Tuesday, January 12, 2016

“You’re all together lovely” Song of Songs 4:7

In studying Song of Songs I have begun to understand that the Lord Jesus says I am worthy to receive Him and all He has. He chose me before time began.

In Colossians 1:13 I’ve learned that the moment I accepted Jesus as my savior, He brought me into His Kingdom as His bride.

As I learned in the book of Esther, I have to prepare myself to come before the King. When I first arrived into the Kingdom I did not understand that the economy of heaven is faith and the power of His Kingdom is love. I had much to learn.

When Jesus first brought me into His Kingdom He hid me in the clefts of the rock, Himself, His secret place. This is the place where I find His peace, His joy and His love. It is the place that I learned just how magnificent He is and began to fall in love with Him. (Psalm 91:1)

As I partook of Communion I learned that this is a rehearsal for our Wedding Banquet to remember Him and His vows to me. You see, at this point we are married although the marriage has not been consummated.

He has placed His banner of love over me because He has bought me with His love. (John 3:16)

However; there are times when I do not see or feel His presence. He’s promised me He will never leave me, not forsake me. But, where is He? Things can get hard and dark, especially when it’s the dark night of my soul. I continue to search for my beloved.

Chapter 3 shows me I am in a time of testing. How will I respond to the hard times? Will I continue to believe He is near me? Or will I turn back to the ways of the world? Have these hard times choked my love for my beloved?

Jesus hides and waits in anticipation of my response.

The Shulamite woman teaches me to continue searching. She seeks the religious leaders (the watchmen), and local people, the self-help groups, preachers, “Have you seen my beloved?”

As I search, Jesus continues to expound upon how He loves me and thinks I am beautiful in every way. My lips are kissable. I am His desire.

As I remember Him I only speak words of kindness as my words are producing the Fruit of His Spirit in me. (Galatians 5:22-23). As I speak His love-words it reminds Him of Himself. “Ah! She is becoming more like Me.”

My response to these trials become my testimony. Revelation 12:11 tells me that I overcome the devil by the blood of Jesus and the word of my testimony.

Jesus sees me as flawless, perfect in every way. Worthy of His eternal love.

He has qualified me by calling me His sister and His spouse. I've been changed into His new creation. I am now of royal blood, His own DNA. It no longer matters who my natural parents were. It doesn’t matter if I was born on the wrong side of the sheets, the wrong side of the tracks, the right side of the sheets or the right side of the tracks,  I am now born anew in the Kingdom of God and have become joint heirs with Jesus Christ. I’ve taken on His love-identity producing the Fruit of His Spirit.

Now that I know Whose I am, the persecution begins. The devil has gone to war against me. This often comes from the religious people, the ones who persecuted Jesus. 

"She is too spiritually minded to be of any earthly good. Who does she think she is? I know where she came from. She's no better than I am. God can't use someone like her."

But the Shulamite woman shows me how to stand. She begins to remind herself of her beloved. She sets her affections on Him. "He is radiant, the greatest over all the others, He is all together lovely. He smells like the sweet prayers of the saints. His eyes are like doves, and His heart is as pure as ivory overlaid with sapphires." She declares, “This is my beloved and He is mine.” 

We are becoming one.

In Chapter 6 Jesus tells me that He could choose anyone He wanted; queens, second wives or many maidens, but He chooses me over all the others. Then He continues in chapter 7 expounding upon how beautiful I am, His bride. He thinks I am gorgeous.

This is how He thinks of you as well. Believe Him when He says,"You are beautiful, My darling. There are no flaws in you."


By now, I am so in love with Jesus that I cry, “Set me as a seal upon Your heart…for love is as strong as death.” True love is forever.

No matter who you are or how sinful you have been, Jesus is still calling you to be His own. He is waiting on you to make Him your choice. He has already chosen you. If you have said yes, will you prepare yourself to be His bride?

Be encouraged in the Lord Jesus today. Experience His magnificent love. You will never be the same. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Little Talks with Jesus: “Arise, My love, My fair one, and come away with M...

Little Talks with Jesus: “Arise, My love, My fair one, and come away with M...: Recently I have been studying Song of Songs and Song of Songs 1:13 always draws me to Christ. One time I was going through a terrible...

