A Time to Press "Pause"

To everything there is a season,
And a time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to uproot ...
A time to tear,
And a time to mend;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-2,7 (author)

The ministry of "Building His Body" is being paused indefinitely, with the hope of returning in weeks to come.

The ministry actually began back in 2002. With the blessing of my husband John, and at the encouragement of various people who found my writing inspirational, I published the first issue of the snail-mail newsletter "Body Building" for winter 2003, and continued to distribute it for six years.

The first post to this blog was March 3, 2008. It has been published nearly every day since. This is post number 706.

With John's support, I attended the "Festival of Faith and Writing" conference in April 2008, and was catapulted into the world of publication for the biblical fiction I'd been writing. Although I learned about blogging as part of platform building for publication, this blog has been foremost an extension of the ministry that began eight years ago.

The vision for ministry I've had has been fulfilled in large part through this blog, especially in the last year. I've seen that as the Lord's blessing. But it has become apparent that I committed the oversight of obtaining John's blessing to start blogging. While he has for some time been supportive of my writing, he and I have different visions for everything that might entail.

I can't imagine that any marriage doesn't have its challenges. In our marriage, one challenge is the differing visions for ministry held by John and me. John wants to see me continue "Building His Body," but he and I are in agreement that I keep the pause button on it until we share the vision for what its ministry might be.

In the meantime ...

Some of those encouraging friends I mentioned have suggested I continue to write blog posts while blog ministry via "Building His Body" is on hold. So I've started a second blog which will be strictly to journal some of my moments with the Lord, and offer a peek to those interested: "Abba Whispers."

I've also received an invitation to do Q&A once a week for the blog "Bullets and Butterflies." You'll be able to catch me on Saturdays over there.

Those two activities have John's blessing, as does this post.

There is no way for me to ever adequately express my gratitude for all the prayer support from those who have read this blog.

With these words, I ask our Father once again to return the blessing of those prayers upon each one of you, ten-fold.

My love to every one of you,

Anne

Note: If you're interested to know when I post here again, be sure to subscribe either by "following" this blog via Google, or by subscribing via Feedburner, using one of the tools on the left sidebar.

Friday Freelance: FAILURE

Let love be without hypocrisy.

Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love,

in honor giving preference to one another.
~ Romans 12:9-10 (NKJV)

Friday Freelance: FAILURE

I have hinted here at personal challenge in my life. It has now become my undoing and can no longer be hidden.

My marriage faces failure.

I accept responsibility for three things: When I've recognized spiritual attack, I've deflected satan's blows with faith but have failed to return my own with Scripture. I have failed to pray for my husband with the same fervency I once had. I have failed to give my husband the attention which conveys to him that he is a priority.

And so my marriage is at a point of crisis.

I clearly see the marriage relationship between Christ and His bride. But if my own marriage is unhealthy, how can I continue to write about His? If I've failed to convey love to the first person in my life, how can I effectively minister love to anyone else?

There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord has called me to ministry. There is no doubt in my mind that satan is attacking my marriage to prevent it. I suppose I might simply say that the enemy would not attack if I wasn't doing something worthwhile, and then keep plugging away as I have.

Or I can admit the ways in which I have failed, I can take responsibility for those failures, and I can give them my full attention.

This will be my last regular post while I overcome this challenge. After today I will be scarce around the blogsphere until my marriage has seen repair.

God has blessed me wonderfully with the doors to ministry He has opened. If He wants me here He will make a way for me to return.

I've posted over 700 messages of encouragement here. There's plenty to browse, if you're so inclined, in the meantime.

Please remember how very much I love every one of you. Please remember my husband John and me in prayer.

Your prayers will be appreciated more than my words can possibly convey.

Rejoice ALWAYS! Give thanks in all circumstances! Pray without ceasing!

Stay in the Word.

~ Anne

Sharp Two-edged Sword

"Most people are bothered by those passages in Scripture that they cannot understand; but as for me, I always noticed that the passages in Scripture that trouble me most are those that I do understand."
~ Mark Twain

Sharp Two-edged Sword

These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
"I know your works ... And you hold fast to My name ... But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught ... to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality... Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth."
~ Revelation 2:12-16 (NKJV)

"And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required ..."
~ Luke 12:47-48 (NKJV)

To the church at Pergamos Jesus portrays Himself with a sword. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The Word alone was powerful enough to create the universe. When He was tempted Jesus used Scripture to defeat the devil. Jesus is named both Bread of Life and Word of God.

