come with me

​These past several months have been difficult for all of us as we have lived without power and water for extended periods of time. What was once readily available in the hardware stores and at the grocery stores has also been in short supply or completely missing. Through this season of adversity, I believe we have learned the value of the everyday-life things we often take for granted. It is like God was using the winter weather event as a “reset” or as a wake-up call…because His bride must be prepared and made ready.

As you know, I recently lost my husband to heaven, and the winter weather storm event was like a “burial” for me, like a time in the grave; but it was a necessary transition for me to be able to rise up to the new life God has prepared for me. During this season of my life, I have realized that sorrow remains as long as we focus on the past and on what was lost; but joy takes over and strengthens our lives when we focus on the present/future with the all the wonderful possibilities God has made available to us. God’s best for me and for you is always joy in the expectation of our brilliant present/future opportunities! “For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the Cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) “As He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17)

As the winter storm heaved its last frosty breath over Texas, the Lord gave me this verse out of Song of Solomon 2:10-12

My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”

Did you hear that? Your Beloved is inviting you to rise up off your bed of sorrows and sadness and yesterday’s disappointments, and come WITH Him. He didn’t say, “Come to me.” He said, “Come WITH me.” He is offering relationship with Him to all who will come. He wants us to live our everyday lives WITH Him. He wants us to know that He didn’t ask us to live FOR Him so much as He is inviting us to live WITH Him. Did you hear that?

I have often heard it said that someone was able to get the Word in their heads, but they were not able to get the Word in their hearts. We can possess the knowledge of the Word with our minds; but Jesus isn’t satisfied with just mental assent. He wants to live in our hearts. He wants RELATIONSHIP with us. It is through the experience of everyday life in His Presence, asking Him what He thinks about things, asking Him what you should do in a given situation, asking Him to share every emotion you are feeling, and asking Him who He wants to be for you in this present moment that RELATIONSHIP is formed and nurtured and maintained. 

Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me!

Shalom!
Linda Sue Harper
(c) 2021
​