After two weeks of sharing a fairly small room with two other girls, the space is eerily quiet and empty tonight now that they've both gone home. It's not a great feeling, and it reminds me of how much I thrive on social contact, and how good this time away has been for me.
I came here hoping that I would get some concrete answers from God on what I saw as key questions for my life. I guess they weren't as key as some other things He wanted to talk to me about, as I'm coming back with the same questions unanswered, but with plenty more other things to consider as well. The only thing I do feel confident about is the need to pursue prophetic art - understanding it, using it, blessing others with it. It's a place for me to begin from.
The thing I'm looking forward to most is seeing friends and family again - and hugs. Lots of hugs. Yup, hugs it is :)
Showing posts with label prophetic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prophetic. Show all posts
Sunday, 8 July 2012
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
Born to do more - and it's good!
I'm really enjoying the mini-revolution I'm going on during my time here. Two things have really stood out as areas I want to explore further when I get back to Glasgow.
The easier one to talk about is art. Whilst I would have previously discounted myself from being an 'artist', I do enjoy doing some forms of art and design. I chose to do a couple of classes on prophetic art whilst I was here, and have since changed my options so I can do more. I am loving how God can speak so clearly through it, and am definitely going to spend time with some prophetic artists I know when I get back, because I really want to learn more. I have picked up a couple of books by Teresa Dedmon as well, that should help me get started. Expect to see me with paper and pencils on some Sundays in future, because I want to practice listening to God and trying to express it in new ways. I've seen the profound effect it has had on me and on others when they have done it - there is something in this prohetic art stuff, and I want more! In a class by Trisha Wheeler today, she said that 'art ministers God's truth sensitively', that 'art is a tool to connect you to God and to the world', and that we can 'create to release the presence of God'. Probably most of us have been moved at one time or another by a piece of artwork - it can be so much more powerful when you understand God's intention behind it. So art, here I come!
The only one that feels a little less comfortable to talk about is dance! I may not (currently) have the physique for it, but oh my, staying still in worship is NOT an option! In fact, there are moments that it feels dis-honouring to God not to give Him absolutely everything that I have, include all my energy and determination, when I worship. Don't hear what I'm not saying - I am still very clear on how much I need and want to have times of quiet. But then there's the rest of the time.... when movement feels like an absolute essential, because I don't have enough air or strength in my lungs to do all the praising that's needed. Admittedly, I'm a bit of am arm-waver and a swayer in my 'dancing' right now, and maybe it won't ever progress beyond that. But I feel so much more free in worship. I don't care what others think, I do care that I am giving Him the best of me.
I feel like I need to write about three blogs today - Christa Gifford (nee Black) did an awesome session on living from fullness (how can we ever be empty if the God of the Universe lives in us?), Ray Hughes shared more wisdom and passion on the atmosphere of worship and nearness to God that David cultivated, and Jenn Johnson shared all sorts of wisdom (that girl's got a fire for Jesus that I want to see in my own life, and more). Oh, and then there was the impromptu meeting with a girl in the cafe at the church, the great chat with Lydie from France, the chill-out in the prayer chapel, the kindness, love and wisdom poured out over me by my host family..... I'll stop there. That's only one day. There's a whole host of these already gone, and another week to go before I return. I'm running out of pages in my notebook. This is a good thing :)
The easier one to talk about is art. Whilst I would have previously discounted myself from being an 'artist', I do enjoy doing some forms of art and design. I chose to do a couple of classes on prophetic art whilst I was here, and have since changed my options so I can do more. I am loving how God can speak so clearly through it, and am definitely going to spend time with some prophetic artists I know when I get back, because I really want to learn more. I have picked up a couple of books by Teresa Dedmon as well, that should help me get started. Expect to see me with paper and pencils on some Sundays in future, because I want to practice listening to God and trying to express it in new ways. I've seen the profound effect it has had on me and on others when they have done it - there is something in this prohetic art stuff, and I want more! In a class by Trisha Wheeler today, she said that 'art ministers God's truth sensitively', that 'art is a tool to connect you to God and to the world', and that we can 'create to release the presence of God'. Probably most of us have been moved at one time or another by a piece of artwork - it can be so much more powerful when you understand God's intention behind it. So art, here I come!
