Looking back, it is interesting to observe how God takes all kinds of things we have done in our past and then uses them for His glory. As I had spent over 30 years in Art and Design Education before being called to Him, I guess it was inevitable that He would put it on my heart to start a creative arts ministry, so in 1998 we began a journey that saw Ralph and I organise workshops, gatherings and conferences with speakers and creative believers from across the world. The vision the Lord gave us was to encourage and develop both the visual and performing arts to enable freedom, healing and the prophetic in worship. The Ministry was called “Xalt” and it wasn’t very long before we realised that the Lord had given His people wonderful creative gifts and talents that there was little or no outlet for in their churches and that He can use creativity to break into the deep places where healing is needed.
We became connected with several people to whom the Lord gave poems.
God sovereignly downloads them to Lynda one of our team. It can be at any time of the day or night, she really hears verbatim from Him. They can be for a specific purpose, healing, or occasion, for a prayer or church meeting. (I particularly remember the one she wrote about Anne Frank for a meeting we organised on the Holocaust.) Lynda finds the process of writing poems very healing. They are usually prophetic, have a message and are relevant to what God is saying or showing her and others at the time. Very recently she was given a poem entitled “Calm in the Storm” which came to her the day before her Pastor preached on Mark 4 v 35-41 Jesus in the boat.
Sylvia Barnes. If you have a testimony of how God has used your creative gift in healing and you believe it will encourage others please get in touch by email newforest@healingrooms .org.uk
Be a Conduit in God’s Kingdom……….
God’s Healing River Ezekiel 47v1-9
From the throne of God His water flows
Cleansing and healing wherever it goes
Purifying, washing and making whole
Not just for some but for every living soul
It flows like a river not making a sound
It changes life, wherever it’s found
Come wash in His river and bathe your soul
Refreshing spirit, come, answer God’s call
A call to obedience to walk in His way
To follow Jesus, day after day
To know God’s will, to hear His voice
His spirit guiding, so you make the right choice
As you step in His footprints, He guides you still
So, you can follow and be in His will
There is no need to falter, or not be sure
As you step out in faith and trust more and more
This living water, brings life where it flows
Restoring creation, wherever it goes
Step into the water, up to your ankle, or knee
Or plunge into the deepest part and let God set you free!
Lynda Banbury (New Forest Healing Rooms)