Day 26 - Dance with Me

Saturday August 18

“I (representing the body) was in the backstage area of a theatre getting ready to go on stage. I wasn’t anything special, a background person that had no significant part.

Suddenly the Lord stepped forward and extended His hand to me. He drew me out of the crowd and unto the stage. He encircled me from behind in a most beautiful dance-like manner, pulling me to Himself. My own arms hugged my body as He pulled my back into His chest and we began to be lifted above the crowd. We were dancing somehow but not like anything we would understand to be a dance; it was a floating twirling beauty that transfixed the crowd below.

The feeling of being loved, secure, enveloped and special can’t be articulated by even the greatest author, it had to be felt to be understood. Every area of my life that was empty was suddenly filled and I was overjoyed at the filling of what I didn't even know needed filling.

As we continued this dance of intimacy nothing and no one mattered. It wasn’t about the performance; it was as though we were creating our own world. This was greater than any fantasy of a young woman on the verge of new love, this was fantasy married to a reality that exceeded the deepest of all desires culminated. (If this is a taste of heaven…nothing we ever go through will matter.) There was an awareness of life, creation, and fruitfulness. There would be a fruitfulness of righteousness, power and glory...in that order.

I felt the Lord’s cheek against mine and His intimate whispers beckoned me to communion with Him. In the midst of this He asked, "What is this love worth to you?" I started to list all that I had done for God and given up for Him but I declared in my spirit that anybody would give up their lives for this. (Martyrs must certainly experience this!)

He showed me that this now represented His body, His bride. He is going to take us from the wings of obscurity into the centre of where the world is watching and perform things that the world will marvel at. If we’re focused on the beauty of the dance of intimacy He is drawing us into we are not going to be conscious of the world’s eyes on us. We are not going to even for a moment think it is about us or our talent…it will all be about Him. He is taking us to a new level. He will perform things on behalf of His church. No longer will the church be indistinct, the world will be watching in awe. As we stretch out our hand and let Him lead He will take us to new heights that will include such a release of fruitfulness in righteousness that will create power and glory. His word doesn’t return void and His faithfulness precedes our praises, so too as we are one with Him will He create a fruitfulness of righteousness, glory and power. (2Cor 9)  What is it worth? Perhaps it isn’t about the negative of cost…perhaps it is about reaching, desiring, knowing that intimacy! What is His death worth? Is he not worthy of ALL?

"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.  There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.  There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.

For in that day," declares the LORD, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master.' Hosea 2:14-16

Everything in the Kingdom flows from a revelation of love.  This is the shift the Lord is longing us to make as we move into His kingdom.

Master is a relationship defined by function, what we do.  But marriage is a relationship defined by love and passion, who we are.

The story of Christianity is first and foremost a love story. 

I believe the Lord is preparing a Bride that will know the look of His face. Because it’s out of that place of intimacy and rest in His presence, that true authority will come for the church.

The Lord wants to take us back to the beginning, back to where our love was fresh and unspoiled.  Back before boredom, distraction and other priorities dulled our fervent love for Him. He wants us to go back where we will find Him waiting to continue on the journey we had started with Him. He has not left or forsaken us, but we have journeyed without Him.  Now He is calling to us:

I am waiting to begin with you again.  I am longing to dance with you again, the bridal waltz.  I am waiting.  Come.”

Today and tomorrow, during our day of rest, let us take the time to simply be swept away by the Lord, to allow our hearts to be ravished afresh with His love.  You may choose to watch this video clip from the Covenant video which includes two music videos – Kisses of Your Mouth (by Heather Clark) and Dance with Me (by Paul Wilbur).  High Speed   Low Speed

Or you may want to enter into the Presence of the Lord with this extended live version of Kisses of Your Mouth from the Now is the Time CD or He Comes Leaping (by Tracy Rahn)  from the Deep CD. 

