Saturday, October 6, 2012

The Trees in The Valley and The Winds 10-06-12




The Trees in the Valley and the Winds 10-06-12

At 3:11 am, I had gotten up to go to the bathroom, and as I laid down again to go back to sleep, I heard, "Sit with Me awhile." It was ever so gentle. I knew it was the Lord speaking. I listened and waited to see if more came, but nothing else. I laid there and tried to decide if I should get up or go to sleep, as if I didn't hear it at all. I got up. I went into the living room and sat on the loveseat and waited. Then the encounter began, and I immediately smelled autumn in the air. Interesting, I thought, "I could smell the season, even before I saw the vision." 

The vision the begins and I saw myself walking to the familiar hillside and there was Jesus, again sitting on the hillside overlooking the valley below. The hillside was still green but now the valley below was full of trees, and many trees were turning color in the autumn sunshine. I came over to Jesus and sat down next to Him and smiled at Him. He smiled back and I felt His pleasure that I joined Him. We watched for awhile in silence. The trees were all in various stages of change. Some had leaves of oranges, reds, browns, and golden. Some still had their bright green leaves clinging to the tree, as if  stubbornly refusing to allow the change of season to flood in. Others had lost most of their leaves, with just a few leaves still clinging to bare branches, their meager leaves seemed to wave at us from below. I smiled at the sight. It was so beautiful to see the rich colors and to feel the crispness in the air, and the warmth of the sunshine that still shone on us there on the hillside. It seemed so restful. Jesus sat watching with me, so I just watched and enjoyed the time there with Him.

I don't know how long we sat there but I began to sense something was coming. I looked around, and looked closer at the trees below. Nothing was there that I could see. I saw from a distance, that a storm approaching from the north.  Everything was still peaceful in the valley, but I could see the disturbed air mass drawing closer to the valley area. The trees began to respond to the changing atmosphere. The fallen leaves began to swirl on the ground as it approached. The leaves on the branches began to wave in the changing wind. The air mass itself seemed to be full of intense surges. This caused the complexity of it's movements to be both erratic and intense. The trees began to shake as the winds came fully in and hit them hard. The leaves that were loosely attached on the branches now were stripped off. The leaves on the ground now swirled everywhere as the currents of instability blasted them along here and there. I did not see any rain in this storm though. It was just a lot of wind and turmoil and atmospheric pressures swirling and blowing as it swept one air mass by another. Kind of reminded me of two different trains passing close by each other and the violent interchange of the buffeting of their air currents between them, jostling each other as the trains passed swiftly by. 

Soon, there weren't very many colorful trees with any leaves left on them but only the green ones. The green ones had few loose leaves, so their leaves held better to the tree. The rest of the trees now stood out in their stark contrast with just their branches reaching up through the storm. The winds continued to blow and the leaves were swept down the valley till the whole valley was calm again. Now the valley was full of trees with green leaves, trees with no leaves, other types of trees, and grass and various plants that grew below us. It was still beautiful though. I could smell the new freshness that came after the windstorm, and the air seemed even more crisper now. I loved the fall colors that were there before the wind, but now the valley seemed empty in the changing season.

I then saw another storm come from the West and this storm was not like the other one. It was full bitter cold harsh winds and with rain that soaked everything till it was miserable. From where we sat, I could see the clouds descend over the valley like a harsh cold wet blanket and it smothered it all with it's intensity. I shivered as I watched, even though it was sunny where we sat above the valley. I could feel the cold hit my spirit and I inched closer to the Lord. I turned and watched the cold wind and rains lash at the trees in the valley below. The trees swayed under the weight of the winds and the branches waved and tossed some of their green leaves in the frenzy of the winds. The rains poured down their trunks and ran on the ground. The trees began to bend and lean in the swirling gusts and in the lashing of the rains. Some of the smaller branches quickly broke and fell to the ground, or hung down as they were lashed at by the wind. I could hear the howling of the wind in the branches and it made me want to go and find shelter even though I knew the storm could not come where we were. 

