The Whispers of God

While rushing around the old part of town, in an effort to work down my “to-do” list, I spotted an antique store. A quick jump in adrenaline drew me to this store and a foreign feeling of wanting to explore—inside a store—overcame me.

This was not a very good idea considering my two young children “helping” me that day. Browsing through this store filled with delicate old things presented more of a torture than enjoyment. But, in I went with each child’s hand firmly held in one of mine, and feeling quite aware of my lack of good sense.

My dread faded the moment we entered and I became like a child looking for buried treasure. I had no idea the Lord drew me into this place to unearth a gift from Him. We didn’t browse through the store. Instead, it felt like a line had been tied to my heart, and it was reeling me in to stand in front of a picture hanging on the wall. And there I stood—staring—not even thinking of moving—not knowing what it meant—and not caring—but simply enjoying. I must have looked like an art student in a museum studying the lines and meanings of a portrait done by a famous artist.

It was a 5″ x 7″ print of an old-world painting. The petite blonde girl in the picture is stretching on her tip-toes and reaching with her right hand to grab hold of the tarnished brass knocker on a faded green door. In her left arm she carries a basket full of her hidden gifts covered with a white cloth. I was so captivated by this picture I hadn’t noticed the store clerk standing behind me until she whispered in my ear.

“I like the picture, too. It reminds me of ‘Little Red Riding Hood.’ ”

To my astonishment and horror, I heard myself blurt out in a rather high squeal, “No! Not Little Red Riding Hood!—That means the Big-Bad-Wolf is inside!”

I began to think quicker than I’ve ever done in my life to devise a plan—a plan to get out of the store without having to turn around and face this woman, and my humiliation. But, before I could make good on any of my plans she said calmly, and without a hint of shock or ridicule at my outburst,

“Yes. He’s inside, but he can’t really hurt her. Don’t you remember the end of the story?”

I smiled thinking of the children’s story and felt comfort from the Lord. Without taking my eyes off my new little hooded friend I said in a now softer lower tone, “How much is the picture? I think I would like to take her home with me.”

At that time in my life I was experiencing great changes brought about though stepping out in the giftings God had given me. And through this spontaneous, and I might add humiliating, outburst the Lord began to reveal to me the many fears holding me back from living a victorious life, and entering through the door Jesus placed in front of me.

Fears of success. Fears of failure. Painful memories of jealous people and the unnerving feeling of not knowing what the future would hold behind this door in my life.

My little girl, as I affectionately call this picture, is such an encouragement to me. She is usually found next to my desk, where I do most of my writing. She comforts me as I remember the things I heard in my heart that day in the antique store.

This little girl is symbolic of the believers in Christ. She is the betrothed bride who is still growing and maturing. She is reaching with all her ability, and as she reaches she stretches her faith—and grows. She brings her gifts in her basket, although she may not have discovered what all of them are just yet. And Jesus speaks into her heart as He did mine on that day in the antique store,

Stretch as high as you can, but though you are not yet able to touch even the knocker on the door, I am the one who will open the door for you when it is time to share the gifts I have given you. And don’t worry or be anxious because . . .

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6/ESV).

I love this picture. I don’t need to fear the Big-Bad-Wolf, because I know the end of the story—the wolf is destroyed and Little Red Ridding Hood lives happily-ever-after. I don’t need to be anxious because when God wants a door opened—it will be done—in His time and of His doing. And all He expects me to do is to stretch myself to the best of my ability to do what I can where I am—and to follow Him with trust and enter through the door He places in front of me.

What door has Jesus placed in front of you? Is anything holding you back from entering? No matter what is behind the door—we can trust the Lord with our future—He’s told us the end of the story.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV).

“No, it’s too early.” The sound of my own voice woke me. I turned in my covers to go back to sleep, but in my mind I heard a message being replayed—the one I heard before waking.

“Go to the beach.”

I pulled the covers closer to my chin, “No, it’s too cold—why?” I mumbled to no one in the room.

“Go and see the sunrise,” a voice broke into my dreamy thoughts.

My eyes were wide awake even though my body was not. I starred at the ceiling and thought about what had just occurred. “I really don’t want to go to the beach . . . I really, really don’t want to go–well, I may as well go now that I’m awake and can’t possibly go back to sleep,” I thought to myself.

