The darkest hour o’ertakes the many sleeping

The darkest hour o’ertakes the many sleeping

Those drunken with the stupor of this age;

Awake! Arise! And let Christ shine upon you!

Love His appearing

seeking His dear face!

We’ve been betrothed to Christ

our Lord

our Bridegroom

So let’s take sides with Him and run the race!

May we be those who hasten His returning

And welcome Him

draw nigh

with bridal love embrace!

While we’re on earth

a sojourner and widow

Our Husband gone and still so far from view

The nuanced things that struck a spark of gladness

Have lost their taste and are no longer “new

”

Because we long for Zion with foundations

And seek a better country as our own.

Let’s not lose heart! Beseech Him with persistence

Till He and we are joined

the corp’rate smiting stone.

Recall Lot’s wife

turned to a shameful pillar

Fit neither for the land nor rubbish hill;

Who turned her gaze back to the cursèd city—

Where glimm’ring things her heart did beckon still.

Two in the field—may I be that one taken

My heart not stuck

while grinding at the mill

Not tarrying

descending from the housetop

Ne’er looking back while plowing

faithful in the field.

As we await Thy coming with long-suff’ring

God as a Farmer

eagerly waits too

That we Thy children

grow unto Thy fullness

Thine early harvest

rapture-ready fruits.

May we in all things see Thy kind arrangement

To strip

consume us

all Thyself infuse.

Oh

let us seize each precious golden moment

To let Christ grow in us by being the One we choose.

What is our attitude in all our living?

Our exercise to touch the Lord each day?

The foolish virgins fail to fill their vessels

The evil

slothful slave says

“He delays!”

Heed the prophetic word—be faithful

prudent—

As to a lamp that shines in a dark place;

O Morning Star

our blessèd hope

we hail Thee;

Rise in our hearts until we see Thee face to face!

Come

my belov’d

let’s go into the vineyards

See if the pomegranates are in bloom;

While in the church

while shepherding and loving

Our life and service hastens our Bridegroom.

Make haste

Belovèd

on the mount of spices!

Come quickly

Lord! How long will we delay?

As we express our joint desire and longing

We foretaste Thy dear presence here in us today.