Christmas Prayer is the last in this series of poems I received in November 2023. It looks ahead to an upcoming time of dramatic change. We have been in a time of upheaval in countries all over the world that is intensifying in the last few years to the point that many think we are approaching some kind of huge transition when the battles that have been raging largely behind the scenes will explode massively into public awareness. No one knows exactly when that will happen and what it will look like, but we all sense that many things are about to change and the world will never be the same again. It's an exciting time to be alive! Christmas Prayer There will be those who fight and those who hide. Some of those in hiding will also be fighting, in the Spirit with the Lord and His angelic hosts. The Lord will be fighting with us, in the streets and in the homes. Maybe some of those taught to hate us will be saved and help to save us. We pray for no more casualties as You, Lord, personally disarm Your enemies. Let even the enemies be spared from harm. Let them be terrified by Your power, completely awestruck, throwing down their arms. Is this asking too much? It is written, “You have not because you ask not.” And so we ask outrageously for Your mercy, and justice, and peace. Lion of Judah, reveal Your authority in a way that’s far above all we could ask or think. Some say the best alarm clock will be fear. If so, then let it be the fear of God. Let those cluelessly asleep and fretfully awake, including those who fight for evil and those who fight for good, all fall on our faces before the beauty of holiness, the Ancient of Days. We pray for Your mercy and justice to somehow battle for and cover us. If and when a holy hush comes among us, we won’t be afraid. Time will change in such a way that Christmas will seem to come early and continue to remain — a glowing, holding, mighty glory that will comfort and sustain those who fight and those who wait for evil to be silenced by our God’s holy roar. Then when joy finally comes in the morning everything will be brighter than before, different than we’ve ever seen. “Joy to the World” will be sung with new wonder and meaning. “Oh come let us adore Him” will be the prayer of a grateful world to their triumphant King of Kings. © by Margaret Westphal (Nov 14, 2023)

The Dream is not actually a poem. It is a record of a dream that I had. I seemed to receive the interpretation even as I was in the dream. It was not full of symbolism like most dreams. The time and setting are not clear, but otherwise it seemed like some kind of intercession for an influential person. I have not referred to him in the poem by name. Who the man in the dream is will become obvious to the reader. If it doesn't then the whole of the dream will not make sense either. For those who do understand and regularly pray for this person, maybe this poem will offer some sort of insight into the spiritual battle we are facing together. The Dream Was it a dream, or was I really there, in the Spirit, watching? I saw a man come into the room. Every eye was on him. His demeanor was as always — calm, confident, in charge, well dressed. I knew if I went to him no one but him could see me, and he could not show any response. He would know they couldn’t see me, but he was always being watched. I stepped into the scene and went up to this man who was much taller than me. I reached my arms around his chest. I told him we were with him and God was with us all. I told him to keep standing strong. I told him he was doing good, but it was not about his goodness or strength. I said the One who calmed the storm supernaturally so long ago will calm this storm we’re facing. His peace will overpower all the chaos and darkness raging. I knew as I stood there, with my arms around the man, I represented many and he represented many. We stood there together knowing that it’s not the beginning of the end. It’s almost the end of the beginning of a world beyond the storm. They once said to him, “What storm?” He had said, “You’ll see.” Have we finally seen enough to stand strong together in the eye of the storm? Is that why, in the dream, I was sent to stand with a man, yes just a man, but one who plays a part that’s key. He represents those fighting for those God wants to free. We had lost our way until we woke up being rescued in a war we didn’t know we’d lost. Thank you, Prince of Peace, for your shalom shattering the storm as you release many brave men and fierce angelic hosts. We stand together, holding each other trusting God to hold us through the last of the storm upon us. Was it a dream, or was I really there, in some kind of war zone when the man came in the room? He wasn’t meant to come alone. He saw us come around him, and we all traded our strength for God’s. Then I knew God will make this man invisible too, and he will take no glory for the part he’s played when God shows His power in a new astounding way and everything is changed. When God’s kingdom comes, His will is done. History is for Him only to reset because it is His story. © by Margaret Westphal (Nov 6, 2023)

