more encouragement for our journey
The gift of prophecy is for encouragement, building up and edifying the church (Eph 4:12, 1 Co 14:12-13). We love receiving words directly, through scripture and through others via dreams, impressions and spontaneous, flowing thoughts (via journalling). We believe God is always speaking to us, although in different ways. God is not silent and he has not abandoned us.
While Laurie-Ann is part of several strong church communities, Catch the Fire Ottawa is her 'well,' where she ministers to the Lord through drawing during the worship times. She's been doing this since February 2017, at a worship night - three hours of music and worship - and she drew two drawings (which she later finishes up at home). The above drawing in the cover picture is part of an impression L-A received of people laying their crowns and gifts at Jesus' feet in the throne room. She had never attempted to draw the throne room before, so drew tentatively at first, but it came to be a very colourful piece of art. Rainbows seem to be in many of my 2017 drawings! Here is a taste of some of the words that L-A's received from the team at CTFO:
"As you downsize some of your old (framed) art, your new art will explode in number and meaning. These drawings will touch many people, and you'll even be able to make a living." (Pierre)
"I can hear God say “Ready, Get Set, Go!” And you are going. This has been a plan for a long time. This is where your heart is, and I just saw grain in a field. This is this time of the year here (in Ottawa). I don’t know what time of the year it is there, but it’s right for you to go now. Now is the NOW time for you and your husband. And all things are coming together just gloriously – you have such a heart and you’re going for what God has for you. Your feet are on his feet, you’re on a holy highway, and you’re going straight ahead. And he says, when you get there, you’re going to be loving on the babies (I don’ t know what your role is, or if you’ve been told, but I can see you picking up babies and rocking them in your arms, and just loving on them. I can see you touching the hurting children. So whether it’s at a school or what, I can see you working with children, and I can see you touching them, giving them healing, giving them peace, giving them God." (Diane Morrow)
From Send off Sunday: (April Stevenson)
Laurie-Ann, the Lord speaks “freedom fighter” Freedom fighters can be very public or they are hidden. You are both. There are times that God wants you very much seen. But there are other times when you freedom fight and you’re not seen. I send you in freedom and authority over South Africa. You’re going for more than you think you are going for. And I see Tony, your husband is built on a firm foundation. A foundation in Jesus. But when you’re there, Jesus is doing something new. He’s growing and building in Tony’s heart from the foundation, and what I see symbolizes that its the truth, with lush foilage that bends. It bends more than a tree can normally bend. But as your freedom fighting, your prayers over the land and they have a lot to do with the word of God. He’s bending, and the foilage is covering you. I feel the Lord speaking, “protector” over Tony. He’s raising him with an anointing to protect over the land, freedom fighters.
And I see South Africa, for lives changed there. I see South Africa as though in a straight jacket. And it says, “Laurie-Ann, speak this word from my Word. And I see something like a snit, and something breaking off and the straightjacket loosening, and it loosens, and Jesus says, “I speak this… and I love your heart for the land. There is a straightjacket holding that country. It shifts and it loosens and I see a coming freedom to the land of South Africa. So I release over you an anointing that you go out, it’s because of Jesus, it’s because of the word of God that’s in your heart, It’s because of him that you will start as a freedom fighter, whether you’re seen, or whether you’re not seen, it does not make a difference to you. He is going to honour you, and you’re going to have great effect on that nation. I will bless you in the name of Jesus.
(Angelika) Holy Spirit has given you a quiver full of arrows. These are special arrows. Each one has a tail and each is different. The first tail I see looks like a string (scriptures, words from the Lord). The second tail has a string with many leads trailing behind the arrows. The third tail on the arrow is like a tail with a flashes of lighting. This speaks to me about these arrows, your weapons of warfare, have the Word correct and specifically for the occasion. This arrow is sent. The second tail with the lead, speaks to me for yours and God the Father’s love. The third is the dunamis resurrection power of God. So, Laurie-Ann know that you can shoot your arrows with your bow, and they will hit they will hit their intended target perfectly and in perfect time, filled with the fulness of the Trinity. I bless you, L-A, with the assurance that you are equipped and blessed and strong, filled with grace and courage. And many more involving creativity, new solutions and blessings from those we minister.
"As you downsize some of your old (framed) art, your new art will explode in number and meaning. These drawings will touch many people, and you'll even be able to make a living." (Pierre)
"I can hear God say “Ready, Get Set, Go!” And you are going. This has been a plan for a long time. This is where your heart is, and I just saw grain in a field. This is this time of the year here (in Ottawa). I don’t know what time of the year it is there, but it’s right for you to go now. Now is the NOW time for you and your husband. And all things are coming together just gloriously – you have such a heart and you’re going for what God has for you. Your feet are on his feet, you’re on a holy highway, and you’re going straight ahead. And he says, when you get there, you’re going to be loving on the babies (I don’ t know what your role is, or if you’ve been told, but I can see you picking up babies and rocking them in your arms, and just loving on them. I can see you touching the hurting children. So whether it’s at a school or what, I can see you working with children, and I can see you touching them, giving them healing, giving them peace, giving them God." (Diane Morrow)
From Send off Sunday: (April Stevenson)
Laurie-Ann, the Lord speaks “freedom fighter” Freedom fighters can be very public or they are hidden. You are both. There are times that God wants you very much seen. But there are other times when you freedom fight and you’re not seen. I send you in freedom and authority over South Africa. You’re going for more than you think you are going for. And I see Tony, your husband is built on a firm foundation. A foundation in Jesus. But when you’re there, Jesus is doing something new. He’s growing and building in Tony’s heart from the foundation, and what I see symbolizes that its the truth, with lush foilage that bends. It bends more than a tree can normally bend. But as your freedom fighting, your prayers over the land and they have a lot to do with the word of God. He’s bending, and the foilage is covering you. I feel the Lord speaking, “protector” over Tony. He’s raising him with an anointing to protect over the land, freedom fighters.
