I HAD A DREAM | I SAW EXCITED WOMEN READY FOR A WEDDING | THE BRIDE HAS MADE HERSELF READY

 

What does the Bride of Christ Symbolize?

The earliest Christian tradition identifies texts from the Hebrew Bible as symbolic of the divine love of God and people. The love poems of the Song of Songs and the Latter prophet Hosea have many references to an intimate, spousal relationship between God and his people.

How does the Bride of Christ make her self Ready?

The Bride of Christ must make herself ready.  If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are Christ's be-trothed bride.  Nevertheless, Revelation 19:7 states that “The Bride In this parable the virgins represent members of the Church, and the bridegroom represents Christ. The Lord explained to Joseph Smith that the wise virgins are those who “have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived”. 

What does it mean that the Bride has made herself ready?

Immediately following the judgment of all that is against God, we are told the bride has made herself ready. This means that the book of Revelation is not only about the Lamb's victory, but it is about His great passion being fulfilled, the readiness of the bride.

Who does the bridegroom represent?

In this parable the virgins represent members of the Church, and the bridegroom represents Christ. The Lord explained to Joseph Smith that the wise virgins are those who “have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived"

How does the image of Marriage relate to the Relationship of the Church and Jesus Christ? 

They help us relate to God, giving us an image — a metaphor, a picture — to look at and glimpse the divine. Good marriages give us a tangible picture of Jesus and his love for the church. This is why the instructions are rooted and grounded in what Jesus has done for us and our relationship with him.

What is the Hebrew word for Bridegroom?

חָתָן, כּֽלָּה Meaning: bridegroom, bride.

What does the word Bride mean in Hebrew?

Yarchei Kallah (Hebrew: ירחי כלה‎ “months of the bride”) is the name of a teachers’ convention that was held twice a year in Babylonian Academies, by the Jews then in captivity in Babylon, after the beginning of the Amoraic period, in the two months Adar and Elul.

What did Jesus say about the Church?

He then stated, “And I say also unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).

How can we prepare for Jesus coming?

PRAY: If you want to know what God knows, begin by asking Him.

LISTEN: Sometimes, we think we know what God wants for us, but God's knowledge isn't always obvious. 

WATCH: Saint Paul said we need to watch and be ready. Scripture tells us that we must always be ready to tell others the good news. We must be prepared as Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word. Be ready to do it whether it is convenient or inconvenient. Correct, confront, and encourage with patience and instruction”

STORE: Be Prepared - Is it wrong to be prepared? You get to decide. There are many instances in the Bible on the value of being prepared. Joseph prepared for famine in Egypt (Genesis 41), Noah prepared the ark (Genesis 6-7), and other verses like Proverbs 6:6-9, Matthew 25:1-13, and Hebrews 11:7 talk about it. On the other hand, verses like Luke 12:16-20 and Matthew 6:19 help make the other side of the argument.

There’s much controversy over this topic in the Christian community. Here’s what I have to say… always check your heart for why you’re doing what you’re doing and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in doing what’s right. There’s a vast difference between being prepared so that you can help your family and your community vs. hoarding it all for yourself.

Speaking of preparing, don’t forget to prepare your heart for Jesus’ return. These things must come to pass (Matthew 24:4-13), but one day our Lord will come, and no one knows when that day will happen (Matthew 24:36).  Always be prepared for that glorious day! ~Tracie Rollins

IMPROVE:      How do we Prepare for the Day of the Lord? 

Seven Ways to Prepare for Jesus' Return (Mark 13:24-37)

1. Live in the light of His first coming.

2. Be discerning.

3. Accept the uncertainties.

4. Don't lose hope.

5. Encourage one another.

6. Live as if today was the day.

7. Keep on doing the work Jesus left us to do.

What is the Great Day of the LORD?

A day inaugurating the eternal universal rule of God: in the Old Testament : an eschatological day of ultimate judgment bringing final deliverance or doom.

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20

What does the Second Coming refer to?

Second Coming, also called Second Advent or Parousia, in Christianity, the future return of Christ in glory, when it is understood that he will set up his kingdom, judge his enemies, and reward the faithful, living and dead.

PRAYER:

How grateful I am this day, Father, for the promise of Jesus’ return. Make my heart ready Lord, that I might watch and wait with great faith and eagerness in my heart.

For my church community as well, I ask that You strengthen each and every one of us to say “no” to ungodliness and the passions of this world. May we be self-controlled, upright and godly in all that we do as we wait for Jesus, our blessed hope, in order that we might be confident and unashamed before Him when He comes. 

Forgive us, Father, for the ways that we have allowed ourselves to become entangled with the things of this world. We have allowed our hearts to be weighed down with the anxieties of life, and in so doing, our watchfulness for the coming of Jesus has been diminished! Awaken our hearts, I pray!

Instead of setting our minds on things above, our thoughts have become cluttered with the passing affairs of this world. We have not been clear-minded so that we can pray. Forgive us Father, and heal Your Church. 

We have become inattentive to Your work and weary as we wait. O Lord have mercy on us. Revive our hearts once again and give us a fresh sense of urgency that produces greater love and devotion and a living-out of our faith. May we be patient and stand firm as we wait, for surely Your coming is near Lord Jesus!

