I "doodle", yes the secret is out...  Do you doodle?

Until a few months ago, I used to doodle little flowers, little flowers that looked just like plumeria, even tho I never thought of my doodle flower as a plumeria, they were always my happy flower. For years I drew them on scratch paper, papers like bills when I was on hold while paying over the phone, a newspaper I was reading, the telephone book, a 'to do' list, a love note. I did not think about what kind of flower it was except during the Christmas holidays when I would sometimes give the petals a pointy little tip to look like a poinsettia.

Somewhere in July of 2008 I changed my doodle, it wasn't until September that I realized the fact and took a ponder on the meaning of the change. One would think that such a change would be more obvious to my brain but it wasn't. One day I was talking on the phone and began to doodle once again, noting the change I thought about my new pen strokes. They were little circles clustered together, they were, oh, they were grapes. How interesting... 

Grapes have always been the 'symbol' of prosperity for me, the promise that we will never go thru a day without food and our needs met. During the first 12 years of my marriage my keychain was grapes, it was a stained glass look and was very well made, I really loved it. It was my call to the Lord to please always provide our needs and He always does, still to this day.

I really don't remember where I got my 'Hawaii' keychain, but I knew that I wanted to go on vacation there. The grapes had lasted well over 12 years and it was time for a change, the 'Hawaii' keychain was a refreshing change. Flowers that looked like my doodle adorned the metal design and it was colorful, fun and inspired me. During the 12 years or so I carried around the Hawaii keychain I never made it to the Islands of paradise, but the thought was fun and I knew that someday Jim and I would make it there.

After the Hawaii keychain looked worn, it was time for a change. It was about a year earlier that I bought the most beautiful green beaded purse and a little coin "fish" keychain at a garage sale, they were brand new. I remember the lady and the moment I bought the set. I think I paid 3 dollars for both of them, wow!  They sat in my closet for a year or so before I saw them one day and decided it was time for a change and there they were right before me. The "fish" was my new keychain, and the green purse was perfect for an early spring accessory.

I have had more comments on the green purse lately, even today (at writing) while at Starbucks. It's not spring anymore it's an October day when I otherwise would be wearing brown, but I am not wearing brown I am wearing yellow and happy green, because...yes, I live in Hawaii now where the weather is 'spring' all the time:)

Back to the doodles...

Why the grapes, and why the grapes now? We believe that everything we have learned and experienced has been leading to this time in our lives, "this moment in time" as they say.  I have always wondered what the last half of my life would be like, I just never knew it would be in Hawaii...at least for now... It's odd really, to me anyway, sometimes I scratch my head and wonder how I got here. It all happened so fast - at lightening speed is more accurate. 

***

UPDATE: February 2009

It's February and it has been about two months since I wrote the above question "Why the grapes, and why the grapes now?"  Well, read on.....

Shortly after we got settled here in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, we decided to go to a church not far from the Inn called Calvary Community Church, from the first moment there I have felt peace and joy. Because our daughter Katie did not find that same "I belong here" feeling we did not go back until just recently. After Katie went back to California we decided to go back to Calvary and see where the Spirit was leading us. Well, things have stepped up! The Spirit is flowing in a new way there, it's as if they woke up! Jim and I went the last two Sundays, we love it and are excited to be a part of what the Lord is doing there.

Ok, so this was last Sundays sermon:

The word the Pastor focused on was 'convergence', the meaning is: the occurrence of two or more things coming together. He had done a display of grapes with twigs and rocks, he held up a cluster of grapes and talked about new things to come.It hit my heart! Clusters, grapes, new power, new wine! This is what God is doing in our lives, this is the time for everything we have been praying for and believing for is coming together, "for such a time as this". The impact was full and I was in awe of the Lord as I sat there listening to the words that were spoken, my hand over my mouth as if to hold it closed so it would not fall completely open. Wow.

The outline was this:

This is a Year of New Wine!
New wine is God's glory and blessing that is poured into me - I can only pour out what I take in!
The new wine is formed when there is cluster: Isaiah 65:8, now your 'company' and understand convergence.
Convergence = the occurrence of two or more things coming together.
Divergence = a receding from each other in moving from a common center.
          *Understand authority Matthew 8:5 - 13, John 14:12
          *Deal with your greatest fear 2 Tim 1:7
          *Increase your discernment Duet 4: 5-8 Prov 4:7
Guard and cover your communication in this season - what you say and hear
          *Know who labors among you John 21  = net/network
          *Be in the world and not of it John 8:23 and 17:14
          *Understand wealth 1 Timothy 6:10

Pastor Kahu Kealoha Kaopua               Sunday, February 15, 2009 
                                          

WHAT DID ALL THAT MEAN TO ME?

The clusters - the grapes - are God's doodle to me that He is getting ready to pour out a new wine for us!

New beginning

New Spirit flow

New ministry and career

We gave up all our old stuff to receive NEW and He says "Yes, I see what you have done, I am with you, I am taking care of every single detail in your life, you are my children and I love you more than you can even imagine. Please hang in there, while the path is being prepared before you, things worth waiting for are coming to you.  Praise me in the waiting, praise me in your tears, praise me - for in that convergence of words and faith and action, you will see.."

The above word of Lord was just released to me as I wrote, continually thru my life I am in awe of how the Lord works in our lives to make us who we are.

I love you my friend, Jesus loves you and you can love you too.

***

UPDATE: March 2009

It's March now and I must continue on about the grapes and what God is doing...He is putting together - converging - a group of talented creative individuals who are preparing Calvary Community Church here in Kona for an outpouring of His Holy Spirit like Kona has never seen before. Like Family Christian Center in Orangevale, California, I have seen the Lord update and upgrade the church facilities and then BAM revival, renewing, refreshing. 

The body of Christ is hungry for more, so if your church is suddenly starting to redecorate, get ready, the Lord has a plan and it's called NEW - "A New Wine for 2009", and as I say 'you better believe it!'

***

UPDATE: April 2010

Aloha friends! It's now over a year later and I thought an update was in order... maybe I should just do a "blog", several people have suggested that... anyway, here's what's happening:

God is moving in amazing ways.  Sometimes it is not obvious in the natural, but in the Spirit you see it as a party ready to happen. Well, that's what is going on, Holy Spirit is stirring, blowing His Wind to and fro (out and about:) getting everyone ready for a move of His Spirit like never before. I see it in the people at Calvary, I see it in my friends, and I mostly see it in what He has been doing in my life and in Jims life... WOW! We are not the people that moved to Kona in 2008, we have been changed. The Lord has downloaded into our lives the fullness of His Spirit (more fullness everyday, never full enough).

Our Father has been healing us from hurts, delivering us from generational bondages, removing the painful effects of past experiences and more.  He is filling us with happiness (happyness) and abundant love. It is wonderful how much better we are feeling. I am walking in emotional balance and am experiencing peace and joy like never before.  Jim is growing in the Lord by leaps and bounds and has many stories of his own. Mahalo Jesus!

Aloha for now...

Be blessed,
MaryAnn

Growth means change and change involves risk,
stepping from the known to the unknown.