lynnbusby.com Bread for your hunger. Water for your thirst. Oil for your wounds. Strength for the journey in the desert.

In a dream, I am in a thrift store. I find an old, battered suitcase. It has a clearance sticker on it. I open it up and there is a contraption inside. I can see that it is meant to be hung because on top is a wooden hanger. I grab the hook and lift it a little. It is like a portable camping shower. This, however, comes with collapsible wooden beams. I stand up, pulling it out to it ‘s full height which is taller than myself. It is a personal booth of cotton fabric. I immediately know that it is a personal sukkah. But what is that, you say?

One of the Jewish holidays is Sukkoth, or as more commonly known, The Feast of Tabernacles. It comes from Leviticus 23: 42 You shall live in booths for seven days…So that your future generations may know that I made the children of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. This feast was to a joyful celebration of the harvest and gratitude for His provision in the desert and recognition that HE is their home on this temporal journey. As should we also recognize!

The tabernacles God told them to make, and the tent of meeting in the desert are pictures of God’s desire to dwell with us. EVERYONE was welcome at these celebrations; the foreigner, the poor, widows, and orphans, all came. This time of year, is still the most popular time for tourism in Israel. The procession of the flags of the nations of all the visitors to this feast is a highlight! And one day, all of the nations will go up as prophesied in Zechariah 14:16 Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of armies, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

This feast is a prophetic picture of the summation of all things, the final feast for which we are preparing for, the wedding of the Lamb! Here it is in the second to last chapter of the bible, Revelation 21: 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them. This is only for the Bride. Only those who know Him.

What could it mean for God to give me a dream about discovering a personal portable sukkah in a suitcase? The feast of tabernacles is all about community. Why would God give me a dream about a personal sukkah? And I do believe it was God given. This was no pizza dream. I also woke from this dream with a profound sense of His Presence.

As I spent time in contemplation and prayer about it that morning, I remembered something. At one point I was trying to determine if the Lord wanted me to start a physical “brick and mortar” 24/7 House of Prayer. This “calling” was at that time, trending among Charismatic Christians.

God’s answer was “No. You ARE a house of prayer. Everywhere you go, becomes a house of prayer.

There has been this recurring theme in my walk with God. The call to prayer, the call to be a dwelling place of His Spirit. To listen to His heart for “the nations. To be an “Anna” who lived in the temple and gave herself to prayer and intercession, waiting on the Messiah. There is an almost constant hunger in me to be His temple. One of my favorite carols is “Joy to the World” and my heart leaps a little when I sing, “let every heart prepare Him room”.

Like the innkeepers making room for Him this is a reminder that we must all make room for Him in our personal lives. It IS a humble place that He deigns to dwell. This personal sukkah is a picture of the place of communion with Him. If you do not have an internal place in your heart where there is personal time with Him alone, where there are only the two, you do not yet know Him.

This suitcase I found was in a humble place of discarded things. Easy to find if you are looking. And for a decent price. Perhaps not dissimilar from the scriptural call to come and buy without cost.

It was there waiting to be discovered. Waiting for someone to see its value.

And in the end a pearl of great price!

Let me conclude by offering you a listen to one of my musical favourites. Because really, building a place, a room for Him to dwell is spelled T-I-M-E. Spent. When we sing, I’m going to waste it all on you, I ‘m going to pour my oil out” What can that be but our time. The oil Mary poured on Jesus’ feet was a year of time.

You always have an invitation.