Fall. Winter. Spring.

It’s hard to tell when the wind is blowing

when there are no leaves in the trees,

branches bare

Take a closer look

                the tip top of the trees are swaying,

flittering,

dancing in the breeze

The tree is so barren

                you can see right through it

Fall is here

                winter is coming

Nothing

What once was so lush and vibrant

                no longer gets the attention

                nothing sets it apart or

                makes it stand out

It has lost everything

                that once made it beautiful and

                now has gone into hiding

Though it may seem dormant

                just wait

New life,

                The unveiling comes in the spring

Anthem

Anthem –noun

1. a song, as of praise, devotion, or patriotism

2. a piece of sacred vocal music, usually with words taken from the Scriptures.

3. a hymn sung alternately by different sections of a choir or congregation.

It is time for a new anthem to stir within the hearts of God’s people. A new anthem that will permeate the very fibers of our lives, this is what we need. My heart, soul, mind and strength cries out for a new anthem…Though my heart cries out I wonder do we need a new anthem or do we just need to allow the old anthem to rise upon our mind, soul and spirit?

It seems it is time for an anthem to be sung and not just sung, but proclaimed. I have such a stirring, moving, and unction in my spirit for an anthem that will join all men/women/children, no matter their color, culture, creed or desire.

I can see with my eyes as though I am dreaming an anthem being sung. I can see people from every tribe and every nation gathering together locking arms and joining voices to sing out this anthem.

What I see reminds me of what I have read in Ezekiel and Revelations about the living beings and cherubim who had wings, wheels, bodies, hands and backs that were covered with eyes (Ez. 1:11-21, Ez. 10:12). These living beings mentioned had the ability to move and see in whatever direction the spirit chose. They moved straight forward in all directions without having to turn around. Oh that the body of Christ would join together and have such effectiveness and ability.

The living beings also looked like bright coals of fire or brilliant torches, and it looked as though lightning was flashing back and forth among them. The living beings darted to and fro like flashes of lightning. Oh that the body of Christ looked like bright coals of fire or brilliant torches. That we would look as though lightning was flashing back and forth among us and not because of hatred or dissension. How my heart longs for us to dart to and fro like flashes of lightning operating in all the authority and effectiveness of heaven.

In Revelation it talks about four living beings each covered with eyes front and back. Though the beings have different forms, day after day and night after night they keep singing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

THIS IS WHAT I CALL AN ANTHEM!

This is the kind of anthem being sung that I am seeing in the spiritual realm. I see a gathering together of God’s kids. God’s kids gathering with one heart, one mind, and one spirit to sing an anthem which transcends all anthems. It’s an anthem of strength in the One and Only, the Great I Am. It’s an anthem that truly once sung, once proclaimed gathers, draws, collects, connects, arouses, elicits, enkindles, kindles, evokes, raise, and provokes to action.

I can see us day after day, night after night, singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” I can see us giving glory, honor and thanks to Him Who sits on the throne.

I do not see each and every one of God’s kids having a “Kumbaya” gathering around a campfire singing this anthem. I do see in the spirit the gathering together of one purpose with the abilities and intent of these living creatures – to know and see God’s will in every direction and to move accordingly. I see this anthem once sung, once proclaimed setting in motion a ‘greater thing’ Jesus told us we would do.

Won’t you join the singing and proclaiming of the anthem? As I was meditating on the word Anthem today the following words came to my mind:

This is our Anthem

This is our song

We’ll praise You, Lord

Our whole lives long

This is our Anthem

With voices raised

You are the Lord

Ancient of Days

There is none like You

There will never be

There is none like You

Forever You’re our King!

As I am writing this thought, my mind goes to the song “We the Redeemed” by Hillsong (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osxb0f97umA)

Verse 1:

There is nothing like Your love No exchange for all You gave

To be welcomed into life So I can know the love that saves

Verse 2:

Now forever to belong To walk with You for all my days

There's no greater love than this You are the Author and the Way

Pre-Chorus:

This is the sound of the redeemed Rising up to praise the King

Our hope is in You

This is the sound of the redeemed Rising up to praise the King

Chorus:

Singing glorious, glorious One You have saved us

Honor and Power and Praise to the Savior.

You are the Answer You are the Answer

Verse 3:

You come with power come with fire As we lift Your name on high

And join with all the saints to sing In bringing Honor to the King.

Bridge:

We the redeemed

Hear us singing

You are Holy

You are Holy

Please. Please. Please. New or old, allow the Anthem of the Lord to arise, for His glory.

My prayer: God, please cause us to desire the anthem that will unite us with You and our brothers and sisters. Cause this anthem to ring throughout our families and congregations. God though we may all have a different anthem collectively cause us to have only one. Shore up the ranks of Your people God. Our hope is in You and You alone. I ask You for an Awakening of Your Anthem.

Awakening – Chris Tomlin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW5RamwTU-E)

In our hearts, Lord, in this nation       Awakening

Holy Spirit, we desire                              Awakening

For You and You alone    Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing

For the world You love   Your will be done, let Your will be done in me

In Your presence, in Your power       Awakening

For this moment, for this hour                        Awakening

For You and You alone    Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing

For the world You love   Your will be done, let Your will be done in me

For You and You alone    Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing

For the world You love

Your will be done, let Your will be done in me

Like the rising sun that shines              From the darkness comes a light

I hear Your voice and this is my           Awakening

Like the rising sun that shines              Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing

From the darkness comes a light       Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing

Like the rising sun that shines              Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing

Only You can raise a life                          Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing

Conduits - Can Do It

I sat down to write a friend of mine Happy Birthday. I wrote Happy Birthday and almost clicked 'comment' on facebook when all of a sudden these words below started flooding my mind: 

Before you were conceived

     you were already loved, thought of, cared for and spoken for.
When you were conceived

     you were already loved, thought of, cared for and spoken for.
When you were born

     you were loved, thought of, cared for and spoken for.
As you grew

     you were loved, thought of, cared for and spoken for.
You are who you are because you are... loved, thought of, cared for and spoken for.

Happy Birthday Beloved.

My friend told me she was blessed, but it wasn't me. I was just a conduit for a kiss from heaven for her on her birthday.

Conduits can do it...I strive to be ever listening, ever willing to share what I hear the Spirit of God saying to God's kids.

I Have Two Persistent Stalkers, You Do Too!

I was visiting with a friend and she cried out, "I need more mercy!"

My response was, "I often times laugh when I think about mercy."

I know this sounds odd, but I get this mental picture of two playful 'beings' behind me having a party. I think about the Bible verse that says goodness and mercy will follow me...sometimes I just look behind me and say 'would you please catch up to me and walk beside me right now?' 

I also thought about how the Word says His unfailing love surrounds me. If I would just take the time to meditate on that, let it sink in real deep, and allow it to permeate my life I would realize and walk in the forcefield of love, not just any love, but UNFAILING LOVE, surrounding me.

One more thing, God sings over you and me while we are sleeping too! Sometimes I just want to sleep so I can hear sing over me. I have so many songs from my Lord to share with the world just from sleeping, waking, and writing what He has sung over me.

Thank You Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

Failure doesn't follow me...goodness and mercy does. Failure does not surround me...His unfailing love does. Failure does not sing over me while I sleep...He (God) does.