KNITTING HEARTS CAFE
Message given by Patti Banks Walden
June 11, 2016
Written by Sue Sanders
Yellow sunflowers seemed to wave their greetings as the women gathered today for food and fellowship and an engaging time of experiencing the presence of the Lord. Joyce Sanders opened the beautiful day of drama, worship, testimony, exhortation, dance, and prophetic words with this prayer: “Father, I glorify you and I glorify the Holy Spirit. Come take over this meeting. We invite you and the host of heaven. We invite the seven fold Spirit of God (Isaiah 11:2-3) and the great cloud of witnesses. We thank you for all that you are releasing from heaven today for your people. Thank you for empowering and sealing all of the word You’re bringing forth to us today because we will never be the same again. This is a time of change, a new season, a time that exists on the earth. Come invade, empower us and make us dangerous for the Kingdom of God. We love you and honor you as our King.”
Kaitlyn Aycock sang an anointed song asking the Holy Spirit to come down and anoint us and fill us with His power like oil poured out to our feet.
The Surrendered Drama Team from Lake City presented a dynamic drama about the Second Coming of Jesus entitled “Are You Ready?” The young people acted out the message that if man had not put boundaries on God, things could have been different. They illustrated Satan’s power and dominion in the New Age with legalized abortion, same sex marriage, 9-11 crash into the World Trade Center, frequent shootings, ISIS and Satan’s control of this culture. However, they also showed the Great I Am and His ultimate victory, demonstrating that the King is among us. The team shared the testimony that each Christian has, “I am no longer a slave to fear, I am a Child of God. From my mother’s womb You have chosen me. Love has called my name. I’ve been born again into a family. Your blood flows through my veins. I’ve been liberated from bondage.”
Renee Mills, a woman who has endured multiple traumas throughout her life, testified of a God who is faithful. Through all that she has been through, she has kept her trust in God. Although she was raised in church, her home was toxic. Renee lived out her life as a child of God, but yet she was always terrified. She testified of two stressful marriages filled with physical and sexual abuse. She declared, “God is faithful. God will bring you out. He will supply all your needs. He has been my sustainer, my healer, and my deliverer. . . He met me in my pain and brought me out.”
The praise and worship team led us to let the glory of the Lord and the praises of the Lord rise among us. We lifted up His name declaring that His name is a strong and mighty tower, a shelter like no other. Praises continued to be lifted to the Lord God Almighty who reigns and is holy and so worthy. Susan and Matt let the river of the Holy Spirit flow as they led us in spontaneous worship. All throughout the singing, the dance team raised their flags and worshiped as the Lord anointed them.
Patti Banks Walden from International Family Church in Columbia, SC, began her message with a song of prayer asking the Lord to breathe upon His daughters, to flow in a new way because we desire Him. She shared her salvation story. Salvation came like a tidal wave upon her when she was 24, and she was not only saved but filled with the Holy Spirit at the same time. It was as if God had walked into her body. Immediately she began writing poems and giving prophetic words. Patti reminded us that we all have destinies. She jogged our memories recalling Susan Boyle’s singing of “I Dreamed a Dream.” We as women must begin dreaming again. She stated, “Jesus came to dismantle the ancient curse on women.” She reminded us that we needed to press through just as the woman with the issue of blood pressed through the throng until she was able to touch Jesus’ garment. Patti encouraged us saying, “Jesus sees each one of us. He knows us. Press through and touch Him.” Patti noted that she and her husband do not watch television, even the news. Instead they focus on the Word of God.
Jesus is about restoration. Moses and Aaron’s sister, Miriam, was a prominent woman leader as the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness. She was also a song writer, but because of her murmuring she became leprous and was put out of the camp. The group could not move out until she was healed and brought back into the camp.
Barak would not go to war without the prophetess Deborah. God was placing her alongside the man to get his purpose accomplished. In the Garden of Eden, Eve failed, but she was truthful. Adam blamed Eve and God. Sometimes we blame God as well. How tragic that Adam and Eve were walking right beside God in the garden, and one decision caused them to lose it all. Patti pondered what it must have been like when Adam opened his eyes to see His creator, His creation, and later Eve.
Jesus destroyed the curse over man and woman. In Genesis God told Noah to build an ark, and he gave him explicit directions. Patti emphasized that Noah failed to heed God’s directions as they exited the ark. God told Noah and his wife to go out first and then his sons and their wives; however, Scripture says that Noah went out, then his sons, then Noah’s wife and their sons’ wives. God wants men to prefer their wives more. Patti reiterated that Jesus came to bring freedom from the curse. Stories from ministers in other countries declare that some women in various countries are experiencing painless childbirth. Some nuns are living to be over a hundred years old. Patti reported of a woman who was 105 who died working in her garden. Although her body was consumed with cancer, she had experienced no pain. Patti remembers a song from the 1960s and 70s, “I Am a Woman, Hear Me Roar.” The song declared, “No one’s ever gonna keep me down again. I can do anything. I am strong. I am invincible. I am woman.” As women we often feel invisible. Patti believes that God says, “We are invincible. We are seen. He knows our past, present, and future.”
The Apostle Paul recognized women as his fellow workers in the ministry. Patti continued, “There are women here who have callings on your lives. You can dream again. He knows your name.”
Patti remarked that she and her husband have worn out several CD players playing praise and worship music because listening to worship transforms our lives. Patti herself is on a quest to know God. She declared, “I am looking for the God of the Bible. . . the one who raises the dead, heals the lepers, heals the broken, frees those in bondage, etc. God wants to wake His daughters up. God is restoring all.”
Psalm 3:3 says, “But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.” I Thessalonians 5:4 shows that we are not in darkness; therefore, His coming should not overtake us like a thief. Consequently, we should “hold fast the confession of hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
She exhorted each woman present with this unction: “Arise Deborahs (your name). It is your time to come forth. You are not invisible. You have a destiny. Don’t give up. Read the Word and decree and declare. Welcome the Holy Spirit. Wait on Him. Tell him that it is His touch you long for.”
Patti ended her time by sharing prophetic words over specific individuals that God highlighted and then by praying for those who came forward.
Joyce closed the morning with the following from The Secret Place by Laurie Wade: “You want to be healed and whole? You want more of me and what I have to offer? You want to live the life you were called to live? You want to see others healed and made whole? Trust me. Trust me more than anyone on that platform. Meet with me in the secret place. There you will receive all you need. There you will be healed and whole. There you will find the key to unlock our relationship. There I will teach you to hear my voice and walk with me and trust me. That is where you will be healed and find freedom. There is where you will learn to hear my voice.”
She prayed the following Scripture over all of us: And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (NLT
It was not by accident that God led Carolyn Williams to travel to the farm to pick those sunflowers to decorate the tables. They symbolized adoration of the King of Kings. Their heads typically lift upward to the sun; our heads should lift up to the Son of God. Sunflowers turn to follow the sun. We must turn to follow our Savior, the Son of God.
Hearts United Women's Ministry 