The following series of revelations came to me as I enjoyed the Lord in my daily tasks.

You too can enjoy communion with Him; whether in your car, at your desk, in your laundry room, or even in your garden.

The garden was obviously in disrepair. Things weren't growing very well. And we began working away. Now, I knew in the dream that this was the Church. That this was a group of Church people I was with. We were accomplishing a job. And we would just work. We didn't visit or act silly. I remember thinking that we were very diligent at what we were doing. And as we worked, we just kept at it, kept at it, kept at it. And finally the day would be over and we would gather in a group again and we would trudge back across this bridge. I don't know where we went to. But this went on day, after day, after day, after day.

One day, as we were going out, crossing the bridge, I remember that I looked over and there, coming out of the garden as we went into the garden, were two elephants. And I looked at them and they looked back at me. They looked very sheepish - like they were embarrassed. And I knew them and they knew that I knew them. But I didn't say anything. I just was glad that they were leaving. And they left — went their way, wherever that was. And we headed into the garden.

AND SUDDENLY...
And on that particular day, as we came to the garden, I remember that I stopped short and looked around. I was absolutely astonished at the size of the fruit and vegetables. Everything had grown to an enormous size! I mean way larger, way bigger, more succulent, more beautiful, opulent than anything you could imagine in a garden. And I remember that I looked at all this, and I especially remember the cabbages and the tomatoes. They were just incredible, like giant size. Whereas, the day before, everything was not such a big deal - just kind of there. I looked at those things, and I looked back at the people and I looked at them again. As I looked, I said, "Where? I mean how on earth did this happen? Look at the size of these vegetables! How can this be?" And we were all just astonished - almost speechless at the size of the produce and the harvest. And as we were standing there in astonishment, a voice spoke to me and I knew in the dream, that it was the Lord and He said, "And so shall it be in the last days. That, as the Church labors together, in unity, day after day, day after day, day after day, being faithful in doing the things that I've called her to do, laboring in the fields, as you do this, all of a sudden [And the word that sticks out in my heart is "suddenly"] you will look upon the fields and things will be changed. The harvest will be there and the Bride will be grown up."

I knew in my spirit, that it was a change coming in the harvest and in our ability to harvest, as well as the multitude of the harvest. But also, in the Church, that all of a sudden, suddenly, we would be changed.

A HUGE TIDAL WAVE
And I remember after I had this dream that as quickly as it ended, the Lord showed me a HUGE tidal wave. And it was covering the whole earth. It was like a wave when it crests and it's about ready to crash down and I remember standing there watching this, like I was watching it from above. And as I watched it, I remember saying in just absolute amazement, "This is much bigger, much greater. This is much more than any of us have any idea of." That what's coming is going to be far surpassing anything we could imagine.

INTERPRETATION
This dream left such an impression on me about a couple things. First of all, seeing the harvest come forth and doing the work of the Lord and becoming the Bride, is a daily task. A lot of times, it's not being recognized. It's not a pat on the back, getting your name in the paper. It's not being sought after, your wondrous deeds. It's the ability to persevere and be steadfast. And to go out into the fields that God has given you, wherever your field might be and labor in it faithfully. Day, after day, after day, after day.

WE WORKED AS ONE
And it's also a work that has to be done in the context of "The Body". There was no one that stood out in this dream. There was no superstar. There was no one who was better-than, more highly recognized, or sought after for their giftings or their personality or their talents. We worked as one. And we were laboring for something, not for ourselves. And that the work that was going to be done, if we were faithful, would happen suddenly. We would just look up and we would be the Bride. The harvest field would be ready. The work would be done. The harvest would come. The fruit would come. The Bride would spring up suddenly. That's the word that just kept coming to me — "suddenly".

THE TWO ELEPHANTS
I had not received the interpretation from the Lord as to "Who" the elephants represented in the dream. Recently, He showed me that one of the elephants represented the spirit of entertainment in the Church -- the 3-ring circus that we've allowed to go on in the church - to keep our focus not on Jesus Himself, but on the 3-rings and what was happening in the church because of our desire to be entertained and to have our flesh titillated. And the Lord told me that this spirit of entertainment was going to be removed from the Church. That's why the elephants were leaving. The spirit of entertainment was going to be removed from the Church by the Lord Himself. We can't do it. We won't be able to do it. But, the Lord can do it. Because with God, all things are possible. And I remember that it was the day (Whatever time increments are included, I don't understand), but it was the day that they left, that we went in to the harvest field, into the garden. Things were changed.

