The Desert and the Bride

The Desert sucks.

Figuratively and literally.

I know.

I've lived in both.

I won't lie. I've wondered what God was doing during some of these desert times. The times when I am seeking Him and there is nothing but silence. The times when I need to be comforted and I get another thorn in my side (usually my backside!). The times I hoped someone else would understand where I'm at and I get a blank stare.

How do we make sense of this silence? Of this seemingly lack of caring by the God that we've all been told loves us? I'm not saying I've got a total handle on it, in fact, I think I've still got a little desert walking to do, but the only way I can make sense of it is understanding the Bridal Paradigm.

When I look at the end of the Bible, which tells us about the end of all things, this is what I find
(Actually, the Bible is full of Bridal symbolism, and it's a pretty interesting study.) :

Rev 21:1-4 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And the sea no longer is. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband. And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away.

Rev 21:9 And one of the seven angels who had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.

Can you sense the excitement in the angel's voice as he shows John the Bride? Have you ever met a bridegroom that was not passionate for his bride?

The culmination of human history will be a wedding ceremony! The final state of God's people will be as a Bride adorned for her Husband. God is preparing us for the ultimate wedding ceremony. It is in this reality that I need to interpret God's dealings with me.

The attitude God has taken toward us has never been one of pity, irritation or impatience. He has succumbed neither to despair nor a performance orientation. His attitude has always been that of the delighted Father, preparing the perfect partner for His perfect Son. The Son's posture has eternally been that of the enthralled Bridegroom, captured by the beauty of one created specifically to be His counterpart. The assurance of the power of God guarantees that at the end of it all we will be what He intended. - Gary Wiens

How does the desert play into this scenario? I think the book of Hosea gives us a sense of God's heart towards His Beloved.

In the context of Israel's "harlotry" as she chases after other lovers:

Hos 2:13-16, 19-20
And I will visit on her the days of the Baals, in which she burned incense to them, and she adorned herself with her nose-rings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers and forgot Me, says Jehovah. Therefore, behold, I will lure her and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her. And I will give her vineyards to her from there, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope. And she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be at that day, says Jehovah, you shall call Me, My Husband, and shall no more call Me, My Baal. And I will betroth you to Me forever. Yea, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth you to Me in faithfulness. And you shall know Jehovah.

The desert time. The times of silence and despair. The times of confusion and hopelessness. They are a necessary part of the preparation. Our trouble (Valley of Achor) will be turned into a doorway of hope. God is wooing us back. Restoring us. Preparing us for a deeper sense of his presence. Opening the doorway for communication with his heart in deeper, more full ways. And songs will spring forth from our hearts....

Who Is This King of Glory?

Aaahhh. Ain't he cute? Little baby Jesus laying in the manger. Docile animals all around. Sweet little cherub overhead....

Peace and safety.
The world is lullabied by peace and safety.
The church is lullabied by peace and safety.

And the magi bring their gifts. Gently bowing before the tiny baby. Knowing that a great future awaited him....

Peace and safety.
The world is lullabied by peace and safety.
The church is lullabied by peace and safety.


Aaahh. Mary and Joseph looking with love and awe at their little bundle of joy wrapped in swaddling clothes. To bad they had to be run out of town because they had a bastard child.

Who is this King of Glory?

Laying in a barn that stinks like animal crap and wet hay. No room for him in his town. No room for him in a home. No room for him in his people's hearts.

Who is this King of Glory?
Is he still a baby laying in a manger?

NO! He is no longer a baby in a manger! He is no longer cute and cuddly. He has walked this life in the flesh. He loved and lost. He has been beaten, whipped and crucified. He has seen death and conquered it. His eyes are like fire. He wears many crowns. He has a sword in his mouth and rod of iron in his hand. He rides a white horse. No swaddling clothes here, but a garment dipped in blood. He is risen from the dead and full of glory. . .

Who is this King of Glory?

You do not choose to be friends with someone so powerful, so awesome. . . someone like this chooses friendship with you. And he HAS chosen you to be his friend! He has chosen you to be his bride! AND HE IS PASSIONATE FOR YOU!

Who is this King of Glory?

He is Jesus Christ!

Army of the Broken

Our friends from England have been here and gone. Rich is my oldest and dearest friend. We met in Hollywood, CA at music school when neither of us knew the Lord and now we are both followers. Rich is always a breath of spiritual fresh air. He brought two friends this time: Simon and Val who are also gems.

They spent a week at IHOP. Not eating pancakes either. It is the International House of Prayer in K.C. When they arrived here they felt like they had some unfinished business there and that we should join them. I can be spontaneous, but a 5 hour trip with the kids is a stretch for me. We threw some stuff in a suitcase, packed up the kids and a cooler and went. I was a bit skeptical....organized religion.....charismatic prophecy.....and all of that.....

When we got there the worship didn't seem like anything special, other than it has been going on 24/7 for the last 4 years. And it definately was not a show. These people could care less how the people were reacting. They were going for it for God and God only. But I sensed God telling me that I wasn't going to get anymore of Him there than I would anywhere else. I was willing....but no real connection.

At 10:00pm another worship team was taking over (seamless transitions of whole bands by the way). The leader sat down at the piano and played a couple of familar tunes as her band got into place. Then it happened. Misty Edwards began spontaneous prophecying/preaching as she sang. I have never experienced anything quite like it. Quite definately God-led.

The next day we met one of Rich's friends from England (Who "happened" to be there the same week). Paul is an older gentleman with gentleness in his spirit and wisdom in his words. He knew a little of our story and he had been through some similar stuff. A pastor booted out of his church....lost it all....broken...angry.....desperate in the silence....

And as he prayed over us he said:

"What you have been through was not a mistake or a failure. You have been led by God so that you could join an army of the broken."

Hos 2:14-16
Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her to the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her vineyards back to her and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came out of the land of Egypt. In that day--the LORD's declaration--you will call Me: My husband. . .

The News - One Foot In Front Of The Other

Christmas time is approaching....

I like Christmas. I don't care what consumerism and capitalism have done to it. I like giving and receiving gifts. Guess I'm not spiritual enough to just like giving. Sorry. But have you thought about our role in our relationship with God? He is the giver....we are the receivers. I have a lot to learn about receiving.

In other news.
"Conservative Christians" are going to bat for Christ by putting the "Christ" back in Christmas! I'm glad someone fights the battles that matter. (Insert sarcasm here)

In personal news.
We are coming closer to some decisions about our future. Trish and I both want to finish our degrees. I'm basically an idiot. I have spent most of my life not knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up. I started out as a psychology major. Switched to music. Then compromised for a degree in Organizational Leadership because I could get it done quickly. Funny thing is I am going back to where I started and persuing a degree in Social Work.

Updates to come...

P.S. Thanks for all the moral and spiritual support!