Tips For Flag Making With Polyester Organza

Polyester Organza is a feather-light, shimmery, usually two tone opalescent material that catches the light.

Buy 7/16 of an inch x 48 inch wood dowels that are as straight as possible.  Sand the ends with fine sandpaper to avoid snagging the fabric.

Polyester Organza is a beautiful fabric to use, but I recommend buying a heat cutting tool ($30.00 Creative Textile Tool from www.walnuthollow.com use according to package directions) to finish the edges that you tear (cut into the fabric one inch and tear to get a straight line).

Sew a sleeve for the pole, only slightly loose, but before closing the sleeve sew a bit of velcro (soft side) into the bottom end, then use self-stick velcro (prickly side) on the stick itself.  Close the opposite end of the sleeve to prevent pole from going through.  The velcro keeps the fabric from flying off.  I like to leave about 8 inches of pole out as a handle, this allows ease of flagging in all directions without getting my hand caught in fabric.  Most flags using this method will be 40 inches wide (plus the 8 inch stick handle) and as long as the fabric is that you bought, mine are about 4-5 feet long.

I use gold thread for the sewing parts, as it will show and is less expensive than buying 10 different colors if you're making a lot of flags, plus it looks gorgeous!

Dance & Flags In Worship

Dance is mentioned many times in scripture in these contexts:

In Joyful Exuberance (David before the Ark of God returning)

In Celebration (various feasts)

In Warfare (the sending of worshippers ahead of the army.  This one is hard to find so here is the reference for you: 2 Chron 20:20-30)

In Victory (Miriam the prophetess and the Israelite women)

Dance in the context of actual worship is performed by David in a linen ephod before the Ark of God.  It was apparently an undignified spectacle in sight of everyone, yet the Lord delighted in David's heart so much that those who dared to criticize the display felt God's judgement.  David is the only man mentioned in the Bible as a man after God's own heart.

Worshippers went out before Jehoshaphat's army "singing and praising" God to the detriment of the enemy whom God throws to confusion.

Dance (and flags as a visual tool, both beautiful and majestic) in worship are prophetic in nature.

The worshipper expresses what they are discerning in their spirit from God.

God speaks through people and through signs and symbols (see whole Bible).

The spirit of the born-again Christian is able to worship God in spirit and truth... the only worship acceptable to God (John 4:23-25).

Using our God-given gifts in general, in obedience to God, is an act of worship.

Symbolic Colors: Christian

Colors have symbolic meaning.  For prophetic worship purposes I have compiled a list from several sources (see bottom) of significant colors mentioned in scripture.  Colors can symbolize both positive or negative, in my list I am only mentioning the positive.   In dream interpretation or prophetic art, for example, you may want to check the resources at the bottom for the negative symbolic meaning of colors as well.

GOLD/AMBER

Holy, purity,glory

The glory of God 

Fire of God

Holiness (Eze 1:4; 8:2)

Divine (Ex 28)

SILVER

Redemption, Wisdom (Lev 5:15; Jer 32:44; Ex 30:16 gray hair wisdom of age)

Offering (Ex 35:5)

BLUE

Heaven, heavenly authority, from above, Holy Spirit (Nu 15:38; Jn 14:26)

Divine revelation, reward, healing (Exodus 24:10; Numbers 15:38; Ezekiel 1:4)

Communion (by association)

PURPLE

Kingship, majesty, royalty (Jdg 8:26; Jn 19:2)

Authority (by association)

RED

Blood, Life, anointing, sacrifice (Isaiah 1:18; Joshua 2:18,21; Leviticus 14:52)

Jesus, power (by association)

WHITE

Purity; light; righteousness; holiness of God, Christ, angels or the Saints (Rev 6:2; 7:9; 19:8; 3:4-5; 15:6)

Surrender (cultural: if we surrender we wave a white flag)

GREEN

Freshness, Life, growth, prosperity, vigor, everlasting life (Psalms 92:14; 52:8; 37:35)

ORANGE

Praise, fire of God, holiness (Ex 3; 2 Kings 2:11)

