It has been hard not to keep watching the news, but I have to take breaks because it can all get overwhelming. I have never felt anything this intense happening in America since 9/11. But this one seems very different for a lot of reasons.
Many have spoken since 9/11 that the church would be given another chance to shine. As we all know there was a marked rise in spirituality immediately after 9/11. Churches were filled, prayer meetings were filled. People were seeking. And then this interest in spiritual things it dropped dramatically.
This is another chance, but to do something different. I am amazed to watch at the level in which churches and Christian organizations have gotten involved on both a ground level, a financial level and a prayer level for the situation in Louisiana. This is obviously happening in Texas, but churches all over America have risen not just to raise financial and prayer support but are giving practical things and sending teams to help the poor in need. All over America, the attention is not just on the disaster, but on what to GIVE. People are flying planes, tools, medicine, bicycles, clothes, offering homes, jobs, safety and human touch. This is an abundant nation and now an abundance of practical needs are flowing forth.
One of the major things that God is causing to happen through this event is church unity. Sometimes it takes a disaster for churches to lay down their banners and differences and come together to help. This unity among Christians is greatly needed in our country, and this unity will lay the groundwork for what is going to be a real great awakening in America. Many, many people have prophesied a great revival over the U.S.A., a second real great awakening, and we feel that we are at the beginning of this amazing move of God.
The events of 9/11 mobilized the government and military like few events ever had. Obviously this disaster has been different, and our government has been and is being criticized strongly for its slow involvement and comment and confusing statements.
Since we know all things work together for GOOD, what is happening even in our government will have merciful and God-ordained results. There are a lot of demonic reasons why our governmental leadership has taken such perceived slow-moving action, but this is being allowed to happen so that other parts of America’s identity will stand. Had the government been at the forefront of relief and action, there would have been less mobilization on the part of average American people, on the part of the church, and even among the entertainment industry. In leadership studies, people have found that when there is a “vacuum of leadership” a mixture of confusion abounds, but new forms of leadership take action in that vacuum. This happened in World War II, toward the end of the war, when communication about the treaties and battle plans broke down, and Allied troops that had lost their leadership banded together in unusual ways to fight the German armies in France. It took the unknown soldiers who were willing to band together out of need to fight the last remaining strongholds.
In this case there was a definite vacuum of leadership. Some leaders are made for crisis management, while others are better at day to day operations. From the very beginning, George Bush has been a “crisis leader”—flourishing like a decisive general in crisis, but often floundering in normal interactions. Whether we agree with his politics or not, we all know that he is someone who speaks directly and unflinchingly. He is not a charismatic leader, not a type of guy you want to meet on the street and conversation with. With that in mind, since he is made to charge at things like crisis, there is a reason that it seemed he and those around him responded so seemingly awkwardly. Part of this is because there was a breakdown in communication between the leaders in Louisiana, and the federal government.
In America’s governmental system, there are certain boundaries of authority between federal and state governments. The federal military cannot override state law enforcement, unless martial law has been declared. The vacuum of communication between the government in Louisiana and our federal government went on for a few days, and part of this is that the leaders in Louisiana were rightfully emotionally wrecked and confused, but also because as leaders they are not as built for crisis, not anywhere near like New York mayor Rudy Gulliani’s leadership during 9/11. It took several days before even the governor vocalized that the state of chaos in New Orleans was as great as it was. This is not to disparage their leadership—the governor of Louisiana obviously has a very big and compassionate feminine heart and this too is important in leadership but “feelers” who are affected by the winds of trauma tend to fall apart in crises as decision-makers. (I am one of those feelers!) I write this because I do feel as if the expectations on our president went beyond what he was legally allowed to do when things were getting weird there. As well, because the communication lines were mixed, there were surely many things he was unaware of. All the same, there are spiritual reasons behind even the confusion at the federal level.
A large part of the reason that there was so much confusion in the media and government is due to a demonic spirit of witchcraft coming from the region around New Orleans. Even if you are not a “spiritual warfare” person, the level of supernatural activity in New Orleans has been very obvious to anyone that visits there. The first major sign of witchcraft is a spirit of confusion. Wherever witchcraft is present there is a lot of attempt to control through human means, and this control creates confusion and a lack of order. In this case, the spirit of confusion, which is demonic, was so great that it has affected even the highest levels of government and media. We can’t possibly expect our government or civil institutions to understand demonic confusion or know how to fight it. We know that the battle is not against flesh and blood. So for this reason Derek and I have been praying continually that God would release clarity and fresh thinking over our government, George Bush, and reporters. Please pray for him that regardless of how his own actions are being perceived or judged by media or entertainment that he would be able to sort through these events clearly. He is balancing many weighty decisions for our country, and he is just a man.
