Dancing in My Father’s House

As a small girl she danced with joy

With her Father at the beginning of every celebration

He needed not coax nor convince her

She laid her head on His chest at the slightest invitation

As a young woman she grew, she began to rebel

And soon her new found independence caused her to stray

From the comforts and security of a loving home and Father
And she left it behind the day she ran away

As the dreams of success quickly faded to dark
And the cruelty of reality soon set in
Pride caused her not to return home to her Father
She then made the choice instead to dance for men

She danced with passion and great skill for others
For her Father had taught her well
But the shame of what she had become had effects upon her
That only her soul could tell

Then the letters began to slowly arrive
She knew what each one would say
Yet she could never bear to read even one
So unopened she filed them all away

Pride had caused her not to return home

Now Shame was holding her there

For if her Father knew what dance she was dancing

Those letters would quickly cease to appear

She longed to make the long journey home

Yet she knew not where to begin

Her desire had turned from dancing for the world

To have one precious moment in her Father’s arms again

Then one day the letter arrived
Delivered some how by her own Father’s hand
This time she would open it up
Yet she just did not understand

It said “I know where you are and I know what you have been doing
It doesn’t change how I feel about you
I’m still your Father, you are still my child
All I have written in my letters are still true”

As she frantically opened all of the letters
Each one addressed to her name
She began to cry a mountain of tears
For each letter had just one question that was always the same

She barely made it home in time
For the celebration was just about to begin
But there her Father stood waiting for her...
Waiting for her to answer Him

She turned to Him “yes” she answered

“If the invitation is still open to me”

And so the two danced, Him holding her tight

Sweet music surrounding them in serenity

On the floor lay the letter with her name

And the Father’s simple request

“Will you come home and dance with me

lay your head upon my chest?”

“ He came near to the house and he heard music and dancing” Luke 15:25

C.Hinds/ © February 2002

The Chinook

The Chinook wind is a warm, drying wind blowing down from off of the Rocky Mountains in western Canada and the inland northwest of the United States.

The Chinook wind often moves at a high speed. It is most noticeable in winter, when its warm temperature contrasts so dramatically with the ambient cold air.

The Chinook has the reputation its name "Snow Eater" implies. The deadly-to-snow combination of high temperature and air rushing by at high speeds can literally remove a foot (30 cm) of snow in a few hours. And it may not just melt the snow but evaporate it as well, often all in one single process called sublimation, without leaving a liquid pool behind.

Now many people enter your life at different seasons, different times, for different reasons and make an impact. Some a very subtle impact that you barely even notice and then others shake your core and inner being and you know you will never be the same again.

She breezed in on a cold day in December and everyone around her was changed forever.

They weren’t sure of her name at first but after a few hours of her energy and warmth they all came to call her “Chinook”. She liked this name and what it stood for as she desired to cause supernatural unconventional change whenever she came down from her times in the mountains.

The mountains represented her secret place with God. She was a lover of the Most High God and loved to climb with Him. To go higher and higher with Him and see things from His perspective and breathe the air so clean and fresh till she was one with it. It was here that she always gained her speed and motion while allowing Him to breathe His breath on her and then with lightning speed she would descend off the mountain side with quick precision and destination in mind.

He had sent her to this group of people which had gathered together on the Southside. They all were in need of a fresh breeze, a warm wind, a change. But how would they handle the 360 degree He was offering them?

This group was prepared for it, they had been praying and crying out for it and now it had come. And in what seemed like a brief moment they were looking in a whole new direction. He had made all things new again. Renewed, refreshed, restored, rebuilt- all things new. They even looked different on the outside, they were clothed with new coverings. They now wore coverings of white and gold and silver to represent the purity and redemptive nature of the God that had sent them the “Chinook”, the warm wind to come and shift them.

They enjoyed times of intimacy and solitude in a holy place set apart just for them. They were repeatedly visited by heavenly beings that rejoiced with them and moved amongst them to confirm that He truly was “God with them”. Then He placed a covenant rainbow as a sign in their midst as a symbol of His promises to them and their loved ones. Gifts came down from the Father of lights who gives all good things. New relationships created, old ones strengthened and community established. Wow what excitement and a holy ghost party to celebrate!

Their winter season was briefly interrupted and the chill of the fresh fallen snow was a yesterday memory, a beautiful good memory that they would embrace as they waited for spring and new life to arrive as they participated in the circle of life. Or maybe just maybe the “Chinook” would come and visit them once more. Charmaine Hinds /October 18, 2012

John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Psalm 78:26
He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; And by His power He brought in the south wind.

