Rain Storm- Ezekiel

Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain of the earth. Hosea 6:3

Today is Thanksgiving Day. It is pouring down rain. It's wonderful but not so good for travelers. This winter storm has been named...Ezekiel. What does this mean? So I went to Ezekiel, the book, to find rain scriptures. Strong's concordance lists 2 scriptures. 

Hmmm? Often, the Lord speaks through current events. He is always speaking.... but, sometimes we are not listening. In the book of Job, it says, God sends the rain so mankind will stop and listen; stop and take note, cease all activity (Job 37:7). 

Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. 

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and heard the voice of One speaking. Ezekiel 1:28

I could stop right there and rest in that word. Stop talking and writing and just bask in the glory of that scripture. 

Fall on your face and allow the glory of the Lord to speak to all of our circumstance, all of our current events, all of who we are as believers, wherever we are living.

In scripture, the rain speaks of glory, righteousness and blessing. The enforcement, the enacting of justice is inferred as a part of righteousness. The rain of God can fall as mercy and it can fall as judgment.

It is a washing, watering, cleansing, life giving kind of rain. Always, in the end, rain brings goodness and life as in Isaiah 55: 8-12. I encourage you to read this in its entirety. Here's just a hint:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts....For as the rain comes down.....so shall my Word be that goes forth from my mouth.

So what is on the Lord's mind right now? What is He telling us? You know He has a plan! There are two scriptures in Ezekiel regarding the rain. 

The second scripture is Ezekiel 38:22 and it is about judgment toward Gog and Magog. Verse 20 speaks of a great shaking within the earth for the sake of His people, Israel. His people includes us because we are engrafted into the original olive tree.

and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at my presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 

Mountains speak of governmental places and strongholds and powerful authorities in the earth. I looked up Gog and Magog and it is interesting to note, this refers to mountains and areas somewhat north of Israel. Gog literally means- mountain.

I realize there have been speculations and interpretations (well studied and well thought out) which have been taught, applied and widely circulated on this very subject of Gog and Magog. I personally think we should take a step back from some of those.

I will tell you right now, I don't subscribe to any of the "last day" or "end time" interpretations of scripture which have been propagated in both the secular and Christian media. I don't subscribe to doom and gloom. Believers are not under the anger of the Lord. 

Revelation tells us He is angry with the "destroyers of the earth". That would include those who are destroying people and species and life giving aspects of our planet. 

Now I do realize we will be affected due to these judgments but differently than those under His scrutiny. But this blog is not about last days, its about new beginnings.

That's just my view but I am not a scholar or specialist in last day prophecy or theology. I don't really believe anyone is....a specialist....or authority.... because of the example we have in the New Testament. 

Those most learned men of bible days, had no clue, they were missing the relationship  and intimacy with the Lord of the Word. Yet they knew the language and the scripture better than we ever will. Can our modern day scholars compete with the learned men of Bible days?

The learned men of Jesus' time knew all the prophecies and they knew all the biblical warnings yet they did not know how to interpret them. 

I am not faulting them because the disciples did not know after 3 1/2 years; they needed the resurrected Lord to encounter them and teach them.

They all needed the Lord to open their eyes just as He did for the blind man. I think this mystery is of design, divine design.

The Bible speaks of mysteries... 12 times. There is a reason for this: it was planned this way, so the enemy doesn't know the outcome or ultimate plans of the Captain of the Host.

He does tell us He won't do anything without letting us know. Without letting His listening ones know. Prophecy is for our sign posts but we cannot put them all together until the last puzzle piece goes into its place.

It is important to know them and to attentively look to the Lord for the understanding and interpretation. Are you okay with living in the flux, living in the Mystery?

It's okay if you are leaning on Him. We are kept on a "need to know" basis because it is more about getting to know Him rather than His plan alone.

So, I said all that to turn our attention back to reading the scriptures and listening with fresh ears. I just want us to take a step back and stop interpreting all we hear through old teaching and old mind sets.

 We can sometimes be so "programed" that we stop resting and listening to the fresh sound of the rain. The rain represents His new sound, His life giving Words. 

This is what I think the Winter Storm- Ezekiel, is saying to us right now....

Fall on your face and listen to His magnificent voice. You can hear it in the rain. 

I am listening to it right now, typing next to my window, in the front of my house near the street. I can see it and hear it, what a beautiful sight and what a  magnificent sound. 

It causes me to stop, look and listen for His glory and His voice. There is nothing more refreshing than the sound of the rain. There is nothing more refreshing than hearing the sound of His voice.

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he comes and rains righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12

Holy Conversation

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies pour forth speech. Night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the earth. Psalm 19:1-4

Conversation. Dialogue. Communication. Discourse. Speech. Talk. Interchange.

Fellowship. Companionship. Encounter. Comradeship. Intimacy. Communion.

We long to be heard. We long to receive affirmation. We long to give others validation and affirmation. We long for substance within our encounters. 

All around us, there is a conversation going on- some of it in words- some of it in information, noise,  even frequencies we cannot hear or discern.

Beyond the natural and man made sounds are a myriad of voices from our own mind; parents, friends, enemies, celebrities, media, teachers and on and on. 

The voices never seem to stop. Birds sing, traffic hums, leaves rustle in the wind, customers demand and the voices continue. 

Some are aware there is a voice, outside of ourselves, which condemns, harasses, confuses, pushes, prods and lies. 

Others are aware of a voice outside of ourselves which speaks through inspiration and quickens toward goodness, truth and life.

Our heart has a language as well, one engrafted into us within the womb. When a mother holds her newborn, she talks to her little one and the infant does everything within its power to respond with a like sound. 