Perseverance (by association)

PINK/MAGENTA

Joy, My Beloved, right relationship, Pastoral (Solomon 2 Rose of Sharon: Jesus our shepherd)

Emotions, Love (by association)

YELLOW

Shekinah glory, prophetic (Ex 3)

RESOURCES:

'The Holy Bible' check out: www.BibleGateway.com for Keyword Searches

'Interpreting The Symbols and Types' by Kevin J Conner

Streams Ministries International: www.streamsministries.com

www.judahdancewear.com/8/Meaning_of_Colors

About Flags In Worship

I will write about this in more detail soon, however I wanted to start laying some groundwork this morning.  I have been asking the Lord to reveal to me the significance of using flags in worship, I mean, why flags?  I love using them in worship myself, but I felt it was going to be important to have a legitimate explanation for their use.  So, hopefully soon, you will see this topic expounded on.

I will start with this:

Flags are a tool of expression for the worship dancer, just as a piano is a tool of expression for the worship musician.  When inspired by Holy Spirit and when used with skill, these tools are effective in prophetically communicating God's heart to us and our heart to God in corporate worship.

Stay tuned....

Introduction

I have read much and heard of much lately about and within the Body of Christ that has sobered me.  After yet another anointed and gifted one fell publicly I was asked by one who feels as I do, "Is there anyone who can stand under the anointing?".  My answer to that question is no, not one of us can, but together we will.

God never designed the Church to operate as random individuals, but as a Body, each part doing it's work as gifted and graced by God.  Building each other up and exhorting one another, seeing in each other's blind spots; sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters.  The mature are to bring the immature to maturity.

Truth must be spoken in love.  Discernment, judgement and correction are invaluable to the health of individual lives and the life of the whole family of God.  This is so counter-culture that too many of us have forgotten how to use and benefit from (submit to) these tools that God gave us.

The flip side of that coin is where control, fear and criticism have stifled the Creative Spirit of God within the Body.  These, I believe, more than anything, have caused division in the Body of Christ (followed closely by any pride and self-seeking within the "cutting-edge" movements).

What do I mean when I say the Creative Spirit of God?  God spoke.  There was light.  Moses, at God's command, struck the rock.  Water came out.  Jesus made mud from His spit and some dust and stuck the muck on a blind man's eyes.  The Blind man received his sight.  God even used anointed handkerchiefs and aprons to cure the sick and drive out demons (Acts 19:11-12). Imagine that.

How do we stand under the anointing?  Be a part of the Body by being connected.  Be a disciple, seek out mothers and fathers, be submitted to your local church.  Pursue relationships with those whose lives exhibit good fruit, the fruit you want in your life and give them the right and privilege to speak freely into your life.  Pray about where and by whom God wants you to be mentored.  Have accountability partners and don't forget to use them.  Involve God in your decision making and He promised He'll make your path straight.

One good and vital thing that has come out of the recent public failings and de-thronings of some of God's prominent, gifted and anointed ministers is the return of the fear of the Lord to His Church.  My prayer is that the fear of the Lord would be great, because that is the beginning of wisdom and God knows we won't go anywhere fast (might even go backwards or in circles) without wisdom.  Do not criticize those that fall.  That is hateful.  You could be next.  We are told to correct in love, lest we be tempted too.  Yes it can happen to you.

Choose to love.  It never fails.  Read 1st Corinthians 13 all.

Many, if not all Christian artists, have a prophetic gifting to go with their artistic abilities. Minister with humility and fear of the Lord.  Triple check your motive, if it's not love, stop and get healed up.  There are many noble motives, but if they're not love, if you don't love the Body of Christ, stop and get healed up.  God is faithful, He will bind your wounds.

Meditate on Psalm 25 and Psalm 51.

"Search me [thoroughly], O God, 

and know my heart!  Try me and know

my thoughts!

And see if there is any wicked or

hurtful way in me, and lead me in the

way everlasting."

Psalm 139:23 & 24 AMP