How to Deal with Visions and Dreams. Wednesday, Jun 3 2015

I’d like to address a very important aspect of Christian living which is how to deal with visions and dreams. I have them quite regularly, the most recent of which was a dream where first I saw a mother nursing her baby and under the picture it said, “Feed your baby.” Then I saw a family sitting at a table together eating and the caption read, “Feed your family.” Then I saw a woman carrying a roast turkey down the block to a nearby house and the caption read, “Feed your neighbor.” And finally, I saw a map of the United States of America with a bottle of milk pointing toward the center with lines that went in every direction and the caption read, “Feed your nation.” Then I woke up. I had a sense of awe when I awoke like, “me feed a nation?”

Immediately, I thought what does this dream mean? Is it literal or figurative?

I thought of how Jesus fed the multitude. Perhaps the dream was both. He also fed thousands the WORD when He gave the sermon on the mount.

When you have dreams or visions, begin by praying. Ask God, help me to understand this dream. What does it mean?

Second, read through scriptures that come to mind or look them up.

It made me think of Joel 2:28-32

 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

²⁹ And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

³⁰ And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

³¹ The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.

³² And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

Leave a Response »

 

Enemies Within Tuesday, May 26 2015

Enemies Within

There are seven tribes of peoples named in the Old Testament that represent the enemies within.

1. Philistines- wallow self: those who wallow in self-pity.
2. Canaanites-merchant: those who make money and the things of this world their god.
3. Hittites-sons of terror: those who have the spirit of fear.
4. Amorites-Talker-speaker: those who speak words without action, self-boasters, hypocrites.
5. Hivites & Peruzzites-villager or belonging to a village: those who downplay their own abilities like Moses and Gideon.
6. Sidonians-hunter or enemy: those who are always looking for a brawl.
7. Jebusites-trample or tread down: those who allow the enemy to rule from the heart where God should reign sovereign.

When God seeks to use us these are the types of enemies within that hinder us from service. They are excuses why we cannot heed the call of the Spirit. You see, God speaking with us is not a one-time event but an ongoing process whereby He uses us for his purposes. We must diligently listen as God calls us day by day and be ready to respond when he calls, defeating the enemies within through prayer. Alone, we can do nothing. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Leave a Response »

 

Long Ago Wednesday, Nov 19 2014

Long Ago

Long ago, at the time when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, he became pretty impressed by God’s involvement in the protection of the Israelites.

Our story begins in the book of Exodus, Chapter 15:1-13

15 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

² The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

³ The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.

⁴ Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.

⁵ The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

⁶ Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

⁷ And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.

⁸ And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

⁹ The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

¹⁰ Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

¹¹ Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

¹² Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.

¹³ Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

Can you hear Moses singing? Did you know that God led Israel to the promise land? He is leading us now to himself. Praise his holy name.

Leave a Response »

 

A Poem Thursday, Nov 6 2014

Time,

Our jailer,

Frees us when

This life is over

And done

To

Pray, and

Mother, and

Teach, and

Read, and

Dance, and

Learn, and

Knit, and

Garden, and

Skate, and

Sing, and

To

Love, and

Honor, and

Obey, and

To

Work, and

Play, and

Sleep, and

To

Release our hearts

To God Supreme

The Master of our days.

 

Leave a Response »

 

Suspended Animation Thursday, Oct 2 2014

Suspended Animation

^{James 1:19} My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

In the heat of the moment we say things that are hurtful. Words cannot be taken back. They are like murder to the inner man. Once you have said something you regret there’s no undoing what you have done. When someone is murdered there is no bringing them back.

If we could only take the advice of James and keep a slow tongue.

^{James 3:3} When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

When it comes to our tongues it would be better if they could be held in suspended animation than to hurt others.

Leave a Response »

 

Rivers Wednesday, Oct 1 2014

Rivers

I prayed to God to open my spiritual eyes and ears to know the meaning of all the visions I am having.

He said, “It is like a radio that in not tuned in.  You will hear the meaning when you tune in to the right frequency.”

One of the visions I have had repeatedly is that the rocks on the front of the church stage turn to flowing water.

I told my community group about this vision and one asked, “Is it tears?”

I said, “I don’t know what it is.”

One said, “Ask God what it means.”

So this morning when I prayed I asked God, “I want to know the meaning of all the visions.”

He said, “The vision of the rocks turning to flowing water is “rivers of living waters.”

Then in my bible study this morning the thought for today was: “Many people today are in the midst of a great river of life but are dying of thirst because they do not dip down and take it.”

God is a god of details. He is alive and well and working in and through us. Let’s praise Him for his mercy and grace and thank Him for salvation.

One Response »

 

Numbered Hairs Monday, Sep 22 2014

Yesterday, following the sermon, our pastor had us all praying for one another. (Novel idea.) During the prayer time, I prayed for a woman whose parents had set siblings against each other in a battle that apparently had become a life long war. I prayed that God would lift that spirit of sibling rivalry from her. She insisted that there was no sibling rivalry but only anger from what her parents were doing and had done all of her life.

