PARABLE:  THE SIGN OF THE DANCING LEAVES 10/28/07

Today a friend told me that on the way home from the coast, she saw the most usual thing that lasted for quite some time.  The day was sunny, clear and crisp, but there was a powerful wind.  She saw the brilliant Autumn leaves that had freshly fallen from the trees, scattered all over the road.  All of them were bouncing straight up and down on the road as though they were dancing before the Lord in the wind.  It was quickened to her to ask me about the sign that this represented.  She had never seen such an unusual display. 

QUICKENED MEMORY:  Today during church I was thinking of Joshua who was stripped of his filthy garments that the enemy had soiled, then he was washed and clothed.  As my friend shared about the dancing leaves, I thought of Joshua's garments being stripped from him, just like the Autumn leaves on a tree.  Even though Joshua felt naked and without natural glory, it was a good thing that the Lord did, as He intended to restore him, not leave him stripped and naked.  And this is also the case when our lives have been harvested and we are left feeling naked and barren.  It was a beautiful thing to me to hear her parable of the colorful, dancing leaves. 

WORD TO PONDER:  JOY IN DECREASE  10/28/07

Everything in your life comes and goes in seasons and this is good.  Through these seasons, I have brought to completion many things in your life.  After you have gone through a season of harvest, when your fruit has been picked and given as sacrificial gifts... when the dead things have fallen away... it is not time to mourn over the dead, but instead turn your mourning into dance.  For you have decreased and I have increased.  My Word promises that the humble shall increase in joy.  This is how you overcome dear ones.    When the leaves fall from your trees, remember that as My government increases, it brings My peace without end.  When My kingdom increases, it establishes justice without corruption.  My zeal will perform this. 

John 3:30-31 NKJV

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Isa 29:19  NKJV

The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD.

John 15:2-3  NKJV

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch  that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

Zech 3:4 NKJV

Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes."

Rev 12:11 NKJV

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Isa 9:7 NKJV

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.