Stone Speak A symposium on worship, arts and the prophetic,
here and across the pond...

I was flying once to a National Gardening Conference held in Arizona. We made a quick flight change in Las Vegas...I was thankful it was quick. We walked through an airport filled with party lights and slot machines. Now, I have never played one of these, but I investigated how they work. A slot machine reel corresponds to a computerized or virtual reel with stops, which is what determines the chances of hitting a particular symbol combination, and consequently, the big jackpot. The size of the jackpot will depend on the number of combination variations on each reel.

The odds of all three jackpot images lining up on all three reels (with all three reels set up in the same manner) would be 32x32x32 = 1 in 32,768. Those are some amazing odds!

When I began to explore the prophetic words I have received about 2011, I realized there were many things lining up about the return to kingly rule. Actually, it was over-the-top as to the number of dots that were beginning to connect for this year. As I began to look at all the various combinations of words and signs I had to ask myself, “Is it possible that 2011 is the jackpot of heavenly alignments concerning the King of kings?”

Let’s look at 3 symbols occurring in this amazing year and how they line up...


1. Festival signs
The concept of appointed times in scripture and Jewish festivals are very connected. Both the phrase “appointed times” and “festivals” can be used interchangeably. They are used as landmarks of what God is doing prophetically. God has always displayed His glory at appointed times. As scripture says, Jesus came in the “fullness of time.” For many, this is clear reference to the festival season and a move of God.

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for festivals, and for days, and years.
Genesis 1:14

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. Leviticus 23:1-2

You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty). Exodus 23:15

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son. Galatians 4:4

“The festivals allow us to actively prepare for something that can happen this year or the next! Therefore these appointments with God place us at the right place, at the right time, doing the right things. Festivals are symbolic of a ‘type’ of future event.” Gregg Killian

As we eat this (matza) bread and drink of the third cup (during the Passover royal banquet) we do announce the Master’s death until he comes (again). Corinthians 11:26

“The Biblical festivals are rehearsals, set by God. We rehearse certain events in time in order to be prepared for, and prophesy about, future events.” G. Killian

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a festival, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow (prophecy) of things to come; but the substance is of Christ. Colossians 2:16-17

The 2011 festival season began with an unusual occurrence that holds many prophetic and cosmic implications. It is the feast that falls on the Biblical calendar month of Adar and is known as Purim. The holiday of Purim celebrates the salvation of the Jews from Haman, an advisor to the king, through the leadership of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai. Purim is called the Feast of Lots because the villain of the story, Haman, cast the "pur" (the lot) against the Jews yet failed to destroy them. Unlike other Jewish festivals, Purim is the one festival that has no requirements for fasting or mourning because it is the festival of joy.

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:9-11

“All festivals will one day cease, but the days of Purim will never cease. Since Purim contains within it the major themes and influences of all the other festivals, the influence of Purim is a concentrated culmination of them all.” G. Killian

And these days of Purim shall never pass from among the Jews nor shall their commemoration ever cease from among their seed. Esther 9:28

What is especially unusual about this year’s festival is that it falls on a leap year. That means there are two Purims in one month! The first Purim, known as “Little Katan”, is an important marker for us. This special and unique sign tells us that the smaller symbol is a reflection of the bigger one that follows. Both are similar and of great value, but the one is a type of the other. Little Katan literally means,” little king.” It is the same word Samuel used when he anointed David. Jesus was from David’s line. In essence, David was a reflection or type of the one to come as we read in scripture:

And David was the smallest (katan): and the three eldest followed Saul. 1Samuel 17:14

The term small (katan) with regard to Purim Katan, has an amazing association to “this small one will be great,” (alluding to Purim Katan and King David) with the true and complete Redemption in the one to come, which is Christ the King.

