Called TO LOVE

There are some friendships of an eternal quality, from the moment they are birthed in the earth realm they usher in a heavenly dimension of love into your life that you can't get anywhere else. I have the privilege of having such a friendship with Andi. We met through an intercession group where we lifted up incense to God for each other. I was living in Austria at the time and she was in South Africa. So as Holy Spirit began to reveal things in the spirit to me for others whom I had never met, I started a journey of discovering the mystery and power of intercession. But I also discovered I could develop a love for the one I was interceding for through seeing them as God sees them and then pulling down into the earth realm whatever He desired for them. Andi reciprocated in the most surprising way, she did the same for me. So our friendship, rooted in the presence of the Father, has always had a prophetic edge that excites and exhorts us into fresh hope and perpetual revelation. What a gift.

This isn't unique. Jesus makes intercession for us too. He has such a great love for the ones He intercedes for. As He does, so do we and we can therefore love people we've never encountered from our seat in Him in heavenly places: our God-given influence and power to usher the Kingdom into the earth is truly without boundary.

And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:27

On July 5th 2010 Andi prophesied to me and part of what she said was this, "...you know when a kid goes for swimming lessons and the teacher/parent keeps stepping back every time the kid gets to them to stretch them, I see the same moral in a big willow tree that stands alone and I see how it has to push very hard to break deep into the soil to reach the under water streams. It has a thick trunk and will stand through any storm! Then I hear the scripture of the earth groaning waiting for the sons of glory to be revealed...and I see you veiled. Remember that a time will come when God will use you powerfully, keep on anticipating it (even if you feel more like groaning!). I also see healing in your hands as you minister to young children and women, broken and poor people...don't know if this is at all in your heart?"

Clearly July was a month of copious intercession because shortly after that Andi prophesied again, on July 28th, 2010 saying, "...you will not only mother your own children one day my friend (test this) but again I see those little ones I saw before! Orphans and the unloved!"

In addition to the prophecies, Jesus spoke directly to me about ministering to women and children. After I was healed of an orphan spirit, He brought a few opportunities to minister to others who were in bondage to the same. I was grateful for every ministry opportunity that saw the orphan spirit defeated yet I was hungry for the full manifestation of the promises. But like the willow there was a time of being established in God and growing in love with Him. 

Then this September I heard Jesus say, "You're going to India." little did I realise that the beginning of the fulfillment of the promises was about to happen. When God gives you a calling TO LOVE, it can feel and seem so broad, perhaps a bit vague because like me you might think, I do love, I genuinely love people. Then you stand in the midst of a girls home in Dehradun, North India and see faces full of delight all because... you came to visit. I stared in awe as their voices lifted up in praise of God, their eyes closed in intimate wonder, their little feet moving in rhythm to the drum beat. I just wanted to squeeze them all in my limited arms. Then finally came the time to hold them. The squeals of delight as we hugged, cuddled, kissed, tickled and played games filled the whole room. One little girl in her green, frilly dress clung to me. She followed me everywhere and was content to just sit and be with me. Just for me to hold her, to love her. Another girl, with springy curls and the sweetest smile came to me and said, "You're beautiful." They were so open to receiving love yet so willing to give it away too. 

This I realised is what being called TO LOVE looks like.  It's not necessarily praying or prophesying over people but it is giving of yourself, your energy, your attention, your eye contact, your physical affection, speaking kind words of affirmation, dancing and laughing together. I looked directly into their eyes so they knew they had my full attention and I held their faces with my hands. My spirit spread out its wings and soared right into the midst of a flood of love from the Father to these precious ones. When I give away the love of the Father in this way I feel connected to Him in a way that I cannot access elsewhere. It is a form of worship that I have rarely tasted and now that I have tasted I want more. Little did I realise what that prophecy from Andi was going to look like in the earth realm and how rich and rewarding it would be for me to give away a love I so freely received. I came away full. In Father's economy, the more I give away, the more I receive. 

That was just the beginning...soon our mission team found ourselves in the midst of another orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal. Here were 23 orphans fathered and mothered by a couple called by God to parent them. The first time we met the children was on a worship night, we all piled into a room: the couple, their own 3 children, the rest of the kids, our team of 9, the other team of 10 missionaries and still others. With the drums and guitars in full swing we raised up voices to praise God together. It was magnificent. 

I managed to find a little space to squeeze between some of the older girls. We hadn't met before but held hands and worshipped our beautiful Father together. Then I started to pray for the girl on my left. As I did I got a picture for her. A little while later I told her what God was showing me for her, that He would give her words of knowledge and wisdom for people, even as she walked on the streets, she would receive these words. She listened and again closed her eyes and continued to worship. I thought that maybe she didn't understand what I had said but I didn't press her. Then a minute later she leaned over and said that the exact picture I gave her was what Jesus was showing her just before I spoke and that while I had prayed her lips vibrated. She'd never experienced that before. So the gift was already imparted to her and she was so excited. So was I. What a wonderful way to begin a friendship with this young, tender daughter of God. Then she told the other two girls who were on my right what had just happened. They were hungry for more of God too. So I asked Jesus for prophetic pictures for them and He faithfully responded. So I spoke those over the girls and prayed with them and we very reluctantly said goodnight. They said, "Aunty, will you come back tomorrow, please?" I couldn't go the next day but I did see them shortly afterwards. Word had got round that I received pictures from God so I was taken around by a 7-year old to those who needed encouragement, children and adults alike. This 7-year old girl was so encouraging to me, she translated beautifully into Nepalese all that God was giving me for others. What a blessing to partner with this little one to bring the Kingdom to earth. We had so much fun! It is truly better to give than to receive.

I will never forget these children. It was not easy leaving them. But they are being cared for and raised to know the living God, so in that I give thanks and rejoice.

My prayer before I left for the mission trip was, "Oh God, make me more childlike before You." Meeting and loving all the children I did helps me to do that, to come like a child full of expectation to the Father. There is no fear in perfect love. We come to Him knowing we are welcome. 

I thank God for Andi's friendship, the depth and height and width thereof continually feeds me, drawing me closer to my Father. I value her beyond the prophetic words she gives me. And I am grateful that she takes me up with her to meet the Father so I too can be touched in new and colourful ways. Over the span of 7 years Andi has helped me to stay accountable to my destiny in God and believe Him for the fulfillment of the promises He has generously given me. Her prophecies over me are taking shape, she is delighted for me and very encouraged (on how accurately she hears His voice)...and after what seemed an eternity of waiting, so am I, I hope you are too.

Andi sent me a postcard from the Kruger National Park once. She said, "This picture's so beautiful, a picture of friendship."

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Hebrews 11:11 KJV