What's in a number?

I had just landed in Colorado Springs, CO awaiting my connection to Phoenix, AZ.  My ranger sister was moving parks the end of May, so I had decided to spend some hiking time and help her move.  En route, I received this text from my Aunt Phyllis.

We were to return September 23rd from Singapore?! Did the Lord speak this to my aunt? Did He give her a departure date, too?  I couldn't contain my curiosity nor wait another flight before finding out what this text meant...  as the flight was boarding in Colorado Springs, I gave my aunt a quick call.

"I couldn't wait... they're reboarding now so I have a few minutes... tell me more!"

"I was making my tea this morning and up from within me came, "Return September 23rd'" 

My aunt went on to share that she looked up this date and discovered this year, 2017, it was Shabbat Shuva in the Jewish calendar, falling between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur... which translated means, "Shabbat of Returning."  (Mind you, this was before all the false prophesies of Jesus' return were rampantly floating around)

WHAT?! 

"Ok, so do we have a departure date?" I asked.

"No, He gave me the return date... you get to ask Him for the departure date," my aunt replied.

Hah! No pressure...

Wouldn't you love it if the Lord would just give you all the plans? Yet, I suppose... where's the faith in that?

I landed in Phoenix, caught a shuttle up to the Grand Canyon and hiked rim-to-rim with my sister before helping her move on to her next ranger assignment in Rocky Mountain National Park.  While hiking through the canyon, the Lord was ministering to me of how He alone is our fountain of life (Psalm 36:9) ...all my fountains are in Him (Psalm 87:7)...  He brings streams to the dry grounds (Isaiah 44:3) ... leads me beside still waters (Psalm 23: 2)... whose water quenches our thirst and becomes a spring welling up on the inside to eternal life (John 4:14)!

With every stream, brook, creek, river, waterfall, and fountain we passed by from the north rim to the south rim, I petitioned for a renewal of His cleansing and living water; the water that springs and wells up to eternal life inside me, bubbling out continuously.  I thirsted for these waters above any other... and it was hot and dry!

I can't tell you how refreshing those days were for this dry and weary soul.  There is something about getting out in the expanse of nature that connects me to the Father's heart in ways sitting in a chair in my room just can't accomplish.  I'm truly blessed to have a sister whose job sets her in some of the most beautiful national parks in our country. 

After we conquered the canyon, we packed up and headed northeast for the mountains... Once my sister settled into her new apartment in the Rockies, I took advantage of the thawing landscape and set my feet to hiking (110+  miles in 2 weeks? No problem!)

I decided I needed to get serious about seeking the Lord for a departure date. With His living waters flowing on the inside, I set out on an adventure to Black Lake with the Good Shepherd of my soul. The terrain started out on solid ground, then wet ground, then snow... and more snow.  I put some crampons on my hiking shoes and trekked onward. 

My sister's words of caution to "turn around if it gets too treacherous" were a distant echo in my determination to make it to the top.  As I forged on, the trail got quieter and began to vanish beneath the snow.  All I had to follow was other hikers' muddy imprints that went perhaps days before me.  There were times when the "trail" split in two different directions or completely disappeared... that's when I began asking, "which way, Lord?"

I probably should have turned around at this point, but with Mandisa's "Overcomer" playing in my head ("Don't quit, don't give in, you're an overcomer!"), I sensed an adventure awaiting.  As I got further and further, my tenacious spirit rose within me.... I was too far to turn back!  I was fairly certain the snow-packed trail I stood upon was quickly thinning and it was highly probable I was directly over flowing waters... I could literally hear spring budding forth as the sound of ice was melting everywhere. 

That's when the thought came to me, "You're absolutely crazy... certifiably insane!...  and it takes a crazy person to blindly go to the ends of the world for Jesus, too." 

I knew this was truth. So, it was then I got real with Jesus...

"Ok, we're to return September 23rd from Singapore?... When do You want us to go there?"

"August 23rd."

Whoa, that was fast! So fast that I questioned if it wasn't my own thoughts and asked Him again, "Really? August 23rd? Was that You or me?"

"It was Me.  I have much for you to do."

Mind you, I'm having this conversation while literally scaling a mountainside.  I think at this point I was hiking alongside the powerful Ribbon Falls flowing downward, almost to the final ascent to Black Lake.  (I later discovered the actual trail is on the other side of the falls... blazing new trails for His glory, I guess... If I only knew how true that would be!)