At that time in our lives we were living about a mile from Carmel Beach, California—another story on that later. And, although the beach was only a mile away, it was just too chilly for any consideration of jogging or walking. Driving down the touristy Ocean Avenue before sunrise the only people I saw were in delivery trucks or coffee fanatics hurrying to the Carmel Roasting House—I was wishing I was among them.

Turning into the parking lot I faced the van toward the ocean so I could view the sunrise without getting out in the damp air. No one walked the sandy beaches or surfed. Sitting in my car thinking. . . my mind began to drift…wondering if my son, Kevin, was surfing and then my thoughts turned to the different family visits on this beach.

Somewhere deep in thought or half asleep, I realized the sun was up and I had missed the sunrise. I began questioning myself thinking back on the early morning words spoken to my sleepy head. And I prayed, “Lord, was that You this morning? . . . I sure don’t get it . . . I sure feel stupid . . .,” my words echoed in my empty car as I sensed an irritable mood moving in.

Later in the day when returning home from running errands I saw the most spectacular sunset on the Monterey coastline I’ve ever seen in my life—I immediately felt incredibly silly. I’ve lived in California all my life and I should have remembered in the wee hours of the morning that the sun does not rise on the west coast beaches—it sets! I had a good laugh at myself, but I sensed the Lord would be teaching me from this.

Several months passed and this event was forgotten when Dan and I decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary on Catalina Island. This island is just off the coast of Southern California. We rose before the sun in a room facing Avalon Beach. While Dan showered, I read my Bible in a window located a few stories up with an eastern view of the bay. While reading I heard that amazing voice in my heart once more.

“Look up and see the sunrise—look up and see the sunrise on the Pacific.”

To my amazement I saw the sun begin to rise up from the East over the Pacific Ocean. A teaching from the Lord occurred in my heart, it wasn’t in words or sentences—I just understood. There are things in our lives the Lord has told us, either in the Word with prophecy or in our hearts, which have not happened—yet. And, just like me looking in the wrong direction for the sun to rise—don’t be anxious or overly concerned about it—just be found faithful where you are now.

He will cause it to happen in your life. It’s important that we be found faithful. If I hadn’t risen that morning I would not have appreciated the amazing sunrise on Catalina Island. What God promises He will fulfill in His time–and in His manner. He is the author of dreams. If your dream is His—He will bring it to pass and the Son will rise and be glorified in your life as you look up to see Him perform those things in your life.

Be like Joseph and dream, dream what God stirs in your heart and wait to see Him perform it.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:4-7a, NIV)

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Where I live in California there are acres and acres of grapevines. Most of the grapes harvested are for the wineries in the area. It’s summer time here, and I’ve been appreciating the beauty of their deep green vines. During the winter months there were no leaves and very few branches and, of course, no fruit. So, the acres and acres were barren and brown.

Last winter my husband, Dan, was so overzealous in pruning the few plants in our yard we thought they would die from the severity of it. Today I took a walk in the garden to look at those forlorn bare bushes to see if they survived. What I saw amazed me and comforted my heart. The vine was full of branches and on those branches were minuscule clusters—the promise of fruit. And along the branches were thin thread-like tendrils wrapping themselves around the staking wires.

In my heart I sensed a message from the Lord.

You are like these severely pruned branches. Just as you wondered if these plants would bear fruit again, you have feared in the winter of your trials. My Father is the Husbandman who prunes and removes the dead things in your life. These are the things in your heart which will not bear fruit and are not of Me. But you have remained in Me—even during the barren time—and so you will bear fruit in season.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful… Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:1-2, 4/NIV)

There is nothing more important than abiding in the true vine, which is symbolic of our relationship with Jesus. But there is something else we can do to help support the fruit and keep strong in serving and living for the Lord.

The tendrils of the grapevines are curly membranes that coil themselves around objects to give support to the heavy fruit laden branches. They can represent the obvious things like reading the Word of God, being an active part of the Church and gathering together with other believers. These are the areas the Lord has been speaking to my heart about clinging to, so I will be strengthened in my walk of faith.

What areas do you feel the Lord speaking to your heart to cling to so you will be supported in your walk with Him?

Lord, Help me to surrender to Your zealous pruning, so that the fruit I bear will bring You glory and not to myself. And show me where to place the tendrils of my heart so that I cling only to those things which will support Your fruit and cause me to be strong in faith.