In the midst of this void, however, we are being given a great opportunity to rise as a nation. The most basic part of America’s DNA is that she has a mission to defend the oppressed and help the poor. This is part of the reason why she has been given so much power and resources. There is an essential part of America that wants to serve justice.
What we have noticed is that if you push her buttons hard enough, she will run to help the poor. Even among the most cynical entertainers, this event has caused so many people to reach out with compassion and give everything they have to help. I am amazed at the way entertainers—musicians, tv personalities, film stars—have pulled out all the stops to helping bring life into the area. I watched the news today as John Travolta flew his private jet into devastated areas with medicine and food. As Faith Hill sang “Amazing Grace” to a homeless family. Oprah Winfrey hugging people in the Astrodome in Houston. The amount of compassion and emotional stirring among entertainers is really beautiful.
While 9/11 had stirred a lot of nationalism on a nation-wide scale, this event is causing American pride in individuals. Every single entertainer I’ve seen on T.V. has responded to this event by saying, “I am appalled because I am American!” Even the most cynical are feeling a sense of rousing and pride and desire to help others. This is a not a bad pride, but a very basic part of who we are as Americans. This is a chance for individual hearts to feel something toward their country, and not depend on the government to be the identity. The identity of this nation is in individuals, and that is why it is individuals that are being given this sense of pride and compassion. On a ground-level, all kinds of things feel like they can, and MUST, get involved. Here in Austin, a quirky little city filled with artists, all kinds of unusual people have banded together to help. People from all over the city brought their bikes, thousands of bikes, to distribute around town to refugees and send to Houston for those stranded at the Astrodome. This is a beautiful example of people feeling empowered to serve in practical ways.
From the outside—outside of America—it looks to the world like America is falling apart. This is also some work of the enemy, creating smugness and mockery among the nations toward America. The way the international media has interpreted this event has been highly exaggerated and hyped. But as well, this is being allowed to happen so that America’s attention turns toward her own healing and bonds together as a nation. There is going to be a season when it will look to the rest of the world as if “America’s flag is down”—as Derek saw in a vision several months ago—but God is allowing to be lowered so that she stops overextending herself in things that are no longer her territory. Surely this event is going to put strains on our involvement in Iraq, and it will be awkward and trying for a time on our country, and we will get weak from this season. But this is only for a season—it may be months or years—but America will emerge from it a much stronger nation spiritually.
We see already see two of his purposes through this event is to unite and heal the divisions in the church, and to bring purpose, meaning and compassion to the entertainment industry. Spiritually, the church is the most powerful force in America and when she unites the rest of the country will find itself uniting in ways it has never dreamed. The entertainment industry is probably the most powerful symbolic force in America—our music, film, and arts travel the whole globe. It is a mighty thing to be giving entertainers the noble purpose for their gifts. Entertainers shine the brightest when they are using their gifts to bless the poor and disheartened. We saw this at Live8 and we are seeing it again. For once, even the most trashy entertainment programs on television are not focusing on so-and-so’s divorce, but on the relief efforts of movie stars. This is a cleansing and opportunity for the artists of our nation.
racism
Another issue which has been triggered by this event and caused additional confusion is racism. During times of crisis, it is utterly essential that people put aside their differences to serve, and divisions make for even more devastating consequences. People are not mobilized by criticism, and the enemy knows this—so a spirit of racism came out very strongly at the worst possible moment. Even if the accusations of racism were true, the accusations served only to complicate and confuse things even more. There are many undealt-with racial issues that divide the American psyche. While much has changed in the last 50 years, there is still a remnant of racial unrest and distrust in America.
The spirit of racism is basically a distrust of other, and as a supernatural stronghold flows in places of great insecurity and hurting. Racism is not in actions, it is in the heart. It can happen on an international collective level or on an individual level. One of the greatest things about America is that she is a nation that havens many ethnos, if not almost every nation. This dynamism is part of her unique identity that God has given her. However, racism is one of the spirits that is seeking to divide her and crush her.
It is seeking to humiliate her from without—by triggering racism and mockery from other nations. And it is seeking to humiliate her within—by stirring up racial dischord that happens between blacks and whites. God is using both of these stirrings to cause her to heal within, so that she can be even stronger and more unified as a nation of diversity. It is obvious to me that the satan has had a hand in perpetrating the racist spirit during this crisis—even on the news when some well-known black ministers were going to be given an opportunity to speak on race from a spiritual and godly perspective, they were suddenly cut off for a news story that the media deemed more newsworthy.