The desire for language, especially love language, is engrained within our very fiber, our very being. Language and all its expression, is foundational to our human growth, development and well being.

Within this cacophony of sounds, all around us, within us, where is that wonderful affirmation which transmits love and acceptance?

Is there a holy conversation for us to employ? The biblical Babel represents the constant stream of noise, which is opposing or opposite of  a conversation which brings life. 

Babel is a flow of words which is destructive, dark and negative in nature. Babel. Confusion.

Early on, within the biblical account of Babel, we see the Lord chooses to confound and confuse the language spoken by fallen man. Such an interesting story! 

That is in the Old Testament but when the New Testament is established, in the book of Acts,  Messiah releases a unifying love language.

A mighty rushing wind releases tongues of fire and the unlearned men from Galilee begin to worship and speak of the wonders of  Creation.

The wonders of Redemption, the wonder of love language reborn.

In Acts 2:9 It says the disciples spoke in at least 17 different dialects, languages which were the birth languages of the guests at Pentecost. 

This was a traditional gathering of Jewish converts from everywhere in the known world. These were the familiar and common languages of this bustling metropolis.

It was a cross roads of trade and learning for their day.

We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. Acts 2:11

Ears are opened, hearts are opened by this new language of love, adoration and wonder. A language carried like a rushing wind with fire, joy, peace abounding and over flowing. A language of affirmation, recognition and reconciliation.

We have books about finding the love language of your spouse, friends or children. 

Have you found your love language with your Creator?

I so desire for you to find your love language from heaven. Heaven is speaking to you directly, intimately, lovingly....right now, has been all along. Will you pursue this dialogue? 

I know there are times you have heard the whisper! You may have thought...who's talking to me? Where is this coming from? Who is this? Am I imagining this?

Even celestial bodies, the planets and stars are giving off a frequency and a significant, meaningful sound. 

We have just forgotten how to listen, how to dialogue. We have forgotten how to respond in like manner but creation never forgot this wondrous sound.

One of the many titles or names of Messiah (like Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, Immanuel) is His Name... 

The Word of God. He is the divine communicator. The voice and the sound of heaven.

In the beginning was The Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. 

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made. John 1:1-3

And His name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Revelation 19:13b

Knowing the nature of His being.... He is The Word....He is a creative, communicating, affirming God....how can we assume He is silent, just an observer in our lives? 

Does He not desire to dialogue with us? Many voices compete for our attention but which voice should we strive to hear above the clamor? 

Of course, we should place, as priority, the voice which builds up, lifts up, affirms in love and promotes our life.

It is a two way dialogue of wonder, devotion and it is exhilarating! It is a conversation with life itself. It flows through all languages, all sounds, which resonate with life. 

Any voice which raises itself up above this voice of life may need a little reflection and reconsideration.

His is the voice of original love language. He speaks your birth language. New birth. New creation. New thought and focus.

Find your voice and your love language. Find your listening ears, those of wonder and awe. The very sound of His voice will heal you and set you in your rightful place. 

In Psalm 19, which is quoted at the beginning of this piece, it speaks of a voice heard within the spirit of a man. This is the voice you were destined to listen for, to commune with, to bask in the love it transmits.

So much download within this heavenly sound. There is no more joyful reward than to hear the sound of His voice.

Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 

Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech as the dew, as raindrops on the tender herb, and as showers on the grass. Deuteronomy 32:2

Records Room

Over the years I have sought to learn all I could about different types and levels of prayer. 

There is private prayer in your prayer closet. There is corporate prayer in the local upper room, whatever church or organization may be involved. 

In each of these, there are a variety of prayer types which we experience:

supplication, intercession, deep groanings of the Holy Spirit (when we just don't have the words). 

I could go on and on because the Bible lists so many different kinds of prayer.

Each believer has a unique call to whichever type of prayer fits their ministry. Each level and layer is precious to the Lord. It is His special time alone with you. 

One of the most telling documents we have is the record of Jesus' prayer, given to His disciples when they asked Him how to pray. 

Having worked in a catholic school, I am aware of how the "Our Father" or "The Lord's Prayer", can sometimes be used as a formula prayer. 

Even in other believers circles I have observed this type of formula prayer being used. 

Yet, Jesus was present with the disciples, they were in deep and personal fellowship, when He shared His heart with them. 

So, we need to unpack scriptures like this in the light of relationship. In the light of dialogue, two way conversation. 

Speaking and listening, responding and releasing situations with our prayers. Prayers of forgiveness.

He begins with "Our Father" because He is inviting the disciples into a closer walk with His Father. 

It is the aspect of forgiveness which I want to focus upon in this blog. 

It is in the light or revelation of forgiveness, I was shown a room in heaven, called The Records Room.

And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Luke 11:4

One of the many classes I have taken was Contemplative Prayer with Pastor Ed P. and Kent L. at our local Vineyard. 

I hesitate to call any prayer class....

a class.....its more like a workshop. 

We discuss the scriptures and share testimonies and then we go home and seek the Lord for more understanding as we pray. 

This was like that....a workshop...we had as one of our special speakers, a Priest, who had been trained in contemplative prayer within the Saint Francis of Assisi order. 

Father Joseph was a wonderful example of a man of prayer. I know, because I went on to pray with this man of God at the Mission where he lived.

During this workshop- My husband and I, along with a couple of friends, would sit in our living room and worship. Then, we would go quiet until the profound quiet of the Lord would completely engulf us. 

We set aside enough time, as long as was needed, and sometimes it would be 20 minutes before all the mind noise would stop. 