“Purim Katan is the only time we have a minor festival preceding the actual festival. This suggests that there is something special about a leap year, which demands a Purim Katan. Since Purim Katan is a time to prepare for Purim, we learn that Purim is an extremely important festival.” From The Watchman

2. Earth Signs
The Hebrew word, "sign", is defined in Strong's as “a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, mark, miracle, or token.” As a sign connects to an appointed time, we begin to see the prophetic significance of the moment. Earth signs are expressed in a variety of ways that portray a deeper picture in the heavenly realm. As spoken of in prophetic circles, “What is true in the natural is true in the supernatural” or “as above, so below.” When we observe the shaking of the earth’s plates and the shifting of poles we can begin to understand how metaphorically they apply to the heavens and how literally things are transitioning in the spirit. We can look at collapsing governments, currencies and the talk of a new world order and know that a new day is dawning for us in history that will reestablish earthly kingdoms and draw us closer to the kingdom of God. Earth signs then are shadows or facsimiles of the unseen realm of the spirit and draw us into thinking that is above our understanding.

...Who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. Hebrews 8:5

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. Hebrews 10:1

“For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:6-7

“Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Hebrews 12:27

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look on the earth beneath. Isaiah 51:6

We see these earth signs all around us, but as we talk about connecting the dots, millions will see the most prevalent place these types of signs can be observed this month. As we approach a royal wedding on April 29, 2011, there is symbolic application of a type of rule that is about to shift. Kingly rule is on the horizon, and so many things are pointing to the return of the king. Prophetically, this is a time marker of huge impact. Christ’s return will play out in the shadows of earthly rule.

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

3.Celestial Signs
At the end of last year and the beginning of 2011, there have been several astronomical signs. The Israelites followed a strict understanding of the lunar calendar as it applied to feasts and heavenly signs. Throughout scripture there are many references of watching and waiting for prophetic events as they relate to the moon.

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. Joel 2:31

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke 21:25-26

There have been three moon signs that have led up to the appointed time of Purim. The first was in December of 2010. It was a complete, blood-red moon, lunar eclipse that fell on the winter solstice. The unusual circumstances of this alignment has not happened since1638, and it was only the second time in history since the time of Christ over 2,000 years ago.

The second sign was what is known as a lunar pedigree. Pedigree means, “the point in any orbit nearest to the body being orbited.” As a full moon, this “super moon” was not only 90% greater in appearance, but on March 19, 2011, the moon made its closest appearance to the earth in 18 years! Finally, a strange occurrence happened on March 17, 2011 that connects quite clearly to the festival of Purim. There was an occultation event with the moon. Occultation, according to Wikipedia, is an event that occurs when one object is hidden by another object that passes between it and the observer. Essentially, the moon eclipsed or occultated a star...but not just any star. Out of the constellation, Leo, there was a star that the moon passed between it and its observer, REGULUS (Alpha Leonis). This star appears in the heart of Leo and has a second name, the Latin name means "the little king,"(Katan) and is a reference to a kingly star going back to ancient times. Regulus outlines the head of the celestial Lion. The star is almost exactly on the ecliptic, the path of the Sun, and is regularly occulted, or covered over, by the moon according to astronomy journals.

Vibrational shifts affect all things on some level, which has been scientifically proven in the concept of a “butterfly effect: “the more the shift, the more the affect.” Consequently, when time markers align with an occultation, the shift is greater. The reason? This is an appointed time; it is more than a seasonal shift. It is the revealing of things aligning in the heavens. It is the combination of the time marker of the appointed time with the vibrational shift. It is the ebb and flow of the spirit and a prophetic combination that is a jackpot of revelation.

To everything there is a season, and time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

God is bringing about the sky signs that will correspond to the earth signs and appointed times according to His divine will because, "the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1).

When we look at these different signs, it is clear that there is a common thread, the coming of a king. It is also evident that these signs express that a smaller image represents and is associated with a larger image. The one is the reflection of the other. The macrocosm can be seen in the microcosm. These things bear witness to a major change on earth and in the heavens.

“Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”1 Corinthians 13:1

As we witness the many events, signs and symbols of this year, we can watch in amazement at the alignment that has already come. As the year unfolds, God will continue to reveal how the dots connect, how the coordinates of the signs align and how the heavens will declare His glory as the King of Glory establishes His throne.

This morning, I went about my routine of getting ready to go to work. After hitting the snooze button something like 4 times, I stumbled out of bed, gathered my clothes from the piles of laundry waiting to be put away, and made my way to warm the van up. As I stepped outside into the crisp zero degree weather, I managed to take in the unusually surreal morning atmosphere. It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The landscape was covered with the 6 inches of snow that had fallen a couple of days before and even though the trees were covered with snow, they were still standing tall. The trees were probably what I noticed the most. They looked like they were standing at attention and waiting for direct orders from their commander. As I soaked in this somewhat unusual scene, I knew that if I paid attention, God was about to reveal something major to me.

After making my way to turn the van on, I went back inside to finish getting ready. I turned on the coffee pot and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth, brush my hair, and put on the intoxicating aroma of patchouli. (By the way, this is the scent of choice in Heaven!) I poured my coffee into my travel mug and made my way outside to make the 25 minute drive to work. As I stepped outside, there were those trees again. They were still standing at attention awaiting their marching orders. Again, I knew that if I paid attention, God was about to reveal something major to me.

When I got into my van, I turned on my ipod to find something to listen to. Since I didn't have any new podcasts to listen to, I scrolled to the teachings playlist and turned on a message from Mark and Ryan Lawson. This is probably one of my favorite teachings that I have ever heard. No matter how many times I listen to it, I am always fired up to go out and see people saved, healed, and delivered.

This morning was no different. Only this time, I heard something that I hadn't heard yet. As I was listening to the message, I was thinking about those trees. I was about halfway though my drive when there it was. Revelation!

Mark Lawson said, "The church has enough information. It is time we get in formation!" That is exactly what those trees were saying to me. It is time to get in formation! The marching orders have been released. It is time to GO! In Matthew 10:7-8 Jesus said, "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand' "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give."

~Manifest Blessings~
Sam

November was unusually windy. Gusts were expected up to 70 miles an hour, not a typical thing you see in the heartland. As we begin this new decade of 2010, I have pondered God’s direction and influence over this season. I try not to miss the subtle breath of God’s voice as He speaks to me. Often I see in nature the change that He is bringing. This time is no different. While journaling November 20th of this past year, the Lord showed me a vision of eagles. In the vision, I saw someone trying to put an eagle in a box, a box too small for the enormous bird to possibly fit. The Lord spoke to me and said,
“The eagle has outgrown the box. It must be released to fly. It is time for eagles to migrate.” Days later, I had another vision of eagles. This time I saw a person, in a military blue jacket, being made ready for ceremony. Behind the blue coat was a gun salute, and eagles were released. The Lord again said,
“This is the season of eagle migration. Many are being suited for new authority this year. Rise above your circumstances and soar. Receive your new marching orders.”
I decided to research a bit on the migration of eagles only to discover that the National Weekend of Eagle Migration began November 20th! I knew God was revealing His direction for the coming season and the new decade we have entered.
Eagles are clearly a symbol of the prophetic, and God wants all who are called to this ministry to know that it is time to soar higher and receive their new assignment. There are many lessons to consider in a time of so much talk about “climate change.” So, here are a few things to consider as you ponder how to get out of the box of the last decade and into the winds of change this new season.

According to Webster, Migration refers to “directed, regular, or systematic movement of a group.”
The thing to remember here is that we must “keep in step with the Spirit.” This systematic, movement of the Spirit requires us to pay close attention to God’s voice. For those in the prophetic, seasonal change comes with us having expectation and partnering with God’s directional shift. We cannot get stuck in ruts, or settle for old forms and patterns. As seasons and times change, we must be sensitive to move with that change. The wind of the Spirit lifts us to new heights and shifts us in new directions, so we cannot get too settled in our ways.

