I Am My Beloved's

The Song of Solomon is a love story that can be applied to the love relationship between Christ and His church or individual believers. In this story the love relationship deepens as the story goes on.

Song of Solomon 2:16 My beloved is mine, and I am his We see here a focus on self. Jesus in mine and secondarily I am His. This would lead to a focus on the personal needs of the individual.

Song of Solomon 6:3 I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine. Here there has been some growth to where the focus is on the fact that she belongs to Jesus and secondarily He is hers. Out of this there would come more of a focus on what Jesus would want in a situation and not just her personal needs.

Song of Solomon 7:10 I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me. At this point in the love relationship the central focus is on Jesus. Now she can operate in oneness with Him.

In the past I thought that this last step meant she would need to grow to the point of being worthy of His desire being toward her, of having to become mature enough to warrant His attention. Thus this love is something she had to earn. But I have come to believe that this is not the case. I believe that this is the point at which she finally realizes the truth that really she is His and His desire is toward her. His desire has been toward her all along. Now she finally knows it. Finally all the other stuff that has kept her from this truth have been stripped away. Now all the distractions, all other loves, have been stripped away and she can fully submit to His desires knowing that He always has her best interest at heart. Now she really knows Jesus loves her.

Because Of Jesus

Ephesians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

This scripture blows me away every time I read it.

Before I was even conceived, God chose me. Actually before the foundation of the world...that is so incredible!!! He loved me. He wanted me. He had a plan for my life. He has always loved me and always will. His love for me has never been nor ever will be dependent on what I have done or have not done. It is and always will be a fact. Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so.

I am fully accepted by God in Jesus Christ, because of a relationship with Christ by which I become one with Him. Because of what Jesus did I can stand before God, holy and without blame. Because of Jesus I am acceptable to God, not because of anything I have done or ever will do.

God, You sent your Son to this earth and He was rejected and despised by most, and yet went to the cross that each of us would have a means of being forgiven all and to come into a heavenly inheritance in Christ.

God, You chose me by the good pleasure of Your will. You chose me to be born in this time to be part of what You are doing in the earth at this time. The fact that all of this would bring You pleasure is amazing to me. The God of the universe can take pleasure in my life. How awesome!!

Prayer Focus-USA

I am thinking I would like to do a post each Saturday for a prayer focus, highlighting some particular area of need either here in the USA or in a foreign country. Our missions focus sometimes within the church fails to look at or minister to needs right here in our own country. Anyone who knows me is well aware of my interest in foreign missions over the years. But at this time the need here in our own nation is so great that I believe more of a home mission focus is needed within the church. We need to be ministering to the needs across the street as well as those across the globe.

When I was a missions director in a church, in Burlington, MA, a little over 10 years ago, I read an article that said that at that time the USA was only nation in the world where Christianity was losing ground and that Islam was the fastest growing religion in the USA. I don't know what those stats are now. But I can't imagine they are any better.

Here is the title of an article by the Barna Group that I consider alarming: "Unchurched Population Nears 100 Million in the U.S." That means 33% of the population fits in that category. According to this 2007 article this statistic has stayed relatively unchanged since 1994. In the early nineties about 20% were unchurched. So we see that we are not making any progress here at this time. I realize going to church does not make a person a Christian. But I still believe this trend needs to stop. We need to pray for the USA. (To find this article do a search for Barna Grouop and the article title.)

When Jesus commissioned the disciples just before His ascension, he told them to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world. You notice that they were to start where they were, in Jerusalem. We need to start where we are.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

My Weakness, God's Strength

One night, a few years ago, as I was praying I started to ask God to give me strength. Then I stopped and corrected myself and asked God to be my strength. I am sure it was God that caused me to make that correction in my prayer. I immediately thought of 2 Corinthians 12:9, "my strength is made perfect in weakness." I said, "God, I don't like feeling so weak." His immediate response was, "you might as well get used to it." I chuckled. Even now as I think about this, it brings a smile to my face.

I truly am weak and would do well to recognize that on a daily/moment by moment basis God is my strength, rather than trying to do things in my own strength. God wants to be the strength of my life and carry the burdens and responsibilities, resulting in a walk of peace and rest.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I grew up believing that being weak is a bad thing. But God has been showing me that it is not the case. My attempts to walk in my own strength have just gotten in the way. The reality is that even when I thought I was strong I was really weak and always have been. By trying to give the illusion of being strong I have just worn myself out trying to carry and do the things that God should have been.

When I feel the weakest God is just as strong within me as when I feel the strongest. I just need to yeild to His strength that is always there.