We were taught to have a specific scripture, to keep our mind tethered to, when the noise and distractions started (which you know will almost always happen). 

Each time we would repeat the scripture to focus and return to listening for the Lord's voice. 

After tarrying there for at least 40 minutes to an hour, after we felt the quiet lift, we would each share what we heard or saw. Amazingly, never failing, what each of us spoke, would fit together. This would show us the assignment we were to pray for. 

Its like going into the Courts of heaven and receiving a verdict from the Holy and Sovereign judge. We wanted to pray His way. He was willing to sign our request.

So.....having explained the process...this is what happened one day when we were praying in this manner. Instead of being invited into the garden of prayer, I was taken into a Records Room. 

I knew I had been lifted out of my body into a record room within the heavens. I sensed an angel present and the atmosphere was very serious, very somber. 

It was not at all like the dramatic and beautiful Courts of Praise.  First,  I had looked around at the never ending shelves of books which were records of peoples lives.  After I took time to admire and appreciate the immaculate handiwork of the entire room, I found myself focusing in on the center of the room. 

I was drawn in to the desk in the center of the room with an open book in the center of the desk. It looked much like this photo (above) but the room was massive. 

Somehow, I just knew that it was an incredible honor to be allowed even a glimpse into this place, it was holy and it was terrifying due to its contents.

You see, I had been praying, why are our prayers not more effective? Why are we not seeing more break through? 

Our church had a 24/7 prayer room. We were basically a church made up of prayer warriors and evangelist on the move, in the streets and malls. 

We were passionate about our walk with the Lord. We were dedicated to our cause, like none I had known. Yes, we did see mighty break throughs yet sometimes we were shocked at the lack of outcome in certain areas of our prayer focus. 

We were all determined to continue to seek the Lord fervently, until we knew why. 

The entire book of Matthew 18 was basically downloaded into my heart by contact with that book on the desk and the angel directing me to focus on The Book.

How the Lord does this, I do not understand but He is indeed The Word, so when you ask, sincerely, He will answer you. 

Sometimes we understand better with pictures than with just words. He knows our make up.

Even so it is not the will of the Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:14

In this passage the Lord goes on to speak of reconciliation with your brother, removing offenses and binding and loosing. 

These powerful passages are often taken out of context. I was guilty of this as I stood in this terrifying room. Life happens and broken and hurting people often hurt the ones whom they are closest to. 

After a while, offence sets in and we want compensation. 

The angel, who was my escort, had a message to deliver, once the down load of scripture was complete. 

The angel stood by as I took it all in, then the message began to unfold itself.

"If you desire to be a powerful prayer warrior, you must release forgiveness to these records which are a part of your experience.

 Only the records which the Holy Spirit reveals and which you are withholding forgiveness. 

Release them to the Father, so that His holy angels can go on assignment to help those recipients enter into their blessing, their life, their potential, their grace from above.

Just as Jesus released you and some loved one also released you in their prayers.

You have the authority but you hold back due to lack of understanding of the vastness of His forgiveness and provision. "

During the Passion, the quiet Lamb of God, withheld His voice and His tongue through all He suffered, which was so unjust. 

(understatement if ever there was one)

Yet, when He did pray on the cross, it was a prayer of forgiveness.

Father forgive them for they know not what they do. 

Relationship and forgiveness is linked to all verses in Matthew 18. 

I encourage you to read it all in the light of the records room. We can only do this with the help of the Holy Spirit and the Lord of forgiveness upholding our tender and aching hearts. 

If He requires it, He will help you do this. It may be the most important prayer you have ever prayed.

Release the records which He shows you to release. This does not mean you are excusing anything, you simply are sending them back to the Courts of Heaven so the Almighty can work His works of  redemption. 

He is the Sovereign Judge of all records. This is what happened in Job 42, Job was required to pray for His friends who had misunderstood him, and had misunderstood the Lord's purpose as well. 

Job was required to release the records, then and only then was he restored to his place of authority. 

All else was restored as well, for he had lost it all.

Quiet of the Night

Psalm 42: 8  By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life.

It's O dark  thirty, I awaken from a sad dream or memory. I cannot go back to sleep, regrets of life surface. 

Cares of this world rise to the surface of my mind like bubbles arising in a pond. 

I arise, grumbling, weary, and walk out into the living room where the Word is open on the coffee table. 

The wind is soft through the chimes, a little soft music of rain. 

The cats are stirring around me, one thinks I will let him out the door early. But no, there are coyotes outside.  

Why the troubling thoughts? I read a few verses out loud softly, so as not awaken anyone else. 

My recent favorites Job 42 and Isaiah 42.  I speak them out loud to find my focus, to find the garden gate. 

I push through the troubling thoughts with prayers of forgiveness, with prayers of grace, releasing to each one pictured in my mind. 

Some family, some friends, some distant faces in the news. I speak a word of blessing over them. Bless those who curse you, pray for them and bless them.

Lord, would you send someone to release a word of grace to each one, a word of encouragement. 

A word of redemption,  a word of restoration and release to them a heart for new beginnings. 

May they encounter your radiant countenance. 

Its like pushing through over grown vines which are blocking the gateway. 

I am pressing through, then I begin to pray in the Spirit. Part of me is wondering why I need to be awake at O dark  thirty; yet I have this wonderful sense that someone is listening, someone is waiting behind the garden gate. 

Someone very special.You are listening and it is palpable. It is wonderful. Oh that everyone would know this joy.... you are listening. You are waiting for me to press through.

Then the movement of your compassion flows, I am still outside the garden gate, yet the flow is drawing me closer. 