At this moment our country is obviously focused on problems abroad, but God is using this event to help America heal her splitness. The black and white divide is probably the greatest racial issue in America, and the first place where this will be healed is within the church. Even now, the largest churches in America are multi-racial. The church is at present one of the very few institutions in America that is truly a community that brings together both peoples.
This is also one of the reasons that this event has become more about American people on a ground-level, and not just governmental charity and action. It is a really clever and strange way of bringing people together in crisis. The healing between races begins in conversations and true compassion, and then it will spread to our institutions. Racism is really hard to talk about without sounding judgmental, and so really the only way to speak about it is to acknowledge that it is demonic, and the only way to overcome it is with LOVE.
(Personally, on a side note, whenever I am around judgmental things, whether they are religious or racist, or just judgmental, I am learning to immediately look inside myself and ask for forgiveness for any judgment in my heart. When satan stirs accusation he knows our first tendency is to accuse back, and this continues to stoke the fires of judgment and suspicion toward each other. The second thing I do is bless the person who has judged, whether their judgment is right or wrong. The last year or so, I have spent a lot of time praying for all kinds of people who trigger my issues. I ask the Lord to bless them, to heal them, and to bring them into fuller things. When I do this, it always stirs up love in me for the person, which is much nicer to feel than judgment, which just tires our hearts out.)
If you are reading this and you are not American, please pray for us, that we would once again experience a renewal and revival and that we would heal in these areas. Your blessings from other nations mean so much to us. Derek and I travel so much and we very aware of what we bring to the table as Americans, but we also need the other nations. This is really a time when the people of God can avoid the racism within the media and choose to bless each other. We need your prayers!
Last night on TV I heard a guy say, “mercy triumphs over judgment” and I thought, “yes, that’s the essence of what is happening.” Even through the hard things, even through the things that the enemy is trying to do, God always uses judgments as refinements, and He is filled with love, always. His mercy will have the upperhand.
I really do pray through this that there will be a harvest of salvation from this—that all those displaced from their homes would have an opportunity to meet Jesus and be transformed through the love of others.
to be continued…
I saw Jesus with a construction hat on gathering men, then locking arms and walking towards New Orleans in a straight line. On the backs of the people’s jackets were names of church denominations. In Unity with arms bound. They were walking like a wall in a line, side by side. I got the word “flat liners”, and immediately realized that these were salty folks, or workers--like flat footed. This is to combat the spirits there which are wispy and foggy. These men were like sturdy bridges, and would not be turned back. They were coming in a support line from Texas.
I saw Jesus motion for support in two directions--one Texas, and the other the other southern states. So that two clear lines of support were coming into New Orleans--both coming in lines not to encircle but to wall. For I then saw a circle of witches praying over the ashes of the city to keep them death stinchy. And I saw how these two lines of solidity would combat that circle. It was as if the circle of evil were praying to keep death adn cunfusion on the city, but God was bringing in clear lines of clarifying support.
I then felt the need to pray for real clarity to be released over the minds of all leader dealing with this event-as there is so much confusion and witchcraft hovering over it.
I felt that New Orleans would be given a New Order (N.O.) I then saw the angelic darting into the dark water, which I heard were very cursed and deathy. The waters themselves were so murky and pestilent that people could not cleanse them. I felt that only true worship could clarify these waters, and that the church was being asked to worship in order to cleanse the waters of this region.
Unification is needed to overcome. I saw three main lines of fiscal support in terms of management--the Federal Government; the Red Cross; and The Church.
In short, the wispy murky spiritual environment would be met by the solidity of His People, and their prayers. I felt the need for saltiness or groundedness in combating the spiritual clime over new Orleans. It is witchcraft mainly, but a very dark and cloudy version. I has a mixture of Vodoo (which has cast spells on the waters there) as well, and death and blood.
I felt that the waters would be clarified by worship as I said, but also I saw coming up from the waters a purple heart. I felt this had to do with the future of the city, and something available to those who would spiritually serve there--either in prayer or physically.
The Texas church was enabled to lock arms and head down as one long strong line! The two primary lines of support came from texas and the other from the other southern states to the east of the city.
At the end of this vision, I kept hearing Jesus yelling out things He needs: 3 construction crews to repair roads all the way down to the city; all sort of tools; pliers, gaskets, machines, bags, trucks etc Very practical needs!
