Tonight we began by chatting and sharing a coffee. And then we settled down to see what our Father would say to us, and we were not disappointed!
At first we considered Daniel, Val had been reading the book of Daniel and had been impressed by his obedience. We were shown that Father's touch is very gentle. Like Daniel we're called to obedience in the face of whatever happens to us in the world, but the Almighty's touch is a gentle touch on the shoulder. His touch is for reassurance and support, he's always there for us, like Daniel we depend upon him.Val had brought a notelet, the sort you might use to write a short message to a close friend. She showed us the picture in the corner of the notelet - a father bear and a little bear. The simple, child-like image said it all - there was the same gentle, reassuring touch that we'd just been thinking about!
Rachael said, 'When you wobble you need his hand on your shoulder'. How true! Just a few days earlier I'd been through a time when I very much needed his loving, steadying hand on my shoulder, and the same word, 'wobbly' had been mentioned then too! He knows all the things that affect us and is always there to help and guide. Thank you Father, thank you so much.
Rachael also shared an experience she'd had recently. In her nursing job she'd been walking along a basement corridor to visit an elderly lady who was very ill. In fact, this lady died just a few days later. As she walked, Rachael became aware that the corridor had vanished and instead she was walking on a mossy carpet between beautiful plants and flowers.The seasons seemed to be rolled into one, and time was speeded up so she could see the flowers opening and the fruit ripening. It was a beautiful and peaceful place. Rachael became aware that this was the way the corridor would have been if had been left the way it was supposed to be, the way the Creator had made it.
We wait for the seasons to come round because we are trapped in time, but our Father experiences things as they truly are. In fact, everything does happen in season, yet all the seasons come together just as they did along the mossy pathway.
In Rachael's vision there was a soft and gentle dew on the ground, and this reminded us of the manna which was all that the children of Israel needed. It provided all their sustenance and was always there in sufficient amounts.
We also thought about the fig tree that Yahshua cursed in Mark 11. Like Israel, this tree had failed to bear fruit for him. Now its chance to do so was over. But under the new covenant, which includes not only the Jews but also the Gentile peoples, there are no seasonal rules. We are to bear fruit at all seasons!
This in turn reminded us of the verse in Habakkuk 3 about the fig tree.
'Although the fig tree doesn't flower And there are no grapes on the vines, Although the olives fail to crop And the fields produce nothing to eat, Though there are no sheep in the pen And no cattle in the stalls, Yet I'll rejoice in Yahweh, And in my Almighty Saviour.'
'Yahweh Elohim is my strength; He makes my feet like deer's feet, He enables me to go up to the highest places.'
He makes it all possible for us, doesn't he! He has made us able to leap and balance like deer, and we are able to walk on his holy mountain, in his glorious presence. HalleluYah!
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