I picture in my mind's eye, each one I desire to bless and pray for. 

Soon, I don't really know when it happens, I am at your feet placing each loved one or stranger in your arms.

Without even noticing I am humming an enchanting melody. Nothing old or known, its new to this moment, then I am whistling the tune. 

Suddenly the cat is straddling between my knees and the coffee table with a questioning look, what are you doing whistling? 

Laughter and oops- I better be quiet so as not to waken anyone. Sorrow has been turned to joy. Burden has been turned to light. Regret has been turned to rejoicing. 

I haven't actually seen the Lord (except in my minds eye as I gave Him my burdens); 

but His song is reaching out, touching me, embracing me. 

He has heard me and is singing back through the wellspring within my own heart. 

It was so quiet outside with the soft wind chimes and rain. 

Yet, on the inside, I was loud and clanging when I awoke. As I pushed through to the garden gate, my heart has become serene and quieted by your song. 

The song of the Lord is real, it is a provision, a promise for each one to claim, to possess.

Its yours to sing and yours to connect with His heart. It is a love language He has given because He is the Song of Songs.

And you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival; 

your hearts will rejoice as when people go up with flutes to the mountain of the Lord, 

to the Rock of Israel. 

The Lord will cause men to hear His majestic voice. Isaiah 30:29,30

Water into Wine

Now there were set there six water-pots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, 

containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, Fill the water-pots with water. John 2:6,7

During worship, on sunday, I was wondering about the water-pots which Jesus asked the servants to fill with water. 

He and His friends and family were at a wedding in which the wine had run out. 

As the servants responded to the voice of the Lord, the water was turned into wine. 

I was thinking how we are compared to,  referred to, as vessels. 

But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of you hand. Isaiah 64:8

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 

Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:20,21

The scripture in John refers to vessels of stone, the scripture in Isaiah refers to vessels of clay, the scripture in Timothy refers to various types of vessels. 

The idea is... they are made from earth, by man and filled with various elements and commodities to feed, to cleanse, to heal. 

During worship, I was receiving a revelation, or a picture in my mind's eye...

I saw,  each individual being formed by the Hands of the Stone Mason to be filled with Living Water....

then in the process of our compassionate service the water is turned into wine. 

The key here is not just service but compassionate service. It is the quickening Word of the Lord which transforms the water of purification into the wine of healing and joy. 

In the process of being fashioned into a vessel of honor, the clay must be pliable and yielded to the hands of the potter. 

We often are triggered by the idea of being yielded because of the misuse we have received at the hands of dominant and cruel persons. 

When the potter is none other than the Man from Galilee we have nothing to fear about yielding. 

We may feel the pressure and not really understand the outcome?! Such wonder, joy and loving-kindness flow from the movement of His hands. Such love from His touch. 

We know He was a craftsman, a carpenter, a stone worker. We must trust the process to look forward to the outcome.

He shapes us with His touch, He speaks the Word and the waters flow into us and fill us. 

When we draw out the Living Waters, in compassion, and with a yielded, pliable heart, the water can turn into wine. 

This is where a joyful and loving expectation is stipulated.

The servants at the wedding feast just did as the Lord asked of them. Mary, His mother had told them to do as He asked.  They had an expectation which was set in motion by the wedding planner, Mary.

We often miss this: Mary, who had been deprived of her own wedding, was now designing the fulfillment of other's wedding expectations. 

Giving into other's joy and fulfillment is often key to our own break throughs. We know she released an expectation into the servants and the guests; an expectation toward Jesus. 

What did this expectation feel like? I'm sure it wasn't concrete... without a doubt or absolutely sure of the outcome. 

I think it felt a little like butterflies in the belly...a little nerve wracking but exciting nonetheless.

Remember, their service, was on the line, their occupation, their reputation was at stake. 

As we experience the joy of service to the King, as we taste the wine as Nehemiah did in service to the King; we receive a little of this expectation, we get these butterflies of hope. 

Then we go and we flow with His waters; the water becomes bubbly, royal purple and effervescent with life. 

The secret is His touch, Our yield. 

          HIS TOUCH.....OUR YIELD.

Just Ask for More

If people knew the joy and rapture of being filled with Living Water 

and the outcome of the overflow....they would ask. 

They would just ask for more.....

I remember during the renewal of the 90's, one of the watch words was.....more.   MORE LORD. It was a common prayer, a request, a cry of the deepest yearning. 

It was a childlike cry for more of His infilling, more of His love, more of His touch, more of His revelation and understanding. 

The paradigm shift was in the marvelous revelation that you could ask for and expect more. More of what? More of His presence and just more of Him. 

People would laugh when they heard just this one word, because all who were there knew what it meant. It was a child asking, from a loving Father,

for more kisses, more hugs, more of His neverending love.

This is what my book, Zamiyr, is all about, the amazing, never ending resource of Living Water and the song of joy which connects us with this resource.

It's a never ending supply. So why do we settle for so little?

I demonstrate with a comprehensive scriptural treatise.... 

more is what we need and what He desires for us to have... as our inheritance. 

More. More. More. Overflowing. Abundance. The riches of His glory.

My Pastor asked me to research Father Nash, who was the prayer warrior for Charles Finney during the 2nd Great Awakening.

Daniel Nash, who lived from 1775-1831, was the intercessor who would go ahead of Finney to the location chosen for evangelism.

He would pray with other committed prayer partners to prepare the atmosphere in prayer. 

Marvelous break throughs occurred everywhere they prayed. This is the way of revival and has always been.

They have very little written by Father Nash, mostly what Finney and others recorded about Nash. 

