Posts tagged bride of christ
Water's Refection
 
 

Imagine looking into a lake of water on a fresh spring day, or into a quiet stream making its way over branches and rocks, and around snow and ice. Or maybe you are looking into a still pool of water, while children giggle and play Marco-Polo in the shallow end.

No matter the season, the time of day, the type of water or the shape it takes, they all reveal the same thing when you look into it; a reflection.

The water will always reflect back what it sees. It may not be a perfect reflection as the weather conditions and activity of the water will cause ripples or small waves or rings that will distort the image, but it still reflects back what it sees.

In Ephesians 5, water is used to describe the Word:

For he died for us, sacrificing himself to make us holy and pure, cleansing us through the showering of the pure water of the Word of God
— Ephesians 5:25b-26 TPT
 

About 15 years ago, i made this picture of the Bride of Christ being showered with various Words of Scripture as she walks under the awning to meet her Groom!

Our minds are given a cleansing bath by the Word, washed of all the dirt, dust and grime we picked up throughout or day.  I imagine the scriptures showering down on me, washing my mind, transforming my soul.

When we look into the waters of Scripture, when we gaze intensely into them, they reflect back onto us, just like other bodies of water.  It’s a beautiful picture of being cleansed and transformed to be more Christ-like. To be purified, becoming ready to be the Bride of Christ.

 

Now imagine being so immersed into the waters of scripture,  so deeply in the presence of God as we meet him there, that our face reflects that of Gods?  The radiant beauty of the Lord would shine brightly on our faces as we climb back down the mountain like Moses did on Mount Sinai, to be among the people who are waiting for us. They would actually see the glory of God on us. How cool is that?

What would it be like if we were now completely submerged in the scriptures? We’d come back up wet with the Word dripping off our hair, our clothes, leaving a trail of puddles and droplets of truth behind us for others to splash through. For others to follow and find as we walk from place to place. People would become curious and intrigued…they may even follow us all the way to God!

One final thought… sometimes we think we need to simply read the scriptures and our ticket is punched, our deed is done. But in doing so, we never get wet. Never get messy, never get cleaned, purified, transformed… We would never leave behind those droplets of truth for others to find and follow to Jesus. But what if:

The goal is not for us to get through the Scriptures. The goal is to get the Scriptures through us….What matters is not how many words we memorize, but what happens to our minds as we immerse them in Scripture
— Ortberg, John. The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People (p.187, 190). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

I would love to hear from you! Please comment below, or by email (merri@artsandblessings.com) or for quicker interaction with me as well as with other readers, post your comment on my facebook page! I can’t wait to hear from you!

Identity: The Bride of Christ
 

Easter is on the way!

I can’t think of a better way to get ready to celebrate than by remembering what Jesus did, and how that changed who we are—always and forever.

He took all of our yuck and sin, and replaced it with His beauty. He freed us from all our strongholds— He traded places with us.

And all this after becoming us—becoming human!

He went through all the torture, pain and suffering because He wanted to be able to be with us.


He wants a relationship with us!


We are the joy set before him—being able to be with us is the prize that he clung too while enduring all of the unimaginable suffering.

Imagine that kind of Love! Literally laying down His life so He could give a life to us:

A life of abundant freedom, joy unimaginable.

A life lived with Him, for Him and because of Him.


Years ago I wrote a poem about this, and the transformation and freedom He gave us when he died on the cross. I always wanted to put that poem to art, but could figure out how to capture it all in one painting.

Then I got into collage, and realized I could literally put the whole thing in my painting!

And that is what this Bride of Christ painting is all about. The culmination of all He made us to be, so we will be ready as His bride.

 
 
The Bride of Christ Print The Bride of Christ Print
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The Bride of Christ Print
$25.00

Here are the words to the poem:


 

(FYI-the words are clear on the print!)

Garments

Copyright by Merri Lewis 2010


It’s time for a change of apparel, it seems

These garments no longer fit

The dark sweats of shame do not compare

to the beautiful garments of praise


My Savior has wrapped me in new clothes today

They are beautiful, made for royalty

It is hard to imagine  how He intended

These gem-laden garments for me


The crown of beauty is on my head

The oil of joy flowing down

As God claimed me as one of his own

The spirit of despair was cast down.


He’s turned my tragedy to treasure

He took my filthy ash-covered self

Wiped off my face and my head and my heart

He replaced it with heavenly wealth


So now I accept his healing touch

The reflections too much to bear

Unworthy, I am but made worthy by Him

It’s time to exit this lair



I would love to hear from you! Please comment below, or by email (merri@artsandblessings.com) or for quicker interaction with me as well as with other readers, post your comment on my facebook page! I can’t wait to hear from you!

 
 

He’s unbinding the bondage while binding my heart

breaking the links of the chain

With gentle love and skilled hands

He is healing my pain

From trembling to bravery

from fear to boldness

I step out anew on this day

I trust Him with what He has done

And I’m hearing the words that He says

“All beautiful you are, my darling

there is no flaw in you”

Your words pierce through my heart

“Show me your face, let me hear your voice”

I look in the mirror- I fear falling apart

“For your voice is sweet and your face is lovely”

I believe what you say, I am ready to start

Adopting the way that you think

transforming my mind, renewing my life

no longer will I hide or flee

All yours, I am

Now courageous and strong

Conquering strongholds within

Free to be who you fully intended

when you carefully crafted me