December 13, 1999
This morning I was awakened well before daybreak by my Border Collie who was across the room on her bed tending to a problem that prompted her to start scratching herself vigorously. While I was laying there thinking about little and awaiting for sleep to return images started to appear in my mind. There were several images that came and they were all related to the same subject, the condition of my soul. The central image is of a rather spacious garden area complete with stone and brick paths winding through various areas of growth. Some of the areas were flourishing with beautiful growth of trees and shrubbery’s and in other areas of the garden it was obvious that previously existing growth which had once flourished were now severely stunted, and in many places the vegetation was quite dead. There was almost a Luna landscape appearance to much of this area as death and random chaos was the primary sense that I had about this area. I now became aware that I was walking the various pathways in this garden in company with Jesus though I did not and could not see his face as we were both clothed in hooded white robes. His robe was pristine shining brightly where as my robe had several spots here and there upon it which distracted greatly from the garments overall beauty. As we continued our walk, I began to notice various signs posted low along the edges of the walkways. Signs like one might expect to see in well tended gardens operated by local garden societies or by City parks.

Looking more closely at the signs I could read the names identifying what was or had been growing in that particular area. For example in one area where there had obviously been lush and vibrant growth the sign read "Pride". Now only a leaf or two remained to indicate that there was still any life remaining with pride. As I watched Jesus reached over and plucked off some of the remaining life and as He did so, I noticed one of the spots on my robe vanished. As we continued on in our stroll together and as we passed other areas I could read other signs such as "Lust of the Flesh" or "Anger" or "Mammon" all of which had once obviously abounded with rich lush growth. There were many other areas and signs to be read and I knew that in this part of the garden I was observing the depravity of my soul in all of its ugliness. From time to time Jesus would reach out and remove some of the remaining growth that was still alive in these various areas and as He did so another blemish would vanish from my garment.

As we continued our stroll we began to work our way to the area of the garden that was oh so beautiful to behold. As we came nearer I could see that many of the trees and shrubbery’s where loaded with various kinds of luscious fruits and beautiful and sweet smelling blossoms and flowers of every kind. This part of the garden was also very large as well and in a central area to this part of the garden stood a simple rustic looking wooden cross with a small bench near the base of the cross. As we approached the cross I became deeply aware that we were moving on to very Holy ground and I felt a powerful urge to prostrate myself before the cross. However, Jesus gently touched my elbow and guided me to the bench where He indicated by gesture that we would both be seated there for a while. We sat there quietly for several moments taking in the beauty of the place and then Jesus finally began to speak to me.

He started off with a question. "Do you know where we are?" To this, I kind of shrugged my shoulders a little and said "I think so".

"Aren’t we looking at the state of my soul all around us." I sensed a smile in His voice when He continued "You got that quite right. Let me explain a little to you what all this landscape has to say about the state of your soul. Prior to giving your life to me this whole area was covered with a vigorous growth of wild tangled trees, vines and weeds of every kind. When you gave your life to me that Sunday evening long ago, I planted this cross in the middle of your garden. This is your cross that we are sitting in front of, the cross that I expect you to take up daily. All throughout this garden is that which you have given life to by your words and by your actions over the period of your life. Prior to my planting your cross here in the midst of this garden, your garden was totally dominated by that which your flesh had so aggressively pursued up until that point in time. Pride and Covetousness was running amuck in your life and was taking up a significant portion of your garden space. Various other lusts of the flesh as well as anger and wrath were also well established. Fortunately for you, the same day we met you also met the Holy Spirit inviting Him to come into your life as well. When you asked Him to baptize you, He did and when He did he planted the seeds for every gift of the spirit as well as every fruit of the spirit into this area surrounding your cross. As you quite well remember, shortly after you started your walk with Me you found yourself in one desert place after another with this experience going on year after year until many times you were close to giving up, wondering if all this time in the desert was worth it. But deep within you, you were also realizing that I was doing a necessary work in your life, that is, if you were to have the future with Me that had become the dominating driving desire of your heart that a deep cleansing within you was required. Look about you and you can see what has transpired in the garden of your soul during all of those very difficult years. As you picked up your cross daily and proceeded to travel through the tangled areas of your fleshly soul, I was with you accompanying you, often guiding you through this wilderness area pointing out to you many of the problems area of your fleshy soul. When you would cry out that you wanted to be set free from this sin or that influence or that work of the flesh, we together would nail some of that which offended to your cross and when you picked up your cross again and began to carry it I would remove a blemish or a stain from your robe which was filthy beyond belief when we first met. As you started to cease speaking empowerment words to this portion of your garden, it slowly began to take on the appearance of death that the both of us desired within you. As you can see today the robe you are wearing is nearly clean and with what we now have going on between us relationally, it will soon be as pristine as the garment that I am wearing."

We both shifted about a bit taking a closer look of all the beautiful growth about us. After a brief pause, Jesus then continued on in His discussion "Where the Holy Spirit planted His seeds in your garden long ago is what we are now admiring. Every time you would read or speak the word in truth, the Holy Spirit would pass through here and water that which He had previously planted and life would spring up from the fertile soil that surrounds your cross. Every time a little more of your flesh died off another burst of growth would occur in this part of your garden that He was bringing to life. Every time you spoke words of faith or lifted up Abba or myself in praise and worship, additional fruitful growth would come to life and take up root in your garden, flourishing and taking on a Holy presence and power of its own as the Holy Spirit continued to pour out His life within you. Today this process in your life has taken on an acceleration which you feel within you increasingly every day. Right!?" I responded "Absolutely Lord. This sense of your presence growing within me is increasing everyday and I am increasingly finding it difficult to contain myself from breaking out in praise no matter where I might be!" Jesus then went on "I have recently spoken to you about speaking into being by faith or by prophesying in faith, that which is not or is at least is not readily apparent into being and manifesting in your life. Try speaking in faith now that which you desire to be occurring in your life and observe closely what happens." Gathering myself together a little I started speaking forth "By faith I speak and prophesy into being a powerful manifestation of the gift of Faith operating in my life in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Most Holy Spirit and in accordance with Abba’s plan for my life!" As soon as I spoke these words I saw stirrings among many of the plants in view about us as new growth quickly appeared and along with the new growth, a brief spurt of airborne seeds came forth which floated over to the devastated part of the garden and as quickly as they fell onto the soil in this blasted out area, new rich and luxuriant growth came forth and it was obvious to me that the amount of faith in my garden had just s increased dramatically!

Jesus picked up the point of His discussion once again and continued "What was once totally dominated by your flesh has been decimated. That which is new and vigorous from the Holy Spirit is taking over. As you speak words of empowerment to the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Spirit in your life this garden shall quickly be filled out entirely with His flourishing presence. Continue daily to take up your cross with Me and together we shall surely rid you of the works of the flesh that you see remaining and which you so detest."

The imagery faded but sleep did not return.
 

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