our first love is supernatural, omnipotent, omniscient and infinite: The Living God.

“My beloved is exquisitely handsome and ruddy,
Outstanding among ten thousand.” (Song of Solomon 5:10)

The word describes the Word very well when it says in John 1:14,

The Word Made Flesh

¹⁴ And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).” (John 1:14)

We are alive in Christ and our lips are to sing songs of His praises.

“[They are living memorials] to declare that the Lord is upright and faithful [to His promises];
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” (Psalm 92:15)

Listen to the psalmist as he declares that the Lord is his “rock”. Even if the Lord feels far from you or you feel yourself drifting away remember that God is firm and immovable like a rock and He is the most stable anchor that there is and ever was.

These are some of the responses that we can give and I’m sure if you know the Lord closely you have many examples of your own as to why He is so good, why you love Him, and why you search for Him like you do. Just remember wherever you are in your spiritual walk, that He is very near to you.

If your sense of longing for God isn’t stirred up or if you have never met Him before let me encourage you as to one more reason to draw near to Him and give your whole self to Him today.

¹⁵ “He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15)

Be well and live blessed today.

Study on Songs IV.

My prayer for you today is that no matter what you are facing or the situation that you find yourself stewing in, that as you read chapter 4 of the Song of Solomon you will become wrapped up in the beautiful way Solomon describes his bride, and begin to truly see that the Lord God of the heavens thinks of you in a far more rich and deeper way than the words Solomon had at his disposal to describe his own bride.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Christ’s sacrifice is God’s greatest act of love. The God who created the heavens humbled Himself to the point of death on the cross for you! Yes that’s right, you! He looks at you and says that you are His child once you come to believe in His love for you in the shedding of His blood for the forgiveness of your sins. Jesus didn’t die for you while you were perfect for none of us is perfect. He died for you and for me knowing that we are some messed up people because of the sin that lives inside each and every one of us since it first entered into creation in the book of Genesis (Genesis 3).

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

So when Solomon begins chapter 4 of the Song of Solomon in the first verse saying,

“How fair and beautiful you are, my darling,
How very beautiful!” (Song of Solomon 4:1)

Know that God is looking down from heaven at the beauty of His creation in you and seeing your perfection and the scarlet of your sins as white as snow, cleared and completely wiped away through the sinless blood that was shed through Jesus Christ our Lord.

“Come now, and let us reason together,” saith the Lord. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

Solomon’s Love Expressed

(The Bridegroom)

4 “How fair and beautiful you are, my darling,
How very beautiful!
Your eyes behind your veil are like those of a dove;
Your hair is like [the shimmering black fleece of] a flock of [Arabian] goats
That have descended from Mount Gilead [beyond the Jordan].
² 
“Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes
Which have come up from washing,
All of which bear twins,
And not one among them has lost her young.
³ 
“Your lips are like a ribbon of scarlet,
And your mouth is lovely.
Your temples are like a slice of the pomegranate
Behind your veil.

“Your neck is like the tower of David,
Built with rows of [glistening] stones,
Whereon hang a thousand shields,
All of them shields of warriors.
⁵ 
“Your two breasts are like two fawns,
Twins of a gazelle
Which feed among the lilies.
⁶ 
“Until the day breaks
And the shadows flee away,
[In my thoughts] I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh
And to the hill of frankincense.

⁷ 
“O my love, you are altogether beautiful and fair.
There is no flaw nor blemish in you!
⁸ 
“Come away with me from Lebanon, my [promised] bride,
May you come with me from Lebanon.
Journey down from the top of Amana,
From the summit of Senir and Hermon,
From the dens of lions,
From the mountains of leopards.
⁹ 
“You have ravished my heart and given me courage, my sister, my [promised] bride;
You have ravished my heart and given me courage with a single glance of your eyes,
With one jewel of your necklace.
¹⁰ 
“How beautiful is your love, my sister, my [promised] bride!
How much better is your love than wine,
And the fragrance of your oils
Than all kinds of balsam and spices.
¹¹ 
“Your lips, my [promised] bride, drip honey [as the honeycomb];
Honey and milk are under your tongue,
And the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.