The only one that feels a little less comfortable to talk about is dance! I may not (currently) have the physique for it, but oh my, staying still in worship is NOT an option! In fact, there are moments that it feels dis-honouring to God not to give Him absolutely everything that I have, include all my energy and determination, when I worship. Don't hear what I'm not saying - I am still very clear on how much I need and want to have times of quiet. But then there's the rest of the time.... when movement feels like an absolute essential, because I don't have enough air or strength in my lungs to do all the praising that's needed. Admittedly, I'm a bit of am arm-waver and a swayer in my 'dancing' right now, and maybe it won't ever progress beyond that. But I feel so much more free in worship. I don't care what others think, I do care that I am giving Him the best of me.
I feel like I need to write about three blogs today - Christa Gifford (nee Black) did an awesome session on living from fullness (how can we ever be empty if the God of the Universe lives in us?), Ray Hughes shared more wisdom and passion on the atmosphere of worship and nearness to God that David cultivated, and Jenn Johnson shared all sorts of wisdom (that girl's got a fire for Jesus that I want to see in my own life, and more). Oh, and then there was the impromptu meeting with a girl in the cafe at the church, the great chat with Lydie from France, the chill-out in the prayer chapel, the kindness, love and wisdom poured out over me by my host family..... I'll stop there. That's only one day. There's a whole host of these already gone, and another week to go before I return. I'm running out of pages in my notebook. This is a good thing :)
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Make it so
I can't believe that I am about to write a blog linking prophesy to Star Trek. I guess people have written worse analogies, but I'm not sure how many will forgive me for this one. Think I shall dive headlong into it and see what happens....
I admit that I'm a bit of a Trekkie - definitely more so than Star Wars (seriously Mr Lucas, the first three you did were enough, you didn't need to do another three, and we won't even BEGIN to discuss some of the scripting in Anikin's first romantic scene - stick to the sci-fi mate). I'm not exactly a dedicated fan, but I have always loved the Next Generation series more than any other. I suspect that had something to do with having a bit of a crush not only on 'Number One', but also on Jean-Luc Picard, he of the 'Engage' and 'Make it so' fame. It's the 'make it so' phrase that I'm thinking about at the moment, and how good it is at expressing the degree of faith we should have when making prophetic declarations.
If you don't know what I mean by a prophetic declaration, all I mean is saying things out loud with a certainty that they are going to happen. It's like speaking things that currently aren't yet there into life. The Bible is littered with examples of this - Matthew 16:18 is a prime one. "Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not overcome it." This was Jesus speaking to Simon Peter, the man who would later swear that he would be the last man standing next to Jesus if it came to it, and then rapidly found three people who he could swear blind at that he hadn't the first clue who Jesus was. The man who was about to hear the shocking words 'get behind me satan', because his best intentions were actually being used as a tool to try and tempt Jesus from His chosen course. This was Jesus speaking to a man who would utterly let down his Master, and who would do nothing to redeem himself yet in terms of words and deeds, except to stick around once Jesus returned. A man who, at that time and in the weeks to come, could not have been seen to deserve such faith and promise from God. Yet Jesus knew what Simon Peter, and any observers, did not - Simon Peter's future. Jesus was speaking out a prophetic declaration, calling this man's future into being. Demonstrating faith in what He was certain was to come, even though there was no evidence as yet.
Here's the Star Trek link. When Picard said 'make it so', it was often at the end of a discussion with his team, when they had considered all the options, and come to their conclusions. He would then walk out of the room, expecting his team to do exactly as he had asked - it never occurred to him that the would do anything else. That's what a true prophetic declaration should be like - 'make it so'. When Jesus spoke over Simon Peter's life and future, He was effectively saying 'make it so' - 'I have faith that this is what will happen next'. We have all authority under Heaven and on Earth to make such declarations - as long as they are in line with the Word and the Spirit, of course. But they need to be delivered with the right mindset and intention - with the faith that God will do immeasurably more than we could ever hope or dream of, and with the sole purpose that glory is given to God and not us.
And why have prophetic declarations been on my mind? Because Glasgow has been on my mind. Recently I heard a fab speaker, Dawna De Silva, talking about a spirit that has been sitting over Scotland, of an acceptance by the people that life simply was tough, was always going to be tough, and you just had to accept it and get on with it. I've found myself wanting to make a prophetic declaration over Glasgow, which I am starting on from today.