Studies have shown that birds that miss the migration process find themselves displaced and looking for shelter. When we miss the course God has for us, we find ourselves disillusioned by our surroundings. As Graham Cooke says,
“When the opportunity of a lifetime comes, you must move within the lifetime of that opportunity.” Things can pass us by when we do not regularly and systematically wait on the Lord. To stay the course will mean getting before the Lord and abiding in Him. The Lord is our source for knowing where we are going and what we are to be doing. It is the difference in following our own instinct or His will. He alone gives us “wings like eagles to renew our strength” as we follow Him into new territory.

Migration in the Spirit means to embrace new surroundings and take new ground. This becomes particularly difficult if we are bogged down by the circumstances of life. As children of God, we can overcome our circumstances by getting a higher view. We need to trust in the Lord to show us a bigger picture. Many times our focus on the mundane problems of life is what keeps us grounded. Flying at new heights, and moving where God wants to take us, requires risk. This means we have to look with the eyes of our heart. Using your prophetic eyes will help you soar over the mountaintops of your daily concerns and get an eagle’s-eye-view of what is happening in the spirit. Somehow, a breath of fresh spiritual air tends to make the circumstances seem very small. As scripture says, “Look from heaven to earth.” A spiritual perspective changes everything.

Eagles migrate by means of a particular wind known as “thermal wind gradient”. In essence, this is a shift in elevation that establishes the velocity of a jet stream to carry the eagle faster than normal. When an eagle catches this wind, they can soar at amazing speeds. Thermals put eagles on a path that enable them to fly effortlessly, conserving energy. How do we catch this type of wind in the Spirit? We must put ourselves on the path the Lord has placed us. He is the one who elevates us to new heights, showing us a new zenith. When we operate in alignment with His direction and will, acceleration occurs without effort. If the course He has set for us is higher than we have been before, we must catch the updraft of His power in order to reach our destination. We cannot do this in our own strength, nor can we fly alone. Eagles migrate in flocks. Being connected to other eagles, those in the prophetic, brings accountability and confirmation of direction.

This year, as you seek God for the new current of change that is coming in your life, be prepared to move with the Spirit. This will come with a challenge to get the right preparation and training. Consider taking a class or attending a prophetic conference. If you find yourself frustrated about being grounded, ask the Lord to give you an aerial view for your life. The winds of change are here. It is time for the eagles to migrate.
May the Spirit carry you,
Rebecca Holihan



For information on conferences and prophetic classes visit our website:
www.daytonvineyard.com and look under prayer ministry for details.

New Years Eve, 2009, brought an interesting phenomenon as we ushered in cheers to 2010... A blue moon – the second full moon in the month. This is an unusual occurrence in the study of moon phases and cycles. Not only did we witness a second full moon in the month, but we also experienced a partial lunar eclipse on the same night! No matter what you believe about coincidences, signs, and wonders, this was an amazing astronomical combination of events. In fact, you will not see another blue moon on New Years Eve until 2030. Understanding that Genesis 1:14 states that the luminaries are in the sky for the purpose of “serving as signs for set times,” is key to understanding the prophetic relevance of this season. It is fascinating to ponder that what God has determined as a sign for this New Year, is something that seems to happen only “once in a blue moon.” So, let’s reflect on what might be said from a Biblical perspective of this concluding sign of the decade, and its concurrent effects on the prophetic season we are now in.