Yet, at the end of his life, there is an excerpt from a private letter to Charles Finney. 

What he wrote to Finney, expressed all of what I want to say about 

More

and all I want to say within the pages of my book. I will quote it here for your benefit.

"Since you were here I have been thinking of prayer- particularly of praying for the Holy Ghost and its descent. 

It seems to me I have always limited God in this request...I have never felt, till since you left us, that I might rationally ask for the whole influence of the Spirit to come down; 

not only on inidividuals, but on a whole people, region, country, and world. On Saturday I set myself to do this, and the devil was very angry with me, yesterday for it.

I am now convinced it is my duty and privilege, and the duty of every other Christian, to pray for as much of the Holy Spirit as came down on the day of Pentecost, and a great deal more. 

I know not why we may not ask for the entire and utmost influence of the Spirit to come down, and asking in faith, see the full answer.....

I think I never did so freely ask the Holy Ghost for all mankind. My body is in pain, but I am  happy in my God...

I have only just begun to understand what Jesus meant when He said, All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. "

This was the summary of someone's life service. This man was a Pastor for years and only at the end of his life (last 7 years) did he become an intercessor for Finney's revivals. 

They say the outcome of those revivals was... 80% of conversions which lasted a life time. Nowadays they say that only 20% of conversions last. 

This man is saying, after all his success and all his travail, he learned that he could ask for more. 

I feel this is a direct mandate for myself and other prayer warriors of our day and hour. 

Just ask for more. 

We can do nothing without the Holy Spirit anyway.

So this is what my book is about....just ask for more. 

There is a never ending supply. I cannot experience this for you, I can only urge you to drink from the fountain who is Messiah. 

When you do, you will wonder, "why have I been limiting myself for so long?" You will wonder how you could have lived without this joy and peace and wonder!

Einstein said,  those who have ceased to wonder have really ceased to be alive.

The Word says...

As the waters cover the seas so shall His glory cover the earth. 

Why not ask for more?

The Garden Gate

Where has your lover gone, most beautiful of women (overcomer)? Which way did you lover turn, that we may look for Him with you (the church asks)? 

My lover has gone down to His garden, to the beds of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies. I am my lover's and my lover is mine; He browses among the lilies. Song of Solomon 6:1-3

We all have the most awesome of gifts, the gift of free will. As we traverse the landscape of our lives we find places of conflict and places of peace. C.S. Lewis called the earth "the fallen planet". 

The landscape of our walk is much like this, with beautiful vantage points, cement jungles, long dusty roads, treacherous paths along narrow cliffs, dark but beautiful valleys and all the same landscapes we see on the earth. 

Sometimes we are walking out in the sunlit plains, we can see as far as the eye can see and its a lovely walk. We are at rest. We feel at ease and we are carefree.

For myself, I often strive with my maker. Don't we all? Jacob, of bible fame, literally strove with an angelic messenger, sent to him from the Almighty. Now he walks with a limp but he is at peace.

Moses literally threw down the beautiful tablets which Almighty had written upon with His finger of Fire. He also struck the rock when he was instructed to speak to the rock. Where does this strife come from? Well, partly it is from our pride.

There is another source to this strife, it is brokenness and the resulting unforgiveness (offence). One other source of this strife is simply the autonomy of free will. 

We were born with an intuition to exert our free will. We have this knowing that our walk is all about this choosing. When we don't walk in the truth and the light, we can tangle up this gift of free will. This is why I call it The Terrible Gift.

When I get disoriented, lost, or I may realize I have been moving forward on auto pilot.  I stop and look for the garden gate. Now, this can be a mysterious venture because the gate is never obvious. 

Yet I know how to find it,... now. After many dead end trips. I call upon the Messiah for He is the gate. I get quiet and look around, I humble myself and ask for help. 

Be advised that this gate will never look the same on any given day.

It can look like a cave upon the high places where your path is treacherious. It could look like a shaded grotto where still waters flow and lilies grow upon the face of the waters. It could look like a clothes closet or perhaps it looks like your blanket pulled up over your head.

 It can appear dark, lonely, catatonic in shape. It is mysterious like the Secret Garden in the famous book of the same title. 

Sometimes it is overgrown by faded and dusty vines due to misuse. It could look like your shower, where you are free to scream and cry with no one listening.

Other times it may look like a hospital door, you must walk through and hold hands with someone in a sick bed. Other times it may look like an old fashioned church altar of wood where you kneel. 

Sometimes you find the gate through someone's hug or the laying on of hands in prayer. Most often it is a search, by yourself, in the twilight or in the dark before the dawn.

The Gate, this beautiful gate is hidden right within your heart. There is a doorway there. That is why the gate can be hidden right there in your present surroundings. When we enter in through the gate, we find living water to restore our souls.

When I drink from this fountain, my focus is renewed, my stamina is strengthened, my insight comes clear, my balance is regained. 

It is in this place that my free will comes into alignment with my resolve to live in the Light of His countenance.

Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered. 

You have a heart instinct, yet sometimes your own heart, without His living water flowing within, can lead you astray.

 Trust in Messiah's heart flowing within your own heart. This will align you with your best purpose and your best self.

To Sing

In my first 12 blogs, I  introduced, both, the Living Water system and the purpose of the Song of the Lord. Both were established to teach us how to connect to heaven with our prayer, praise and intercession. 

Living Waters (representing Word and Holy Spirit) function together as administrator for our prayers. 

Living Water is a conduit or channel for marvelous access to heaven through praise. We declare the Word of our confession and the waters flow with the songs and corresponding sounds of heaven.

