The Profound Mystery

"You're Still The One" 2015
http://bit.ly/1x7iv9y

As the Scriptures say,

“A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife,

and the two are united into one.”

This is a great mystery,

but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.

Eph 5:31-32

Paul paints a tangled web in Eph 5. Back and forth in the instructions Paul gives to husbands and wives, he describes the husband and wife relationship as a metaphor for the church and Jesus, the Bridegroom, calling marriage a great - or profound - mystery.

In the New Testament, the word “mystery” denotes, not the mysterious, but that which can be made known only by Divine revelation... In the ordinary sense, a mystery implies knowledge withheld; it’s Spiritual significance is truth revealed. (Vines)

The word "mystery" means something which is concealed, hidden, before unknown; something into which one must be instructed before he can understand it. It does not mean that it is "incomprehensible" when it is disclosed, but that previously it has been kept secret.

Let Me Introduce You ~ and Blog Hop

At last week's writers conference, I had the pleasure of meeting Kathryn Ross who invited me to participate in my first ever "blog hop." The rules are simple: I have to answer 4 questions and introduce you to 3 blogger friends. Kathryn is a dynamic writer, filled with joy and creativity. Although she is much more artistic - and Victorian - than I am, we were instantly kindred spirits who both write using everyday situations and occurrences to highlight eternal spiritual truths. 

So without further ado, here are the 4 questions:

You're Invited!

If you're in the north Jersey area, please join me on Sunday morning 3/24/13 as I share the Word at High Mountain Church, in North Haledon.

Shhhh! Don't tell your man the topic. I'm presenting a fresh new look at what it means to be the Bride. Hint: It has nothing to do with lace, giggles or hormones! I'll just say this: it may not be pretty, but it is powerful, and it's something both men and women need to know. Paul calls the relationship "A Profound Mystery." We'll unravel some clues of this mystery to walk  deeper and closer in the most important relationship we'll ever have for all eternity.

Where:

     High Mountain Church

     681 High Mountain Rd.

     North Haledon, NJ

Time:
     10:30 am

Hope to see you! Be sure to say "hi!"

photo credit: www.sarahhalstead.com

23 Years and Counting....

Happy Anniversary to us!

I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness, 

like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:10

A River Walk Talk

Today, my guest blogger is my friend Mina’s 14-year-old daughter, Ellen. She is sharing her testimony of what God spoke to her at Harvest Christian Fellowhship's Women’s Retreat last month.

After the workshop at the HCF Women’s Retreat of 2010, I decided to take a walk because the message was very heavy. The subject was “Rejoicing in Trials,” and I had been having conflicting feelings about a crush on a boy at my school. So I put my coat and sneakers on, and left to walk along the river. The sky was completely blue, and there was no sound except the wind. I decided to put my iPod on and listen to a song that I call “Me and God’s song.” The song is Beloved by Tenth Avenue North. I was listening to the song and looking at the water, when all of a sudden, I heard a voice in my head, and it said “Look at the water.”


And I replied “Yeah?”


Then it said, “How is the water moving?”


I replied, “That way.” and I was pointing to the right, which was the way the water was flowing.


The voice in my head said, “No, I mean symmetrically.”


I replied, “As one.”


And what it said next brought me to tears.


“Exactly, and that is how I want to be with you, but you keep pushing me away.” This is when I began to cry, my heart broke to hear that. So, to my surprise the next thing he said was “Ellen, will you be my bride?”


And my response is what I will never forget. I said, “You will be my daddy, my husband, and my best friend.”


Since that point, I have realized that I have started becoming the woman that God wants me to be. I strayed away, but I realized that still, through everything I’ve done, God loves me so much. I will never forget that day.



And, Ellen, I will never forget your testimony. You have moved me to tears, and I pray that I too walk symmetrically as one with my Lord, my Abba daddy, by husband, my best friend.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea-billows roll—

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul. —Spafford

Susan

In The Middle

Today we are in the middle.

