It was kind of a "dance" weekend for me!

 Friday was one of those extra special days for me.  I got to accompany Lia and Gwen to a Ballet Specialty store for a fitting for new Pointe Shoes! 

This is actually Lia's third pair of Pointe Shoes, but it is still amazing to see!  The first pair were purchased in 2020 and I remember how nervous Lia was that she would never get "off the barre".  Here she is with much more confidence, three years later!  

After making the final decision about the exact feel and fit, the purchase was completed.  I was a bit sad when Lia said, "Take a picture of my last time getting Pointe Shoes."  I know that she is 17 and doesn't think (at this time) that she will continue to dance.  But considering all the hours and hours she has spent in practice since 2009, it is hard to believe.

 One of my first, very favorite books (when I was in second grade) was called "On Your Toes, Susie" and I had almost memorized that book.  I was surprised to see that it is still available!

I always dreamed about dancing and especially dancing on pointe.  I never had any ballet training and Gwen was much more interested in gymnastics than ballet.  When Lia first started dance, I never imagined I would see her on Pointe!  I am sure that Lia might not be happy with me sharing the following pictures, but for this grandma, these are things that I will never forget....

These pictures are from 2009 when Lia started Ballet at Dance Connection in Grayslake, Illinois.  The teacher in the blue shirt in the last picture, is the owner of the studio, Ms Bridget Blake!  And she is still one of Lia's teacher today!  I wonder if she imagined that the little girl in the pink leotard who she led across the floor, would still be dancing 14 years later!  

Yes, Dance Connection is certainly a big part of the life at the Johnson household.  Not only Lia, but also Ellie and Anna dance every week.  This year was another first for us.  Lia, Ellie and Anna all danced in the annual Grayslake Parade as a part of the Spotlight group from Dance Connection.  

This was Anna's first year, dancing in the parade and she was very nervous!  I was so glad that I got to the parade this year.  I'm not sure why, but I have missed the pervious parades.  This is also the first time that all three girls have been in the same dance production.  Anna is so happy to have a chance to dance with Lia and Ellie!  

This is Ellie!

Here is Anna!

And this is Lia!

Given my past few months, I have been thinking a lot about my childhood and various memories.  I was always reading and I know that it was an escape for me.  I could imagine myself in different circumstances and in amazing places, having adventures.  I don't think I realized just how much the books that I read and loved, have influenced my life.  This is just one example!  I loved the Little House on the Prairie books and here I am, writing a book that starts on the Prairie in the late 1800's.  

What an excellent reminder for us all that our dreams may not be realized in exactly the way that we thought!  I never became a pointe dancer.  Gwen didn't do ballet.  Yet here is Lia, dancing on toe!  My dream has become a reality in my life, just not how I expected.  When I was little, I imagined living on a lake, having a house right on the water.  This was birthed out of many happy days spent at our vacation lake cabin on Lake Maud.  While I don't live on a lake, Gwen and Tim do! I have spent many happy days at their home, enjoying their lake front property.  Again, not exactly how I thought my dream would be realized, but I am sure enjoying what it is!  

I love how Jesus knows the desires of our hearts and brings those to us, sometimes in unexpected ways and much differently than we thought we wanted.  After a weekend like this, I am more convinced that Jesus knew my heart as a little girl of seven.  And this weekend, I realized just how special it is that my dream about dancing has come to pass.  I bet that if you actually looked at some of those dreams and desires from your childhood, you also would find ways that Jesus has brought them into your life, that were not exactly like you thought.  What a joy it is to know that, no matter how long it might take, Jesus will bring us exactly what we need and desire!  Even when those things include that very unexpected plot twist!  

Jesus, thank you for children and grandchildren.  What a joy it is to see children learning and growing.  Holy Spirit, help us to see with new eyes, the ways that long forgotten dreams and desires have been met for us.  Jesus, thank you for knowing our hearts and giving us exactly what we need, when we need it.  Thank you for pictures that help us preserve our memories.  Amen

 

Called but not qualified

I have been thinking about this picture all day today.   I have started to write a blog post several times over the last week, but they are sitting in the "draft" mode and most likely, I will never publish them.  Nothing that I have put on paper has seemed to be just right.  After my last blog I was determined to blog more and to put all of my thoughts out there.  No matter what.  But that is so much harder than it sounds. 