So, I told her that God tells us in the Scriptures that every hair on our head is numbered. And not just those on top but also our eyebrows, ear hairs, and nose hairs as well. (For a man the beard is included.) And that no two people that had ever lived had the same numbers. I told her, “You are unique and God loves you just the way you are.”

I asked her if she felt any different and she muttered, “yes” through tears and red eyes.

There was another woman praying for her also and she said, “I see a road and all along the side of the road there are different things that you come upon that are tempting but these things are not good for you. Stay on the lighted path with Jesus and don’t veer off to the left or right. Narrow is the path that leads to life.”

God loves us and cares about our journey. He wants to be a part of our everyday lives. He cares for you.

We all come from a different place but we are all headed to the same destinations, either heaven or hell. The path is narrow.

How can we know the love of God? Who can claim this awesome massive “agape”?

God is like a mother who clips the babies first curls and keeps them in a memory book. We can’t really measure the depth of his love. But God is a god of details. He knows the desires of our hearts. He wants us to walk with Him.

Yesterday, the sermon was about how the kingdom of God is both/and. It is here and now and also coming. Then this morning as I entered into devotions God said, “Though heaven is future it is also present tense.  As you walk in the Light with me you have one foot in heaven and one on earth.” In a completely different devotional He said, “It is a process of dying and living.”

Over and over he reaffirms His presence. “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.”

Leave a Response »

 

Grieving the Holy Spirit Sunday, Sep 21 2014

Let’s begin with a prayer this morning: LORD, lead us to your truth. Open our eyes, LORD, we want to see you. Open our ears, LORD, we want to listen. Let the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight. Inspire each word to your purpose. May the light of your presence, bring us grace sufficient for this day’s plan. In Jesus Christ. Amen.

Each morning, upon awakening, the first thought in my head usually takes the form of something that compels me to action that is laid out in such a way that it quickens my body to respond to a specific detail on a map (God’s Plan for my life) that directs my steps. Throughout the day, I know I am on the right path because this same thought repeats itself over and over both as a reminder of where I am going and how I am going to get there. This thought is what I call inspiration. (In-Spirit).

Due to free will, I can make a choice to either follow that inspiration or not.

When I follow the inspiration it begins with prayer, bible study, praises, listening for God’s voice, thinking about what He tells me, and then acting on what He has said. When I do this, there is peace in Him. There is an absolute joy that comes from obedience. I feel inspired because I am inspired.

You see, my heart’s desire becomes to be righteous because He is righteous, to be Holy because He is holy, and to be pure because He is pure. When my heart is right with God, then I am free to allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in my life. He can live and move and have His being in my body. He acts out of love and patience and kindness through me. There is a joy just from watching it all and seeing what He will do next. It makes my days full of the peace that passes understanding. I see goodness everywhere. I see Him active in our lives. I see the grace He gives and it makes my heart thankful. I am humbled by His presence. The Spirit is so gentle and longsuffering. He abounds in forgiveness. It permeates Him. It allows me to be forgiving to others and to myself. I am weak but He is strong.

When I choose not to follow His inspiration, I unknowingly grieve Him. He anguishes for me over the unguided steps, the misdirected purposes, the wailing and groaning of the old self so evident in this choice. Not to mention the consequences. We miss out on so much in life when we go our own way and do the things we know we should not do.

Still, He gently nudges, hoping we will see and hear Him. You can’t see what you don’t look for in life. You can’t hear His call if you turn a deaf ear to Him.

Ephesians 4:30

³⁰ And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Our proof that we are His is in that seal. That’s our deposit on a destiny to the pearly gates. That’s the passcode, that gets us past the gate; living in Him.

One Response »

 

Christ’s Authority Wednesday, Sep 17 2014

Christ’s Authority

There is no authority like Christ’s.

Romans 13:1-7

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: …

Authority to Rule

Proverbs 29:2

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Authority to Teach

Matthew 7:29

For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Matthew 21:19-

¹⁹ And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

²⁰ And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

²¹ Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

²² And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

²³ And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

²⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

²⁵ The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

²⁶ But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

²⁷ And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Mark 1: ²² And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

Authority to Cast out Demons

Luke 4:35-37King James Version (KJV)

³⁵ And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.

³⁶ And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

³⁷ And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.

Authority to Heal the Sick

Luke 9:1-3King James Version (KJV)

9 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

² And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

³ And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

Authority to Execute Judgment

John 5:26-28King James Version (KJV)

²⁶ For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

²⁷ And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

²⁸ Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

Leave a Response »

 

This Is Us, Christians Tuesday, Sep 16 2014

2 Corinthians 3:17-18New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

One Response »