HOW TO GROW ROSES IN
THE DESERT – Kathie Walters
A Word to those who feel hot, dry, and barren
By Kathie Walters
Email: kathiewalters@mindspring.com
Have you ever been in a desert?
I was once on a bus going across the desert in Egypt. About 1:30pm the bus broke
down.
It was HOT and DRY and BARREN!
I can’t remember what happened, except that mercifully, another bus came after
a while. There was nothing there in this desert except sand, sand and more sand.
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Is He going to kill me?
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Someone gave me a word one time, - "God is going to speak to you in the
desert." I thought God was going to kill me. I remembered the desert. Then
I heard a message about the wilderness.
"Oh God," I thought, "Now He’s going to leave me and let me
wander around all alone for months or years." I was busy ministering for
God, and God was moving and people were being touched and our ministry was going
great. It was a puzzle and a bit annoying. It looked like God was going to
interfere with my ministry?
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Why God takes us through desert places?
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Why does God sometimes draw us into a desert, wilderness place? Is it a
punishment? Kind of like standing a child in the corner? Maybe He wants to see
if we can survive or not? Or a test!
Let’s take a look around the desert wilderness place. You’re right,
there’s nothing there. Great! What now?
Well guess what? There’s someone coming toward you? There’s something about
Him that is pulling on your heartstrings.
He has all your attention now –
there's nothing else there to distract you.
"I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness
and speak comfortably to her, and she shall sing there."
(Hos.2:14).
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"Until You've Learned to Sing in the Wilderness. . ."
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An old man of God I know said this to me one day, "Until you’ve learned
to sing in the wilderness, you’ve never learned to sing at all." So, now,
this man in the desert has got your attention – and you remember a few things
you kind of forgot.
Well you didn’t actually forget-- it’s just that they got pushed into the
background of your life.
Who is this man?
This man in the wilderness - He is incredibly beautiful, His eyes especially.
They seem like a fire and piercing. And what great love – and He is so tender
and gracious. You remember! He is the Lord!
As you melt, a spirit of worship comes and thankfulness and great joy.
"Where have you been?" He asks. Ouch! "Well I was busy in your
kingdom, doing things for you." As soon as you said it, you realized it
didn’t matter – it was YOU he was interested in, not what you did. He seems
so focused on you. He loves YOU!
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PROPHETIC WORD FOR "IN THAT DAY. . ."
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In verse 16 God says, "In that day you will call me ISHI .. A prophetic
term for "Close relationship."
"ISHI."
He wants to remind you that He desires a close relationship with you. You are
not only a servant but you are His beloved. There’s something He’s been
trying to tell you too. Some new direction, something about renewing some
relationships that you didn’t have time for, or thought you didn’t. Some
different areas of ministry maybe.
You might be in a desert, but the desert doesn’t have to be in you. Jesus said
there are springs of water in you, "springing up into everlasting
life" (Jn 4:14). The springs begin to well up, and praise and adoration
flows out of you. Before you know it the springs are watering everything around
you. You see things differently, you feel differently about people you didn’t
notice before.
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Growing Roses
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When Jesus shows up the wilderness – the wilderness disappears. The desert
starts growing flowers. Whoever heard of Roses in the desert?
". ..And the desert shall blossom like as a Rose. It
shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing " (Is.35:1-2).
You know when Peter and Paul were shut up in the INNER prison (that's a prison
inside a prison) with the cats and rats and terrible smells, they invited Jesus
in. Well they shouted and praised and sang to Him. I guess He took that as an
invitation!
When He showed up though - the prison doors burst open and the locks and bars
fell apart. There was an angel there also who led them OUT. There is no place
that is closed to Him if He decides to enter. Whether it's the prison or the
uttermost depths of the sea. Or, the heights of heaven, "for there your
hand shall lead me" (see Ps 139 -7-9).
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Your Prison Cannot Hide You From Him
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Your desert cannot keep Him away - your prison cannot hide you from Him - He
said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Heb 13:5).
"Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue
of the dumb sing. For in the wilderness shall waters break
out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water." (Is.35:6-7)
That happens when the water of life flows out of you – and it flows as you
respond to Him.
"ISHI" means you have close relationship with HIM. The Beloved is here
- touching the very springs of life in you.
"My Beloved is mine and I am
His.." (Song. 2:16).
There’s a sweet aroma now in the desert, like sweet apples. Flowers of
praises, blossoms of thanksgiving. It’s a beautiful place. . .
Wait! "Who is this coming out from the wilderness, leaning on her
Beloved?" She looks as if she's in love (Song 8:5). Why, it’s someone
beautiful – I do believe --- it’s YOU!
Kathie Walters -
www.goodnews.netministries.org/kathie.htm