Truth Bomb is the first of the poems in this series that deal with the great changes we are facing worldwide. Nations are shaking. There are wars and rumors of wars. Monetary systems are collapsing. Many confusing and frightening events are happening. To call the turmoil going on in many countries simultaneously political is a great oversimplification. The battle is actually a spiritual battle of good versus evil. Media is propaganda. It is difficult to know what is happening, what actually has happened, much less what is to come. Truth Bomb Truth bomb. Mike drop. Call it what you want. God’s had enough. Stand with Him. Brace for impact. God wins. Jesus fed the multitudes. People are now very hungry for truth. Technology multiples the voices crying in the wilderness. Some have called them digital soldiers. Many voices have been called to publish painful truth, things so dark we almost wish we never knew. (Also things about God so wonderful that it sounds almost too good to be true.) The enemy kept so much from our sight, that if it comes out too fast it’s almost too much to grasp. Surely evil can’t be so widespread, so interconnected, so entrenched? Surely it’s all just conspiracy. That’s a word meant to control what we see. If those controlled don’t know they are controlled they have no desire or power to change. Deception is the chains. Lies call good evil and evil good. The woke say what’s coming out is all a joke. But truth is coming out so loud that those asleep will be jarred awake with facts that will separate those who want to know from those who choose not to see. Those who choose not to see actually are choosing to see what they want. It’s the difference between pride and humility. Humility is willing to see accurately what is the truth, not just “my truth,” what is really right, not just right in my own eyes. History shows that when everyone does what’s right in their own eyes society grows dangerous and dark. But, also, when, in the name of security, people relinquish their freedom to act and speak, then evil people will control the weak. Darkness rules that way as well. Rebellion has no authority, but evil authority tramples on freedom. Godly leaders chosen by godly people make room for good to shine brightly over evil. No wonder Satan leads evil people to take over societies by layers of deception. First they must silence or distort the people’s vision of God. Then they dumb down, disarm, distract, spread disease, disorder, and chaos. The opposite of all this mess is Jesus. They don’t mind us keeping Him in a church box with people waiting to be raptured because their world view has been captured and reduced to a belief for escape instead of a great commission to dominate— “occupy until I come.” They want us frightened, waiting for inevitable loss. Instead, we are called to be a Bride presiding with the Bridegroom over an unstoppable ongoing win, because Jesus already came and fixed the fight. The enemy can’t win unless we quit. Knowledge is power Truth wins. Truth is a person. Believe Him. Love is a power. Love wins. God is love. Love Him. Choose truth and love, mercy and justice. This holiness that defines Him can also define us if we choose to be His. When we are in Him He changes us and together We win. Truth bomb. Mike drop. Call it what you want. God’s had enough. Stand with Him. Brace for impact. God wins. © by Margaret Westphal (Nov 2023)

Lift Me Higher is the last of the three poems that have more to do with the spiritual battle we find ourselves in. It is about many things having to do with worship in general and how we are changed in God's presence. We are living in a time where people are hungry for an authentic powerful walk with God. As God's people are supernaturally changed, the body of Christ will be cleaned and empowered to change the world with Him. Many prophetic voices seem to agree that God is about to manifest His power on earth in a way that He has never done before. Lord, lift us higher and help us be ready to be a part of that wonderful time! Lift Me Higher Lift me higher. Hold me tighter. If I could be, even for a while, really free, not just temporarily distracted, from the weight and sadness of a world where Your love is not allowed to shine and so much evil is being revealed and so many suffer, controlled by lies. It’s not enough to know God is stronger if we can’t tap into His strength. Strength as an impersonal commodity, even if it was available, would still be so incomplete to a soul created for communion with pure love from a reachable heavenly Father. Worship is not just escape, or an equipping place, or a place for revelation, or sanctification. Yes, it is all that, but His presence is not just a means to many ends. Most of all it’s a beautiful end in itself, because He’s worthy. He’s not depressed or scared. He is all powerful goodness and joyful holiness. Let me crawl inside that and stay completely there a while and come out shining, laughing at despair, not insensitive to suffering, but not suffocating under it. Because, even when I’m not completely given to His presence, I’ll be living on the edge of ecstasy. Too long I’ve lived on the other edge, almost overwhelmed by the heaviness of the world. He said He’s overcome the world. No matter how deep the darkness, His light is always stronger. Let’s crawl in Him and stay there until we are so covered by Him that it’s not like a mantle. It’s more like skin. It’s not a part we can play and leave the stage. Identity is not something we can wear and lay aside. Identify is who we are. It may feel like we’re completely changed, but we’re not being redesigned. We’re being restored by our Creator to our original design. God doesn’t make deficiency. He makes unfinished masterpieces who get to participate in their own completion. Along the way we discover our own identity. At first we can’t even spiritually see, much less step into, our unique identity. We were originally in Him before we were born into this earth. We can only get in touch with who we are again in communion with Him, by some kind of rebirth and continuing connection with the One who knows us better than we know ourselves. Let Him show us who we are when we’re connected to our source, moving and being in union with Him. Let Him wear us like a glove and slap the devil silly, make that rebel be the one completely overwhelmed by the power of holiness unleashed. When God’s shalom hits, darkness shatters, demonic forces scatter. We don’t even have to tell them to go. They self deport. They are so threatening by our light that exposes their lies. We are meant to have dominion. We never blend in unless He hides us, like when Jesus walked through crowds unseen when it wasn’t time to confront certain enemies . He knows our seasons, and His, and blends all the strategies. He let’s us know enough to help with His grand plan and we attempt to sort out the details assigned to us. He weaves it all in, even our mistakes and delays. The results look like us and look like Him The part we play can be more blessed and fruitful when we stay higher, above the fray, letting Him hold us tighter. Lord, let it be not just once in a while, but a lifeline, a lifestyle. Every breath is prayer, Every movement is worship. At first we may continually adjust, but in time we will intuitively trust. We won’t have to try to be who we are. To live in worship is living in Him. Safe, home, joy, wonder— sound like heaven? It is. Worship can be a preview of something for later far away, or we can go far enough in to bend time and space and experience now “on earth as it is in heaven.” Whatever that is Lord, take me there. I may not be worthy, but You are. I will worship even if I don’t feel or see much at all. If it blesses You and You promise to come when we call, then here I am, an open portal— sending what I can, receiving what I’m able. Love is all I have to give, I’m pushing all my chips to the middle of the table. I will either lose or win it all. Those who lay down their lives for You will find them. Faith collides with revelation. Worship is not hide and seek. When the pure in heart seek, He will find them. He already came, made the way, opened the portal for us to come under and, in some sense, stay (by carrying the wonder). Worship is the connection. We don’t have to understand much. Experience will teach and change us, prepare us to go higher and deeper. New places in Him wait. The more we trust, the further we can go. The more we choose to listen, the more He will say. There are no instructions except relationship. That must be why He said, “I am the way.” © by Margaret Westphal (Nov 2023)