And I see South Africa, for lives changed there. I see South Africa as though in a straight jacket. And it says, “Laurie-Ann, speak this word from my Word. And I see something like a snit, and something breaking off and the straightjacket loosening, and it loosens, and Jesus says, “I speak this… and I love your heart for the land. There is a straightjacket holding that country. It shifts and it loosens and I see a coming freedom to the land of South Africa. So I release over you an anointing that you go out, it’s because of Jesus, it’s because of the word of God that’s in your heart, It’s because of him that you will start as a freedom fighter, whether you’re seen, or whether you’re not seen, it does not make a difference to you. He is going to honour you, and you’re going to have great effect on that nation. I will bless you in the name of Jesus.
(Angelika) Holy Spirit has given you a quiver full of arrows. These are special arrows. Each one has a tail and each is different. The first tail I see looks like a string (scriptures, words from the Lord). The second tail has a string with many leads trailing behind the arrows. The third tail on the arrow is like a tail with a flashes of lighting. This speaks to me about these arrows, your weapons of warfare, have the Word correct and specifically for the occasion. This arrow is sent. The second tail with the lead, speaks to me for yours and God the Father’s love. The third is the dunamis resurrection power of God. So, Laurie-Ann know that you can shoot your arrows with your bow, and they will hit they will hit their intended target perfectly and in perfect time, filled with the fulness of the Trinity. I bless you, L-A, with the assurance that you are equipped and blessed and strong, filled with grace and courage. And many more involving creativity, new solutions and blessings from those we minister.
St Paul's Anglican Church Kanata is a community that L-A has been part of since November 2000 in many different ways - as missions coordinator on parish council, on a worship team, on healing prayer team, as server-crucifer, and many-time missioner and short-term missionary. She's led many outreaches there and while also being part of Kingdom Culture, she became part of the earliest service, so she could accommodate being involved in both. Still, there have been words and encouragement that have come from that community as well. Close friend Lorna Brule read out to the 11 am service send-off - a scripture word she had for Laurie-Ann:
Isaiah 54:1-3: "Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in laboor! For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her that is married, says the Lord. Enlarge the site of your tent and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns."
This is significant, because at one time L-A wanted children, but Tony felt they were too old and nixed that dream. But God is giving them African children instead. L-A has always loved African children, ever since her first mission to Kenya in 1993. However, with the inclusion of her niece Kennedy and her step-granddaughter Sagan, who are currently toddlers, as well as her former employer's children, L-A's heart has grown to include more children - not just African ones.
Kingdom Culture Ministries (church): Is a mobile church and an outreach pastored by Shawn and Michelle Gabie in Ottawa. It began as Dominion Outreach Centre in east Ottawa under Bill Prankard, and was passed onto Shawn and Michelle in 2012. Laurie-Ann was directed by the Holy Spirit to go there in December 2013, and finally came in April 2014. She quickly was grafted into the media team (social media ministry on the webstream), as front desk reception/admin, and admin for many outreaches (Back to School, Turkey outreach and Holiday Dream) for about three years.
Shawn and Michelle honoured L-A onstage during the October 29, 2017 service. Shawn had this word for her in the middle of the commissioning prayer: "I saw this strong chain link clinking together, and I just feel like in this next season of your life, you’re going to find a new source of strength that you’ve never known before. And I feel the Lord is saying, “I’m going to bring the links together. I’m going to bring all the things that need to come together to give you the strength and support that you need. And when you land, you’re going to feel like you’re starting a new season of alignment and starting a new season where God’s order begins to be established in your life. It’s gonna feel like such strength for you in your journey of faith. And that journey of faith is going to be heard not just where you are, but back here (Ottawa). That journey of faith is going to be heard to the friends and to the relationships you made over in Africa. That journey is going to be heard in many places over the world, and I just feel that we are a part of that journey with you. We, as a house are part of that journey, so we send you with a blessing. We commission you to go out, to do well, to be awesome in this next season, and in every area in Jesus’ name."
Isaiah 54:1-3: "Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in laboor! For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her that is married, says the Lord. Enlarge the site of your tent and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns."
This is significant, because at one time L-A wanted children, but Tony felt they were too old and nixed that dream. But God is giving them African children instead. L-A has always loved African children, ever since her first mission to Kenya in 1993. However, with the inclusion of her niece Kennedy and her step-granddaughter Sagan, who are currently toddlers, as well as her former employer's children, L-A's heart has grown to include more children - not just African ones.