 

Needless to say, I made it to Black Lake and back down the mountain in one piece... I can't say so much for one of my sister's spare hiking poles. At one point, as I was going back down with the midday sun blaring, my foot slipped along a steep hillside and the pole sunk through the snow.  My body literally dangled alongside with one arm grasping the stuck pole.  The pole bent holding my weight but I'm glad my stubbornness wore off on that pole because it saved me from falling perhaps 30 feet into rapids! (No, I don't have a picture of this...)

That's when psalm 37:23-24 sounded in my ears, "The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in His way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand."

Why am I sharing all this? Because even in my hiking, the Lord was ministering to me of what was to come.  Between trying to stay alive and pondering God's mysterious words for Singapore, He was demonstrating to me that because I delight in His way, He will establish my steps, I will not be cast headlong, but my LORD and Savior, HE will uphold my hand!

I gleaned so much revelation from the Lord while wandering in nature... Much for us to do?  A whole month? In Singapore and maybe even Hong Kong? What on earth are we going to be doing? I later discovered the Lord had spoken to my aunt similar words in His instruction to her, "I have much for you to share."

He clearly was aligning us with His will and setting our hearts and minds in one accord. This Asian adventure was turning out to be a collaboration of sorts, all led by our Good Shepherd of Psalm 23... 

Hey!  August 23rd... September 23rd... Psalm 23... Huh!

What is it about this number 23? 

I was reminded of Jeremiah 23 of God's promise to remove the bad shepherds in the land and His powerful assurance in verse 29 saying, "Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?"  I knew the fire of His words were being kindled in my spirit and ready to be released in prayer in Singapore. 

The number 23 didn't end there... oooh, no... it was the number of our gate in Phoenix on our way out to our connecting flight from San Antonio to San Francisco.  As if that weren't enough, I bent down to tie my shoes August 23rd and saw this...

FOR REAL! How had I never noticed this before?!

23 was everywhere.  The rooftop floor of our main hotel in Singapore where the Lord had us pray and declare His words over the city? The 23rd floor.   

It was even written in faint blue on the sidewalk along Orchard Blvd where I walked... 

For our last couple nights in Singapore, my aunt and I splurged out of our own pockets and booked a room at Marina Bay Sands... For kicks, two weeks before we went there, I asked the Lord if we could stay on level 23... and just guess which floor we were given?!

I love when the Lord answers even the smallest of requests!

Well, now you know how we were led to Singapore, which dates we were to depart and return, and a tiny hint of what we were sent there to do... the next installment should reveal it all!

What's a good story without a little suspense?  I was left hanging- physically on a mountain slope and spiritually as the trip approached.... I promise, it won't hurt you either!

Dreams and Prophesy

Did anyone see Singapore coming?

I sure didn't. At least, not in January of this year.

(Yes, I'm taking you back to January. This is what happens when you sit on a word and don't write about it immediately.  Don't worry, a book is in the works)

Shortly following the turning of the year, I had a dream unlike any other.

The Lord primarily speaks to me through His written word (a.k.a. The Bible); however, in recent years, He has been revealing mysteries of His will through dreams ("I Dreamed of Africa").  More often than not, I awaken dumbfounded... "what was that about?" Nevertheless, I write them down and ask the Lord to breathe wisdom and revelation over them if they're from Him and not the pizza I had the night before.

January 3, 2017, I awoke suddenly from a dream, rather, a still portrait within a dream.  This was not a moving dream with words and actions, but simply an image.  Standing just 3 feet before me was a precious little Asian girl, perhaps between the ages of 6 and 8 years old.  I had never seen this child before but the love I had for her overwhelmed me... I believe I experienced the Father's love as fierce protection arose within me as if she were my own daughter.

And then, I woke up... seriously, what was that about?  I tucked it away and pondered it in my heart.

The Lord has sent me to India, the Caribbean, and Africa;  I never asked to go to these places, but simply held up my end of the bargain, "Send me, I'll go."  Likewise, I've never had a burning desire for the Far East.  In actuality, the girls who bullied me in middle school were from various parts of Asia, so needless to say, it hasn't been on the top of my list of places to go.  Yet,  I've had this growing suspicion for some time that the Lord might eventually send me somewhere over there for this reason... you know, He does things like that.

Anyways, I had planned to catch up with my great aunt out in Texas on the phone that morning.  So, I called my Aunt Phyllis (for those wondering... she is my mother's aunt by marriage of my mom's dad's brother...).  Aunt Phyllis had been a pastor of a church in south Texas for several years and ministered in the Philippines for months at a time before that.  She loves the Lord and has a ready and attentive ear for His voice.