I also felt a great harvest will be brought out of this event. That the fields are ready for true life to come in and bring fruit that will last.
SEND MESSAGES OF HOPE to His Labourers!
SPECIFIC PRAYER
Clarity for all leaders involved
God would raise up real worship to purify the waters there
Unification between denominations so we can work as one church Body (The Body of Christ!)
That the dark spiritual environment would not confuse the labourers, so they can bring help with great clarity and compassion. (We have seen the confusion around many of the media there, and others who have gone into the spiritual atmosphere that is there)
That the hope that this event will actually bring great and needed change in America at large and that His Body might take up its leadership role in aiding this tragedy.
That our president would have great clarity around how to release help, and for his spiritual protection.
That the New Orleans mayor would have peace in his heart and head as he has seen and felt so much suffering over the past week.
As well as for mayors and leaders in the states effected most by this event.
Already, most of the churches here have opened their doors and are receiving refuges. In our neighborhood, the largest church nearby is said to be receiving 1500 people this week. Pray that the church would lead in showing the heart of Christ in this dark part of this event. In Houston, several megachurches are opening their facilities to refuges, and are also opening homes and resources. This is an hour of great potential unification in the Body here in America!
We also see the issues of materialism and racism are being addressed and brought into the light through this tragedy. Pray that we have the guts to deal with both of these as the church, and then as a nation!
This week, I had another vision concerning America. I saw her flag with its stripes stretched out very far, half way around the world in fact. I felt that God said, she was overextended. I saw how the stripes were like His “stripes” by which we are healed. That is that America’s mandate has to do with being willing to go in a suffer to bring justice, and defend the oppressed. But that she did not have His authority to set up governmental systems and some of the other activities which are wearing her down currently.
Then I saw Jesus reeling her flag back home, and knocking off sections of her pole. This was partly due to the dark chords which were growing up the pole. I saw two chords, one was named racism, the other materialism--it was largest. i felt that as Jesus was reeling in the flag to mend it, He was also cutting off these dark chords.
The flag was lowered. It seemed to an undetermined height. But low. This had to do with the church and prayer. Then He took out a new flag, and reeled it back up very high, but with other flags from smaller nations above it. The flags were all on the same pole, and were flying very high up in the sky, almost out of sight. I felt that America would go back up with some new alliances--some surprising. I saw several of the new flags now on the same pole way up high, as if being supported by America. I wondered if these were oppressed nations which America would help, as it learns to move only in its own domain and assignments, under its mandate.
I felt the time coming would be a mending and renewal period, where she would remember her commisions and mandate. And then would be allowed to fly again.
Knowing our role in the whole, and what mantel each nation is given to wear in His purposes, is basic to moving effectively under the authority and in the exact tasks that God has assigned each nation. When, for instance, the wrong nation takes on a leadership role, you will see an misordered group of nation. I think this has happened with the EU. France is not intended or manteled to lead Europe at this time. This is a time, when the smaller, less often heard nations of Europe have a mandate to speak and be heard. Poland and Ireland come to mind immediately.
America has a mandate to bring justice, and defend the oppressed. When it tries to take on a sorting or building government role, it grows weary. I pray that these days will bring a drawing in, and a drawing together of the many parts of America's heart, so that she can serve His Purposes most effectively and with the passion and free youthfulness and vigour which is her heart.
I had a very difficult but also, i think hopeful vision about America this week. wanted to share the raw form of it, and suggest the parts i got of interpretation...
I saw a huge gold covered thrusting left arm. This gold painted arm was just like the statue of liberty, and was holding out a torch--but this was the left arm. It was sort of ramming the arm straight out in front of it, leveling. i watched as it thrusted out, and then crumbled and broke, revealing the whole internal part of the arm to be mechanical.
(interpretation: the left arm is that through which we are to embrace “other” and relate to the world. it was important that this arm had become systems based or mechanical, and that it was exposed to be so when it crumbled. The left arm had been covered in painted gold, very thick, but easily chipped off as the arm crumbled. What looked shiniest or most gold was easily exposed. The right arm is the arm of authority and blessing. In this vision, the right arm was healthy and skin covered--ie still alive and human. The left foot and the right hand were the two healthiest places in the body. The right foot is the steppin out foot; while the left is the one which is back “at home” or supportive)
The arm crumbled to the joint which was like a many holed electrical outlet. Immediately i felt the vulnerability of the heart which was nearby the left arm. But then I looked and saw VERY high up the right arm extended. It was skin covered like a normal but large hand, and it was both sort of worshiping and welcoming all nations. On this side of the body was great life passion and strength, and then immediately I saw the right foot of america.