“Arise, My love, My fair one, and come away with Me.” (Song of Songs 1:13)

Recently I have been studying Song of Songs and Song of Songs 1:13 always draws me to Christ.

One time I was going through a terrible time praying for direction as to whether to leave my position at a church or stay and try to hang in there until the situation changed.

In answer to my prayers the Lord took me to this verse. “Arise, My love. My fair one, and come away with Me.”

I was broken. My soul was in great need of repair. Sensing this was my answer, I left that position and took time off to be with the Lord. I had lived through a dark night of the soul. The wounds were great, too great for me to overcome by myself.

For the next few months I spend many hours in His presence. I was so broken that sometimes the best I could do was to put on praise and worship music and lay in His arms. As I allowed His love to cover me I began to heal, forgive and be restored to life. He renewed my life. He gave me a reason to live again!

It is during these dark times I run to Him and hide under the shadow of  Almighty God, my Father, my Daddy. (Psalm 91:1) As I draw closer to my loving heavenly Father, He draws closer to me. For it is in Him that I live and breathe and have my being.(Acts 17:28)

If you are going through a dark night of your soul, Jesus offers you the same invitation He offered me. “Arise, My love. My fair one, and come away with Me.” Come to Jesus knowing He loves you. He adores you and wants the best for you. He even knows that He is the only One who can bring life back into your being. He’s waiting. Will you come? Amen!


Blessings on your day!

Karen

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Little Talks with Jesus: “Decree a thing and it shall come to pass.” (Job 2...

Little Talks with Jesus: “Decree a thing and it shall come to pass.” (Job 2...: Have you made your New Years resolutions? I have found them to be a total waste of time because it is something we try to do in our own e...

“Decree a thing and it shall come to pass.” (Job 22:18)

Have you made your New Years resolutions? I have found them to be a total waste of time because it is something we try to do in our own effort. Then fail.

However; when we delight ourselves in the Lord God Almighty, according to Job 22:28, we can declare a thing and it will be established!

“You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.” (NKJV)

So, in light of the Word of God, why not find scripture promises that meet your goals and decree them in the name of Jesus. He has promised to shine His light on the path to make it happen.

For example: If I need finances I will choose scriptures like Genesis 22:14 or Philippians 4:19 (NIV) which says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”  Or I may choose Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV) which promises, “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”

After finding these promises, then declare out loud each day something like: I declare that God will provide everything I need according to His riches in Glory. The Lord is my provider. He is my source. It does not matter what things look like in the natural, I am standing on the Word of God and He can’t lie. So I decree that my debt is paid in full by Jesus on the cross. I claim the promises of God in Christ Jesus because I am a blood-bought child of the Living God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells me to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Sometimes following God can seem like the most illogical thing ever. That is why He calls it faith.

What changes do you want to happen in your life this year? Is this a promise in the Word? If so, find it and decree it over your life in the mighty name of Jesus and it will be established according to His Word.

Spend time with the Lord each day seeking His direction for this path. This is communion. 

I heard Kenneth Copland once say to the Lord, “I am Yours to command. Sir!”

Give God full reign. Listen to His instructions and then obey Him no matter how strange it may sound. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Friday, January 1, 2016

Little Talks with Jesus: Jesus, will You hug me"

Little Talks with Jesus: Jesus, will You hug me": Sometimes things get tough. We get tired and overwhelmed by all the things going on around us. This is the time we need to stop. Get ...

Jesus, will You hug me"

Sometimes things get tough. We get tired and overwhelmed by all the things going on around us.

This is the time we need to stop. Get quiet before the Lord. Then rest in His mighty presence and power. This is how we come into the secret place of the Most High, under the shadow of His wings. (Psalm 91)

As you get quiet before the Lord, read out loud Psalm 91. 

Rest in who He says He is and what He says He will do for you. Find His peace.

"Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. "Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.”(Isaiah 49:15-16)

To see Jesus’ deep love for us we only need to envision His nail-scared hands. He has written each of our names in His magnificent hands so He holds us in His hands, ever so close.

Feel His presence. Feel His love. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen