Tag Archives: Dreams

WHICH SIDE

17 Sep

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Matthew 12:30 KJV

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When tempests boil and turn,

This way and that,

Uprooting all you find sacred,

All you find worthy –

On which side of the cross do you rest?

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When your thoughts are so strained,

Facts threaten your hope,

Doubts threaten your faith –

On which side of the cross do you rest?

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When your family and friends,

Dwell on sorrows and pain,

Straining joy,

Stretching joy,

Quenching joy –

On which side of the cross do you rest?

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When you’ve let promise down,

To the ones that you love,

To yourself,

To your dreams –

On which side of the cross do you rest?

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Do you curse and cry out,

Blaming God in the dusk,

Screaming “why” in self-pity,

In pride?

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Or do you lay yourself down,

At the foot of the cross,

And rest in His promise,

His love?

✝

Written 6-20-1998

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SACRIFICE

16 Sep

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”  Hebrews 13:15  KJV

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The Ancient of Days,

cast Himself to the earth,

in the form of a seed,

in the womb of a virgin.

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Subject, now, to heat and cold,

to fatigue and illness,

to prejudice and ridicule,

to suffering and pain.

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The Ancient of Days,

became man,

flesh, blood and Spirit;

willingly giving,

the power of deity,

for the birth of a nation.

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The God of Jessie,

born through the sacrifice of blood,

to become the blood sacrifice.

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From the promises to Adam,

to the revelation shown John,

the blood of God coursed the earth,

changing strength and direction,

at the tributary called Christ.

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The new stream of Christ,

fed the trees of new life,

where the roots of the old,

were washed clean.

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The water, most pure,

chased the stagnant pools of red,

that once rinsed man’s hands,

but touched not the soul.

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The water, most pure,

flowed over and cleansed,

the wounds of the past,

refreshing the hope,

of a dark, tarnished dream.

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The water of life,

borne from the blood,

of an innocent man,

takes sweet revenge,

on the deepest of sin.

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Released to be washed,

by the power of mercy,

by the treasure of grace,

it rises back up,

to the base of the cross.

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There, at the cross,

the blood and water,

of grace and mercy,

flows down to the earth,

as forgiven sin reaches up,

meeting at the feet of Christ.

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Running together they became one,

the earth shook with promise,

the sky darkened,

to reveal a new light,

and the rivers flowed,

with a new wine,

washing clean the weary souls,

of all that would reach forth,

in praise.

✝

 

 

Written 10-18-1998

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VISION

6 Oct

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18

Studying the old and new testaments makes it clear that not everyone wants or seeks a vision, but many choose to live a day-by-day mundane life. It seems that only those who became leaders had any desire to look past the next crop cycle or traditional holiday.

The half million that followed Moses around and around the wilderness lost their vision of leaving Egypt for their homeland the moments the cucumbers, melons, leeks and onions ran out. Vision Change – let’s go back to slavery and familiar hardships because we understood them AND the food was better. Gracious!

David’s army’s vision was to do whatever David told them to do; try to stay alive, and maybe, someday, see David as King. Most men in the Bible tended crops or flocks. Most women prepared meals, made clothing and raised children; day-by-day-by-day. The Pharisees and Sadducees were content to sit at the temple all day, every day, discussing their beliefs with each other.

Clearly scripture indicates that God gives us ALL dreams and visions. By putting our faith in action we can make those dreams and visions a reality. Why do so many choose the “ordinary life”? There is story after story in the Bible of ordinary people doing exceptional things. Many of those stories speak of visitations by an angel, or a prophet; some even heard the voice of God. Does it take a supernatural experience for an ordinary person to step-up to the skills God placed in them at birth?

Joseph began having dreams as a boy; he was born to a life as a shepherd. When Joseph shared his dreams with his brothers, even though he didn’t understand what they meant, his brothers began to hate him; even his father scolded him. Did Moses dream of his future when he was a boy? Did King David??

What happens to people that keeps them from following the dreams and visions that God places deep inside of them as children? Why do we choose to be content with the ordinary when we have been called to be extraordinary? Are we so afraid of failure before people that we won’t take a chance at success before God?

God took Esther and saved a nation through fasting and prayer. God took Rahab and saved the spies sent by Joshua; against the direct order of the King of Jericho, also saving Rahab’s family, by clever maneuvers. God took Noah and built an ark with carpentry skills God spoke to him; skills never used before, to build something called a boat in a time when it never rained. God took Peter, an impulsive and ambitious fisherman, and built a church. Ordinary people – given a great vision.

Just imagine what would happen if we all responded to God’s dreams and visions as the boy Samuel responded to the voice of God, “Speak, for thy servant heareth.” How long did Samuel have to wait for the vision God called him to? How many years did Joseph wait for his vision and promise to come to pass? How many years did Moses wait before he was called to his position, and then again how much longer before God allowed him to find the Promised Land? How many years from the day that David was anointed with oil by the prophet Samuel before he was anointed King of Israel in Hebron? How many years have you waited?

In 1998, 12 years ago, God gave me a vision; we call it Shiloh Spiritual Growth Ministries. A year ago God gave us more of the pieces of the vision. We work daily with the portion of the vision God has allowed us to begin; we wait. We know one day God will say, “It’s time,” and our full vision will begin to unfold. What has God placed in your heart that you have been pushing aside, feeling that it is only a silly dream?

Father, help us to always hear Your voice, see Your visions and dream Your dreams. Speak, for thy servants listen.

By Linda J Humes

Written 4-25-2010

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DREAMS

11 Nov

“And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.”    Numbers 12:6

I’m standing in my dining room window and I realize that my plants have all gone dry.  I have been so focused on keeping the fireplace burning and the house warm, that I hadn’t thought about the other life around me that needs attention, and water, to survive.

I wonder if I have forgotten about my own life and the desires I once held so dear.  I have found myself going through the motions of life to survive.  I am living in the memories of a lost yesterday, a wonderful time gone by, of clear direction and extravagant dreams.  I often find myself so absorbed in the memories of yesterday that I forget about the reality of today.  We were created to flourish, not simply survive.  Why do we stop dreaming about tomorrow?  Why have we allowed circumstances to dictate the end of a vision that God has placed deep in our hearts and souls?  Am I the only one?

Illness may steal our energy, but it should never steal our joy.  An unwanted job may bring tremendous stress and pressure, but it cannot steal our dream of the work God has put inside of us, it is merely a stepping stone soaked with valuable lessons and information that God is teaching us for the next part of our journey.

A loss is only a loss if we allow it to be, or it can become a beautiful valuable lesson to guide our steps forward on the path that God has placed us on.

Do we get so caught up in daily survival that we forget to reach out to the God who gave us life. Do we forget about the dreams, the people in our lives to receive from, and the people that He wants us to pour into.  Do we get so caught up in trying to figure out how we are going to fulfill a need that we forget to take it to the Father in prayer, which is all He is waiting for to send resolution?  Are we so consumed by the fear of what might happen that we don’t step into the dreams of the wonderful things that could happen?

Reach out to the Father for the next step of the path that He placed in you at birth.  Reach deep inside for the faith and trust you nurture every day through the Word.  Reach back to help another find their path, encouraging them daily.  Reach up in praise and worship for the gifts of life bestowed upon you and the dreams birthed inside.

A dream isn’t a wish your heart makes; it is a call towards a life ministry, one moment at a time.   Nurture it.  Flourish.

 

Written 11-11-2018

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HOPE

18 Jul

Hopeless child

“Now hope is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

I knew what I wanted to be from the age of 3.  Every year it changed, sometimes every month.  I had big elaborate dreams and overwhelming visions.  Some came to pass, some I let go with maturity – but I would never have been able to accomplish anything in life if I hadn’t had those dreams built on hope.

I worked in an inner-city school and had gathered a small group of children together for a state standards test.  These were the students that had been absent on the regular testing day and had to make-up the test.  One little boy, 3rd grade, 8-year-old, captured my heart.  This boy whizzed through the math, flew through the language, but when the time came for writing he sat, not moving, eyes firmly fixed on his paper.

The test allowed 45 minutes for this section.  After 30 minutes all of the other students were gone and he sat alone, staring.  When I reminded him of the time, tears began to well up in his eyes.  I asked if he had ideas of what he could write.  He shook his head “no.”  I suggested his favorite person, a hero – he didn’t have one.  What about what he wanted to be when he grew up – he didn’t know.

President?  “No.”

Astronaut?  “No.”

Movie Star?  “No.”

Sports Star?  “No.”

I suggested he write about fun times with his Mom – he did not have a memory of a fun time with his Mom. Special times spent with his Dad – he never had a special time with his Dad.  Fun or silly things he did with his pets – didn’t have a pet, never did.  A sports game he’d gone to – never been to one.  A vacation – never been on one.

With each suggestion his shoulders stooped a little farther until he almost lay on his paper.  A moment later he began to sob.  I tried to comfort him, letting him know that it was only a test and that there were no right or wrong essays, it was just his thoughts he needed to write down – it didn’t help.  I finally told him to just write who he was and that he couldn’t think of anything to write – and I silently prayed that his sentence would be long enough for them to grade.

He handed me his paper and pencil and slowly left to go back to his regular classroom, wiping his eyes and composing himself as he went.  I felt as broken as he.  I was angry with the culture.  I was angry with the school.  I was angry with the parents.  I was angry with the whole system, a system that allows 8-year-old boys to “survive” day to day in a difficult inner-city world with no hope for tomorrow.  With a culture where two parents with a limited education struggle to make a home and feed a family, but have no time to nurture the hopes and dreams inside the children.

What has happened to our culture when our children have no hope for tomorrow?  Where, Jesus, do we start?  How, Lord do we begin to show the children the very love of God that builds the hope and dreams they deserve – when God isn’t allowed in the schools?  How, Jesus, do we place into an 8-year-old child a dream to be the President, an astronaut, to be a parent and raise a family – a desire to LIVE for tomorrow?

Lord Jesus, forgive us our sins of not seeing those, most precious in your sight, laying waste in a life of “getting by.”

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