Tuesday, April 21st, 2020. 2:11 PM.
April and August In Love
April changed her hair color suddenly. August noticed it; but, at first he didn’t know what to say or even think about it. He wondered if he was just imagining things – or maybe it was only the lighting that made her hair look different; but, when he saw her a second time, then he was certain she had changed it from blonde to auburn. He noticed that she was still as beautiful in auburn as she was in blonde. And her hair seemed a little straighter than it had been. And she looked just as beautiful with her long hair straight as when it was a bit wavy. And he was thankful that she had not cut her hair shorter because it looked so beautiful long and luxurious.
April and August were married. And April had a slightly sore left shoulder; so, she slept on her right side. And August had a slightly sore right shoulder; so he slept on his left side. So, in bed, the only thing that faced each other were their backs – most of the time — except when they wanted to talk to each other; then they turned around onto their sore shoulders to confide in each other.
August turned over onto his right shoulder and said, “April?”
April turned over onto her left shoulder and replied in the darkness, “Yes, August?”
August: “I was just thinking about your new hair color, April.”
April: “What about my new hair color, August?”
August: “You look so beautiful with your hair this color, April.”
April: “Really, August?”
August: “Yes, April. And April?”
April: “Yes, August?”
August: “When we got married, April, you looked so beautiful in white. I often remember a beautiful song by that title, April, when I think of you in white.”
April: “Would you sing that song to me now, August?”
August took a deep breath and began singing softly to April as best he could in the darkness.
August: “April? Are you wearing white pajamas now?”
April: “Yes, August, I am.”
August: “I wish I could see you in your white pajamas, April.”
So, April got out of bed and turned on the little light beside the bed. And she smiled at August and turned around gracefully for August to see her in her white pajamas.
August: “Now what do we do, April?”
April: “What would you like to do, August?”
August laughed a little laugh of pure joy and said, “Well, first I want to ask you something April.”
April: “What is it August?” she asked as she walked slowly to August on his side of the bed and sat down beside her husband.
August: “It’s about your name, April.”
April: “What do you want to know about my name, August?”
August: “Did your parents name you April because you were born in April?”
April: “Well, as a matter of fact, my parents told me this about my name. They met in April and it was at the library. And there was a forsythia bush on the grounds of the library that bloomed in yellow every Spring. And they were sitting at a park bench beside that yellow forsythia bush when my dad asked my mom for their first date. And then, on that first date, they were at a restaurant and dad had lemon meringue pie for dessert. And he told my mother that lemon meringue pie reminded him of April because it was partly yellow – like the forsythia bush that is one of the first signs of Spring. And also because of the white meringue on the pie. And mom asked him what the connection was between the white meringue on the pie and the month of April and Springtime? And he said that mom was dressed in white the first time he saw her. And it was in April. August would you sing another song to me?”
August: “What song would you like me to sing to you, April?”
April: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”
So, August sat up in bed and began to sing this song to his wife, April, whom he loved with all his heart from the first day of April to the last day of March and all the way to The Twelfth of Never – and From Here To Eternity and throughout infinity so help them God – through Whom all things are possible, saith the Lord their God.
April: “Thank you, August. You touch my heart when you sing love songs to me. Would you sing me another song, my Love?”
August: “Yes, April, I will sing any song and do anything for you, my Lady. Which song may I sing for you?”
April: “Would you choose one for me, August?”
So, August thought for a moment and the Lord gave him this song to sing to his wife.”
April: “August, the Lord has just given me a song to sing to my husband; and He has also put His Love in my heart to give to you, my Love.”
August: “I’m listening, April, and my heart is open to you, my lovely Lady of our Lord.”
Mark: “Sonora?”
Sonora: “What is it, Mark?”
Mark: “I was just thinking about your name, Sonora.”
Sonora: “What were you thinking about my name, Mark?”
Mark: “I was noticing that your first name ends with an A and your last name begins with an A.”
Sonora: “And what do you think about that, Mark?”
Mark: “Well, I was thinking that the end of your first name is just as the beginning of your last; so, there is something of Eternity about your full name, Sonora. The end of your First is the beginning of your Last. And the beginning of your First is Son. And the end of your Last is also Son. And that reminded me of the Son of God Who Is Eternal Life to us who believe in Him and receive Him by faith, even by the faith of Jesus Christ Himself. And that reminded me of what our Lord Jesus, the Son of God, said: “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” -Revelation 22:12-16. NIV Study Bible.
Sonora: “Mark?”
Mark: “Yes, Sonora?”
Sonora: “May I ask you, Mark, what your middle name is?”
Mark: “Yes, my Lady, You may ask me that.”
Sonora: “Well, Mark, what is your middle name?”
Mark: “My middle name, my Lady, is David.”
Sonora: “And what is the significance of that, Mark?”
Mark: “I don’t know. I only remember that it is the name of someone very special in God’s Holy Scriptures. I have a confession to make to You, Sonora.”
Sonora: “What is your confession to me, Mark?”