The storm picked up it's intensity and even more branches fell, and were strewn down along the valley floor. I saw that some of the smaller trees began to bend fully over in the stronger winds and then, I heard the snap of their trunks. I saw that they succumbed to the pressure of the storms and had broken and their trunks cracked and they fell. One big older tree also broke too as it was old and was not strong as it used to be, and it splintered right down the middle and one side of it fell over and the rest of it stood and was exposed to the storm. After awhile the storm subsided and the clouds lifted, and the winds ceased and the air cleared, and the valley was now quiet below, but it looked messy from all of the branches strewn around. Most of the trees below still stood, but now they looked funny, as though they were the faithful soldiers who remained standing after a battle, among the fallen. I smiled at this thought. I would not want to have to clean up the mess though.

It was not long after this storm that I noticed a very dark cloud, and it came from the East. It was massive. It had rain and lightning and thunder in it, and it had stormy whirlwinds. I could see it from afar, and even from where I sat, I knew this was not going to be a very good storm. The dark mass closed in on the valley floor, and it brought with it a torrent of darkness, raging blasts of rain, thunder and lightning. The valley was soon swallowed up in this intensity and it shook the valley floor. The trees were lashed at wildly, and the rains swept through it. The lightning lit up the valley frequently and the thunder shook the trees so that they waved violently. I saw more trees begin to fall. More trees lost their branches, and even the green ones were not spared. I focused in on a patch of green trees that were over to the left of us. This cluster of green trees still had most of their leaves and they seemed to be weathering the storm better than the other trees. They still lost leaves, but not as many. Some of them had branches broken and even twisted, but not as many as the other trees. I did not see one green tree uprooted, but I noticed that many of the other trees in the valley began to break and even be uprooted and their roots were sticking upwards in the air. This storm was particularly fierce and the lightning and thunder raged on. More debris blew around and foliage from other plants was tossed in the air too. The wind howled through the valley and at times it was loud enough for me to want to cover my ears. Jesus only sat and watched soberly. 

The massive storm eventually passed, and when it did, I was surprised. All of the trees in the valley were either broken, or split into parts, or were uprooted. All except for the patch of green trees that were all in a cluster on the left. The valley itself was torn to shreds. It looked like a war zone and the debris was as far as you could see. They stood trembling together in the aftermath of their ordeal, but they were all still standing and were wet from all of the rain. But they had faired better than all the rest. Their being clustered closely together had helped them to endure the storm, and their branches and leaves were mostly still there, although many were torn and ragged. A few branches were snapped here and there on the ones near the edge of the cluster, but they had survived well. It would take a lot of people to clear this valley and to replant the trees in the valley, I thought.

"Let's go see them", the Lord said. I jumped as the Lord broke my thoughts. The Lord was standing and had a smile on His face, and He held out His hand. I took His hand and we slowly walked down the hillside towards the valley below. The air was now warm and the sun was out. It was still fall, but it was still warm. We walked closer, and then Jesus stopped. We were maybe a 1/2 mile away or so. I could see the trees much better now. It was truly a sight. It did look like a war zone. There were branches everywhere, leaves strewn all over, broken trees, laying down trees, leaning trees, uprooted trees, and dead trees. Small clusters of trees stood bravely here and there, but they were few and not as many as the masses of torn trees and plants now here in front of us. "This will take a long time to clear up, Lord", I said. "Not as long as you think", He said. 

He turned to me and said, "Change always comes, but it doesn't have to take long. Change can be as long or as short as you want it to be, and it can be as easy or as hard as you make it to be." He nodded and sat down. I sat next to Him on the hillside not far from the valley floor. He said, "Do you understand the lesson from the trees and the storms?" I nodded, "Yes, I think so. The trees are people, and the storms are the storms of life." He said, "Yes, the trees are people. But, the Storms are not just the storms of life, but these are here are various Seasons of My Winds. I have Seasons of Change. I have My Winds of Change, My Winds of Resistance, and My Winds of Opposition. I allow them to blow in various seasons to test and to prove My People, to bring maturity to them, and to also bring change to My People's lives when they need it, or when humanity needs it. I also allow My Winds to come to deal with the evil enemy forces that are working in their midst, and to deal with the swelling up of evil tides of mans thinking and their destructive ways."

