The Door

Back in April of 2001 I went to a Women's Retreat with about 200 women. I literally didn't know half of them, because two churches had joined in the event. The number of women attending made it necessary to sometimes have four women to a room. When one or more is a good snorer, it does not make for a good night's sleep. However, the time spent with the Lord in prayer for the retreat proved to be fertile ground around 5:00 a.m. when God gave me a vision of four women:

The women were individually searching through thick brush with a yearning to find the door and the voice that beckoned each one. The first one that found the door was crying. When she knocked, the door was opened and she saw a deep lake. She entered, dove into the deep water, and swam with strength and great joy.

The second woman arrived and knocked on the door. When it opened, she saw Jesus standing on the water calling to her. She walked out to him.

The third one discovered the door, knocked and was let in. Her shoulders began to reform into wings. She stretched them out and took flight.

The fourth one came to the door and knocked as well. When she entered, she crossed the threshold and turned around to extend her hand to help the next one in search of the door.
~~~~~~~

That morning as the retreat began I went up to teach the retreat song to the ladies, but first shared the vision I had been given for them. I also knew I would get a song in a few days about the vision. At the break a woman approached me from the other church and told me she had drawn my vision of 'The Door' a few months before. As I had shared it that morning, she added the women. Her name is Cathy Quest, and she is a gifted Christian artist. This drawing is linked to my vision, but please respect her copyright as an artist of this beautiful piece.

A few days later I began getting the words to the vision:

THE DOOR
copyright 2001

THERE ARE FOUR WOMEN HERE, LORD.
THEY ARE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR.
THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE HUNGRY
AND THEY NEED TO KNOW YOU MORE.

THEY SAY IT HAS BEEN SO LONG
THEY'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THIS PLACE;
AND THEY COME BOLDLY ASKING, LORD,
TO LOOK UPON YOUR FACE!
~~~

THE FIRST ONE IS SO DESPERATE
THAT ALL SHE DOES IS WEEP.
SHE WANTS TO DIVE IN, LORD;
SHE WANTS TO SWIM DEEP.

THE SECOND HAS GREAT FAITH, LORD;
SHE KNOWS THE PRICE THAT BOUGHT HER.
CALL TO HER, LORD;
AND SHE'LL WALK UPON THE WATER.

THE THIRD ONE HAS BEEN IN A BOX;
SHE'S STRETCHING TO DRAW NIGH.
TAKE HER UNDERNEATH YOUR WING
AND TEACH HER HOW TO FLY!

THE FOURTH ONE KNOWS THAT IN YOU, LORD,
SHE TRULY IS ALIVE!
SHE WALKS ACROSS,
EXTENDS HER HAND
TO WELCOME NUMBER FIVE.
~~~

WE ARE HERE
AT THE DOOR.
TAKE US IN...
SHOW US WHAT YOU MADE US FOR!

~~~~~~~~~

Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door
will be opened to you.
Mt. 7:7