I Had A Dream...Acts 4 - BOLDNESS!

During one of my many naps in my hermit state from our most recent snowstorm, I had a dream.

Now this dream was two fold - it scared me, and it taught me a lesson.

First, let me tell you about the dream: my best friend, Billie, came over to my house to pick me up to go somewhere, and we left, with me driving her car. As we got a little ways down the road, there was a white pickup truck in our lane, coming head-on toward us. When I looked to my left to see if I could swerve around him, there were two more cars coming at us head on. I couldn't swerve to the right (don't know why...I just know I couldn't), so I took my chances and swerved into the path of the oncoming cars, hoping I would make it off of the road before they hit us.

I didn't. In my dream, I felt the car hit us, and I felt a warm sensation start at my feet at begin moving up. I heard myself saying, "I'm going to see Jesus...I'm going to see Jesus". While this is happening, my best friend is yelling in my ear, "Read Acts 4! Read Acts 4!". When the warm sensation reached my waist, I woke up. Scary!

So I read Acts 4 -so don't let Billie ever tell you that I don't listen to her - and was amazed at what God used that dream to show me! Since Billie's dad's death, we have discussed many times the need to be bold in the Spirit when sharing our faith, that time is short and it is very important to share the Gospel with all of those around us.

As I read Acts 4, I saw Peter and John be confronted about healing someone in the name of Jesus Christ...I saw them spend a night in jail (a night to pray for the Spirit to lead them in what would happen the next day)... and I saw them face the Sanhedrin the next day and BOLDLY share the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!! I saw Peter and John TESTIFY to the things that they had seen and not back down, even when faced with jail! They did not do this on their own power, but by the Holy Spirit! I saw learned men amazed at the knowledge of these two simple uneducated men...I saw God at work through those willing to give all for the Gospel.

Friends, do we share that boldness? Do we witness as if our very souls depended on it? Guess what - the souls of those we are supposed to witness to do depend on it! Jesus tells us that if we are not ashamed of Him before men, He will not be ashamed of us before the Father...we are called for our lives to be a mirror of the very one we claim to love. Do our faces shine like Moses', when he had been in the very presence of the Living God? If not, why? Are we prepared to share the Gospel no matter what consequences we might face?

God taught me several lessons in that dream - I can leave this world at any moment; do I want to be remembered for my zeal for the Gospel and my love of Jesus Christ; and am I willing to face any consequences for my faith?

More than anything, I want people to say that they saw the light of Jesus love on my face, and my life mirrored the One I love so much.

It's just what's on my mind...

GIANT Leap of Faith!

Y'all like this picture?

This is the cliff I just jumped off of! Figuratively, of course, but I did in fact just take the most giant leap of faith that I have ever taken!

For awhile now, I have wondered why I do what I do...I used to love my work and love everyone involved, but for the past year or so, I have not had my heart in what I am doing. Especially since my dad died...I have wondered, am I happy where I am, or do I need to make a change?

So I committed this to prayer...and recent weeks have brought me to where I stand (or float, since I just jumped and have not landed yet...) right now. If it started with my dad's death, it culminated into something that overtook my heart when my best friend's dad died three weeks ago. I thought about life, and living it to the fullest, doing what God wants me to do.

After much prayer, I clearly heard God say, "Go ahead and jump...I am already building the ground that you will land on. When you are ready to land, the foundation will be there".

So, with no definite plans for the future, I resigned from my job this past Friday. I know, in logic, it makes no sense. The economy stinks, the job market stinks, have I lost my mind?

But in God's plan, it makes perfect sense. I trust Him to show me where to go and what to do. I do have a prospect that I believe is straight from Him, and it is something that I long to do.

Some have asked me if I am leaping into full time ministry - I'd like to think that we as Christians are all already in full time ministry. But I know what they mean..this time will also give me time to work on my CD and some other projects I have had on my heart.

I pray that you all will listen closely to God's voice and hear Him clearly...and not be afraid to jump!

It's definitely what's on my mind today!

Faith Will Take You Farther

Faith can move mountains.

And faith can take you farther than you dream.

I watched this yesterday as my best friend sang her solo in our Christmas cantata.

Two years ago, her dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. Being a man of amazing faith, he never let anything get him down. I never heard him say anything negative about being sick. According to him, he wasn't sick. He was fighting with every ounce of his being. And he depended on the Saviour he loved to get him through each step. He showed this faith to everyone around him. If you didn't see it, it's because you weren't looking.

This past Sunday, he went to the hospital for what would be his final time. As my preacher stated yesterday morning, human hands had done all they could do. The rest was up to God. He was discharged home Saturday with Hospice care.

My best friend's dad sang in our choir and he loved our cantatas. She had a solo in our cantata and she came to church yesterday morning because he wanted her to come and sing...and she sang her solo to honor her dad and her Father. Watching her faith strengthened mine.

The song she sang was called "Faith Will Take You Farther"; and I want to share those words with you this afternoon.

Sometimes faith will bring you, to trust a promise that's illogical

Sometimes faith will lead you, to cling to hopes that seem impossible

So often faith looks foolish, a leap into the dark

But that's not how it is for the believing heart

Chorus: Cause when all your dreams have fallen through

And your plans come crashing in on you

Don't lose hope, no matter how it seems

Cause faith will hold you closer

Faith will keep you safer

Faith will take you farther than you dream

Doubt will always whisper, there's no one there to catch you when you fall

Fear will come to rob you, of any chance to see a miracle

So trust the One who loves you, whose Word won't let you down

Cause resting in His grace is where your strength is found

Chorus: Cause when all your dreams have fallen through

And your plans come crashing in on you

Don't lose hope, no matter how it seems

Cause faith will hold you closer

Faith will keep you safer

Faith will take you farther than you dream

Her dad went home to be with Jesus last night, and the faith that he leaned on and professed so loudly became sight. He closed his eyes in death, and opened them in the presence of His Saviour that he loved so much. The words to this song explain his faith and how he depended on Jesus to get him through; and the words to this song explain my friend's faith as she has been through her dad's illness with him, and she sang so beautifully yesterday morning, leaning on the strength of Jesus Christ.

I'm a different person for knowing her dad and his faith. And for knowing her and her faith.

I challenge you (and me) today to take this time to re-evaluate our faith in our Saviour, and to examine our lives to see if others can see that faith that we profess to have. Can they see the Saviour that we say we love? If not, why can't they?

Are we standing on the Rock of Jesus Christ for everything?

It's just what's on my mind.