Transformed and Commissioned is the second of the six poems in this series. It's content is pretty self explanatory. In order to play our part in history we all need for God to help us become all He designed us to be. We all have unique destinies that God wants to weave together for His glory. May this be a season of fast spiritual growth for God's people, individually and collectively, as we move into the greatest spiritual awakening the world has ever seen. Not only is a massive harvest of souls on the horizon, but the body of Christ is about to manifest the kind of power and holiness we are created for. Transformed and Commissioned The new infant has nothing yet. The one on his deathbed has nothing left. What defines a man is what he does in between. In that time he has some things to do, some things to use, some means. He has choices to make, but for whose sake? How we treat the young and weak and helpless shows if we are selfish or selfless. Our lives are as a blank page, and yet not entirely blank. Some things are already written, dealt us. What and who we find around us are not as important as what we do with what we find surrounds us. What things do we see as little value and what things do we embrace? We must know where we are going before we can run a worthwhile race. Only those who know God can find fulfillment and purpose. How can we run our race and keep our faith unless He comes directly to us? If we are made in His image, we must see Him to see ourselves. Those who really saw Jesus when He was here fell before Him at his feet, declaring He is holy and they’re unclean. He lifted the humble up, offering them His bread and cup, His forgiveness and healing, His holiness and wholeness, and communion with Him. He will wrap them in the mantle of His anointed frequency, in a time coming when He no longer has to wash their feet. The world will have no power to defile them. Their footsteps will bless the ground they trod. The unsaved will fall before them, not because they worship men, but because they found the glorious, the ones who know the way to God. © by Margaret Westphal (Nov 2023)

2023 POETIC REFLECTIONS In the month of November 2023 I received five new poems and one prophetic dream. Last year, at the end of 2022, I compiled a group of prophetic poems that reflected the spiritual battle that our country was in at the time. At that time I remember thinking that I didn’t see how we could survive as a free nation another year, and yet here we are. At least now, approaching the end of 2023, more of us realize we are not even really a free nation any more. As we struggle to take back our freedom, our eyes are being opened more and more to the depth of evil working against us and the power of God that is working for us. Yes, it is a spiritual battle and many other countries are also now in historical showdowns that will determine their long term future. I am using very general terms because my purpose is not to review the year but to record the five poems and one dream that came to me near the end of 2023. I think the next few weeks will be pivotal in both of the two great awakenings we are experiencing. The first three poems relate more to the spiritual awakening and the last three entries deal more with the corresponding great cultural and governmental upheaval and awakening. Here is the first poem of this series. Heart Meditations When the enemy sends fiery darts, our tendency is to harden our heart. But when we do that, the trouble is the wall we build to keep bad things out also keeps good things from coming in. Although we’re told not to harden our heart, we’re also told “with all diligence we are to guard our heart for out of it flows the issues of life.” How can our heart be guarded but not hardened, attacked but not harmed? Evidently we can’t be our own protector. Wisdom knows where to hide, doesn’t try to make it’s own cover. When we’re covered by God’s light we can be protected and shine. We may be made from clay, but His breath gave us His life That life can shine when our clay chooses light. All the colors from the earth combined are dark, but all the colors of light come together as white. Our earthly nature is as a dark glass. The nature of sin makes revelation dim. But if our sin is made white as snow, then our new perception of Him outshines our human inability to spirituality see. His hands formed us and His breath gave us life. His spirit in us sustains our clay and something else vital comes into play. Our human soul comes alive, free to think and to feel and to decide. Will we protect ourselves or trust Him? When our soul cries, our Maker says, “Run, little one, to the tree of life. Consume my life and my light and you will live and you will shine.” If we go instead to the tree of death we will be tempted to think good is evil and evil is good and run away from the One who gave us breath. We are the light of the world He put us in. And He’s the light that lights every man. Every piece of clay He breaths His life into becomes a living soul, a separate created man, with a free will that has the power to choose. The second birth is when the clay decides to come back into the protection of the Potter’s hand. © by Margaret Westphal (Nov 2023)