"Let's start with the first storm. The Winds of Change. I allow these winds to primarily deal with your souls. I bring adversity to reveal to you what is in your hearts and mind, so that you can change your minds and ways, and begin to walk right again. The colored leaves that fell and were strewn all over represent the carnal thoughts and opinions that are being spoken out loud in various storms and tests that you go through. So many people like to show their opinions and voice their ideals to show others they are strong, but they really are their carnal ways emerging, so I bring a good shaking to reveal to them their inherent weaknesses. The pride in their souls soon fall prey to the winds that will come and blow. The opinions and debates among men are really only for show. Men think their opinions and thoughts are what make them strong. But what makes them strong is really what is rooted within their hearts, and this can be for the good or for evil. But most people are swayed by the colorful leaves, or by men's opinions and words, rather than understanding the hearts that lie within them. I do not want My People to be shaken when trials or troubles come. I do not want My People to be shaken by men's words, but I want them solid. I do not want My People to be controlled by people's opinions. I will allow all these things to come to clean up My People. I want the thoughts of My People's hearts to match their words, and when they do, they will be like the green trees over there that lost very few leaves or branches in the storms. I am the Life of the Tree. Every Tree that is joined to Me, lives as I live, and can weather any storm or test, and still reveal it's best."

"The second storm that came into the Valley is the Winds of Resistance. I allow these Winds to come to deal with all the stubborn resistance that still resides within those who have resisted the Winds of Change. Most of the stubbornness and resistance that is there is within the heart, where the true root lies. The soul only releases the flow that comes up from the spirit. So, here in the resistance stage, I bring stronger dealing to root out the strongholds that still fight Me and that resist your progress in Me. This is where you have the great battles of your soul and heart, and where many fears surface. Many of My People are in fear and are in turmoil in their minds and hearts, and I want them to understand why. I want them to give Me their hearts completely, and to let Me have My way, so that I can thoroughly root out the strongholds that keep them locked into destructive thought patterns, which keep them battling in cycles of defeat, fear, and doubt."

"This is the Season My Church is transitioning into right now. I am bringing My Church into My Wine Press- My Wind Press- so to speak. My Winds of Resistance will free her of her soul and heart battles, so that I also can strengthen her from within. The trees you saw that bent over and that lost their branches, and some even broke off, are those that have little faith, or have a weak moral character, and represent those with a shallow Word and Prayer foundation. I want My People to root deeper into Me. I want My People to believe in Me. I want My People to believe My Word which is able to strengthen them, and to ground them, and Prayer will cause them to flourish in the storms. The Resistance will increase, as I bring men through My Sieve. I will inspect them thoroughly to show them what lies within them. I want to bring transformation to their lives. This is My Mercy, and this is My Love."

"The third storm was the Winds of Opposition that will come too. What does not yield to Me and give itself over to Me, will be found fighting against Me, and will be opposing Me and My Will. This will be the hardest wind, for in it you will come face to face with Me. I can only change you to the degree that you surrender to Me, and to the degree that you embrace Me as I am. I will not be anything but who I Am, but most of My People want Me to be as they think I am, or as they want Me to be. I will not change the Truth for any man, but man must allow the Truth, which is Me, to change them! When you do this, then My Truth will set you free, and you will be changed to be more like Me, and then you can know Me as I fully am! This is what I want! I want to fashion a generation for Myself! I desire a People who are walking together as Me. This is what I am birthing in My Church, and in the earth. I am dealing with all that is resisting Me and that is opposing My Word, My Will, and My true Reality. This will be the hardest on the soul and the flesh. The soul is always contrary against Me, and the flesh argues, resists, and opposes My Spirit. This is where the pride and ego that is in men is brought to a full death. This is also the Season when many of My own People will deny Me and will also leave Me. I will offend your hearts and mind, and your flesh, to get to the roots within you. Most do not want to truly die to who they are, to become who I am. The pride of life feeds the soul. The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes feed the flesh. And all of them corrupt the spirit of man."