In Genesis 1:6-8, the second day of Creation is described, the Creator separates the upper waters from the lower waters and He calls this atmosphere heaven. 

He does not pronounce His usual pronouncement of GOOD on this particular day. Why? 

Experienced intercessors are aware that there is a 3rd heaven which Paul speaks of in his testimony; this is where Messiah is enthroned as our Mediator, Intercessor and Singing King. 

There is an intermediate heaven or 2nd heaven and there is the natural ether which is the layer of oxygen around the planet also called the 1st heaven. Paul describes the 2nd heaven in Ephesians 2:2...

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to...

the prince of the power of the air, 

the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.

The Song of the Lord was created to connect heaven to earth through the administration of the Holy Spirit (Living Water system). 

However, there is a gap, void or dark space in the 2nd heaven which we are not required to traverse. 

Messiah did this with His ascension and descension plan. 

In fact, I often encounter maverick prayer warriors, (you may call them John Wayne types) which are gung hoe about taking on principalities and powers which they are not equipped to handle. 

Its kind of like the disclaimer which is displayed with footage of tight rope walkers going from sky scraper to sky scraper or when someone goes to jump the grand canyon on a motorcycle .....

The caption reads-

 DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!

Psalm 115:16 says, The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's; but the earth He has given to the children of men.

So I am asking, how do we bridge the gap? We are seated with Him in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, right?? 

So it is with this qualifier,  that I share this prophetic word which I received at The Call stadium event in 2016. 

The Lord had told me, years earlier, to avoid engaging the enemy but to always engage the Gates of Praise, instead.

Do we desire to sweep the sky? Do we desire to crack that bronze heaven? Here is how. TO SING.

I don't mean this as a formula I am talking about relationship. Worship in Spirit & Truth.

TO SING:

the secret weapon is- to sing

the overcoming power is- to sing

the healing and renewing is- to sing

the overflowing joy is- to sing

the sickle and instrument of harvest is- to sing

the pouring out of the waters of His Word is- to sing

the sweeping of the sky is- to sing

the ancient way is- to sing
the new way is- to sing

the tuning of the waters, the vapors in the heavens is- to sing

the way of the Lord is- to sing
the way of the Psalmist is- to sing
the way of the prayer warrior is- to sing

the way to minister to orphans, widows and release of captives is- to sing

the way of the New Creation is- to sing

the way of the Spirit brooding over the waters is- to sing

the way to be filled and over-flowing is- to sing

the way to open deaf ears is- to sing

the way to seek His face is- to sing

Father God is waiting for us to cultivate our garden of prayer and to activate our wellspring. 

He is waiting for us to engage His Son, face to face; and to begin to generate the power of the Song as a water wheel generates hydro power.

Messiah declared from the cross, It Is Finished...so what are we waiting for? The task remains for the bride to don her wedding garments and to make the connection. 

To engage, to encounter, to meet with Him face to face, within the fountain, within the geyser which connects heaven to earth.

Psalm 96  Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice!

SING! 

Heaven Sings 4

In the Old Testament, Israel establishes The Song of the Lord as a National Anthem, as a martial song of war, in which the singers go before the Armies of the Lord. 

Victory comes in a supernatural way, without any natural combat or collateral damage on Israel's part. They haul in the plunder in the Valley of  Berachah (praise) or Valley of Blessing (2 Chron. 20:25,26). 

With articles 1, 2 and 3, of Heaven Sings, I am establishing how this carries over to the New Testament. Allow me to walk this backwards now and show you the connection between Old and New.

In Heaven Sings 1, we demonstrated how Heaven itself is the source of song and Father God conceived Song out of His own resplendent and creative nature & character (Proverbs 8:22-31, Job 38:4-7).

We reminded our readers how Father God desires to sing over us from this place of Creation and wonder and light (Zeph. 3:17).

Then we proffered the precept that Messiah was a singer because He was fulfilling a type which was previously shown in King David, the beloved psalmist of Israel (Matthew 26:30, Heb. 12:2, Rom.15:9).

In Heaven Sings 2, We begin to present the concept in which The Song of the Lord is a part of our spiritual weaponry and armor. 

We mention this interaction between heaven and earth by reminding the readers about the 8 Sacred Songs of the New Testament (Luke 1:46, Luke 2: 13, Luke 19:37, Rev. 5:9, Rev. 5:12, Rev. 5:13, Rev. 14:2, Rev. 15:2) 

We talked about a war campaign called "Shock and Awe" and how I would rather name our campaign, Wonder and Awe. 

I desire for you to know the Song of the Lord is for overcoming power, not just to spice up a church service or for your car radio.

In Heaven Sings 3, we began to establish the personal factor of song, the difference between earth bound songs and Supernatural Songs which come from heaven. 

We begin to demonstrate how the Song of the Lord is different from all other songs. All songs require a response and a matching resonance, 

however, the Song of the Lord requires a response to our Creator, Himself. It creates a path for a dialogue and exchange. 

It reinforces our spiritual relationship of intimacy.

Anytime, Messiah is fulfilling a role or prophetic type, this picture is well described and established within the whole of the Old Testament. 

I have presented the idea, in which, Messiah fulfilled a role established by King David the singing King. You may be asking, well, why don't we see the Messiah singing more than we do in the New Testament?

In the New Testament, the Song, now enters a phase in which the song is all about Him; establishing a coming and going between heaven and earth, just as Messiah would descend and ascend.

Just as Jesus said, you will see the angels ascending and descending upon the Messiah. The Song of the Lord begins to flow between heaven and earth because of the coming of the Messiah.

