CHN Newsletter February 2003

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; (Song of Solomon 2:12)

February 2003

Dear Friend,

Trusting that all is well with you and your loved ones. We are fine, and looking forward to wonderful surprises from God this year. Ministry opportunities are growing, and we are excited about the things God is showing us. All of our ministry outreaches have grown tremendously, and it is breathtaking to keep up with each department. Please read the enclosed ministry results newsletter describing each area of blessings in growth. You partner with us in this work, with your prayers and your finances. You work side by side with us. We love and appreciate you, and God will honor all that you do, when you meet Him face to face. Glory!

This month the subject of love is the primary topic of conversation, as we celebrate Valentine’s Day. It is a wonderful day, where not only married couples or sweethearts can express love for one another, but also one where we can express our love for others. It is a day put aside to think of those who are precious in our life. Let us not neglect to tell our loved ones how much we love them - all the time of course, but especially on Valentines Day. For all of our husbands out there, do not forget that card and candy!! And wives, do not forget that candlelight dinner! But wouldn’t it also be nice to tell others how much we appreciate him or her on that day, such as our grocer, or our mailperson? Or our neighbor next door? There are people who are intertwined into our life, who help so much to make our life richer and more pleasant, who seemingly go unnoticed and taken for granted. How about that lady down the block who just became a widow, and seems to be so lonely? A simple hello, a card, or a dish of homemade cookies could just make her day. Think about it. You must know someone you could bless on Valentines Day!

When we think about our life, we can see that there are seasons, not only in our physical life, but in our soul. We go through a time of courtship, we get married, we have children and watch them grow up. God may bless us with seeing our grandchildren, and even watch them grow up. During these times, there are seasons of springtime where everything is beautiful, everything is new, and faith is born. Then comes summer, when our relationships mature, and faith matures. Fall is a time of reaping and harvesting, and then comes the winter when everything seems to look bleak and frozen, and we are sure that nothing will ever grow again. Such is our relationship with Jesus. In the Song of Solomon, we see a relationship between the Bride and the Bridegroom: a picture of Jesus, the Bridegroom, and His Church, the Bride. It is a picture of God’s unconditional love for us, and it reflects on the intimacies of God’s love for you and me. During these seasons, we see wintertime as a time of low. When trials come, strength fails, relationships falter, and we don’t know which way to turn. Our emotions play havoc with us, and we feel lost. Everyone has a wintertime of the soul, and this is a time to slow down, be calm, and wait. This is a time to get a new perspective on things, recheck our goals or our relationships. It is time to think of our values, and begin searching the Word of God for answers. This is a perfect time to meditate on God, and think of His love for us. This is a time when, if we really search, we can grow into a deeper level of faith.

Can you close your eyes for a minute? Just think about Jesus, and nothing else. Think about how much He loves you. He loves you so much that He wants an intimate relationship with you. He wants to hold you with His strong arms, and keep you close to His heart. He wants you to have doves eyes. A dove just sees what is in front of him. He wants you to just see Him. He wants to kiss you. “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.” (Song of Solomon, Chapter 1:2). Gaze into His eyes, and enter into that relationship that calls “deep unto deep.” Go further with Him. Go deeper. Receive His love! Speak to Him from the depths of your heart, and tell him everything. He is listening. He cares how you feel, He wants to dry your tears. He wants to bring you to a deeper walk. He wants to reveal Himself to you.

This is when you can hear His voice as He calls out to you, “Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away, for, Lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land: (2:10, 11, 12). Glory! Suddenly the answers come! Suddenly the sun is shining, and the birds are singing, and the problems are a thing of the past! Strength returns! There is hope! There is joy! The ground is not frozen anymore, there is warm grass beneath your feet! You can dance!

Can you picture yourself dancing with Jesus? Can you see Him laughing? Can you see His love gaze burning into your spirit? Can you say, as the maiden says in the Song of Solomon, “I am my beloved’s, and His desire is toward me.”? (6:10) Rejoice in Him!

Having a love relationship with a husband or wife should encompass a lifetime. It doesn’t just start with a courtship, and end with the wedding. It is something that grows day by day, year by year. What a tribute it is to see a couple celebrate 50 years together! This did not happen overnight. It took work. There were good and bad times, seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter. Each season brought new revelations, and new challenges, along with new joys and hope. It is the same with our walk with God. It takes work, and persistence. There is just so much to learn, so much to understand, but Jesus makes it simple. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. He has sent His Holy Spirit to help us, to guide us, to counsel us, and to bring us to the place of unfathomable joy and peace if we just follow Him. He is the lover of our soul, and oh, to know Him, really know Him, is to bring unspeakable riches and glories to our being!