Forest Fire

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.  Isaiah 43:2

あなたが水の中を過ぎるとき、わたしはあなたと共におる。川の中を過ぎるとき、水はあなたの上にあふれることがない。あなたが火の中を行くとき、焼かれることもなく、炎もあなたに燃えつくことがない。

~*~

There's a very interesting God story behind this picture.  One day while sitting in my apartment, I asked God, "What should I draw today?"  For some reason, I thought of a forest fire.  So I drew it.  What came to mind was an article I once read on forest fires.  It said that even after the fire is over and the forest has been burned down, there are some plants that manage to grow.  That those plants actually grow BECAUSE of the forest fire.  They grow in those special conditions.  I was inspired by the idea of growth and new, stronger life after destruction.

The day after I completed this drawing, I attended the HIM Conference (Hawaiian Island Ministries Conference).  At the conference I attended a workshop on spiritual oppression.  It was hard to choose this workshop because there were so many good ones that I also wanted to check out.  Also, my own pastor was holding a Holy Spirit workshop in the very next room.  Ultimately, I decided for the spiritual oppression.  The workshop was led by a woman (whose name I can't remember).  But in order to illustrate the nature of spiritual oppression, she used the picture of a forest fire.  Over and over again.  It was incredible timing.  Immediately after she spoke about forest fires, she brought up a friend to share her testimony.  The woman was the daughter of a former pastor, who had sexually abused her as a child.  She spoke of the battles she faced in her head and in life, about the spiritual healing that took place in her life, and about how painful all of it was, including the healing.

Afterwards, I was blown away by everything that had just happened.  The forest fire image immediately after I had just drawn the forest fire.  The woman's story that was similar to my childhood and also reflected the journey I was going on at that time.  A journey of spiritual healing.  When it was over I wanted to go up to the women to speak with them and also share about my picture that I had just drawn.  Unfortunately, there were so many people that I didn't get my chance.

Well, the next morning was Sunday morning.  I went to Bluewater service as usual.  My pastor spoke about the conference and gave his sermon as usual.  Then at the very end he pulled up his friend, the same woman who had given the workshop!  She gave a prophetic word about prophecy and a picture of ears, and told anyone to come up if they thought it might be them.  Well, immediately after she gave her word, I felt my eyes start to perk up and burn at the same time.  I thought this was a perfect opportunity to go up to her.  So, I did.  

I went up to her and told her I wasn't sure if the prophetic word was meant for me, but told her about the sensation in my ears.  Immediately after I said it, she said to me, "I can see it on you!"  She prayed for me and for the gift of prophecy.  After she finished praying, I told her that I had attended her workshop and mentioned my drawing.  Luckily, I had taken a picture of my drawing on my phone and had it handy.  When I showed it to her, she was so amazed and asked that I send it to her.  Which I did.  

I guess her word of prophecy for me was pretty accurate after all.