The Gift of Dream

When is a dream just a dream?    A secret present given, an experience into another place or time, only for you to see?   Or when is that dream meant to be shared, at the risk of sounding crazy?   I know that God gives his children spiritual gifts, but when is a vision of your own conjuring, and when is it something more??    It's so hard to discern.  I DO think God still talks to his children in dreams and visions.   He did in Bible times, why would he stop?   My son was once given the vision of a majestic lion, turning a shy and timid teenager into a spiritual soldier from that day forward.     Scripture even says it will be happening with greater frequency.  "Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us."  Eph 4:7.  "Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions."  Joel 2:28    My dream was much less of a call to action, but more a gift of HOPE.   Here is my account, take it or leave it:

15 years ago, I had two little boys at home under the age of 5, along with a newborn daughter.   I had laid down with her for an afternoon nap and was subconsciously allowed to 'visit' Heaven.    The only way I can describe it is intense.   Intense, rich colors.  Intense beauty.  Intense sounds of birds and animals.   Intense PEACE.    The peace was actually the thing that stands out to me still.   How there was no worry of time, or where to go, or things I needed to do.  

I was in the valley.   With a gorgeous blue sky above, and green meadows full of colorful flowers all around me.   At the top of the hill before me, under a massive oak tree, Christ waited.

I climbed the hill and sheepishly approached him as he smiled down at me.   It was as if I were the size of a child, and he, a Father.    (Which really isn't something I have found in Scripture, but hey, it was the dream I was given and it is what it is.)   I asked him if I could sit in his lap and he almost laughed.   But just smiled a little smile and said, "Of course you can, Daughter".   

Completely star struck, I then asked, "Can I hug you??"   Kind eyes with a big smile this time - "of course you can!"     I don't know how long I sat on his lap.   Or if we talked.   Or went down memory lane.   But I can tell you, I remember his eyes.   You could fall into his eyes.  So deep and caring.  I don't even think I could say their color, because they were unearthly.    They saw into your soul and hypnotized you into a state of complete peace.   Of safety.   Of love.   I will never forget the feeling I had looking into his eyes, and having him look down on me with a Father's love.   Unmatched and perfect.     Him looking down into the eyes of the little one he had saved from death.... it was an intense bond I don't think is possible to share with another human.

When I awoke, it was not with relief but grief.   I wanted to be back on that hill more than anything.   I was upset and angry.   I was never suicidal, but I would have traded this life, my young children, my newborn - all to be back in his arms.    The peace was THAT perfect.     I don't even remember if I told my husband or best friends about my dream that day.   It was my secret to keep.

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My first opportunity to share was a few months later when a good friend was on her death bed, dying at the age of only 30 with cancer.   I then thought... here is the reason God had let me have those moments.   To share with her.   I told her of my dream and told her not to be scared.    That even though she would meet him soon, she would be loosing nothing, but gaining everything.    And I left her that day with the task, "When you see him, tell him I can't wait to hug him again."   I didn't cry when she died.   I was jealous in a way.    I no longer have a fear of death.   This world is not my home.  The blessed hope.

Conversely, a few years later, a young mom I had been trying to get to go to church with me told me about her near death experience during open heart surgery.   She had been medically dead twice, and they brought her back.   While under, she said she was going down in a dark elevator.... looking up at her two daughters at the top and screaming for it to stop.   She said she had no idea what she was going down to... but it was intense FEAR.   Her heart raced and she was terrified.   Screaming until she awoke.  I told her about my dream, and how no matter what, I would NEVER be using that elevator.   I didn't have that fear.   I explained the Gospel but she insisted, she "just wasn't ready".   I have no idea what path she will eventually chose to walk, but I did as the Spirit led, and have peace in that.   It is her choice to make.

I tell you all this because the other night, I had only my second dream ever that I would describe as prophetic.   I was walking in the woods and came upon two bears feasting on something.   As I froze, one looked at me and came charging.   He was literally skin and bones.   But rose up to growl at me with huge, nasty teeth.    But instead of running, I stood tall.   I opened my arms to make myself big, and yelled as loud as I could.   I don't know about the bear, but I effectively scared my husband to death!!    Minutes later, as he held me and lay his head on my chest, both our hearts pounding - I felt God say: "They are evil.  And evil is bearing its teeth now.   Trying to scare you.   But they are dying.   It is time for Christians to stand tall.   Act Big.  And be LOUD."

So there you have it my friends.  The first blog I have written in years.    I share my experience only because I feel like whether we meet on that hill tomorrow, or 30 years from now, our time is short.   Be LOUD.    God triumphs over evil in the end.  Regardless of political parties, sin culture, or economic conditions.  But fight the good fight.   Stand on the side of righteousness and quit letting culture tell you to be quiet and stand down.   Call out evil against our children.   WE are children of a Mighty King.    And He is alive and moving in these last days.    We have the gifts of hope and a peace that they do not.  

For his children, he is waiting for you.   For those who are unsure, he is waiting for you to choose to meet him, it is still up to you.   I would never dream of choosing wrongly.

**the paintings are from a young prodigy named Akiane.    She painted "Prince of Peace" at age 8 from visions and dreams and noted it was his eyes she was most drawn to.    Her website and book showcase other paintings of Christ, his creation, his children, and Heaven.   

The Gift of Hurt - Part Two

So here I go, pulling my soapbox over again. Last week, on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, I stumbled upon another video. I entered a group on Facebook which lobbies President Obama to help keep partial birth illegal. I clicked on a "must see" video mentioned and 10 minutes later, my eyes were once again re-opened to the pain that Christ must feel when He gazes upon His world. I need to preface by saying that this video is very, very, VERY graphic. However, I don't think now, that I would change my mind and not click on that Play button.