“A garden enclosed is my sister, my [promised] bride—
A rock garden locked, a spring sealed up.
¹³ 
“Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates,
[A paradise] with precious fruits, henna with fragrant plants,
¹⁴ 
Fragrant plants and saffron, calamus and cinnamon,
With all trees of frankincense,
Myrrh and aloes, along with all the finest spices.
¹⁵ 
“You are a fountain in a garden,
A well of fresh and living water,
And streams flowing from Lebanon.” (Song of Solomon 4:1-15)

In verse 16 of the 4th chapter of the Song of Solomon the Shulammite Bride is ready and willing to give her virginity over to King Solomon. When we give or have given our lives over to Christ our new birth is much like the coupling of a virgin with her husband. It may sound a bit like I’m stretching a bit too far into the scripture trying to find a God connection, but be patient with me here and give me a little credit why don’t you?

(The Shulammite Bride)

¹⁶ 
“Awake, O north wind,
And come, south wind [blow softly upon my garden];
Make my garden breathe out fragrance, [for the one in whom my soul delights],
Let its spices flow forth.
Let my beloved come into his garden
And eat its choicest fruits.” (Song of Solomon 4:16)

When we come to Christ we become new creations and the old has become new. All of our sins are repaid and we are cleansed from all unrighteous through the belief in the shedding of Christ’s blood for us on the cross. We become one with Christ, are accepted into the royal family of fellow believers in Christ and the church, as a new bride is welcomed into her husband’s family.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

You are a new creation in Christ and in Christ you are deeply loved. Let the truth of this relationship guide your steps and cause them to leap a little bit higher today as if you are aiming for the heavens. No matter what people say and no matter the circumstances that you face you are a child of the most High God and you are deeply treasured and loved.

Be well today. Live blessed.

A Study on Songs III.

The third chapter of the Song of Solomon captures our hearts longing for relationship with God. We sometimes seek and long for Him and it seems like His very presence is hidden from us. In the following verses we see the Shulammite Bride looking desperately for her lover and we recall times when we have gone to our brothers and sisters in Christ looking for God, times when we have sought His face and His word in our devotionals, and in a building where Gods Spirit can be found but where it cannot be contained.

⁴⁸ “However, the Most High [the One infinitely exalted above humanity] does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet [Isaiah] says,

⁴⁹ 
‘Heaven is My throne,
And the earth is the footstool for My feet;
What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,
‘Or what place is there for My rest?” (Acts 7:48-49)

The Bride’s Troubled Dream

(The Shulammite Bride)

“On my bed night after night [I dreamed that] I sought the one
Whom my soul loves;
I sought him but did not find him.
² 
“I said ‘So I must arise now and go out into the city;
Into the streets and into the squares [places I do not know]
I must seek him whom my soul loves.’
I sought him but I did not find him.

“The watchmen who go around the city found me,
And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’

⁴ 
“Scarcely had I passed them
When I found him whom my soul loves.
I held on to him and would not let him go
Until I had brought him to my mother’s house,
And into the chamber of her who conceived me.”

(The Bridegroom)

⁵ 
“I command that you take an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem,
By the gazelles or by the does of the field,
That you do not rouse nor awaken my love
Until she pleases.” (Song of Solomon 3: 1-5)

We often find as the Shulammite Bride comes to realize about her lover that God shows up when wr have barely passed by our brothers and sisters. He often finds us in the most perfect times in our searching and in the most extraordinarily beautiful ways.

⁸ “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” ( James 4:8)

On Solomons wedding day he shows up with a beautiful couch on which to carry his bride and you can trust, and believe, and rely on the beauty and the majesty in which God shows up for His children. Solomons couch is held and protected by mighty and strong men just as we are hemmed in and well protected by the army of God. God very much delights in you and wants only the best for you. His heart is very much glad when you’re heart is reconciled with His.

Solomon’s Wedding Day

(The Shulammite Bride)

⁶ 
“What is this coming up from the wilderness
Like [stately] pillars of smoke
Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
With all the fragrant powders of the merchant?”