Returning to the Old Testament type, here is the founding of the Song as a martial song:

1 Chronicles 25: 1 David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph,

Heman (Samuel's Grandson), and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres, and cymbals.

The same order is repeated again by 4 succeeding Kings of Israel: 

King Solomon (in 2 Chron. 5:12, 7:6), 

King Jehoshaphat (in 2 Chron. 20:21), 

King Hezekiah (in 2 Chron. 29:25), 

King Josiah (in 2 Chron. 34:12, 35:15). 

Following the 70 year exile and return to the land, the song pattern is re-established by the Governor (in Neh. 6:15, 7:1,2).

So, including David there are 5 Kings, one Governor & Jesus the 7th which establish & perfect the command TO SING. 

So here is a clear pattern established within 7 scriptures of the Old Testament. 

Amazing. 

You cannot say the Song of the Lord is just a lovely idea for refreshing the individual soul or for the congregational joy. 

Absolutely, song is congregational but it is so much more. It is clearly a National Anthem for Israel and a martial song similar to our Military branches, in which each one has a specific song which proceeds a declaration of war and/or martial assembly.

Messiah Himself, establishes this idea, this principle, in which the Song of the Lord must be fulfilled in the New Testament by specifically mentioning this pattern to His disciples, after His resurrection in Luke 24:44....

This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.

Messiah must fulfill the Law and the Prophets, we have this precept firmly  taught within our church institutions but what about fulfilling the Song? The Song of the Lord, the Psalms?

HE IS THE SONG OF SONGS.

Praise is how we fight our battles. It sets up an atmosphere of light and joy, where the Lord's awesome voice can be heard and we are safe to respond in kind. 

As praying believers, song is part of our National Anthem; we can wage war upon the enemy and yet save people's lives. 

We wage a war in which there is no collateral damage to souls, only the enemy is targeted for obliteration. That's my kind of warfare.

The original article...Heaven Sings....will be available on my web. 

The rest of my revelation about the Song of the Lord is available on the web site, Roar of Your Waterfall, or in my book Zamiyr (or will be soon- sorry delayed as of Oct.2021).  

I wanted to give you a little scriptural background before I post my article:  
                                                                                            
                                                             To Sing.

Heaven Sings 3

So when I talk about sing, or song in a biblical way, I am not necessarily talking about musical talent or prowess. I may not be talking about music at all. 

Rather, in speaking of the Song of the Lord....I am speaking of a resonance within your heart that connects with the sound of His Voice. It is something that invites you into an encounter with love.

If you have ever been crying out and have heard the Lord (not necessarily out loud, but within) speak to you, it is something that just melts your heart. 

Even when He speaks a word of correction, there is so much love and hope within the dialogue that your heart cannot help but respond in praise, humility and thanksgiving.

Here is the key....I am talking about the Song of the Lord which is different from every other kind of song. For one thing it is not just earth bound. 

The Bible even speaks of the song of the drunkard and the song of the harlot; it also speaks of the song of a contented life. Nowadays there are so many different kinds of songs.

Patriotic songs. Martial songs. Love songs. Cry in you beer songs. I am your idol songs....or you need to be a victim songs. 

Commercial jingles and the like. Horror film themes. Nature show soundtracks. There are people who make a living writing this kind of music. Even.....sympathy for the devil songs. Whew. 

There is no end to the creation of new songs because, just like water, or just like math there is an infinite amount of patterns, arrangements or ways to express. But what are we expressing?

Years ago, I had gone to a James T. concert and the opening band was Linda R's original band (something about ponies?) and I saw everyone around me raising their arms up, as if in praise or as if in surrender. 

I was starting to get into the mood of the atmosphere but I had also just been to a worship concert at Calvary Chapel and they were also raising their arms up. 

When this contrasting picture went before my mind's eye, my hands came down abruptly.

I sat down in shock, while everyone continued to sing. Now, hear me out, I am not against going to a concert and having a marvelous time. I love music of all kinds.

What I am saying, is that because I had experienced the dialogue (the spiritual exchange) which occurs in worship, I could not continue to respond to the cultural song in the same way I did to worship.

So there are so many ways to express worship and praise and it is within our make up to desire to express this.  We are hardwired to express a song of some kind and to respond to a song.

The thing about a song, even those without words.....is.....how they require you to respond in some way. They may calm you, inspire you, alarm you, even cause your heart rate to change it's rhythm.

The Song of the Lord is always about bringing you life and causing you to respond to His voice. It invites you into a dialogue with life itself. One of Messiah's Names is Song of Songs or Song of Solomon (song of peace).

Actually, the Song of the Lord can be so unique that no one else can hear your song. Just you and you alone, in the quiet of your heart, in the quiet of the Garden place of prayer.

Heaven Sings 2

Shock and Awe, I think that was the name of the initial war campaign in Iraq. This is the power ... the song of the Lord creates... to pierce the darkness! 

In our first installment of Heaven Sings, we discussed how song is the way we tune our hearts and inner resonance to the sound of Heaven. 

We also talked about how this is all about the original character of Yahweh and the perpetual atmosphere in the Throne Room. 

Messiah was to fulfill the prophecy that He would sing in the congregation on earth and return to sing again in heaven's courts.

Now, I want to talk about the war campaign of heaven which is administered from us on the earth (wellspring of our hearts) releasing heaven's song. I would rather call this campaign- Wonder and Awe but Shock and Awe works as well. 

Messiah is the Captain of the Host and we collaberate with the heavenly Host when we worship. Singing in tune with heaven actually brings an explosive campaign against the enemies of light. No collateral damage.

