LONGING by Reverend Sharon Hollis

Four years ago, while I was studying at the seminary, my interest grew deeper in the way the believers of Jesus Christ are typified, in scripture, as the future bride of Christ....

I grew to love the way the Song of Solomon was a type of Christ's love for His church, his bride.

This thought process brought me to a place in which I would often look for other clues in scripture where stories may become a type of the way Christ longs for intimacy with us, His future bride. The story of David and Bathsheba comes to my mind.

So often the human mind gets stuck on the feelings of longing for another human being, when really it is the vacuum in the soul that has been created, to be filled only with God. God longs to fill the void with intimacy between humans and Himself. He will do whatever it takes to seduce us to bring us to his love. However, there are moments when human nature bids goodbye to reservation and plows forward to fill that empty place with the hunger of needing another human's love.

David was drawn to the beauty of a woman, another man's wife. He was so distracted with her bathing on the roof, he would not go deeper and turn to God. Instead he did everything necessary to have her, and have her, he did.

Bible Scripture tells His story in 2 Samuel 11:2-4: "And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself' and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanliness: and she returned unto her house."

Longing

When I think unleashed, intimate......my mind takes me to a seductive place where fair skin shines in sunlight and I ache to touch its form.

I look at her wrapped in a scarf, my breath catching in my throat.

My lips could trace the edges of her curves and yearn for more,

Yet that would bring reproach to her, to me, to all that I stand for.

And I still want all of her.

Yet isn't God like that? Walking through the garden, longing for something more than conversation. Longing for intimacy with his betrothed love? Looking for more than mere conversation?

He wants all of you, all of me.

________________ ♥ _________________

Reverend Sharon Hollis is an Evangelist with Reconciling Pentecostals International. She has served one year as an Assistant Pastor and two years as the Senior Pastor of Circle City Pentecostals, and studied at Christian Theological Seminary. Sharon has served on the board of RPI as presbyter, Secretary and Education Coordinator. Currently she serves as an Evangelist through RPI, which sees her traveling throughout the US as a public speaker and counselor. You may e-mail her at revsharonhollis@yahoo.com

IMAGINE A WOMAN by Patricia Lynn Reilly

This poem invites you to look upon yourself with loving kindness… Gazing at your own true reflection, you will discover that everything you have longed for “out there” is already within you! I invite you to love your creativity fiercely. Faithfully plant seeds, allowing under-the-ground dormant seasons, nurturing your creative garden with love and gratitude. In the fullness of time, the green growing things thrust forth from the ground. It's a faithful, trustworthy process. AND it takes time and patience. Blessed is the fruit of your creative womb! I invite you to trust your vision of the world and express it. With wonder and delight, paint a picture, create a dance, write a book, and make up a song. To give expression to your creative impulses is as natural as your breathing. Create in your own language, imagery, and movement. Follow no script. Do not be limited by the customary way things have been expressed. Your creative intuition is original. Ga...

STILL I RISE by Maya Angelou

Six years ago, I had the privilege of listening to Maya Angelou speak live on the value of poetry at the University of Florida. I share these reflections with you again today, in honor of her birthday. I was relieved to get one of the last seats available for this rare event, having arrived at five for Maya Angelou ’s free speech at eight. The historically long line began with people settled into beach chairs in winter coats busying themselves on tablets, or eating sandwiches for dinner. As helicopters hovered above and newscasters below, I felt the excitement of realizing that thousands of people were gathering together to hear an eighty four year old black woman recite her poetry! Maya Angelou speaking at University of Florida on Feb. 27, 2013 When the curtain rose -after an overflow of hundreds were sent away- we lucky ones on the inside greeted Maya with a standing ovation, as she smiled sweetly, beginning her talk using metaphors from nature. Maya asked...

MIRABAI'S POETRY by Caitanya Dasi

Much of the mystic love poetry from India revolves around musical and theatrical expressions that portray the loving relationship between the soul and God… One such celebrated relationship was that between princess Mirabai and her divine beloved, Krishna. Born in the sixteenth century into a noble Rajput family, Mirabai married into a family that did not take fondly to her devotion to God. Consequently, she went from royalty to mendicant, and decorated her spiritual path with poetic songs. I first heard of the great poet, Mirabai in the early 1970’s while I was living and studying bhakti yoga at the Hare Krishna temple in Los Angeles, California. As I had a background in the performance arts Mirabai’s life instantly spoke to me. Her fusion of spiritual sentiments with song resonated with my passion for music, drama, dance, and the devotional path to loving God. In 1968 I serendipitously met a devotee by the name of Mirabai, who taught me that the perfectio...

Journey of the Heart

Search This Blog