Vibrant Vines and Palms of Fire

I rarely have a minute to sit down and write out what is spinning in my mind and stirring in my heart. I need to find a way to create a space in which to do this, as I lose so many great chances to write, and can only write from a certain place in me. Anyways, today I am pushing for this space for a minute here...
Yesterday, in collective worship at our church, I had another picture. I am loving that this gift is flowing in me again but am still figuring out how to function in it all. This new creative thought was one that I would love to paint. It was so beautiful. I feel like there is a type of worship that is lead out of a gift for doing so and it feels so different to me, and this day in worship was like that. It is not just about singing songs, but about a heart that is willing to discern what God is saying for that church/group of people and in that time. It is declaring who God is, as well as who we are. It stirs up a war cry inside of us of belonging, and as we pour out our praise it comes back on us and gets all over us. The picture was like that....

As we all stood there in a posture of worship, hearts open forward, standing, these vines so deep and green starting growing up around each of our bodies. From these healthily strong vines flowers started blooming. These flowers were so bright, large, and colorfully pink and purple, spreading out. Then the vines that steadily were growing on us, started to flow out of our mouths and the biggest flowers were growing and flowing out of our very beings, upward from our mouths. There was this wind like a stirring fan and from that, gold dust so thick, and flakey almost, began to fall and swirl down over the people. And, to the ones who raised their hands out to worship and receive, small flames were set upon the palms of their hands. At this part of my picture, I did not dare put my hands down as I knew it was an impartation of the Holy Spirit and it was gently, yet strongly burning just set there. I felt like this flame was set there, not to be taken but to give forward to touch others with.

I love this picture so much and would love to bring it to life as I learn to paint more. It reminds me of scripture that talks of remaining in the vine, and growing up in the vine, as well as the tongues of fire resting on the disciples' heads as they were filled with the Holy Spirit. I am so excited at what God is doing and is coming in our church, and even our continent in this time. I am not the only one feeling this rumble of revival. God is so so good. And, I will find those verses here:

John 15:5~ "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Acts 2:3~ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

I encourage you to look up and read the verses and chapter surrounding these scriptures as they are powerful and insightful. On to dinner making. Haha.

Ridiculously Refreshing

Sometimes a fire of writing-it-down comes quickly to me. I will be worshipping or prayerful and need to stop and write, right now. Sometimes a thought sticks and I need to pass it on. Sometimes I see a beautiful metaphoric picture. I cannot reproduce these instances and I am seeing more and more that I need to share them. They are not for my benefit but for exhortation, encouragement, or confirmation.
Here is one of these instances from this evening as I was worshipping and cleaning my kitchen, in awe of what God is doing....

I am so excited for what is going on (in a little town) not far from here. He has answered the prayers of the middle generation and brought back their grown children, even the ones on the edge are bending in this year, or will be. You watch! It is a season of breakthrough and restoration, which will lead to a season of new revival.
Two years ago was the most painful for me and many alongside me too. It was more painful to go through and be in the church than 1997. And, if you were there, you know the wave of destruction and division that followed then. But, this time the children now grown, who went through that time, were already praying. And, God was in it.
Instead of division and conflict bringing chaos, it has instead been a Holy shaking that is working even backwards to expose and restore old battle scars and vices used to cope. It is drawing in the ones who know the history and even those who don't but are praying through, to say we will uphold and rebuild and we choose to fight for the promises God gave those before us.
 It has been twenty years exactly to the year 1997, for me. God is working in this moment, even backwards to restore people who are not even in the immediate situation anymore. He will heal the wounded and tossed aside. Roots are coming up. Spirits/hearts are being ignited again. We are seeing visions. These days will change for our children. We will not follow the old struggles into the next generation. We will pray intentionally, with open eyes, shackles off, for our children's children. Bring on the new wall!