10 minutes!

I had a vision of ordinary regular doors rising up from the sea. Portals. A means to enter or exit depending on one's perspective. These are the gates that of the Bible's book of the prophet ,Ezekiel, prophesied that the city "the Lord is there" will have twelve gates, one gate for each of the tribes of Israel and that the exiles from both Judah and Israel would return to Palestine and a new covenant would be made with the restored house of Israel, to whom God would give a new spirit and a new heart.

I was concerned as I worked on this as it had no verse, no song, and the inkling of a title. But the directions still flowed as to what kind of door and what color to assign it continued. I noticed that there were to be no double doors. All doors were single access only. There were waves yes, but not gentle ebbing waves. There were building waves for a storm is brewing in the distance and the sky is darkening. And after weeks of working on this, the day came when I had a pretty good idea that it would soon be finished. And there came the song!

Your Love Has Lifted Me Higher by Jackie Wilson

Your love, liftin' me higher than I've ever been lifted before So keep it up, quench my desire and I'll be at your side forevermore

You know your love keeps on liftin' higher and higher. I said your love keeps on liftin' me

Now once I was downhearted disappointment was my closest friend But then you came and he soon departed and you know he never showed his face again

That's why your love keeps on liftin' me higher and higher ...

As I sat down to write the story of this painting called Ezekiels Gates (yay! we have a confirmed title!), a memory is brought forth from when my daughter came over with her family. As our visit would draw to a close she would inevitably give out the warning to her toddlers “10 minutes!” signalling that the time is here to pick up the toys, to find their socks and shoes and to get ready to go home. As with all little ones, procrastinating was inevitable amidst pleas for just one more snack, just “one more minute mom so we can play” and to my heart leap “ mom can we spend the night?” On one particular day the 10 minute warning was met in a giant dose of toddler sheer frustration “I don’t know what that means mom!” Then dad stepped in and got eye to eye level with the frustration and said simply “ it means put your toys away now. Find your socks and shoes and put them on now. It means it is time to go home now. It means that there’s a stop for a treat because you are cooperating.” It all seems to logical and easy. Just do it. Comply. Cooperate. Dad said.

And the verse arrived! Thank you Jesus! Ezekiel 3:12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a great rumbling sound behind me, “Blessed be the glory of the Lord in His place.”

Ezekiel's Gates

Doors signify communication and agreement. When a door is open, there is communication with God and others. When the door is closed, the conversation is over and the action has been met.

Oh but there are thirteen doors illustrated here. There in the corner is an innocuous little wooden door, symbolic of the crucifixion cross and standing on the rock. Jesus, our only open door. In Revelations 3:20 it says "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."

Sooooo...your ship has come in and is waiting. This is your last call for as it speaks in Luke 21 and verse 25 in particular "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;"

Oh and the boat... aptly named Carpe Diem.

Let Jesus lift you up. He will not let you down. Blessings to you until the other side then.

PRINTS AND GICLEES available at https://www.propheticsgallery.com/store-warehouse/art_print_products/ezekiels-gates-by-denise-dahlheimer