Destiny

The name Jerusalem means "headwaters of peace." In a day of the not-too-distant future, the contested city shall finally be permitted to fulfill her destiny:

... and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple ... And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live... for they will be healed ...
~ Ezekiel 47:1,9 (NKJV)

Jerusalem is also Christ's bride:

"Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." And he ... showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem ... And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life ... The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
~ Revelation 21:9-10; 22:1-2 (NKJV)

We, our Lord's church and bride, live up to our eternal destiny even now, when the Spirit of Jesus speaks healing through the power of love in our words.

Lord Jesus, please increase our faith that we may love You more, be more yielded to Your Spirit, that Your love and healing might flow through us.

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: Unavailable, with apology to photographer

Back to Basics

It appears that some of my ministry endeavors will now involve being comfortable in front of a video camera. What better place to gain experience than here in my own space?

Today I offer my first vlog (I think jumping out of airplanes took less guts than this new adventure), about what you can expect to see in the future on "Building His Body."



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This post is part of a blog carnival hosted by Peter Pollock. You're invited to visit his site and see what others are saying about today's theme: ADVENTURE.
© 2011 Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

The Hour Was Late

Image source: deplicque.net

When I was little, we waited until the hour was late to clean up—until my dad's car pulled into the driveway. We feared him enough to scurry upon sighting him, yet wanted to have our fun until the last possible moment.

Then those who went before and those who went behind cried out, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!" ... And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple, and He looked around at all things. But since by this time the hour was late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.
~ Mark 11:9,11 (author)

Jesus entered Jerusalem and the temple on Sunday. He had cleansed the temple once before, with a whip, at the beginning of His ministry. (John 2:11-17) His return to the premises as King ought to have filled greedy oppressors with fear. Shouldn't they have known better than to come back and set up shop again after an overnight opportunity to stay away?

Jesus used no whip this time, and His actions were anything but impulsive. No doubt the moneychangers and merchants were furious and were more numerous than the lone figure Who drove them out Monday morning.

But something in the patient wrath of King Jesus disarmed their own wrath.

Surely the wrath of man shall praise You;
With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself.
~ Psalms 76:10 (NKJV)

The King has already made an appearance in our lives. How long shall we have our way before the "Hosanna!"* on our lips which asks for a Savior is accompanied by **"Come have Your way among us—we welcome You here, Lord Jesus" which asks from the heart for Him to be Lord of our lives?

The Lord's eyes see all. He is patient.

But the hour grows late.

* Hosanna is translated, "Save us, Lord."
** Quoted lyrics are from the song "Hosanna" by Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown
© 2006 Integrity Music
Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

The Greatest Love Story

It is common, as I listen to love songs, to feel the passion of the Greatest Love Story. Usually, I hear my ache for Jesus. Other times, I've felt the ache of Jesus for His bride.

I hadn't heard "Unchained Melody" in years. It was played at a wedding last weekend, and it hasn't left my head and heart all week.

Has Jesus' waiting also seemed like a long time? I've been wondering, as Jesus sits at His Father's right hand, if among his prayers for us might be: "God speed your love to Me."

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
~ Mark 13:32 (NKJV)

UNCHAINED MELODY
Written 1955: Lyrics, Hy Zaret; Music, Alex North



Oh my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
a long lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?

I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me

Lonely rivers flow to the sea
to the sea
to the open arms of the sea
lonely rivers sigh wait for me
wait for me
I'll be coming home wait for me

Oh my love, my darling
I've hungered, hungered for your touch
a long lonely time
and time goes by so slowly
and time can do so much
are you still mine?

I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Question of the Week: Why War from God?

"Most of God's people are content to be saved from the hell without;
they are not so anxious to be saved from the hell within."
~Robert M. McCheyne

Image source: Battles of the Bible
by Chaim Herzog & Mordechai Gichon
Fall River Press ©1978, 1997

"How can Christians say that God is loving if He ordered war ... and even the killing of children?"~ Anonymous

There's no single or simple answer, but at least one basic principle applies.

God sees the end from the beginning. Where evil has taken root, He does not need to allow it to grow to maturity before He knows what kind of fruit will come of it.

The remainder of my answer appears at Bullets & Butterflies.