Luke 12:55
And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is

Status Quo

In the Matrix one thing dominates
It’s not the truth of what you know
And no matter what you believe or choose to want
You better line up and follow the "Status quo"

Asleep or awake, conscious or maybe in
Another realm of possibilities
The dreamer within is only allowed to manifest
Within the bonds of decrees of what everyone else sees

They tell you how to think and act
Every thought to be a part of a whole
When really making everyone to be the same
Is the true goal of the Status Quo

Dare to explore, create and venture outside the factual
You may be crucified, set on fire
If you would dare to ever mention
Anything at all about the supernatural

Just assimilate all of your ideas and don’t try to be different
Just live your life within the system
You can’t make a difference there is only you
What ever you do don’t join the resistance

And when your life is over and your eulogy is read
Your tombstone will repeat the same
He lived trapped within the Matrix of this world
Living the best he could in the status quo game

Charmaine Hinds

“His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.”

Jeremiah 19-21 and Isaiah 17

Reading through these three chapters there was a message that is not a very popular one, but still one we must learn to grasp and understand.

Beginning in chapter 19 we see that Jeremiah the prophet was given a word from the Lord to give to the leadership in a unique and visual way. This word of the Lord was not a soft, comforting word of encouragement, but the exact opposite as a word of rebuke and judgement. I am not sure about you but I have found that the body of Christ really enjoys the prophetic when it is soft, encouraging words of peace and love given in a manner that they have grown accustomed to. But they tend to struggle with another side of God that is Holy and that for the sake of the Kingdom and His laws that He has set into motion, where He must address the issues of the heart and the sin in our lives. Many times He will use unconventional methods to reach beyond our minds and to penetrate the spirit and heart.

As a prophet it is very difficult to bring a word of judgement, correction or rebuke, mainly because of the response that is usually given from this type of message from God. In Chapter 20 we see the leader Pashur lash out at the word given, by trying to punish the messenger. This lashing is taken very well by Jeremiah as he stays true to the word of the Lord that is “shut up in his heart and bones like a fire”

I love that even under persecution and ridicule and even having to face a request from King Zedekiah, that Jeremiah did not bow under the pressure but stayed true to Gods word for the Nation even though it wasn’t necessarily a soft word.

Prior to this Jeremiah has a moment of complaint and wrestling out his purpose and destiny. How can a person be so sure in sharing the words of God but then afterwards question his even being born and very purpose for existence. We are all human and these are the struggles that all believers face especially in the midst of trying situations.

We all may become unsure of who we are and why we are going through difficulties or seasons of persecution for our faith, but the one thing we must stay sure of is who He is and His word. We will declare like Jeremiah did in Chapter 20: 9.10 “But if I say, I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it indeed, I cannot”.  It is here at this place of obedience that God meets with us all.

Charmaine

Hineni-Isaiah 6

This is a reoccurring chapter in my study of the bible, having read this chapter at a minimum of 12-15 times a year. I am now becoming familiar with it but always discovering a new revelation through it.

This chapter speaks of a supernatural occurrence in the life of Isaiah at a specific time, "In the year King Uzziah died." It speaks of man realizing who and what he is in the light of God. It speaks of true repentance and intercession as we read in verse 5 " Woe to me for I am undone I am man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people with unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts".
It then talks about the very nature and relationship of God, as He cleanses our sins and makes us clean by his actions then sends out the commission call " Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us?"

As a lover of words and the power of their meaning, this next part is most important to me. It is the Hebrew word "Hineni"
Hineni is translated in English "Here am I " but it does not mean in only a physical sense as in being present or a persons location. It's deeper and more powerful meaning is the total surrender of oneself no matter what the cost".
I recently just watched the release of a documentary film titled "Father of Lights" and saw Hineni in action. Through the simple obedience of modern day believers all over the world and their answer of Hineni, God and His power was showing up and supernatural occurrences were becoming natural responses. It was so powerful that my spirit cried out "Hineni" with all the other people watching.
I believe that at a certain stage in an adult life your biggest question is, What am I here for? What is my purpose? In total surrender to God you hear the call and you get ready to answer. There are two answers each with a different meaning depending on where you are in your journey. “Here I am” says I am present at the appointed place, please see me here. But the statement “Here am I” says I know I am the person you are looking for and I have wrestled out the consequences and the cost and I am totally available to accomplish whatever task you set before me, my heart is here as well, Hineni.
The rest of the chapter is God giving Isaiah the very powerful message he wants him to deliver to his people.
But what continues to resonate in my spirit and heart is the answer that Isaiah, David, Abraham, Esther, and many others have given to God, "Here am I".
Can you say it with me?
Hineni!

Charmaine Hinds

Psalms 122 - Jerusalem

This psalms is about giving thanks for being able to go to the House of the Lord. Wow how many of us are excited to be able to come into the presence of the Lord? Into His house and into His family.