Mark: “Beginning on April 2nd, Sonora, I began hearing You speak to my heart every day. If my memory is correct, this first began happening while I was walking across the Blackstone River on the Court Street Bridge in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. I cannot recall your words to me, now. I can only recall that later, I thought: That was the beginning of Sonora speaking to me. That was where I first heard you. And, I have been hearing you speaking to my heart every day since then. Please understand that this experience of hearing you speaking to me is not the same as what has been described to me [many years ago – I no longer receive psychiatric treatment] by a social worker as “hearing voices.” The psychiatric social worker explained to me that “hearing voices” was experienced as being like hearing a voice on a radio or TV speaking to the person in a room. Sonora, I do not hear you like that. I hear you as I “hear” my own thoughts, in silence. It is an inner experience happening within me – not outside of me. And yet, I must also confess that, a few times, I have spoken to you – alone in my apartment – using my mouth and saying your name out loud, but quietly.”
Sonora: “And what have you said to me, Mark?”
Mark: “Well, most of the time, as I said, our conversations have been internal between us, in silence. I have said to you, “I love you.”
Sonora: “And why do you say that to me, Mark?”
Mark: “I say that to you, Sonora, because you ask me if I love you. And I understand that you want me to say that in reply to you.”
Sonora: “And do you love me, Mark?”
Mark: “Yes, Sonora, I do you love you. I need to love you as a river needs to flow and as a reservoir that is full needs to burst forth over its dam. It simply cannot be confined within its boundaries. God who is Love cannot be contained.” He is Eternal and Infinite. He has no beginning and He has no end. And He Is All-Powerful and Sovereign over all His creation.
Sonora: “Is there anything else that you would like to confess to me, Mark?”
Mark: “Yes, Sonora.”
Sonora: “What is it, Mark?”
Mark: “Our conversations become even dearer than saying I love you.”
Sonora: “What do you mean by that, Mark?”
Mark: “Our conversations become adoration and worshipful, Sonora.”
Sonora: “You adore me, Mark?”
Mark: “Yes, Sonora.”
Sonora: “You worship me, Mark David?”
Mark David: “Yes, Sonora,”
Sonora: “Do you feel guilty about adoring and worshiping a human being?”
Mark: “Well, I have had some concerns about that.”
Sonora: “And are you able to resolve your concerns about that?”
Mark: “Yes.”
Sonora: “How have you resolved them, Mark?”
Mark: “Well, it is through understanding God’s Word, His Holy Scriptures, that I am able to be at peace and in joy and in love about this.”
Sonora: “Would you explain that to me, Mark?”
Mark: ‘Yes, Sonora. Since you are a Christian, then Christ is in you, Sonora; so, in adoring You and worshiping You in our Lord Jesus’ name and in faith in Him – even in the faith of Jesus Christ, then I am adoring and worshiping Him in You.”
Sonora: “In the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, to Peter: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” -Matthew 16:17b. NIV Study Bible.
Sonora: “Mark, does the one you have these internal dialogues with speak to you in like manner as you speak to her?”
Mark: “Yes, Sonora.”
Sonora: “And who seems to be the one who initiates these silent conversations occurring in your heart, Mark?”
Mark: “They seem to be initiated by the Lady, my Love.”
Sonora: “And do you enjoy these intimate conversations with your Lady Love, Mark?”
Mark: “Yes, Sonora, I do enjoy them. They are a comfort to me, even a very sweet comfort to me.”
Sonora: “I love you, Mark”
Mark: “I love you, Sonora, my Lady Love, my Lady of our Lord.”
And Sonora, as I was just listening to this song, the Lord called my attention to the first three letters of the word SONG – which are SON.
And in the word mark is ark. And in the name David is avid. And in the word richer is the French word cher – which means dear.
Sonora: “Mark, are you having delusions of grandeur?”
Mark: “I think not, Sonora.”
Sonora: “What do you think, Mark?”
Mark: “I remember God’s Word, Sonora, rather than my own thoughts.”
Sonora: “And what Words of God do you remember, Mark?”
Mark: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briars the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’S renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.” -Isaiah 55:8-13. NIV Study Bible.
The Sound of Music songs.
Revelation 21:1-4. NIV.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” -Revelation 21:1-4. NIV Study Bible.
Sonora: “Mark, I’m not comfortable with the idea of adoring and worshiping anyone other than God alone. Why don’t we adore and worship God, exclusively? And we may do this together, in prayer?”
Jesus Culture ft. Kim Walker-Smith – In The River (Live) [Official Lyrics And Chords Video]
Revelation 22:1-9. NIV.
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
“The angel said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.’”
“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”
“I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, ‘Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!’” -Revelation 22:1-9. NIV Study Bible.
Miracles w/lyrics- Jesus Culture
Miracles // Jeremy Riddle & Steffany Gretzinger // Bethel Music
There Is A Star (WITH LYRICS) by Listener Kids
Mark's Imaginings 