Oh God, please help me, teach me, to walk in the humility that acknowledges my weakness and does not feel ashamed of it, but can truly revel in your strength being made perfect within me in my weakness.


2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Psalm 27:1-3 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Psalm 18:1-2 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. 2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Increasing Government of Christ

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

At Christmas we often hear Isaiah 9:6. So we tend to be quite familiar with this scripture and think about it in terms of Jesus' first coming. But the ultimate fulfilling of this scripture is in Jesus second coming and in the establishment of His kingdom in the earth. During that time there will be a continual increase of His government and peace spoken of in verse 7. We also see in this verse, that the throne of Jesus is established with judgment and with justice. I look forward to that day when the throne of God, whose foundation is righteous and judgement (justice), is established in the earth. (Psalm 97:2)How wonderful to have a government operating from foundational principles of righteousness and justice!

I also see an application of this personally for me in the present day, for the phrase "of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end." As I daily submit to the government of Christ and allow Him to more fully rule in my life in more and more areas then His government will continually increase within me. The result of that will also be an increasing level of peace in my life.

Prayer for Egypt

My prayer for Egypt is for God's kingdom to come and God's will to be done in this situation. I pray for the Christians of Egypt to arise and to cry out for God's mercy for Egypt and I join my prayers with theirs for their nation.

Earlier today I watched some prayer alerts from Rick Ridings a prayer leader in Israel. Here are the links to his alerts:

1/27/11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5T68W61hro&feature=related

2/2/11 pt. 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDtyvvjlKk&NR=1

2/2/11 pt 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE4puozl3W8&feature=related

The enemy often tries to push the timing of legitimate events to try to bring them about ahead of God's timing. As we see in Dan. 7:25, the enemy seeks to change times and laws. But as we see in Dan. 2:21,it is God that has the ability to change times and it is God who raises up and takes down leaders. But the enemy would love to seek to upset the balance of things. I believe we need to pray for God's will to be done and not that of the enemy.


Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Daniel 2:20-22 20Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 22He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

Beauty of God in Creation (part 2)

Why are we so awed and inspired by the beauty in the creation? Is it because of something built inside of us by God that gets stirred by that beauty? I believe so. Is that thing inside of us that gets stirred the inborn part that desires to connect with God, thus the beauty that is in God that is expressed in His creation stirs that part inside of us? I think so.

God says in Romans 1:18-25 that He is revealed in creation and therefore man has no excuse for not knowing Him.

Beauty of God in Creation

God is so amazing. Even in this fallen creation there is so much beauty all around us.

Back in mid-December, as I watched the snow come down, I was thinking about how beautiful the snow is. Each season has its own beauty. Winter can be such a dull drab time of year with the leaves off the trees and no flowers, etc. But the snow covers all of that.

God could have made the snow another color, like brown and then the winter would be just dull and drab. But God made the snow white and thus it creates a beautiful landscape. White snow on the tress and ground make them have a unique beauty.

God as creator is obviously reflected in His creation. God Himself must be incredibly beautiful!

Christ Our Hope

Over the past week I have thought a lot about those who die as Christians and go on to be with the Lord. A friend of my mother's, who I had known all my life, died just over a week ago. She was a very committed Christian and thus I know she has gone on to be with the Lord. Her youngest daughter had died just a few months ago, so she has also gone on to be with her daughter once again. Because of Christ we can have this assurance of eternal life and hopeof being with Him forever.

This may seem a strange thing to be writing about at this time of festive celebration. But had Christ not come to the earth as a man to deliver us from the penalty of sin, which is death, we would have no hope. It is only because of Christ that we can celebrate in life and in death.

It makes me think of these two scriptures:

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:16-23 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Why the Shepherds?

In Luke 2:8-20, we are told who the first recipients of the news of the birth of the Messiah were.  Of all the people on earth in places of “importance” and authority that the revelation could have been made to, it was made to a small group of lowly shepherds out in the fields near Bethlehem. Who would I have first announced the birth of the Messiah to? It probably would not have been to some lowly shepherds, men despised by many, an occupation that was not well thought of. 

Fortunately, I am not God. He knows best. God revealed it to these men, who without question went in search of the baby and spread abroad the message shared by the angel about who this baby really was. Perhaps if God had revealed the true identity to more reputable or educated people, they would have been too afraid of their reputation to risk making such a declaration. Would a more “cultured” person have considered going to a smelly stable? Perhaps a more educated person would have had to consult with scholars first to make sure that this could be the case. 

God’s ways are not our ways. God chooses the foolish things to confound the wise.

1 Corinthians 1:25-31 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.