(The Chorus)

⁷ 
“Behold, it is the couch (palanquin) of Solomon;
Sixty mighty men around it,
Of the mighty men of Israel.
⁸ 
“All of them handle the sword,
All expert in war;
Each man has his sword at his thigh,
Guarding against the terrors of the night.
⁹ 
“King Solomon has made for himself a palanquin
From the [cedar] wood of

Lebanon.
¹⁰ 
“He made its posts of silver,
Its back of gold,
Its seat of purple cloth,
The interior lovingly and intricately wrought
By the daughters of Jerusalem. (Song of Solomon 3:6-10)

As our hearts find God and we cling to Him in faith and hopeful expectation in the fulfillment of His promises, we share with our brothers and sisters a praise report of God’s glory when He was sought and then was found. Our praise to God encourages our brothers and sisters, it pours oil on the flames of our faith, and through it all the name of God is exalted.

¹¹ 
“Go forth, O daughters of Zion,
And gaze on King Solomon wearing the crown
With which his mother [Bathsheba] has crowned him
On the day of his wedding,
On the day of his gladness of heart.” (Song of Solomon 3:6-11)

It helps to remember that God is closer than being a phone call or even a text away. A call may not be received and instead go to voicemail. A text while quickly given and received between devices will not always return a response in the time we would like it to and we may not always be satisfied with the reply. God on the other hand always answers us and yet we have to be ready, willing, and looking out for His reply. But when you find it He guarantees that it will always be in fulfillment of your needs and only the best for you, His child who He loves.

¹¹ “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

The Power in A Mother’s Prayer

Today’s scripture reading shows the power that is in the prayers of a mother. Hannah was a woman who was barren and without child. In the times of the old testament this was seen as a curse from God and so she was in much distress. But when one woman’s heartfelt prayer was heard God began to move and make a way. Hannah’s request however didn’t only include her prayer to God but an offering. She vowed to give to God her son in full dedication to Him for the rest of his life. As we read through 1 Samuel we see that the boy became a prophet, seer, priest, judge and leader of the military.

Hannah Pours Out Her Heart to God

1 ^1-2 There once was a man who lived in Ramathaim. He was descended from the old Zuph family in the Ephraim hills. His name was Elkanah. (He was connected with the Zuphs from Ephraim through his father Jeroham, his grandfather Elihu, and his great-grandfather Tohu.) He had two wives. The first was Hannah; the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children; Hannah did not.

^3-7 Every year this man went from his hometown up to Shiloh to worship and offer a sacrifice to God-of-the-Angel-Armies. Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as the priests of God there. When Elkanah sacrificed, he passed helpings from the sacrificial meal around to his wife Peninnah and all her children, but he always gave an especially generous helping to Hannah because he loved her so much, and because God had not given her children. But her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of God she could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite.

⁸ Her husband Elkanah said, “Oh, Hannah, why are you crying? Why aren’t you eating? And why are you so upset? Am I not of more worth to you than ten sons?”

^9-11 So Hannah ate. Then she pulled herself together, slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to God’s Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow:

Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain,
If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me
By giving me a son,
I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.
I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.

^12-14 It so happened that as she continued in prayer before God, Eli was watching her closely. Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. He approached her and said, “You’re drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!”

^15-16 Hannah said, “Oh no, sir—please! I’m a woman hard used. I haven’t been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God. Don’t for a minute think I’m a bad woman. It’s because I’m so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I’ve stayed here so long.”

¹⁷ Eli answered her, “Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him.”

¹⁸ “Think well of me—and pray for me!” she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant.

¹⁹ Up before dawn, they worshiped God and returned home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, and God began making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked.

Dedicating the Child to God

²⁰ Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, “I asked God for him.”

To all the moms out there who are in prayer for their sons, their daughter’s, their situation, and their circumstances Happy Mother’s Day and never stop praying. As God did for Hannah so will He also do for you. He have Hannah a son who was dedicated to all of His work in every kind of spiritual leadership role that there is. God doesn’t do His job half way and He will come to your aid when you need it the most.

Prayer is powerful to mother’s but it is also powerful in all of our lives. So mother’s, father’s, sisters, and brothers cry out to and call on the Lord. Your life and the lives that you touch will never be the same again and when all is taken care of never forget to give all dedication and glory to the One who has answered your prayers.