Kingdom Culture Ministries (church): Is a mobile church and an outreach pastored by Shawn and Michelle Gabie in Ottawa. It began as Dominion Outreach Centre in east Ottawa under Bill Prankard, and was passed onto Shawn and Michelle in 2012. Laurie-Ann was directed by the Holy Spirit to go there in December 2013, and finally came in April 2014. She quickly was grafted into the media team (social media ministry on the webstream), as front desk reception/admin, and admin for many outreaches (Back to School, Turkey outreach and Holiday Dream) for about three years.
Shawn and Michelle honoured L-A onstage during the October 29, 2017 service. Shawn had this word for her in the middle of the commissioning prayer: "I saw this strong chain link clinking together, and I just feel like in this next season of your life, you’re going to find a new source of strength that you’ve never known before. And I feel the Lord is saying, “I’m going to bring the links together. I’m going to bring all the things that need to come together to give you the strength and support that you need. And when you land, you’re going to feel like you’re starting a new season of alignment and starting a new season where God’s order begins to be established in your life. It’s gonna feel like such strength for you in your journey of faith. And that journey of faith is going to be heard not just where you are, but back here (Ottawa). That journey of faith is going to be heard to the friends and to the relationships you made over in Africa. That journey is going to be heard in many places over the world, and I just feel that we are a part of that journey with you. We, as a house are part of that journey, so we send you with a blessing. We commission you to go out, to do well, to be awesome in this next season, and in every area in Jesus’ name."
Dreams and direction while in South Africa:
During the first six months, we had a lot of open doors, amazing network connections and encouragement from locals. We had some challenges, sure. But after we let go of specific expectations, it helped. Most things don't happen the way you expect. Sometimes they turn out better! But nearly everything takes more time in South Africa. That's just how it is.
So we've become teachers, child workers, hospital visitors, and leaders in a very active church. L-A's become a bookkeeper as well as webmaster of more than just this site. Art work has bloomed, although there's only so much time for it. And we run an internet radio station. L-A continues to work on new as well as revised/updated "Ways to Grow in God" for the weekly Worcester Reports on Copples Western Cape Radio. Sometimes it seems like different challenges all happen at the same time, but some are smaller than what appears.
L-A gets impressions and nudges as guidance, along the work that they do. Tony is the same. One such nudge was to stop before colouring in some drawings. Before L-A colours in her line drawings - they look a bit like a colouring book drawing. So we tried these with the children in two of the kids' clubs, as well as in the school. They are loved. Wow. And nudges continue for Ways to Grow in God - that originally began as one talk in northern Kenya on Christian Maturity. However, the dreams are returning.
On May 26th, L-A had a dream in the morning. In the dream, L-A talked at length with Billy Graham: "He was very much alive, and I also had no impediment with my knees. We talked about evangelism He passed on to me a book called King Chariot. He told me to read it, and have it in my ministry arsenal. So I looked up to see if there was a book called King Chariot. What Google gave me was Elijah and the chariot. Like when he passed on his prophetic mantle to Elisha. Could this be Holy Spirit sharing that He wants to pass on some of Billy Graham's mantle?? Despite being a missionary, I am not a natural evangelist. He gives me divine appointments - that's different. I do remember different prophetic words shortly after Billy Graham died, that his mantle would be passed on to many. However, since Billy Graham was also a man of prayer, part of that may be passed on as well."
So we've become teachers, child workers, hospital visitors, and leaders in a very active church. L-A's become a bookkeeper as well as webmaster of more than just this site. Art work has bloomed, although there's only so much time for it. And we run an internet radio station. L-A continues to work on new as well as revised/updated "Ways to Grow in God" for the weekly Worcester Reports on Copples Western Cape Radio. Sometimes it seems like different challenges all happen at the same time, but some are smaller than what appears.
L-A gets impressions and nudges as guidance, along the work that they do. Tony is the same. One such nudge was to stop before colouring in some drawings. Before L-A colours in her line drawings - they look a bit like a colouring book drawing. So we tried these with the children in two of the kids' clubs, as well as in the school. They are loved. Wow. And nudges continue for Ways to Grow in God - that originally began as one talk in northern Kenya on Christian Maturity. However, the dreams are returning.
On May 26th, L-A had a dream in the morning. In the dream, L-A talked at length with Billy Graham: "He was very much alive, and I also had no impediment with my knees. We talked about evangelism He passed on to me a book called King Chariot. He told me to read it, and have it in my ministry arsenal. So I looked up to see if there was a book called King Chariot. What Google gave me was Elijah and the chariot. Like when he passed on his prophetic mantle to Elisha. Could this be Holy Spirit sharing that He wants to pass on some of Billy Graham's mantle?? Despite being a missionary, I am not a natural evangelist. He gives me divine appointments - that's different. I do remember different prophetic words shortly after Billy Graham died, that his mantle would be passed on to many. However, since Billy Graham was also a man of prayer, part of that may be passed on as well."