The Jewish calendar is organized around the moon cycle. The Jewish belief is that, based on Levitical law, the moon is the chosen measure for God’s calendar and time clock. “The LORD'S appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations My appointed times are these...” Leviticus 23:2. Everything related to appointed times and festivals, under Jewish law, are associated with the moon. It is no wonder that eclipses, meteor showers, and other sky phenomena were considered as “take note” observations. Unlike western thinking, the Jewish culture saw all of God’s signs as purposeful for coming events and metaphorical illumination into our future. According to many rabbis, “Jewish time is basically lunar, linked to the moon's monthly rise and fall. Like the moon, we experience times of decline, even moments of obliterating darkness, only to rise again to luminescent fullness. We live our lives with the moon because we wish to harness the distinct qualities of lunar energy: its courage and creativity, its capacity for renaissance and rebirth.” One thing to reflect on when looking at the signs in the sky, is that God does everything with order and purpose. As Rabbi Arnie Gotfryd states,
”Abraham understood a most basic principle of human logic, that everything that happens, happens for a reason. The very fact that solar and lunar sizes and motions are coordinated is itself a something, albeit an abstract something, which requires an explanation. The sun and moon should be viewed as an orderly system with a suitable cause.”
When you consider the blue moon and the partial lunar eclipse of 2009, here are some “suitable causes” to consider when contemplating the prophetic beginnings of a new decade…

We know that the earth is covered with darkness and that darkness covers the people according to Isaiah 60. Yet as the darkness passes like an eclipse, God’s light will shine. “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
Isaiah 60:1-3

In this season, God will show us that even though the darkness surrounds us, and many things in this world eclipse us, we will triumphantly shine because of His light. This year is a time of rising above the circumstances of darkness, to rise above evil, and reflect His light. We will become God’s luminaries in a dark world, if we will simply rise above the standard of the world. This will require us to set a standard of righteousness. In this time, we must choose light over the darkness that pervades the world. According to to Chassidic Masters,
“But not always are the advantages of good perceivable. There are times when ‘darkness covers the earth and a fog envelops the nations,’ when a world gone amok eclipses the vitality of good and the goodness of life. When ‘the way of the wicked prospers’ while the righteous suffer. When our sensitivity to the spiritual rewards of fulfilling the divine will is deadened. Such conditions serve to elevate our choice of good to a higher -- and freer -- level: no longer is our commitment to the Almighty advantageous in any perceivable way; no longer is it compelled by our reason and by our perception of reality. When we choose good under such conditions, it is a pure choice: beyond motive, beyond rationale, beyond anything save our blind faith in God and the fact that we have cast our lot with the fulfillment of His will.”
Just as the moon receives its light from the sun; we also have Jesus as our source for receiving light to reflect His glory in a dark world. We cannot do this in our own strength. As the moon has no real light of its own, we have no real light apart from God.
"For you light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness." Psalm 18:28
And...
"In Your light we see light." Psalm 36:9

A partial eclipse implies a short period of time. A blue moon implies an opportunity that doesn’t come often. When you decide the path you will be on this next season, do not hesitate to choose what may only come once in a lifetime. Carefully choose that which will produce fruitfulness. This is a season of opportunity that will require discernment and wisdom, taking the next step of faith while destiny is in front of you. This new season will come with a great outpouring of God’s spirit. Decide how you will eclipse the old of the last decade to receive the Lord’s good riches in this New Year. Make room for God’s goodness “according to His riches in glory.”
Phil. 4:19

This new decade is filled with shaking and shifting. Within a couple of years, astronomical events will accelerate. As in the natural, much shaking will occur in the spiritual dimension of our lives as well. It is imperative that we move with the Spirit to be established in God’s word, and prepare for the turbulent times ahead. We do not need to live in fear, but we do need to be sober about the future. As darkness eclipses the nations and the world around us, we must set a trajectory course that moves us in the opposite direction of world affairs and establish ourselves as the true luminaries of God’s kingdom.
As a prophetic people we are called to see as the tribe of Issachar...
“... Understanding the times and season and knowledge of what to do.”
1 Chronicles 12:32
As we crossover, eclipsing the old decade, let us seek with diligence the light of God’s presence, piercing the darkness, and being the change the world needs. We are living in an appointed time, which means we are living in the opportunity of a lifetime. Eclipse the old. This comes once in a blue moon.
Cheers,
Rebecca Holihan