Mandy Woodhouse: "A Sign for His Bride! The Early Bird Awakens the Dawn"

From the Desks of Steve Shultz and Julie A. Smith:

The whole earth is full of God's glory and that includes in everything He created.

This is an awesome word from Mandy Woodhouse of Australia, as the Lord revealed a great message to her...from a little kookaburra bird showing up at her house. The Lord prophetically spoke to me (Steve) as well, when wild turkeys showed up at my house years ago.

In this word from Mandy she says this from her experience:

One of the things that I noticed first about this bird was that it was laughing while it was still nighttime. Before the light of the sun even appeared, the kookaburra was already awakening the dawn with joy. This "laughter" that kookaburras have is considered their "song," and I began to process the fact that this bird was singing and laughing – in the DARK. I felt in my spirit that this was a prophetic act that needs to be followed in order to properly navigate the transitions and "movement" of seasons, lives, ministries, families and shaking nations.

Now how prophetic is that by itself? This is a huge message from a little bird. As you read the rest of Mandy's article, you'll learn valuable keys to help us, as His Bride, to awaken in this hour. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

In Christ,

Steve Shultz and Julie A. Smith, Co-Editors
Elijah List Publications

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Recently, I was awakened just before the sun came up by what I would normally deem a wonderful sound; a little kookaburra was sitting on our window, laughing – laughing, yet at the most inconvenient time.

This little bird started laughing at around 4 AM, and as I have been pretty exhausted these past several months, I was not particularly thrilled.

I am currently in a season of intense pressing, heart transition and realignment, as are many in the Body of Christ. The last thing that I wanted was to be awakened at the break of dawn by laughter, even by my favorite bird; but I knew that the Lord wanted to speak through this little Aussie kookaburra.

"God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns." (Psalm 46:5)

Lessons from the Kookaburra

One of the things that I noticed first about this bird was that it was laughing while it was still nighttime. Before the light of the sun even appeared, the kookaburra was already awakening the dawn with joy. This "laughter" that kookaburras have is considered their "song," and I began to process the fact that this bird was singing and laughing – in the DARK. I felt in my spirit that this was a prophetic act that needs to be followed in order to properly navigate the transitions and "movement" of seasons, lives, ministries, families and shaking nations.

Waking up can sometimes be difficult when the sun isn't fully up and the ground still feels cold on your weary feet. But we must hear the call to arise, and we must be prepared before the light of the new day. He IS in our midst and He IS the Great Helper. (Photo via Unsplash)

The Lord began to show me a few things through this kookaburra that I believe will be a great prophetic encouragement to the Bride in this hour of transition and "waking up."

1. Darkness Could Not Dim the Kookaburra's Song and Joy

Even the darkness did not dim this bird's song or joy. This little bird has the most beautiful laughter. The kookaburra sang brightly, and its song lit up the darkness. Even though it woke me up physically, it also woke me up spiritually as well. "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). It wasn't overcome by the lack of sunshine; it just kept its joy.

2. The Bird Sang Solo, But It Sang with All Its Heart

One lonely bird sang its heart out. Not only did it light up the darkness with its song, but it sang solo, without its family. Most of the time, kookaburras come in packs, or families, and you can hear them singing all across the property. But this bird sang alone, at the top of its little lungs, and it sang the very song that God gave it to sing – even if it sang it all by itself!

Its "family" was most likely nearby, but for whatever reason this little bird sang solo. "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" (Colossians 3:23). I felt an encouragement from the Father for those who have felt alone, abandoned or rejected: just keep praising His name in this hour.

3. In the Darkness, the Kookaburra's Laughter Made a Beautiful Place

It was dark, but the kookaburra made it a beautiful place with its glorious laughter. It was dark and gloomy because the sun hadn't yet appeared, and this bird made it beautiful. The kookaburra brought great joy in the wee hours of the morning, and even as I lay in bed listening, the joy of its song made me actually forget the weeping I had endured the night before.

"For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5). Many in the Body of Christ have endured the valley of weeping for far too long. The Kingdom of God is "righteousness, peace and JOY in the Holy Spirit" (see Romans 14:17). Allow joy to be the thing that escorts you out of the valley of weeping (see Psalm 84).

4. It Sang While It Waited!

I can sing while I wait. Even Isaiah 54 commands the barren woman to SING! That little bird obviously could not wait for the dawn, so it began to sing it into being. Why can't I do the same? I may not physically see the sunrise with my eyes, but I can feel it in my soul. Waiting is not easy, but it doesn't have to be the grueling process that our human minds often make it. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

Like David, I can command my soul to wait on the Lord and I can sing while I wait. "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning" (Psalm 130:5-6). I can sing while I'm waking up! And my song can ease the sting of the cold floor on my weary feet.

5. It Sang Before the Light of Day

Sometimes, it takes a prophetic act to awaken the dawn. I know that God promises a better future than I could ever ask for or imagine (see Jeremiah 29:11), but at times my "vision" for the next season has felt dark and clouded. However, I can confidently sing (or laugh) to awaken the dawn. I can smile at the future because I know that God is good (see Proverbs 31:25). Like this little bird, I can sing before I see the full light of day because I have hope and I know that my voice and declarations will cause the season to shift.

"My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your steadfast love is great above the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds." (Psalm 108:1-4)

As we, the Bride, begin to awaken, may we continue to laugh at the darkness and sing before the dawn. He is our faithful Helper, and in Him we will not be moved. As the dawn quickly approaches, let us be ready. Even in the cold and dark, we WILL shine as we keep our joy. We WILL stand, because we know Who we are singing to and Who has our back.

"Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard." (Isaiah 58:8)

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Mandy Woodhouse
Outrageous Hope
Email: outrageoushopegirl@gmail.com
Website: mandywoodhouseoutrageoushope.com

Mandy Woodhouse is a wife, a published author, a speaker, an evangelist and a teacher. Originally from Louisiana, she is now located in Brisbane, Australia. She and her husband both teach and disciple new Believers at their Church, and sit on the Queensland Prophetic Council. Mandy has a strong gift of exhortation and a love for the Word of God. She lives to use her prophetic voice, creative teaching style and her writing skills to impart HOPE and to awaken true, righteous IDENTITY in the Body of Christ across the globe, while always pointing to JESUS.

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