This picture represents one of my very first memories.  I don't actually remember having this picture taken when I was three years old.  But I do remember that outfit.  The jumper was a deep blue and the trim on the ribbon was red.  The embroidery on the blouse was also red and the little bow was red.  I don't know why I remember this so well, but I am sure about the colors - even though the picture is black and white.  I've been thinking about this picture after spending some one-on-one time with Anna on Monday.  Gwen had a crazy, busy day so she asked if I would come and pick Anna up after  preschool.  I was quite happy to get just a bit of time to be with Anna without the older kids around.  As the youngest of four, Anna is usually not that much of a conversationalist.  When you get her alone, it is just the opposite!  What an amazing little girl, who will be four years old next week.  She was happy to tell me all about her day in preschool.  She even shared that her teacher was "really bummed" that she forgot to sing the dinosaur song. What an amazing little girl - she seems much older than three going on four all of a sudden.  She was very excited to ride in my car and insisted on hanging her "pack pack" (her back pack) on the hook in the back seat.  On my way home from their house, I was reflecting on my time with Anna, and wondering just how much she will remember of days like this.  And that led me to think about this picture.  Memories are really funny things. 

Somewhere around the time that this picture was taken, I had a life changing dream.  In this dream, Jesus and I were walking in a beautiful garden.  There were all kinds of flowers and birds and trees. Even as a little girl, I remembered how incredible the place was.  We were walking on a path that seemed to just go on forever.  Jesus was holding my hand.  Even now, when I think about this dream, I can feel his hand holding mine.  Jesus had a very important message for me.  A very simple message.  Jesus was the Son of God and he had died on the cross to take away all the bad things we had done.  And he did not stay dead.  He came alive again and is in heaven with God.  Easter is not about the candy and the Easter bunny.  It is a true story about Jesus.  I was supposed to tell everyone about Jesus. 

I can't explain this dream.  While my family attended church, we did not really ever talk about things like this.  I don't remember ever having a conversation with anyone about Jesus, the cross or Easter prior to this dream.  I do remember talking to my mom AFTER this dream and telling her I was going to tell everyone about Jesus.  Her response was to tell me that we don't talk about this to other people.  It was not something I should share with anyone else.  So, I did not go and tell everyone about Jesus at that time.  It was many, many years later when I realized that the dream was really the point when Jesus called me to be a truth teller and a sharer.  I just never felt qualified to do that!
In total truth telling, I don't feel very qualified right now!

It really is a mystery how God really doesn't look around for the most qualified people to do His work.   It is also interesting how many times He calls on children to carry out his plans.  Lets face it, if we are qualified to do a job, we often don't have to have any help.  When you can accomplish something in your own strength and power, you don't really need God, do you?   Once I acknowledged this call on my life, and also just how unqualified I was for this task, it was quite easy to call out to Jesus for help.  It has been a slow process towards acting on that first call on my life. 

This blog is just part of me finally fulfilling that first call on my life.  I am telling everyone who reads this blog that Jesus is real.  He really died on that cross for you and for me.  And He really rose from the dead and is now in heaven with God the Father.  If you believe in Him you will be saved.  It is that simple.  There is nothing that you have to do.  Jesus has done it all for you. 

There are so many very qualified people out there, with training and theological degrees.  There are well known, world traveling evangelists that are much more qualified than me to carry this message.  Tonight I am very thankful for the means to write this blog and the method to transmit it out into cyberspace.  Only Jesus could have planned to use someone as unqualified as me to share this message.   I am sure that each person reading this blog, has a destiny and calling unique to you.  That is just who God is.  He loves us each so much.  We are all pieces in the puzzle of His plan.  We each have an important destiny to fulfill.  Don't hesitate is you feel unqualified for the calling.  Remember, nothing is impossible with God!

;Jesus, thank you for this very powerful memory through this picture that brought me back to the dream that needed to be shared today.  Holy Spirit, give us all clarity as we consider what Jesus is asking of us.  Help us to know your presence with us.  Jesus thank you for being patient with us as we walk on towards your calling. Thank you Jesus for children.  Amen

Feeling a tug back to Africa......

I mentioned in my last blog that a couple of opportunities have come up for me to connect with ministries in Africa.  I have to admit that I have been praying for direction and wondering just how I might get connected in the right place.  Then, as so often happens, it has all apparently been arranged for me!  So over the last few days, I have been remembering my time in 2004 in Kenya and Uganda.   And I was thinking about this sweet girl.