Yesterday was Good Friday -

the pain of suffering,

despair, heartache,

the event that left us full of tears

Tomorrow is Easter -

the joy of new life,

resurrection,

rising from the ashes of pain

Today we are just in the middle-

the preparing for tomorrow's feast,

tomorrow's worship,

tomorrow's new garments

Do you ever feel - in the middle? Having survived tragedy or loss, but still waiting for the future hope and peace that is promised? We must wait, but not as those with no hope. It was while Jesus was waiting that He set the captives free.

When I was in Israel, one of the most powerful moments for me was at the Garden Tomb. I entered the empty tomb, and after my eyes adjusted to the darkness saw the white garments folded on the stone bench. When I turned to exit the tomb and enter the light, there was a sign that read:

"He is not here;

he has risen,

just as he said."

Matt. 28:6

Seeing those words in that place was a powerful reminder that He has risen - JUST AS HE SAID! What else did He say?

We have been healed:
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”-1 Peter 2:24

We have a future:
"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

So we must:
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." - Titus 1:2
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2-3

Today, while still in the middle, this is my prayer for you:
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13

May you have a most blessed Resurrection Day! May you rejoice with Him who rose from the dead to give you eternal life, who endured the darkness to bring us with Him into the light. And may you be preparing for the ultimate feast, worship and garments yet to come!!

Susan

Fear Not!

I recently joined an online writer's group where the moderators ask a question, and members email their responses to each other. I read and I learn, but I don't usually share anything because I am so new to this writing "gig" that I feel I don't have something worthy to share. This week's question, though, was one in which I (unfortunately) have a great deal of experience: "What are you afraid of?" The question, of course, related to the field of writing, but I felt led to share what I will now share with you as well.

Since I will be speaking at a Ladies Tea in June on the subject of fear, I have had this on my mind. If you are coming to the Tea and want to be surprised, stop reading here. But this is a preview of what I'll be sharing.


****


Fear has been a constant companion all my life. One of my biggest fears has always been the fear of public speaking. I’ve heard that the fear of public speaking is the #1 fear in this country. The #2 fear is death. That means that at a funeral, the average person would rather be in the casket than delivering the eulogy! Jerry Seinfeld said that, and it’s the only punchline I can ever remember, probably because it hits so close to home.

Over the years, I’ve learned that there is only one fear we ought to have – the fear of the Lord. There is nothing else to fear. I’ve heard that “fear not” appears 365 times in the Word. This means that there is a “fear not” for every single day! Fear has served a purpose in my life. It keeps me on my knees. I know God can supernaturally remove it, and He has done so on occasion. But, if He doesn’t, I understand that it causes me to go to Him.

Despite my fears, I have been a speaker for years, but writing is a new endeavor for me. I struggle with whether I am good enough and how much there is to learn about this craft and this industry, but I do not want to be like the servant who buried his talent. We have to give an account someday of what we’ve been entrusted with, and I want to be found faithful.

To me, fear is like the threshold found in a doorway. It prevents me from going further. When I was little, I remember being afraid of participating in a pillow fight my dad was having with my sister. I stood silently at the entrance to the room, even after they invited me to join them. I still find that fear prevents me from moving forward. BUT, as the bride of Christ, I daily choose to allow my Bridegroom to carry me over that threshold, past that fear, leave it behind and enter into a place of peace, free of fear.

These verses have ministered greatly to me:
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18
“In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” Psalm 56:4
Susan

Betrothed

All over the country, men and women have just been elected to national, state, county and local government positions. However, none of these newly elected officials will take office for 2 - 3 months. They are legally committed to their new position, but are not officially serving in that office yet.

In the Bible, there was a betrothal period in which the bride and groom had made a binding legal commitment to each other, but were not officially married yet. This is why the Bible says that Joseph considered quietly "divorcing" Mary when she was found to be miraculously pregnant, even though the formal wedding had not yet occurred.

When we become Christians, we are in a betrothal period with our Bridegroom. We are committed to Him, bound to Him, serving Him until such time as our formal wedding to Him takes place. We represent Him here on earth. We are cared for by Him and are under His protection. One day, we will be completely united with Him in glory, but until that time we live this life with Him as our Bridegroom.


Let us keep Him in our thoughts throughout our day, each and every day. Let us experience Him beside us and inside us. Let us live with the joyous expectancy a bride feels as her wedding day approaches. It's a time of preparation and work, but always keeping our focus on the joy set before us.


Susan