Let’s pray this prayer together: Lord, you are the longing of my heart.  My soul yearns for you in the night and in the morning my spirit longs for you.  Lord I want to answer your call and say “Yes, I want to dance with you.  God I open up my heart wide and ask you to take me to places of intimacy with You beyond what I have experienced before.  I want to know you, not only as Master, but as Husband.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

Kisses of Your Mouth – Heather Clark - Now is the Time

Kiss me with the kisses of your mouth

Kiss me with the kisses of your mouth

Your love is better than wine

Your love is better than wine

Pleasing is the fragrance

The fragrance of your perfume

Your name is like a perfume poured out

No wonder the maidens love you

Take me away with you

Let’s hurry

Take me away with you

Take me away, with you

Let’s hurry

Let the king bring me into His chamber

Kiss me with the kisses of your mouth

Kiss me with the kisses of your mouth

How handsome my lover you are

Oh how charming my lover you are

Take me away with you, let’s hurry

Take me away with you

Take me away with you

Take me away with you

Dance With Me  – Paul Wilbur – Lion of Judah

Dance with me

O Lover of my Soul

To the Song of all songs

Romance me

O Lover of my Soul

To the Song of all songs

With you I will go

You are my love

You are my fair one

Winter has past

And the spring time has come

Dance with me

O Lover of my soul

To the song of all songs

Romance Me

O Lover of my Soul

To the song of all songs

Dance with me

Dance with me

Dance with me

Dance with me

Dance with me

Dance with me

Come and take us

To yourself oh Lord

Sing the songs of all songs

The song of all songs

Songs of all songs 

Comments

Jessica
Kingston, Ontario
August 19, 2007
When I read Day 26, "Dance with me" I remembered once when I was picturing myself dancing with Jesus at the wedding. Suddenly Father God stepped up and asked if He could dance with me since He was the Father of the bride and everyone knows that the Father always dances one dance with his daughter at the wedding.

Hazel
Abbotsford, British Columbia
August 19, 2007
I have so appreciated the writing that you have been sending these past weeks. It draws me ever closer to our blessed Lord. This one especially has deeply touched my heart each time I have read it today (this is the 3rd). Thank you and God bless you for leading our wonderful country down the "highway of holiness".

Audrey
Vancouver, British Columbia
August 19, 2007
Thank you so very much for sending this...
As I sought the Lord for the message for last Sunday as I asked Him what He would like to say to us. Clearly I got one word "Intimacy". I was so touched that indeed He wanted more Intimacy with us. So as I sought Him for the words I shared some scripture of just how intimate He is to us
He knows the hairs even on our head ... Read all of Psalm 139 ... Plus a few other verses, then encouraged the dear flock to more Intimacy with Him through fellowship, communication & prayer. At the end as I lead out in the anointed song Holy, Holy, Holy…the presence of God so enveloped us!

Lori
Honolulu, Hawaii USA
August 18, 2007
I had an almost identical dream this past week myself. I dreamt I was at a job and in walked a prophet/teacher whose meetings I love to go to. We were in a central area where many of my co-workers could see me and he came up and began dancing with me while prophesying over me. For a moment, I was self-conscious of what my co-workers were thinking, and then I decided, "Who cares? Let them see how God and prophecy is!" Then as the dance continued I was caught up in the dance and the prophetic words and didn't care at all anymore. Then suddenly we were sitting in the prophet/teacher's car and he looked at me and said, "You know Lori, I think you think I don't like you. But I love you!!!" After reading this, I saw the correlation and realized that this prophet/teacher in the dream was really a representation of God Himself and what He said to me is true. I often don't think He even likes me very much, but in reality He loves me very much.

Laura
Prince Albert, SK
August 18, 2007
I had a vision earlier this week from the Lord that really ministered to me and after reading today's exhortation I wanted to share it with you.

The vision began with me hanging my head low and looking at my feet. I was looking at my feet and wondering where to go and it seemed dark and confusing, even overwhelming. I heard the words in my spirit "You are the glory and the lifter of my head" As I heard these words I began to declare them personally yes you are the glory and lifter of my head, come and lift my head and be my glory, and suddenly there was the Lord taking me in His arms. He picked up my head and I realized I was on a dance floor with much happening but I didn't seem like I belonged, my clothes and hair were simple and humble. The Lord lifted my arms and led me into a dance stance. I stood there looking in His eyes, His arms holding me firm but ever so gentle, we breathed a deep breath together and began to move it was oh so graceful and full, at one point I looked at my feet to see what they were doing and I stumbled and stepped on His feet, He chuckled and said, "Keep your gaze this way I will lead your feet as you look into my eyes." I continued in this place for some time, until I had to leave for my day to start in the everyday life of work and family. But this has not left me. I have been meditating on it much just sitting in awe and worship as I dance with and love my Lord. I seem to be taken back to this vision everyday when I sit before the Lord.

After reading today's posting I am in awe again of how He chooses to speak to each one of us the way hear and as we listen for His words of love for us it is the same things He speaks to the Body and we realize we are not alone.