Dear John and Doves,

 

Another Dove said this week that the nearness of the Lord's return makes it imperative that we forgive all of those who have hurt us before we enter into eternity.  I have also been impressed with the need to release any "wound causers" to the Lord's care, not desiring that any should perish.

 

We have indeed become quiet watchers in our hearts, not realizing that the passing of time, the repeated disappointments, the current list of "impossible circumstances" in our lives are there with perfect design.  They are meant to drive the deep, minute imperfections of our faith to the surface, so that the refiner can skim them off.

 

We are created to cling to Him (Jeremiah 13:11 TNLT) and in that process to fall in love with Him as His kindness and tenderness draw us into the breath taking perfection of His love.  We can observe keenly the political events, we can speculate on many intriguing theories, but of what value are our speculations if they are not the product of a longing heart, desiring to touch His face.  He has wooed us as a Bride to discover His tender intentions for us individually.  He has allowed difficult circumstances so that the longing is intensified to be in His arms.  He warns us not to shrink back at this point (Heb.10:37-38), lest we cause His displeasure.

 

Remember the longing of your first love experience?  Jesus also longs for us to realize the first love perfection of His intimate desire for us.  May we all ask Him to show us that love and willingly submit as His  Bride as the day draws incredibly close.

 

I asked the Lord to confirm for me  in His word that it was indeed this year of His coming.  I did ask for the words "come" and "seven" to be on the same page if it was indeed this year.  My Bible opened to Rev. 21:6:  "It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End...One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, 'Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.'"

 

We may see Thanksgiving, but if the little girl at Walmart was indeed an angel, we will not see Christmas 2007.  We will watch with tender hearts for the lover of our souls to come!

 

Judy Morford