FAITHFULNESS ENCOURAGED
The dream encouraged me because I know that the Lord requires of us - faithfulness - and the word says, He who has begun a good work in us, will complete it until the day of Christ's return. So our being faithful, if we will cry out to Him, is a work that He will do in us. He will bring it forth in us and that the harvest will come. The Bride will rise up. It's all a work of the Lord. We don't have to strive in it. We just need to be faithful in our field, whatever that is and wherever it is. The best we can and to do it as unto the Lord.

The other elephant was the spirit of deception. A spirit of deception is something that keeps us deceived. We will not recognize that we are being deceived unless the Holy Spirit reveals it to us. So, we need to pray and ask the Lord where those areas of deception in our very lives might be. That we would repent of them and have them removed."

THE TREES IN PEOPLE'S YARDS

I enjoy long walks to clear the air and talk with the Lord. On one particular morning, I felt the Lord spoke to me about the trees in people's yards. I 'd like to share some thoughts with you along that line. Keep in mind, there's always a "tree" in our lives.

One yard's tree had dropped its leaves everywhere. You couldn't even see the ground. Nowhere on the neighborhood's street were leaves as heavy. This homeowner didn't seem to care whether joggers, tricyclers or rollerbladers tripped on them or not.

Two homes had their side yards bordering a busy street. One had planted pine trees whose soft needles were pleasant to walk over. The other had planted deciduous trees whose broken branches and leaves covered the ground, causing me to step gingerly through the area. To me, the one said, "Have a nice walk." And the other said, "Hey, so what? It's my land."

I saw one home with a massive tree which had a badly scarred trunk. The owners had waited too long to prune it and the branch was too developed. Sometimes if we let sin stay too long, when it is finally removed, the potential for great beauty is lost in that particular area. My favorite was a home which had put in a curving sidewalk leading up to the front door. They had planted two trees which made an umbrella-like effect over the sidewalk. This spoke to me of welcome, comfort and protection. – MP

Spring is such a lovely time to be outside. Even between tasks at work, I often leave my desk and walk around the grounds. I find that simply changing my position oftentimes changes my attitude and I am refreshed. Recently, while I was strolling our office parking lot, I looked up into a magnolia tree and discovered a peculiar nest. Truly it blended in so perfectly that it surprised me to see it at all.

Magnolia trees are known for their beautiful foliage and huge, white blossoms. Their leaves range in color from a rich, dark green to various yellows, and then to rust. You can imagine my surprise when I spotted an oriole's nest right in the middle of a clump of brightly-colored leaves. Apparently, she had built her nest from dried brush from the neighboring fields. It was oval in shape and perfectly blended with the foliage. What was so remarkable to me was its placement.

This brave mother had built her nest at the farthest point on a limb, but around the leaves. Even more peculiar, the nest was basically "suspended" from the branch by literal threads of brush. It struck me that this nest was out on a limb, hanging by a thread. If I were a mother bird, I certainly would have chosen to build my nest near the trunk and nestled it safely between the branches.

LESSON FROM THE GARDEN

When we look at nature, we can see the Creator and His creation –not only in what is around us, but also in what is within us. If we look with the eyes of our heart, we can see His plan and purpose for our lives. Though it may seem that the storms of life nearly overpower us, if we stay close to God and to His Word, He will see us through.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season.

Godly men and women are compared in Scripture to sturdy, healthy trees, planted by the rivers of water, laden with fruit, and full of leaves (Ps 1:3; 104:16). In order for us to be fruitful trees, we must:

1]   Stand straight for God: Lives that reveal Christlike character are lovely to behold, for they are not gnarled by sin or rotted by hypocrisy.

2]   Be strong: Those who are well-rooted in God's Word will be unmovable in times of trial and temptation.

3]   Keep growing: As healthy trees add a new ring of growth each yearn we too should constantly grow in grace. (2Pet.3:18)

4]   Bring blessing to others: Some trees provide food, others give shade, and others are made into lumber. So too, Christians should provide spiritual food and comfort to their neighbors, as well as use their time and talents to build people up in the Lord.