Standing in front of the Alamo back in November 2015 (did you know there's no basement?)

That particular morning, we began sharing what the Lord was speaking to us for the new year and that's when she mentioned how the Lord had been speaking to her since October to "prepare for Singapore, and Hong Kong was close."

My heart did a little flip upon hearing that as my mind raced back to the fresh image of a beautiful Asian princess from my dream just hours before.

When I finally felt released to share my dream with her later that month, we discussed what all these things could mean.  We committed to praying if it was the Lord's will for us to travel together, we would go... He was certainly up to something!

February, March, and April came and I departed for France and England.  It was during worship and intercession with Elodie upstairs in the quaint cottage home of our Dunkirk hosts that the Lord spoke, "1 Corinthians 14."  I turned to this chapter and the Holy Spirit breathed over the words He had for me...

"Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.  The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up... But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you... For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.  For God is not a God of confusion but of peace... So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order."

I realize this text stirs controversy across denominations, but before you cast judgement on me or God's word... hear me out.

The Lord began pushing and prompting me to desire the gift of prophesy.  He began ministering to me the importance of this gift for His body here on earth.  I didn't sense the Lord was telling me to "predict the future" or to speak forth things to come, but to speak words of life, His word and will according thereto, into the hearts of men and the soil of the earth to bear fruit in time. He has words to be released and He is looking for willing and ready vessels to speak them out.

For lack of a better word, the Lord was massaging into my soul the powerful significance of prayer in bringing about His will and purposes across this earth.  He was calling Elodie and I to partner with Him for such a time and place.  The Lord moved in power through Elodie's teaching of Genesis Design in northern France, and I truly sensed words of destiny were being released into the hearts of many.  I couldn't speak French, but I could pray, and this was exactly what the Lord asked of me... for hearts to be opened, for His word to be imparted, and for His anointing to flow from Elodie and rest upon listening ears ready and willing to receive.

You may recall what I sensed the Lord speak in the enemy bunkers of Omaha Beach.  There were other words spoken to me while walking the streets of Paris, inside centuries-old cathedrals, and driving through the countryside.  I sense the Lord was opening up a new realm of Kingdom work, inviting me to partner with Him to carry out His will and purposes while seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).

City of Lights, may the Light of the world come illuminate your lights to a brilliance that magnifies His beauty!

Beloved, this is where we all ought to be! If we only knew who we are in the Father and the availing power of our prayers (James 5:16) and the authority invested in us through Jesus!  I sense the Lord has only begun to awaken my soul to the depths of this truth.

I returned in May and perhaps not even two weeks later, my Aunt Phyllis called me with a word the Lord had just spoken to her...

"Prepare for Singapore.  Nomads in Singapore, praying and doing My bidding.  See what you are doing here- getting My will and way for people there. You've seen yourself doing this, you just think it's impossible.  Did I not say I would send you around the world for one person?... Your concept and My concept of ministry is not always the same.  Lauren understands this concept more than you.  She has done this and was doing this in Europe..."

What!?!? Ahhhhhhhhh!!!

The Lord had already called me a nomad the end of January, and little by little He had been preparing me for what lies ahead.   He had stirred me with a word of His holy fire and was pulling back the sling-shot once again for a new destination.

What words would He place in our mouths? Who were we to meet? What were we to pray? Where all would we be led? What was the fullness of this assignment? Would I meet the little girl in my dream? Was she real? Is she even alive yet?

SO many questions waiting to be answered!

Did we get the answers to these questions?  Yes... and some, not yet.

God is so full of mysteries! I found myself asking Him, "why do You make it so?" and Proverbs 25:2 immediately resounded in my ears...

"It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out."

This princess is still searching things out... and busy writing what truly did happen in Singapore!

But I'm going to leave you with a word from Joel 2:28-30...

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.  Even on male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.  The sun shall be turned to darkness , and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.  And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

This is what has been promised and ultimately fulfilled on the day of Pentecost some 2,000 years ago.  Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" (Matthew 9:37) and it's for this reason He has poured out His Spirit upon man to dream His dreams, receive His vision, and prophesy His words so that all who have ears to hear will have the opportunity to call on His name and be saved.  His Spirit is not just for the pastors, ministers, or missionaries... His Spirit is for "all flesh"...

Last time I checked, "all" means "ALL."   Are you ready?