Oceans in the Desert

By Kathi Pelton

God has asked my husband and I to plant our feet in two places— Portland, Oregon and Washington DC— these two battlegrounds.

I often wondered why our family has had to go through many “battles” but I now know that we have been trained and equipped to live at peace in high level battlefield regions and circumstances. We have learned to overcome and to find the door of hope that exists in every wilderness. God has trained many pioneers in this way. The pioneers are about to establish that which they have been forging for many years.

I don’t have to explain the battle that we are in for our nation here in the DC region but we have learned to battle with the weapons of love and peace— and authority through blessing and forgiveness. Now, as we set up a home base in the Portland region and a base in the DC region we will ask the Lord for a double measure of the weapons of love and peace to pour forth. The pioneers (many pioneers with many different assignments) are on the move— compelled by love!

Portland’s crime rate in 2021 has gone up 533%! No, that is not a typo…it is actually 533%. Shootings alone have skyrocketed 123%! This is the highest rise in crime in the nation. But— I have seen God’s original intent for this city! I have been taken into his heart for it and into his pain over it. There is a good report and it is that GOD LOVES PORTLAND AND WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL HE HAS HIS FULL INHERITANCE!

I was also taken into an encounter with his love for Washington DC— as he called DC, “Ephram, my son.” He was weeping over it and repeated over and over, “Ephram, my son.” Then he asked me if I would love him like he loves him? It was so incredibly personal to him and I was undone and so surprised. I wept with him and said, “Yes.”

Ephram means “very fruitful” as well as being symbolic of one who is humble and not selfish. This is what our nation is to be. Our fruit (wealth) is to be shared with those who are in need— in humble servant hood. We are to be a blessing and a storehouse to the whole world.

This is why my husband and I have said yes to both Washington DC and Portland, Oregon. I believe that Portland is the center of what I have seen as the Western gateway of our nation. It is the lock and the enemy does not want it unlocked (which will allow the gates to swing open). The key is oneness with Him and oneness as his people (John 17:20-23). A baptism of love will come upon this city!

What if God has intended Portland to be a port where his love and glory is released to the entire nation? Why is there such a fierce battle over this place? The cause of this battle is far more than the lack of integrity and the fear of the Lord in the natural governmental integrity— it is that spiritual governmental authority needs to shift the tide. The destiny of this city is connected to the heart of God. The enemy is trying to provoke the church in Portland into disgust, anger and cursing but they just keep on loving more! They know that Jesus is the source of Portland’s healing! Blessing will overtake the cursing. Those who have been holding the ground are weary but they let the Lord strengthen them daily. Reinforcements are needed (every high level battle has reinforcements sent in). They need to have humble reinforcements, who will honor and serve but who understand oneness, authority and know God’s desire for the city. Many will come to stand with them until the Father has what he desires.

It is interesting that the crime rate is up 533% because I keep hearing Isaiah 53:3 as the cause and the solution,

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him.” Isaiah‬ ‭53:3‬ ‭

The enemy has wanted Portland to be his templet city of “despising and turning away from God.” Yet, God has placed humble men and women, who have not turned away from him but who honor him (walk in the fear of the Lord) to stand and hold the ground until the appointed time where he will turn the tide and mark the city with a love revival. It will move from despising the Lord to the fulfillment of Isaiah 54 that says this,

““Rejoice, childless one, who did not give birth; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the forsaken one will be more than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord. “Enlarge the site of your tent, and let your tent curtains be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your ropes, and drive your pegs deep. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will dispossess nations and inhabit the desolate cities. “Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; don’t be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth, and you will no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood. Indeed, your husband is your Maker — His name is Yahweh of Hosts — and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. For the Lord has called you, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,” says your God. “I deserted you for a brief moment, but I will take you back with great compassion. In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but I will have compassion on you with everlasting love,” says the Lord your Redeemer. “For this is like the days of Noah to Me: when I swore that the waters of Noah would never flood the earth again, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you. Though the mountains move and the hills shake, My love will not be removed from you and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says your compassionate Lord. “Poor Jerusalem, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I will set your stones in black mortar, and lay your foundations in sapphires. I will make your fortifications out of rubies, your gates out of sparkling stones, and all your walls out of precious stones. Then all your children will be taught by the Lord, their prosperity will be great, and you will be established on a foundation of righteousness. You will be far from oppression, you will certainly not be afraid; you will be far from terror, it will certainly not come near you. If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever attacks you will fall before you. Look, I have created the craftsman who blows on the charcoal fire and produces a weapon suitable for its task; and I have created the destroyer to cause havoc. No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants, and their righteousness is from Me.” This is the Lord’s declaration.” Isaiah‬ ‭54:1-17‬ ‭

I believe that this chapter in Isaiah is also a promise over our nation. So we will declare it over Washington DC— we will prophesy it over Portland— we will hold onto it until it comes upon Jerusalem and all the ends of the earth.

Pray for us as we set up both locations! These two locations hold keys for every city in the nation to become fruitful— and a storehouse for the nation and the nations of the world. Let’s see our nation go from the place of turning away from God and despising him (and his ways) to calling him Redeemer and Husband. A returning to God!

Portland will no longer have the word ICHABOD graffitied by the enemy upon her beauty and her inhabitants— but the glory of the Lord will return and she will be a beautiful bride. Her people will be saved, delivered from captivity and her sons and daughters will prophesy. Let’s see Portland be a place of reverence and honor to God. She will be a “tent of his presence” that causes many to find their home in Christ.

I believe that God intends Washington DC to come into sonship— like the prodigal son coming back from rebellion and squandering his inheritance on worthless things. In humility and repentance— DC will return home to a Father who has been waiting and watching for his return. A ring will be placed on his finger and a robe to cover the nakedness— a great celebration will occur.

This article began as a “pondering post” about why God is asking us to go back and forth between Portland and DC (and to touch cities/states along the way). But as I wrote I could feel the spirit of prophecy come upon my words to make declarations about these two key locations and about the movement of pioneers that will clear the way for the establishment of God’s Kingdom.

May his glory return to our nation!

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If you would like to stand with us by sowing a financial gift into our move from the DC region to Portland, Oregon— you can donate through our ministry website: https://www.inscribeministries.com