The Pentecost Gathering at St. Margaret’s
God’s Word – May 26, 2007

Proverbs 9: 1-6
Wisdom has built herself a house.  She has erected her seven pillars.  She has slaughtered her beasts, prepared her wine; she has laid her table.  She has dispatched her maidservants and proclaimed from the city’s heights, “Who is ignorant?  Let him step this way.”  To the fool she says, “Come and eat my bread, drink the wine that I have prepared!  Leave your folly and you will live.  Walk in the way of perception.”

Isaiah 44:1-8
God’s blessing on Israel. But now hear, oh Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen.  Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you in the womb, who is your help.  Do not fear, oh Jacob, my servant; yes, Israel, I chose you, for I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground.  I will pour my spirit upon your descendants and my blessing on your offspring.  They shall spring up like green tamarisks, like willows by flowing streams.  This one will say, “I am the Lord’s.”  Another will be called by the name of Jacob.  Yet another will write on the hand, “The Lord’s”, and adopt the name of Israel.  I am the first.  I am the last.  Beside me there is no God. Who is like me?  Let them proclaim it. Let them declare it and set it forth before me.  Who announced from of old, the things to come; let them tell us what is yet to be.  But do not fear or be afraid.  Have I not told you from of old and declared it, “You are my witnesses.” 

“You are my witnesses, my beloved ones, and it is you I have chosen to take my message, and my message will go forth from you.  Do not doubt.  I have called you not when you thought you were ready.   I have called you in your neediness, because I love you.  I will use you.  Only let yourself be used by me.  Come to me so that I can make you to be the witness I have called you to be from all eternity. Amen.” 

“I have poured out my graces and my gifts upon you.  I have given you opportunities to witness.  I have sent you forth to teach my people.  Love my people.  I give you all you need.  Put your trust in me, my children.”

“My dear little ones, I want you to shrink down.  I want you to back up.  I want you to be small.  Be like little children.  Remember how you were when you were very small, how trusting you were; how the world seemed to be a wonderful place.  Let me be your invisible friend.  Let us play together.  Be quiet with me.  Take time with me.  Let me be your best friend.  I will give you comfort, peace and joy.  Take time with me.  Stop hurrying.  Don’t be so busy.  Be quiet.  I am your best friend.” 

“I am as close to you as you allow me to be.”

Vision:  The Lord is showing me a big circle.  He says the circle encompasses, encompasses the whole world.  He says that his arms are so long and so wide that he covers each and every person in this whole world.  We are inside of this whole world which his arms embrace.

“I hold everyone in this large circle.  You are all in my circle.  You are mine.  You belong to me.  In my circle is everything that you need.  All of your needs will be found within the encompassing, my arms around you and the whole world.”

“Along with the gift of my resurrection, I went up to the Father.  I also became present to each one, as if I were the only one and they were the only one. Well, I go to the Father in the resurrection; I also at that time, give the church, each one, the gift of my presence. (This is the individual and total self-giving of God to each of us, as if we were the only one.)  In heaven it will be healthy.  You will be filled completely as if you were the only one.”

Everything is being held in his arms and we have the whole picture of, not just each one, but the way he loves each one, each one as daughter and son.

“My beloved, I have called you and now I send you forth.  Will you go where I send you?  Then listen to me, beloved.  Listen to me.  I have prepared you these years and I am sending you forth to call your brothers and sisters to me.  You must listen to me and trust me.  Are your hearts ready to go?  Only you can answer that in your hearts, beloved.  I know your hearts and I will bless you and give you all you need.  But I ask you, are you ready, for this is the day?  This is the day I have been waiting for, and now I am sending you forth to call my children home to me.  Listen to me, beloved.  Listen closely.  I will work in your heart; you will know my voice.  I tell you this day on Pentecost, this year I have opened the door before you and you will be sent forth, but you must listen to me.”