Encircled

"I am He who will shine light into the darkness you see.
I know the fire rages around you and inside you,
but I will use the fire to help you and others
see more clearly than you have ever seen before.
I will preserve and protect your heart,
and as you look to Me you will see a brighter fire—
the sacred fire of My passion for you."

*****

Art: "Sacred Fire"

Not As You Think

"To Babylon:

You do not see what I see.
I am not impressed by your wealth.
I am not moved by your anthems.
I am not awed by your civilization.
I am not glorified by your victories.
I am not the foundation of your kingdom.

You do not believe what I believe.
I am He who needs none of your temples.
I am He who needs not acknowledgment from politicians.
I am He who needs no assistance to fulfill prophecy.
I am He who needs neither 'America' nor 'Israel'.
I am He who needs nothing to accomplish My will.

You do not know who you are, Babylon.
You have professed to belong to Me,
you have called yourselves My queen,
but you have given yourselves to another lover,
devoted yourselves to your own glory,
and dedicated yourselves to your own prosperity.

Repent!
Repent before what you have sown
returns to you!
Repent before you follow your lusts
and your pride into hell!
Repent, My beloved!"

*****

Art: "Pardon Me"

Hating Babylon

To the waters Babylon sits upon—
to the peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues
she has made her seat upon:

"Do not hate the people in Babylon!
Do not join the beast in destroying her!
Though she has manipulated and abused you,
do not long for her to be burned
or for her flesh to be eaten.

Do not pray for her nakedness or desolation,
but for her people to be clothed in My Son's blood.
I will bring about her fall, but I am not willing
that any of these little ones in her should be lost.
In your anger do not sin; forgive as I forgave you."

*****

Art: "Offensive Grace"

Healing Without Depth

"I am not interested in healing the surface of your heart
while leaving deadly cancers alive and thriving within.
Yes, it is My great desire to heal and renew your heart,
but it is not My desire to ignore darkness within it,
nor to marginalize its idols and destructive desires.

I will not allow greed, nor injustice, nor self-centeredness,
nor glorying in nationalism, nor faith in 'righteous' violence,
nor cold love towards neighbors and enemies,
nor will I allow any other cancerous root
to live and grow in your heart uncontested.

I will not allow these strongholds of Satan to thrive—
not merely because of the transgression of the law of My Son,
nor only because of the abusive fruits that cause others to suffer.
But I will also expose them because I care about you, My beloved!
I do not want your heart to rot from the inside out."

*****

Art: "Us-Centered Gospel"