Glasgow, you are a city of joy! You are a city of freedom, of light and abundance. You are a city of creativity, of restoration and hope. You are a beacon city, illuminating Scotland with your brightness, and calling the creativity of this nation into being. You are a rock that cannot be moved. Yours is a well that will never run dry; the well has been stoppered up by a lack of faith and a reliance on human strength. WAKE UP GLASGOW!! The well is being opened, the stopper has been removed and the water has been rising in the passing years - the water is now ready to burst out, like a geyser. It is going to water all of the city, and seeds of faith that have lain dormant for a long time are going to erupt into an overwhelming harvest. You will reap a harvest that you did not plant, but that was planted for you by your ancestors. They prayed over the seed, and trusted it to the Gardener, who is faithful, and never lets the garden go to complete ruin. Glasgow - you have a new name, the City of Joy.
I admit that I'm a bit of a Trekkie - definitely more so than Star Wars (seriously Mr Lucas, the first three you did were enough, you didn't need to do another three, and we won't even BEGIN to discuss some of the scripting in Anikin's first romantic scene - stick to the sci-fi mate). I'm not exactly a dedicated fan, but I have always loved the Next Generation series more than any other. I suspect that had something to do with having a bit of a crush not only on 'Number One', but also on Jean-Luc Picard, he of the 'Engage' and 'Make it so' fame. It's the 'make it so' phrase that I'm thinking about at the moment, and how good it is at expressing the degree of faith we should have when making prophetic declarations.
If you don't know what I mean by a prophetic declaration, all I mean is saying things out loud with a certainty that they are going to happen. It's like speaking things that currently aren't yet there into life. The Bible is littered with examples of this - Matthew 16:18 is a prime one. "Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not overcome it." This was Jesus speaking to Simon Peter, the man who would later swear that he would be the last man standing next to Jesus if it came to it, and then rapidly found three people who he could swear blind at that he hadn't the first clue who Jesus was. The man who was about to hear the shocking words 'get behind me satan', because his best intentions were actually being used as a tool to try and tempt Jesus from His chosen course. This was Jesus speaking to a man who would utterly let down his Master, and who would do nothing to redeem himself yet in terms of words and deeds, except to stick around once Jesus returned. A man who, at that time and in the weeks to come, could not have been seen to deserve such faith and promise from God. Yet Jesus knew what Simon Peter, and any observers, did not - Simon Peter's future. Jesus was speaking out a prophetic declaration, calling this man's future into being. Demonstrating faith in what He was certain was to come, even though there was no evidence as yet.
Here's the Star Trek link. When Picard said 'make it so', it was often at the end of a discussion with his team, when they had considered all the options, and come to their conclusions. He would then walk out of the room, expecting his team to do exactly as he had asked - it never occurred to him that the would do anything else. That's what a true prophetic declaration should be like - 'make it so'. When Jesus spoke over Simon Peter's life and future, He was effectively saying 'make it so' - 'I have faith that this is what will happen next'. We have all authority under Heaven and on Earth to make such declarations - as long as they are in line with the Word and the Spirit, of course. But they need to be delivered with the right mindset and intention - with the faith that God will do immeasurably more than we could ever hope or dream of, and with the sole purpose that glory is given to God and not us.
And why have prophetic declarations been on my mind? Because Glasgow has been on my mind. Recently I heard a fab speaker, Dawna De Silva, talking about a spirit that has been sitting over Scotland, of an acceptance by the people that life simply was tough, was always going to be tough, and you just had to accept it and get on with it. I've found myself wanting to make a prophetic declaration over Glasgow, which I am starting on from today.
Glasgow, you are a city of joy! You are a city of freedom, of light and abundance. You are a city of creativity, of restoration and hope. You are a beacon city, illuminating Scotland with your brightness, and calling the creativity of this nation into being. You are a rock that cannot be moved. Yours is a well that will never run dry; the well has been stoppered up by a lack of faith and a reliance on human strength. WAKE UP GLASGOW!! The well is being opened, the stopper has been removed and the water has been rising in the passing years - the water is now ready to burst out, like a geyser. It is going to water all of the city, and seeds of faith that have lain dormant for a long time are going to erupt into an overwhelming harvest. You will reap a harvest that you did not plant, but that was planted for you by your ancestors. They prayed over the seed, and trusted it to the Gardener, who is faithful, and never lets the garden go to complete ruin. Glasgow - you have a new name, the City of Joy.
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