"It is time for My Life to swallow up the works of death still operating in My People. So, I am allowing the Winds of Opposition to thoroughly try everyone, to expose the depths of pride and ego that are still entrenched within, and that are in direct resistance and opposition to Me and to My will for them. The trees that you saw below that were green and clustered together fared the best in the storms. They shared a mutual root system that caused their interwoven ability to root them sufficiently to weather all of the external tests and trials. The more pride and ego you have, the more isolated you are in your walks and in your positions. The more that you learn to be teachable, and to become humble, the more that you will begin to reach out to others and that you will see your need for each other, which will cause you all to grow mutually more fully into My Body. The trees who stood alone and that were full of dead leaves, were the ones that are caught up in the voicing of their pride, opinions and showmanship. They were the ones that were bent and broken in the winds, and fell away the easiest, even though they looked strong outwardly by their outward colors and stance. I do not enjoy this happening among My Body. This outward display is a grief to Me and My Father, and is not a good witness to the masses in the earth. So, I am releasing great opposing winds to bring an end to the evil fruits that still stubbornly persist and oppose Me in them. I will thoroughly purge My Threshing Floor. The Harvest is quickly coming upon you all, and I must make the Church Floor ready to receive the weight of it. So My Opposing Winds will clear it all, and quickly you will see the religious posturing and prideful show fall. Only the ones strong in their faith, and the rooted ones, will stand the passing of My Opposing Hand. Know that Persecution is at hand and the Grains will pass through My Sieve in My Hand."

"Persecution will sift out the true fruit from the false fruit, and the prideful from the humble. It will also cause My Church to thrive and flourish. For what is truly within her, is only fully revealed under the necessary pressures of Opposing Change. So, I am allowing the Winds of Resistance and the Winds of Opposition to come and to try the fruits of everyone. What is good will remain and flourish, and what is evil will no longer be restrained. For whatever is hidden within, will come out to the Light. But wisdom is to examine oneself now before the winds come, and to let My Life quickly change you more, for the things that lie just ahead. Your strength, and your vitality, and your Joy comes from your Union with Me. Your strength, and your vitality, and your Joy also comes through your union with each other. It is time for My Life to flow from the roots, and up through the tree, and out to the branches and then into the leaves. Leave nothing undone anymore in your lives and walks. Be faithful to your individual and corporate calls. Listen more diligently for My Voice. Walk in obedience to Me and also move as one heart together. When you do, you shall stand firmly through it all, and you shall bear fruit in every season. Nothing can shake away or remove what is founded truly upon Me. Love one another deeply and thoroughly, and as you do, you all will have ears to hear and eyes to see, and then My House will stand Gloriously!" 

-The experience ends at 7:14 am.

Jesus said, "Sit with me awhile":   "Sit with me" is only found in one scripture in the Word:

Revelations 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, (conquers, overcomes) I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious, (conquered, and overcame) and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Winds in God's Seasons:

Psalms 107:25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves.

Jeremiah 15:6 TM "You left me, remember?" God's Decree. "You turned your back and walked out. So I will grab you and hit you hard. I'm tired of letting you off the hook. I threw you to the four winds and let the winds scatter you like leaves. I made sure you'll lose everything, since nothing makes you change.

Luke 12:54 TM Then he turned to the crowd: "When you see clouds coming in from the west, you say, 'Storm's coming'—and you're right. And when the wind comes out of the south, you say, 'This'll be a hot one'—and you're right. Frauds! You know how to tell a change in the weather, so don't tell me you can't tell a change in the season, the God-season we're in right now.

Winds of Change  :  North

Proverbs 25:23  Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

Acts 27:14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea.

Winds of Resistance  :  West

Matthew 14:24 But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.

Mark 6:48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

Acts 27:4 After putting to sea from there we passed to the leeward (south side) of Cyprus [for protection], for the winds were contrary to us.

Hosea 4:19 The resistless wind [of God's wrath] has bound up [Israel] in its wings or skirts, and [in captivity] they and their altars shall be put to shame because of their sacrifices [to calves, to sun, moon, and stars, and to heathen gods].

Exodus 10:19 And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt.

Winds of Opposition  :  East

Ezekiel 19:12 But it was uprooted in fury and thrown to the ground. The east wind made it shrivel, it was stripped of its fruit;
its strong branches withered and fire consumed them.

Hosea 13:15 An east wind from the LORD will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up.
His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures.

Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided,

The Purpose:

Matthew 7:25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Ephesians 4:13 This is to continue until all of us are united in our faith and in our knowledge about God’s Son, until we become mature, until we measure up to Christ, who is the standard. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed and carried about by all kinds of teachings that change like the wind. We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray. 15 Instead, as we lovingly speak the truth, we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ, who is the head.  GWT

-Susan O'Marra
-10-06-12