In the New Testament we see a progression of song from heaven connecting to songs from earth and back to heaven again. It is destined to become a perfect continuous cycle. A love festival of celebration.

Eventually the songs build up to a crescendo which describes all of heaven and earth singing together as one. Amazing isn't it? 

There are 8 sacred songs in the New Testament with 7 of them quoting the actual words of the song as part of the Canon of scripture.

One is a mystery song, no one can learn the song except a certain group of overcomers. But the sound is described as the sound of harpist and the sound of many waters. 

Those singers are probably the Navy Seals of the Kingdom. 

First we see the Magnificat, Mary's Song. 

Then the angels sing in the midst of the shepherds. 

3rd song is recorded when Jesus rides into town upon the donkey. 

The remaining 5 songs are recorded in the Book of Revelation. Revelation 5 exhibits the sixth song and all of heaven and earth are singing together in one accord.

Revelation 5:13 to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever.

Songs are a part of the weapons of our warfare. They release overcoming power. Who can resist the sound of worship?

The enemy (he who will remain un-named. lol)  used to be the worship leader in heaven but this usurper does not want us to use our worship to blast the darkness. 

Many times I have been between a rock and a hard place in my life;  just a simple praise song has changed the outcome.

Overcoming power,  every time, guaranteed, 100% , it is the only kind of warfare which has no collateral damage. Praise brings forth only life.

I will be posting the entirety of my book (soon) on my website. It will be divided into small sections which will be easier to digest. 

My book is called Zamiyr, Governmental Waterworks. 

Zamiyr means "to pluck the string & sing" found in Psalm 119:54 (Hebrew)

I will list in detail, word for word, every single sacred song from scripture (I did your homework for you). There are 8 chapters-

about the garden, the song of the Lord and each aspect of the water system described in the bible.

Cloud, rain, river, wellspring, laver, sea, fountain, etc.

Songs are for the overcomers. Its not about being musically talented, its about your heart. You have a song in you.

Heaven Sings 1

Creation sings, Our Creator sings, We sing. Whales sing. Birds sing. Song is integrated throughout all of the Cosmos. 

The Stars sing. Our planet gives off a specific hum which they must duplicate for the astronauts in space for the sake of their well being. It called 50 hz. or 50 radio cycles per second. (I don't work for Nasa so correct me if I get the details wrong but you get the jest of what I am saying, right?)

Zephania 3:17 The Lord (Adonai) your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

Messiah sang in the upper room with the disciples, during the last supper. Then in Hebrews 12:2 and Romans 15:9 it says that He will sing again in the Throne Room before all of heaven and earth. 

Did this happen when He ascended after the Resurrection? Is this a prophecy about the end of the age or the 2nd coming? Or is it an ongoing, present tense account of the nature of the Throne Room?

Hebrews 2:12 I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.

Romans 15:9 I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to you name.

Music is a part of God's character. He is not somber. The throne room is full of beauty and drama. We are called upon (in many places within scripture) to sing a New Song.

Song is a part of our legacy from heaven. My husband is a Viet Nam Veteran, he told me that during the war the birds evacuated the area and it was so eerie to never hear the song of a bird. 

He said the area he was stationed was so beautiful yet the lack of song left you with a very uneasy feeling.

There are 7 scriptures which describe the sound of the Lord's voice. Did you know that? Can you imagine hearing the sound of His singing? In Moses day, the people were terrified at the sound of God's voice. Probably for good reason.

Revelation 1:15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 

He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

We lived by the ocean for 5 years. I remember one night when we went down to walk by the sea, the tide was way out but the serf was crashing and echoing off the side of the cliff in a way that was terrifying. 

We had just heard about a tidal wave, it was dark and with the water way out off the shore I could just imagine that tidal wave coming in. 

I love the ocean and I am not easily frightened but I could not stay out there walking in the dark for very long....I was terrified.

Revelation 14: 2 And I heard the voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. 

And I heard harpist playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne.

So how do we approach this sound of heaven? So how do we learn to sing the new song if the sound is so terrifying? David was called the beloved harpist of Israel.

He sang out on the shepherds' field, he sang out on the battle field, he sang in a cave while in exile,  he sang in his palace. He sang to tune his voice to the sound of the flowing stream.

Since Messiah sang as a man, along with the disciples- does this help to make the sound of heaven approachable and doable?

There is a garden place which has the sound of waters flowing down from Lebanon, the garden place of prayer. 

This garden place also has the joyful, restful, musical sound of a fountain within. This is how we learn to sing along with heaven.

A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed...

A fountain of gardens a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. Song of Solomon 4:12, 15

So the bride (church) is described as a fountain, and the Messiah is described as a fountain as well. His voice is described as the sound of many waters and so are the saints described above in Revelation 14.

Joel 3:18 And it shall come to pass in that day that the mountains shall drip with milk, and all the brooks of Judah (Praise Yah) shall be flooded with water;

 a fountain shall flow from the house of the Lord and water the valley of Acacias.

As we learn to sing with Him, in a safe garden setting, our voices begin to resonate with the sound of heaven. We are fine tuned.

I am going to continue this series on Heaven Sings.....to celebrate the upcoming season of Christmas. 

I realize, baby God, (as one of my preschoolers used to say- instead of Baby Jesus) wasn't necessarily born at Christmas. It may be this was actually the time when the Wise men came to visit though.

Next time you are listening to the radio, or a CD or you are at a meeting where praise is going forth. Remember this is your time to sing with the fountain.

Its your time to tune up with the resonance of heaven. Sing with all your heart. He hears the sound of your heart not your musical prowess.