Then it begins to talk about a subject that should be near and dear to each believer’s heart, Jerusalem. Jerusalem was known as the “City of Peace” and here the psalmist tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. As I read this today I thought about the possibility that Israel could go to war any day now.

There are events happening and decisions being made half way around the world that affect us believers in a major way and we have been commanded to pray. But it goes on to say that there is a blessing to those that love Jerusalem, those that will declare peace and prosperity to her. Believers and non-believers alike tend to pray for the things close to them. We tend to pray for the branch and forget the tree it has been grafted into. God blesses many things, certain people and peoples groups, specific nations, holy objects and even land. He has blessed Jerusalem to be the City of David, the City of Peace. I am so grateful for the political stance that our country of Canada has made with Israel. So please as we enter into some of the most Holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I ask you to please agree with the holy scriptures and pray for SHALOM to be with Jerusalem and with the people of Israel.

Charmaine Hinds

Broken Glass

Broken glass can represents a few thing

The symbolism of broken glass means broken promises or shattered expectations.

Your feelings may be hurt or a situation may be turning into a crisis.

At the Jewish wedding feast to consummate the relationship they drink from a wine glass and then they smash the glass

The glass is broken to protect this marriage with the implied prayer: "As this glass shatters, so may your marriage never break." The promises made by the bride and groom, like the broken glass, are irrevocable. It reminds us that love, like glass, is fragile and must be protected.

Shattered glass symbolizes the fragility of our relationships and reminds us that we must treat our relationships with extra special care. It teaches us that in times of joy we must also realize life also brings sadness and sorrow.

 Recently at a conference in 2012 where I was teaching at, the host decided to purchase a thank you gift for me. God told her a specific store in Halifax to go to and one word- the color purple

Unknown to her purple is my favourite color and the color of royalty that I wear often to remind me of my position as the daughter of the King. She went into the store and saw a purple gem rock, amethyst  (which coincidentally was also my birthstone) and decided to purchase it. As she went to take the gemstone off of the shelf something unusual happened. The entire glass shelving and all the remaining stones on the shelves came crashing to the floor. As she stood there before the rubble in disbelief with the gemstone in her hand all she could think about was the thousands of dollars of damage that lay on the floor in a shattered pile of glass. Then quickly something else happened that she did not expect- the attendant at the store came over and reassured her not to worry about the damage as there must have been some imbalance in the shelving for that to happen. Relieved but still in a state of shock she purchased the beautiful rock and had it packaged and wrapped and walked out the doors of the shop. Wow!

After sharing this incredible story with a few people and pondering on its significance the Lord spoke to her about the following.

She received Rev 21:18-20 - Number 12 means leadership, government, perfection, completion and purple symbolizes priesthood.

Amethyst was used as the 12th and last foundation. Each foundation is a unique gem for the adornment in creating the promised and new city to replace the old one.
Out of the broken glass shelves she received the message of Gods grace.

As she presented me with this precious gift and shared this story and meaning to me I knew that the Lord was speaking about the situation and circumstances that had just recently been reconciled and was in the process of restoration with my husband, our marriage, ministry and family.

This broken glass which represented the state of our relationship was because of the imbalance in our marriage and symbolized the brokenness of all of the promises and shattered expectations. But due to the grace of God we were walking away without having to pay the price for the damage and instead we would be rewarded by the amethyst foundation stone which represented the call of God that was on our lives of leadership and priesthood. Not to mention that He would replace the old with the new. What a beautiful gift of Gods Grace over our lives.

 God gave me this song as a reminder of the journey

Broken Glass -Shattered dreams

Broken glass all on the floor
Dreams are shattered they are no more
I cant believe I am here
In this place

What can I get from all of this
More broken plans as I resist
If I surrender now
Will I receive His Grace

Yet all I see are tiny pieces
Small fragments as the pain increases
All the broken glass
As it is falling into space

Yet out of this something shall arise
A prophetic gift, a promised surprise
A treasure for our future
A hopeful prize

This foundation stone is oh so bright
The color purple sparkles against my eyes
Speaks of His wonder, majesty and glory
As it tells the world a beautiful story

 

Grace oh grace His amazing grace

That which I owed has now been paid

Grace has favoured me now I am released

Walking free into destiny

 

For there is no more broken glass

Begun to feel hope again at last

All regrets are now in the past

As we begin to embrace this brand new day

Those shattered dreams to return no more

Just a brand new path and wide open doors

Brushed and swept away up off the floor

Broken glass and shattered dreams are gone

Yes ,broken glass and shattered dreams have gone…

C.Hinds (c) 2012