Brandon Neil Richards

Psalm 52:7-8 declares,
"7 See, this is the man who made not God his strength (his stronghold and high tower) but trusted in and confidently relied on the abundance of his riches, seeking refuge and security for himself through his wickedness. 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in and confidently rely on the loving-kindness and the mercy of God forever and ever."

God is separating and positioning those who He can trust; those who have received His anointing, those who are yielded.

Do not fear, and do not trust in the fruits of your job and career. Confide and trust and rely on the Lord for surely My mercy and love endures forever.
Separate yourselves from the world and they will be drawn to you as the dry ground thirsts for the rain. Their wicks are consumed before Me without the oil you carry. Pour out the oil and I will supply more. Do not regard your current circumstances as a curse, you are blessed- what you do to them, you do to Me. Pouring out your oil to them is like pouring your oil over Me. Do you want to bring glory to Me?
Stand and trust in Me. Declare your testimony and set forth a banner in your midst, carry the standard before you so that I can draw them to you. No more shall the people ask: Where is your God?

Was Christ not beaten?
Was He not pierced and crushed by the stones hurled from your heart?
Was the blood He cried not enough?
Was the blood He shed not enough?
Did He not cleanse and anoint you as your spear, your stick, your rod, pierced through to His heart?
Was it not enough?

Do not fear.

Did I not give more oil to the widow and her son when they poured oil out to my prophet?
Did I not provide manna- and quail to the Children?!

Do not withhold.

I saw a large tree from a distance, its canopy was triangular, evenly distributed, perfect and well maintained.

As I approached the tree, it was as wide as a house and higher than I could see. Underneath the canopy there was only a faint glow of light. There was life all around, but no animals, the tree was alive and the root growth was enormous I could see the roots move, grow. I heard the sound of the wood growing and moving, it sounded thunderous and splintering. Seeing fruit on the tree, I climbed closer. The roots were enormous now. I climbed and slid over mountains of them, touching each one as I moved closer. The dirty damp resin smeared on my clothes and hands.

There was indeed fruit on the tree, some star shaped, some crescent moon shaped, both shiny platinum colored and glittering. When looked for a low piece so I could pick it, I noticed stems of fruit that had already been picked that were left on the tree. I took one of each fruit and ate. One was flavorless and with it brought a feeling of apathy, laziness, and sloth. The other was very bitter, much like a persimmon and purged one’s digestive system much like a stomach virus or food poisoning would bring cramps and dehydration through vomiting and diarrhea.

I looked around for a gardener and only saw a black lantern hanging on hooked staff, like a shepherd’s staff. There was a gardener, but he was away and has left the lamp hanging on the staff.

I was standing in what I understood to be a holy city. In this city there was a square and the square was paved with huge stones in rectangular form. They were larger than me.

In the middle of the square was a great fountain, that resembled a bird bath with three levels stacked upon each other. When the top level water flowed over into the middle level, and the middle level flowed over into the bottom level which from there flowed over into a place underneath.

As I approached the fountain and walked around it, there was a toddler in a white suit which looked like Pastor Benny Hinn. He was pacing back and forth on the bottom level of the fountain as if he were frustrated, waiting upon someone, as if he had been left or separated from his parents. I had the same feeling I have when my youngest daughter, who is two, is frustrated and cries out. My approach was no different, I moved closer offering comforting words of knowledge, a solution and was pushed away in frustration as if there was another solution he was looking for. Understanding I needed to be firm, I pressed again offering love and compassion and reached to pick him up, only for him to cry out and walk away in frustration. Then I just grabbed him with both arms and legs flailing I held tight and reassured that it was going to be alright, everything is under control.

I was standing in a desert place. The sky was empty and it was an orangish blue as if the sun were setting only there was no sun to be seen. All around me was smooth sand and in the distance were walls of rock. I was standing in a canyon. Then I noticed dark creatures appearing above me on the rocks.

They were each hideously unique. One was much like a beetle except it walked on two legs instead of six and was covered in hard armor like clothing. Another was wet, slimey even and moved very slowly. Then I noticed multitudes of them swarming over the rock walls down into the valley to which I was standing.

I panicked. I looked around and noticed there were now piles of sand and within them buried were rusted old cars much like I used to play amongst as a child in my grandfather’s junkyard. I noticed a heavy rusted axle and grabbed it. As I grabbed it I held it and my stance changed to that of a skilled sword fighter ready to fight. Then the clash of the dark figures surrounded me much like a wolf pack would surround its soon to be prey.

They would come in one, two at a time and groups to maul me. I saw myself swing the axle and as I swung the axle and made contact with each creature they would dissipate to ashes and fall to the sand. With each swing also I noticed that the rust on the axle was being knocked loose and the now airborne rust dust was getting into my eyes, and my hands were the same color.

I stood and fought for what seemed like hours and finally I broke through and saw an opening in the swarm. I dashed through the hole like a running back carrying a football to the goal. I ran until I reached a pool of the most beautiful water I’ve ever seen. I was on a white sanded beach area and the water was crystal clear that I could see the bottom.

I heard from behind me a sound and turned to see and it was the swarm catching up to me. I then turned and began running across the water carrying the rusty axle and the horde stopped behind me at the water’s edge. I then noticed the horde standing at the water’s edge separate and one figure appeared and dove into the water and began swimming with what seemed jet speed underneath the water. I ran as hard as I could but the creature caught up to me, grabbed my feet at the ankles and pulled me under the water.

I remember gasping for a breath of air only to breathe in water and choke. I hit the creature with a jab as to pierce it and it disintegrated. I somehow dropped the axle and began to swim to the surface where I noticed while swimming upward the sun was high as if it were midday and the sky was clear blue like a nice summer day.

When I got to the surface of the water I couldn’t get out. It was like the top was frozen over and I was trapped underneath. I would turn and push and couldn’t free myself. Then I looked at the sun again and went toward it only to find an opening and I pulled myself out of the hole and back onto the surface of the water. I was soaking wet wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt and I looked back and the horde was gone.

I then woke up.