He is prepared to use this sword against whom? Those in the church with bad doctrine, who give a nod to what is immoral.

Good and bad religion will be addressed on Monday, in examining Jesus' words to the church in Thyatira. For now it's sufficient to point out the words of Jesus from Luke. While knowing His will and disregarding it shall certainly be dealt with, even failing to heed His will out of ignorance brings consequences.

Before thinking "unfair," consider that God gives us consciences. His moral law is written on hearts that can remain ignorant of His Word and still be guilty. How much more so might He expect those of us with abundant access to the Bible to understand our Master's will and do it?

Our most wealthy nation's greatest treasure are the Bibles available everywhere. We are stewards not only of the material riches entrusted to us, but especially of God's Word.

Bread of Life, we live not on bread alone but upon every word from Your mouth. You give our souls the sustenance of eternal life. Please increase our desire for and understand of the Bible that we might learn it, love it, and live it.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#Bible
Image from wordunplugged.com

Endures Forever

"Blessed is any weight ... that God has been so good
as to fasten with His own hand upon our shoulders."
~ Frederick W. Faber

Endures Forever

These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
"I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich) ... Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
~ Revelation 2:8-10 (NKJV)

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever...
to the One who remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever...
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.
~ Psalms 136:1-3,23-24,26 (NIV)

As He speaks to Smyrna, Jesus calls Himself "the First and the Last, who died and came to life again." He reminds of His eternal perspective, and that He has tasted death.

Death around us has a way of sucking away the life within us. Suffering, testing and tribulation have a way of narrowing our perspective to "right now" in a way that seems to endure forever.

Psalm 136 declares 26 times that it is the Lord's love which endures forever. Throughout Scripture we see that suffering, testing, tribulation last for a set time—and no more.

The above image hangs above my writing desk, and above that is a single word: ENDURANCE. Whatever we are going through, however long it lasts, we can endure. When Jesus tells us to take up a cross daily and walk uphill, He is asking us to simply follow Him.

Father in Heaven, surely we become weary in well-doing because we do not gain strength from You as we should. You have promised we shall not be tested beyond our ability to endure. Please take us into Your arms and carry us when we become weak. Please give us Your perspective of the eternal and the temporal.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Artwork "Road to the Cross" by Brian Jekel © DaySpring and published by the MasterPeace collection

Husband

"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."
~Aristotle

Husband

These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
"I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you ... have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love."
~ Revelation 2:1-4 (NKJV)

Rejoice with the wife of your youth.
As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be enraptured with her love.
~ Proverbs 5:18-19 (NKJV)

"And it shall be, in that day,"
Says the LORD,
"That you will call Me 'My Husband,'
And no longer call Me 'My Master,'
Hosea 2:16 (NKJV)

Song of Solomon is not the only place in the Bible that describes romantic love with striking language, nor is marriage mere allegory of the relationship between God and His people. Over and over, throughout Old and New Testaments, marriage and romantic love model the relationship we are to have with our Lord—our "Husband."

Jesus walks among the lampstands—His churches—and we see ourselves through His eyes. The first church mentioned, Ephesus, is like the older brother of the prodigal son, like Martha critical of Mary: doing all the right things, but missing entirely what the Lord most desires: our attentive love. And our Husband is not satisfied with the tired, stick-out-what's-been-started love, but asks for the first love a man has for the wife of his youth, and she for him.

I didn't anticipate doing Revelation when I wrote "First Love" on January 3rd. That piece posted on a Sunday, when blog traffic is light, so I'll repeat here some of what was said there:

First love is consuming. It takes over all thought, feeling, word, action.

First love is driven. It will go around or through and beyond any obstacle.

First love is empowering. There is nothing it will not do for its object.

First love is not extinguished by time, but by the indifference of familiarity and the distraction of intrusion.

If love is one soul inhabiting two bodies, then His Holy Spirit is surely put in us to unite the soul of His church to the soul of our divine Husband.

Lord Jesus, help us to remember first love, and to pour it out lavishly upon You.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#knowingGod
Image from healthewoman.org

Keys of Hades and Death

"The proof of how real Jesus knew hell to be
is that He came to earth to save us from it."
Peter Marshall

Keys of Hades and Death

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."
~ Revelation 1:17-18 (NKJV)

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
~ John 14:6 (NKJV)

Thoughts on Jesus and His possession of the Keys of Hades and Death.