It was sandled and the foot was exposed and bloody, but a hairy man’s foot--like a strong greek athlete. The left foot was back and clean and strong, but this right foot was really working and being bloodied. I felt this had to do with the current moments in her history.
Then i looked back up and watched the remainder of the left arm draw down over the heart, and i felt a wisdom enter--like the left arm was going to be left in that dismembered state as a memorial, so that the heart would remember what happens when it relates to other nations too mechanically or through systems.
I then saw the whole frame from below, and the feet were huge and free. They were a large, even collosal, man’s feet, and they had a humble and more tender heart. They wanted to serve others.
The whole body then stepped out from the frame, and was skin covered and alive. Then again, i saw the long and high extended hand of welcome far above, near the sky.
(Some of this seems to depict America’s journey to wholeness and towards her true destiny. i still believe that her primary role is to defend the weak, bring justice to the oppressed, and to haven the nations. She is a bringer of justice and a defender of the oppressed. This is one of the reasons for her abundance of resources. An obvious shadow of abundance is materialism; and a shadow of being a haven for many people’s or nations is racial issues.)
I feel that recent events will help cause America to be drawn homeward in her heart. And that as she is drawn homeward, God will work on both her materialism and her racism. I can already see this happening, as these horrific events unfold down south. I can also see the church being called to take the lead right now in all of these battles for the heart and unification of America. America still suffers from a great divide in many areas--one being between North and South. But a more important one is within the church itself. This event is already forcing churches of overcome their divisions and work as One Body in ministering His Love and Compassion and practical needs into the hurting lives of our own people.
The South of course also needs the systematic expertise of those who live in more northern parts of America. The North has been given an industrious gifting which is to help America interface with the nations. But bec the wounds between south and north have not been fully mended, the two do not yet know how to appreciate one another’s regionalism and work together to forge one destiny.
two very tragic events are happening this week. One revolving around the hurricane in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama. The other the chaos and stampede in Baghdad. There are so many hard things happening in the world that turn our attention, but there is always a need for interpretation of these things. The hurricane events are hitting close to home as many people have traveled into Texas and even into Austin today looking for places to land. The RV parks here are filling with exiles.
I am happy that my city is a place to haven these people. I went to Walmart and everyone was talking about it. It was obvious it was shaking people on a deeper level this far away.
Today as I was walking around the house the Lord kept saying, "who knows the mind of God?" And "don't be deceived; God will not be mocked". Both of these are phrases from scripture that kept ringing in my head. I understand them both as being these statements of his mystery and bigness--there is nothing that is out of his sight or knowledge... I also felt that the situation in New Orleans was going to shine as something that would bring glory to him.
God will not be mocked--he will not let the enemy mock him, nor will he let the enemy receive the glory or all the attention for this event... and particularly this event. There is a mystery around how to interpret this particular event because I think that God is going to start showing us how to view his judgments accurately.
People had actually prophesied a flood in New Orleans. As well, there have been numbers of prophecies about London being exposed before the bombs this summer. There were prophecies about 9/11 long before it happened. There are many prophecies about Baghdad. But the prophetic understandings of disasters, both natural and man-made, are about to mature. It is not just about predicting them accurately--but understanding on a deeper level the unsearchable-ness of God's judgments. God's judgments are clearly filled with mercy and love. In his lexicon, judgment also means "a decision"--as in, God casts his decision. He is by nature a refiner--and so any place that experiences tremendous trauma is experiencing not just a punishment but also an act of mercy and an act of refinement. There is hope in that.
New Orleans is a beautiful city, a quirky city, a place of artists and unusual expressions. There is really no place like it. It is probably the only place in the U.S., in my opinion, that still feels "European" in its soul, with a Carribean dance running through its streets. It has some definite dark and labyrinthian parts--many people I met there have a lot of secrets and it is time that the secrets were exposed.
This is why it is so nice to see New Orleans and its people on the television, for something other than their "culture". As a city these people don't ever get much public exposure for anything other than their music and food. I do feel that He very very deeply loves this city. One of the prophecies of New Orleans is that God is going to give it a new identity, and new clothes. If you're curious to read words over it, elijahlist.com, a website that chronicles prophetic words from some of the most visible prophetic people, has been republishing previous words for New Orleans.