RETURN, RETURN!
Today’s Reading: Song of Solomon 4-6
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Church of All Nations, also known as the Church or Basilica of the Agony, is a Roman Catholic church located on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, next to the Garden of Gethsemane. It enshrines a section of bedrock where Jesus is said to have prayed before His arrest (Mark 14:32-42). In the garden, there are some extremely old olive trees; perhaps they were there at the time of Christ. In 4:12a of today’s reading, the spouse is likened to a “garden enclosed.” This is a term of endearment indicating the exclusiveness of the marriage relationship. Here, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter began his human efforts to fight for Jesus, which ended in his denial of Jesus at the High Priest’s palace. For a brief time Jesus and his beloved Peter were separated, as were the “lovers” in today’s reading.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Song of Solomon 4:10
How fair is your love,
My sister, my spouse!
How much better than wine is your love,
And the scent of your perfumes
Than all spices!
Whether we read this poem as simply a love story between Solomon and the lovely Shulamite maiden, or a portrayal of the love between God and His people, we will not find a more tender and moving expression of love. The young woman, having missed her opportunity to welcome her beloved on his unexpected visit, goes out to search for him. Deep within her heart, she is certain of his love.
Could it be that we, who say we love God, do not respond to His presence immediately, and we miss the relationship He desires to have with us? Like the Shulamite we can search in many places for Him, but the message is clear in the last verse of our reading (6:13a): We are called to “Return, return…Return, return!” Let us return to the place where we first met Jesus, not to the physical location, but the place of repentance as did Peter after he had been challenged for the third time by a waitress in the courtyard of the High Priest (read Luke 22:47-62).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Lord, like the Shulamite, I realize that I don’t deserve Your love, but I also recognize that You have chosen to love me. Please forgive me for not responding instantly to Your presence and Your love. I pray for grace to learn to return and to remain constantly in Your presence. I thank You that You have promised to never leave me nor forsake me. I’ve read this Lord, both in Deuteronomy and quoted in Hebrews 13:5. I pray this in the Name of the One who said, “I am with you always,” the Lord Jesus, Himself, Amen!!! (Matthew 28:18-20).
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I often have dreams like the Shulamite says in the song, “I sleep, but my heart is awake.” Her dream involved searching for her beloved, and of being beaten and wounded during her search (5:2-7). Like the woman in our reading, my heart seems to be awake first. Peter failed badly in his denial of knowing Jesus. His heart kicked in the moment his eyes locked with the eyes of Jesus. Often it’s my heart that kick-starts my brain, then my mind, in turn, ignites my will power and I correct my decisions and do the right thing!
Yours for the “return” to God of all who have known Him as children but have run far away, where they have been beaten and wounded,
David
Beautiful scripture, message, and prayer. Praying for all saints, this morning, and wishing you the peace, love and joy of Christ, our Saviour. Amen.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17 ESV
Nat King Cole – “The Christmas Song” (1961)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwacxSnc4tI
P.S. Let this song run on into the next–soo divine!! Bless you all!!
Thank you so much Beverlee for all your prayers and the music that you so faithfully post!
Always beautiful and touches my heart!
You are so very welcome, Anne! Your comment touches my heart! I am trying to get back on with regular posts. God’s blessings on you, today, and always!
Dear Teresa,
I am so sorry to hear of your brother’s passing. He is Samantha’s father, whom we have been praying for. May God comfort his wife, Pina and his children and the whole family! Praying also for you and Enzo.
Dear saints,
Let us continue to join each other in prayer ( as much as we’re able to) each evening at 8 pm. If 8 pm does not fit our schedule, let us do it at a time when we’re able to. Please try to remember to pray daily for the requests left here, on this blog. ( I have a book where I write down each request so that I won’t forget)
May God’s peace and joy fill your hearts!
Dear Teresa,
Our hearts cry for you, Enzo, Pina, Samantha and rest of the family. You are held lovingly in our prayers. May our Heavenly Father wrap his loving arms around you with an all encompassing comfort.
Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
God bless you Luisa.. I wrote down PRAY AT 8 p.m. this is in my area, it is very frustrating for me right now as the devil is walking giant steps and I rebuke hourly and Plead the Blood of the Lamb over all; I don’t have any support; my schedule is different; however I will not be swayed by this; the Lord God Almighty knows everything; I am so thankful for my car,all the wonderful things God has done, I head out to the pool,again thankful to the Lord for swimming;
the Lord knows about the back room, I ask Him to bring the right person to rent the room; would be a very good thing to pay down my loan and have someone around once in a while, so Lord, hear our Prayers; bless those who are mourning the loss of a loved one; heal those who need Your Healing touch Lord, Thank You Lord bless all who post on this site
In Jesus Name we Pray amen
Paul refers to our earthly body as ‘a tent’.For believers it is only our body that dies:
2 Corinthians 5-13 New International Version (NIV)
Awaiting the New Body
“‘5 For we know that if the “earthly tent” we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. “‘
I compare it to a space suit;a life support system for our spiritual self to exist in a physical world.
This is for Teresa,one I wrote for a friend who lost his sister.The note is attached.
I am only His pen.God bless
Attending a R.Catholic funeral,where
the priest went out of his way to make
us protestants feel comfortable,I was
inspired to write this.I had to
Pastor
Pastor,please say goodbye for me,
For I will not know who’s there
When my eyes no longer see
And my heart has no more care.
Your service says what I could not,
Through Jesus’ words to borrow,
For I have won the battle fought
And have risen above sorrow.
Pastor,please wipe away their grief,
For the truth will set them free
From the one who is a thief
And has nowhere to flee.
Don’t let them believe what’s not true,
For sorrow’s the devil’s kin,
But He who lives within you
Will set them free of their sin.
So,Pastor,speak for me this day,
With His words that can not lie,
To say that I am home to stay
Where no one will ever die.
(G.W.)Bill Marshall/15 Sept,2015
FYI:My pinched nerve in my back is much better but I came down with a bad cold making it’s rounds.Fortunately I haven’t yet been coughing a lot so it’s not aggravating my back.Hope your back is better too,Beverlee.Keep on praying,it works ‘miracles’.God bless
Glad to hear about your back, Bill, but sorry to hear about your cold. Will keep praying for you. Unfortunately my back continues to decline. Your prayers are appreciated.
Thank You, Father, for loving us! You are the amazing Creator and You do all things well. Thank You for never leaving us or forsaking us; for being forever faithful. Keep all your people in your care, and have your way throughout this world. Help all of us be faithful to the work You have given us, and be glorified and honoured in it, we ask in Jesus’s great name, amen
Amen
Amen
Amen, Rob. Amen.
Had prayed for you Teresa for your brother, wife Pina, and whole family. May the Lord comfort all of you. Just read on the computer about the little 6 yr. girl who was brutally murdered back in May, 1971 when I would have been there and they have just solved the case but the suspect is gone. Need to pray for the protection of our family. God bless you saints!
Agreeing in prayer with you, sister Ger. Amen.
Amen Ger
Forgot to mention that this was in Windsor, ON.
I am having BP issues (4 x hospital this summer) but have had some good weeks since. Tonight an event again. I was short of breath & took my BP – it was high so I took a pill early (as Dr instructions). I pray that it will correct itself with that. I am concerned that I will be able to visit (feed) my disabled sister in the nursing home as usual tomorrow. Please pray. Thank you.
Praying for you and your sister, Doreen!
praying for peace of mind Doreen for the BP to subside: I pray that there will feed your sister; also for your BP would come down to normal so that you will be able to visit your sister
God bless you Doreen; yes take it easy; Lord You know this precious pp; please keep her BP down to normal; bless her trip to feed her sister; what a wonderful journey this will be; Lord I know You will bless Doreen and her sister; it us such a wonderful thing to be able to do for another person; to lovingly feed them; Lord bless their time together; Thank you Lord for Doreen; she is a blessing to all,Thank you Lord in Jesus Name I Pray amen