It seems interesting that in the same place Jesus tells His beloved apostle "do not be afraid," Jesus also reminds John that He holds the keys of Hades and Death. It might be compared to the judge in a human court declaring, "I hold the keys to the prison." To one being held in jail who has just been judged innocent, this is good news and relieves fear. To one who was walking free and has just been judged guilty, this is very bad news and induces fear.

Jesus taught that the devil is the father of lies and that He Himself is truth. He says He is the only way to the Father and life, holding the keys of Hades and Death. Therefore truth trumps lies, life trumps death, and Jesus trumps the devil. If this seems too obvious to be worthy of note, consider how often we evade truth with a lie, fear death while we possess life, or allow the devil's words to counter the Lord's.

The Person Who holds the keys of Hades and Death admits He was once subjected to Death, and Scripture indicates He visited Hades. Thus our Lord gained those keys by facing those enemies and wresting away their power. He can rightfully declare, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26) If we need not fear Death, what lesser power on earth should be able to intimidate us?

Lord Jesus Christ, Author of peace, let us ever remember that You hold the keys to the power we might most fear. As we face the massive numbers of deaths in Haiti, as we face the deaths of loved ones, keep us mindful that which side of the door we stand on makes all the difference between joy and sorrow.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#Biblestudy
Image from religion-cults.com

Humility in Suffering, Humility in Praise

"Humility is not an ideal.
It is the unconscious result
of the life being rightly related to God."
~ Oswald Chambers

Humility in Suffering, Humility in Praise

To the Chief Musician.
A Psalm of David The Servant of the LORD,
Who Spoke to the LORD The Words of This Song
on the Day that the LORD Delivered Him
from the Hand of All His Enemies
and from the Hand of Saul.
And He Said:
I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
~ Psalms 18:1 (NKJV)

Thus says the LORD: "... your house and your kingdom ... [and] your throne shall be established forever." ... Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: "Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?"
~ 2 Samuel 7:5,16,18 (NKJV)

Though Saul dedicated his life to murdering David, David not only refused to retaliate, but excluded Saul from his enemies when penning his final psalm forty years after Saul's death.

Such humility marked David's life. He did not see himself worthy of marrying Saul's daughter, nor later, of the messianic covenant from the Lord. He thoroughly and immediately repented when confronted with his adultery and murder, and again later after an unrighteous census. He showed compassion to women such as Abigail when she was rich and he was poor and to Rizpah when she was forlorn and he was king.

When we think of examples of patience amid suffering, we think of Job, whose suffering was intense—but short lived. David's suffering marked most of his life—persecution by his son Absalom when he was old, by King Saul when he was young, and by many brethren who hated him while he suffered unrighteously as a destitute fugitive. Physical affliction is also mentioned throughout David's psalms.

Presenting suffering next to a good God, with the exhortation "rejoice always," is a distinct challenge for this writer to do credibly. My inspiration is the suffering David, whose humility enabled his enduring praise to God.

In that final psalm of his, David affirmed amid the suffering of infirmity: The Lord is our strength, and we declare to Him, "I will love You!"

Lord, You bless and take away, and always bless amid the taking away. By Your grace and strength, my heart will forever choose to say, "Lord, blessed be Your name."

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#suffering
Image from jerusalem-4thtemple.org

Bible

"Ask yourself what makes you come alive.
And then go and do that."
~ Harold Whitman

Bible

Your word has given me life.
~ Psalms 119:50 (NKJV)

How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth! ...
Your word is very pure;
Therefore Your servant loves it...
I rejoice at Your word
As one who finds great treasure.
~ Psalms 119:103,140,162 (NKJV)

If there's something that makes me come alive, it's expressing my passion for the Bible.

I can't help but see all of life through the lens of Scripture, because I see Scripture has already focused upon all of life.

If there's only one thing I know and write, love and breathe, it's the Bible and its Author. Counting today, I've now done it for 699 posts.

Fewer people are here on Saturday. To you, I pose a question:

What do you think I should write about, or what might you like me to write about, for post number 700 tomorrow?

My Lord, thank You for the opportunity You've given me to share You here. Please enable and bless my words. May they ever be no more and no less than what You'd have said. For each and every person who stops here, even if only by accident, please bless them and draw them closer to You.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image from glennhager.wordpress.com
#Bible