To see the video, go to this site and click on "Play in English"

After viewing the above video (by accident), I was bombarded in the news, of the joy of Obama's re-reinstatement of funds for abortions internationally. I was blown away by comments of others praising his actions. Again, Americans choose to close their eyes to the pain of children. It is much easier to see a developing baby as immaterial, pre-viable, or a parasite. It is much easier to sweep abortion under the rug with statements like "well I don't believe in abortion but it isn't my choice to make, it is their body". This is why I think all Christians, and all Americans for that matter - should watch that video. To see that for us to stand by and excuse the murder of innocent children as a consequence of society or a mother's choice is irresponsible. To see that while Drs. and pro-choicers may say the fetus is just a mass or a unintended burden, that with your own eyes - you see God's creation destroyed unmercifully.

To see poor babies and the pain they endured and not feel for them is unfathomable to me. I do not understand how churches across our country are now turning their head and not speaking out against this abomination. Not wanting to step on any toes. Here's what I can't understand - at the same time last week, news stories headlined with the story of a 20-year old in Belgium busting into a daycare and slashing babies and teachers with a kitchen knife. 2 infants and 1 teacher were killed. Are those infants any less or more formed than the ones you saw in the video??

In 2006, 5 little girls were massacred in an Amish schoolhouse - and we were all in shock.
In 2007, 32 students were shot and killed at Virginia Tech - and the nation mourned.
In 1999, 12 children were shot and killed at Columbine - and we were up in arms.
Since 1973, over 45 million infants have been burned to death, torn into shreds, or have had their brains sucked out. I know that sounds graphic - but where is the shock? where is the mourning? what makes those 45 million babies' lives less valuable than 2, 5, or 12 who were given the chance at life before it was stolen from them?

My son Seth was born 3 weeks premature. Do you know that if partial birth abortion is re-instated, that I could have chose to 'terminate' him for any reason. My son was no less a child at 37 weeks than my other two were at 40 weeks.

So as I watched this video, and tears streamed down my face, I asked "God, how much longer will you allow this to happen to your children?" And again, I felt that as Christians, our eyes have been shut for far too long. I have written congressmen, and it wasn't enough. I have joined the Susan B. Anthony foundation, and it wasn't enough. I have argued with close friends, and it wasn't enough. I have posted information and forwarded emails, and it wasn't enough. We have NOT done enough to protect our nation's children for fear of offending the 'rights' of others. And I am fearful of the day, and the plight of this country, when God does step in and say "ENOUGH!"

The Wisdom of Mommy

O.k., so I have to admit that I have a hard time with memorization. It's a good thing phone numbers can be programmed in or I would never call anyone. O.k., so I still never call anyone but that's not the point. I have a really hard time memorizing people's names, road names, and even sometimes the names of my clients. I have no idea how I made it through high school and college successfully. I also have to admit that I have a really hard time memorizing scriptures and rely way too much on biblegateway.com because "I know it's in there somewhere." I have found that the best way to remember something is to teach it to my kids. Because those little jokers don't forget a thing!

One of my best pieces of advice for new moms is, "don't do anything you don't want to become a habit because kids have a much better memory than we do." If you give them a quarter to get gum out of a machine in a random Chinese restaurant, four years later when you visit that same restaurant they WILL expect to receive their quarter. If you give in and buy a screaming toddler a "quiet down" toy in Wal-Mart - you will be broke within a year after all your weekly visits. If you go to a screaming 2 year old in the middle of the night and give him a cup of milk, you had better get ready to make that milk every night until he is 8! But I digress...

So now to the subject of my blog - we live in a neighborhood with lots of kids. Kids that love my front yard and seem to gather there as much as the local fire ants. So one day after the kids had been outside, Braeden reported that one of the neighborhood girls had called him a not-nice name. To which Seth puffed his chest up and let me know that he and the other big boys had "taken care of her". Which I, upon interviewing, found out meant they had called her some pretty not-nice names right back. So I go into full mommy mode. Here would be a teachable moment and I need to capitalize on it. I whip out my highlighted Bible and find Romans 12:17
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody." (So you know that I just zipped over to biblegateway for that one don't you??) and discuss it with the boys. Man, did I do a good job! Nugget of knowledge passed to my offspring, my work is done for the day.

So the next day, the boys and their dad are on their way to Seth's football practice and are discussing the little bully that likes to tackle Braeden and be mean while his Daddy is out on the field coaching. T gives Braeden that old adage that every dad feels the need to crown their little man-child with "boy, if he hits you - hit him back!!" To which Braeden says, "oh no Daddy, I can't repay evil for evil!!" (mom is smirking now) Score one for the good guys.....

So my point is that even if you think that your little ones are too little, too preoccupied, or too immature to handle discussions about good vs. evil; Heaven vs. Hell; sin vs. salvation - they will learn things and remember things so much better than we could, even without lifting a finger in effort. There are so many touchy subjects today with abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage, promiscuity, drug abuse. All those things, in our day, could wait until at least middle school. But moms and dads, your children WILL learn what evil is. Whether you like it or not. In many states, it has already made it's way into the elementary classroom and is being taught as normal and good. And I would much rather my children be able to see it and know the difference between right and wrong while their little minds are still pliable and while they still think I know everything! We have a lot of work to do and a long row to hoe.....