This word is submitted by David Crutcher (dluvsm@arbuckleonline.com)

-----

Take up YOUR Cross
A Prophetic Vision

A while back I had a vision in which I was standing in a downtown area. A shopping type district. I was standing across the street from a store that was getting a lot of attention. People were coming in and out in large numbers, it really peaked my curiosity. I walked towards the store and as I got closer I noticed that as the people came out they were so happy, joyful, exuberant. They were talking amongst themselves and seemed quite proud on what they had done.

I got to the doors and a girl showed me a cross she had chosen, she said "isn't it beautiful" it was a very pretty cross. She was carrying it. Some were wearing them, some carrying them, the crosses were in all different styles, sizes and designs. There were two doors into the store. A left side and a right side. As I entered the store, the left side of the store was bright, cheerful, clean and all the people were on that side crowded up to the counter two and three deep picking their crosses. The clerk was giving them out as fast as he could. The people were turning around showing others the cross they had chosen. They were quite proud of the choice. They would leave the store so full of joy and happiness, seem to have a little kick in their step as they left.

I then turned to look at the right side of the store. It was very old, dusty, musty looking, not very modern, you could tell no one had been on that side of the store in a long time. As I looked closer the crosses on the right side of the store were huge, heavy, old wooden crosses. Just like what you would nail a person too. They were different sizes also, but they were all so huge. It seemed to me to represent your calling in life. They all had names on the crosses to whom they belonged. As I looked closer I noticed one with my name on it. It was huge, It moved to the front of the others on its own. I looked at it for a long time. The clerk tried to talk me out of choosing anything from that side of the store. He said no one shops on that side of the store anymore, the other side is what is in style, it is the thing.

I then sensed the Lord speaking to me to take up my cross and follow Him. He spoke and said "take up your cross is the one I have chosen for you, not your choice but mine." As I stood there looking at my cross, many in the store saw what I was doing and began to laugh at me, tell me how dumb I was. The clerk said I was crazy. Why choose that old thing when I could go over to the left side and choose on those. I sensed very strongly the Lord desiring me to take up the one with my name on it. As I went to get it the clerk would not even help me. I placed it on my shoulder and it was very heavy, bulky and very hard to move or carry. But I knew what I had to do. So as I walked out of the store the people on the left side just looked at me with this look, they just couldn't believe that would choose my cross over one of those on the left side.

I walked out of the store and started down the sidewalk, as I walked it was hard carrying that huge cross, then it started to become lighter, and with each step easier to handle, lighter, easier, then all of a sudden it was as if it was nothing at all. I felt strongly to look behind me and the Holy Spirit was carrying the cross. I had to make the initial choice to choose and then pick it up, after that the power and grace of God came.

For your judgement and consideration

blessings
David Crutcher