5]   Be ready to be transplanted when God so wills: Christians are not here to stay; they are waiting to be transplanted in the garden of heaven where their fruit will never wither and their leaf will never fade.

How good a tree are you? Is there any fruit, any beauty, any growth worth talking about? Or are you wilted and unproductive? Get growing! — Henry G. Bosch (ODB Editor 1956-1981)

THE MOSO BAMBOO TREE
From Sower's Seeds Series

The moso is a bamboo plant that grows in China and the far east. After the moso is planted, no visible growth occurs for up to five years -- even under ideal conditions! Then, as if by magic, it suddenly begins growing at the rate of nearly two and one half feet per day, reaching a full height of ninety feet within six weeks. But, it's not magic. The moso's rapid growth is due to the miles of roots it develops during those first five years, five years of getting ready.  Joel Weldon, "The Sower's Seeds"

A Tale of Four Trees
by Mare Allison

On September 16, 1999 the strongest typhoon in 16 years hit Hong Kong, killing three people, injuring almost 500 persons and wrecking 8,000 signboards. Among the 18,000 trees damaged or destroyed by TyphoonYork are four that I want to tell you about.

These large trees are in a row of five that have provided deep shade in the park near my home for decades. When four of five were pushed over by typhoon winds, I lamented their fall. I studied the fallen giants as they lay uprooted. How shallow and limited their roots were compared to the size of their branches and greenery! No wonder they fell over. It was very sad. The park was much poorer for their loss. Gone was the valuable deep shade and protection they provided for the who regularly sat underneath. New trees would take decades to grow.

While the Hong Kong government did a wonderful job clearing trees which blocked roads, these trees in the park lay there for almost a week, the areas where they had fallen was cordoned off. It didn't look much like the department responsible for these trees was doing its job efficiently. But it turned out that I didn't understand much of anything.

The following evening when I passed by the park, I stopped in my tracks with my mouth open. An enormous crane had been moved alongside the park. A small backhoe was parked nearby. An entire truck of dirt had been deposited nearby. Someone was going to a great deal of trouble and expense to restore these trees. Two of them were already standing erect. But they stood stripped, with the shocking appearance of skeletons. Their huge limbs had been sawn off, leaving only a few suckers, each bearing a handful of battered leaves and a hope of photosynthesis. Over the next two days the other trees were similarly restored after having all their branches amputated. As I stood gaping, I realized that I didn't know much about trees...and that the Lord had something to say.

When people or ministries fall, their weaknesses lie exposed for every passerby to see. Oh, you say, look at that weakness — no wonder they fell. You lament the loss of what they provided. But I am the gardener, and to me each tree is of great value. I know the heart of each tree; I can see the inner condition, for I look on the heart.

When people or ministries fall, don't think they cannot be restored. When you pass by and comment that their fall is due to their shallow roots or some other defect, you reveal only your own lack of understanding of my ways and purposes. Sometimes falls are due more to the strength of the storm than the defects of the tree.

Restoration is time-consuming and costly not only to the gardener but also to the tree. To be successfully restored, everything must be stripped away. All the branches that provided such shade and fruit must be lopped off. The resulting appearance is shocking. The tree now stands stripped, supported now by wires, looking ugly and useless. But even in this condition, it will be able to stand in greater storms. In time the tree will grow new branches, and its roots will go down and find their grip once again. And it will be more fruitful. We live in a day when many people and ministries are falling. The roots of their problems lying exposed for everyone passing by to see.

But the Lord knows which trees are of sound heart. These are of great value to him, and he will go to no end of trouble and expense to see them restored.

Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

1 Samuel 16:7 - The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

2Chr.16:9 - For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

At this time Lord is also stripping many ministries and individuals of much that has been fruitful and beneficial. Many recognize this work of the Lord and are cooperating with him in it, even though it is very painful. All these lovely green branches under which so many found shade, rest and benefit are being sacrificed 1. to prepare for a great increase in warfare, 2. to enable them to stand in even the greatest storms. 3. so that they will produce even more fruit.

John 15:2 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 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. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Mare Allison
4 October 1999