I ask, Lord Jesus, that when You return, You will find me, and my brothers and sisters in Christ, dressed and ready for service with our lamps fully fueled and burning brightly. May we truly live as aliens and strangers in this world, ministering the love of Christ in word and deed.

Lord Jesus, may we be always watching for Your return and encouraging each other continually that today could be the day!

Maranatha! O Lord Jesus, come quickly, I pray! Amen and Amen!

Titus 2:12-13; 1 John 2:28; Luke 21:34; Psalm 73:25; Colossians 3:2; 1 Peter 4:7; James 5:8; 1 Peter 2:11; Luke 12:35-40

Holy Spirit Said, "YOU NEED TO EAT HEALTHY"

I heard the Holy Spirit say, "You Need To Eat Healthy" so I searched for Biblical scripture and saved all I could find. I then searched for the words  "You Need To Eat Healthy" and found another Blog called "So Very Blessed" which is a wonderful site that we all could benefit from. "5 Bible Verses On Healthy Eating" by author Becky. Becky is a ACE-certified health coach who uses her own 100-pound weight loss journey to help women lose weight one small change at a time in a faith-based, grace-focused way, keeping God at the center of their weight loss journey. 

5 Bible verses that talk about faithful healthy eating, showing us what God says about food, not the latest fad diet.

1) 1 Corinthians 10:31 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 

When you bring God into your healthy eating, it changes everything. Striving to honor Him in your food and drink choices will bring not only a heart change, but it will also change your choices.

I used to think of food in two camps – there were “reward foods” and “punishment foods.” Everything that tasted good (tater tots, Nutty Bars, potato chips, and ice cream), I considered a reward.

Everything that was good for me – vegetables, whole grains, etc. – I considered a punishment. I’m overweight because of my poor food choices, so I have to force myself to eat these foods.

But what if all food, the healthy and the not-so-healthy foods, could be eaten for the glory of God? What if you considered Him in your grocery shopping, your portion sizes, and your calorie counting? What if you sat down to dinner every night with a heart of gratitude for the plate in front of you, knowing food was a way to care for the gift of the body God has given you?

2)  Proverbs 25:27  "It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory." 

Even the Old Testament instructed us to go easy on the sugar! It’s not bad to eat honey (or sugar) in general, but there are healthy boundaries to eating, too.

Portion control is more than just a set of rules to follow. They are boundaries to protect us. God knew we would be tempted to overindulge in a good thing (and isn’t that true of all good things?). He is not trying to steal joy from us with rigid rules. He just knows what is best for us and wants to give us gentle reminders to stay on that path.

Did you know that research has actually proven that the first few bites taste best? So, say, you are eating a decadent chocolate cake. The first few bites are going to taste amazing! After that, our taste buds tire and it tastes less and less amazing with every forkful. The lesson? Have some sugar. Slow down. Savor it, taste it, and enjoy it…just don’t overindulge!

3) 1 Corinthians 6:12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

Have you ever felt like food was calling the shots? I sure have! I can’t even tell you how many times my cravings have led me to down a box of Nutty Bars and, afterward, I would be sitting there in a pile of wrappers not knowing how that had really just happened.

No foods are off limits to you, but it is up to you to put reasonable limits on food. It’s not good to eat an entire chocolate cake or pizza in one sitting. You have the right to choose to do just that if you’d like, but it’s sure not going to be beneficial! It’s not good for your physical health or your emotional health, for that matter.

4) Ecclesiastes 3:12-13  "I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man."

You may not be a farmer growing the produce you eat in your kitchen, but you do work hard to put food on the table. Enjoy it and be satisfied!

In my experience, when it comes to junk food, there is often not much satisfaction. I can eat an entire box of fruit snacks, a full bag of chips, or 5,000 calories of Nutty Bars and I still won’t be satisfied. I think I will be, so I convince myself to eat just one more…until I have no more left to eat.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, when I eat healthy meals, making sure they have enough protein, fiber, and flavor (bland boiled chicken breast? Blech!), I am almost always left satisfied. I eat until I’m full and then I stop. It’s a wondrous thing when you discover your stomach can actually alert you when it’s had enough. 

This Scripture is a beautiful reminder that it is a good and godly thing to find joy in eating! Eat, drink, be satisfied, and feel the gratitude for the food that God has blessed us with (I still thank Him for Nutty Bars, but now I stop at 1!).

5) 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

This verse is my go-to for any temptation in my life!

Temptation is a tricky thing. When it comes to food, we almost always call them “cravings,” but they are just the same as any other temptation.

The feeling comes on strong and has this sense of urgency that we must satisfy that longing right now.

That’s the lie of temptation.

You are not going to die if you don’t have that double cheeseburger in the next 5 minutes. You’ll be just fine without ice cream tonight.

Thankfully, we have a God who is more powerful than any temptation we face…we usually just forget to ask Him for help! He never promises that we will have a life without temptation (or food cravings), but He does promise us that He will always show us a way out when we seek Him and look for it.

Let this Bible verse remind you that God is faithful and you always have another option outside of simply giving in. 

~ Bits and Pieces of So Very Blessed.com