I remember that we saw her walking along the road as we were driving to the church (I use that term very loosely since it was just a small mud hut).  She was holding the smallest child in her arms and had that slightly bigger child strapped to her back in that scarf you see wrapped around her.  When she finally showed up at the meeting (after we had been there about an hour), she told the translator that she had come because she heard that we might have pencils.  She badly needed a pencil to go to school.  This little nine year old girl had walked a LONG, LONG way to come to this meeting, in the hopes of getting a pencil.  The hope of a pencil was enough for her to carry her younger siblings, over dusty, dirty roads and through rough fields, a far distance, on a very hot day.   As you can see in the picture, she got her pencil!  

So much about this trip changed my life.  In some ways it was reaching that destination.... finally getting to that promised place from my young childhood when a missionary had stamped my bible and declared "someday you will be a missionary".  In reality, it was just the beginning.  I began that trip believing that I had a message to share with the children (which I had) but I ended that trip knowing that my heart and deep desire was to speak that same message to the ADULTS so that they would understand the heart of Jesus for the CHILDREN!  Over the next few years, that desire to impact the children by reaching the adults, grew and deepened.  But I never really had a platform to share what was so firmly planted into my spirit.  Years went by, and I began to lose hope and to doubt that this was even something I was supposed to do!  The dreams continued to come.  That feeling that there was more ahead, well, it never left me.  I had left a part of my heart in Africa.  And Jesus was not letting me forget it!

When I returned from Africa I realized that my "eye sight" had changed.  I had a totally different view of my world.  I saw the wealth of our country in a new light.  The amount of resources that were available around every corner.  The quality of our educational system.  The opportunities our children have.  How much water we have and how much water we waste.  How good our internet access is and how good our cell phone service is.  But I also had a very different view of the church in America.  I couldn't imagine children walking miles to hear a speaker from another country.  I couldn't imagine the adults sitting in the dirt for hours listening to unknown people sharing about Jesus.  I had seen so much generosity and sharing from people who had so very little.  But whatever they had, they were willing to give.  Yes, I learned many, many lessons on that trip.

Yes, I am feeling a tug back to Africa.  I can't forgot those faces and the warm hugs I received.  I can't forget the joy.  Mostly, I know that Jesus is calling me to share the message he has given me and it seems that it needs to be shared in Africa.  I would be quite happy to share this message right here at home, but it doesn't seem that any doors are opening for that.  So for now, I will just be taking a few steps towards that new connection and will see where that leads.

I want to remind everyone reading this blog, that there is a destiny and plan for all of you that was set in place, even before you were born!  It is an exciting and wonderful path that is there, just for you.  And along the way there might be ups and downs and turns.  There might even be what looks like dead ends.  But you can count on Jesus to direct you and to turn you exactly where you need to be.   This is also a reminder to not give up on your dreams.  You just never know where those dreams will take you!

Jesus, thank you so much for giving me a new shot of hope in the past week.  Holy Spirit, thank you for reminding me of all of the ways I was touched by my trip to Africa.  Help us all to remember and hold on to the call and destiny for our lives.  Give us courage and boldness to walk out the path that opens up for us.  Help us to dream and think outside of the confines of our small world.  Thank you for the new things you are bringing into my life.  Amen

 

It's all about a tree......again!

Okay, I know that I mentioned that I would be blogging more frequently, but that hasn't happened.  And I know that I gave a teaser PS about a recent dream I had.  And then I haven't blogged.  Sigh.  Life just seems to get in the way these days.  Over the weekend I spent time trying to get my extensive digital photo directory better organized.  And then I started the time consuming task of choosing pictures to print for the the next round of scrapbooking.  I spent hours doing this, yet I only got to March 1, 2014.  So I have a lot more to do.  So that is more of an explanation rather than an excuse for not blogging.  Truthfully I have been letting that dream "sink in" so that I can share exactly what I am supposed to share.  So here goes.... and yes, it includes a tree!

In this dream, I was inside of a house and there was a meeting going on.  I noticed that the front door was open and I went over to shut it.  When I looked out, there was a very large tree, smack in the middle of the view from the front door.  There were people milling all over on the lawn around the tree.  Suddenly there was a storm happening and the winds were blowing and a branch fell from that tree.

Okay...that sets the stage.  There was a lot of detail in the dream, but right now, I want to focus on the final thought from the dream, a word from Jesus.

Sometimes it is necessary to prune a tree.  To trim off the branches that are diseased or twisted and not growing the correct way.  If these would just stay tightly to the trunk, if they would drink from the deep roots, they could recover.  But sometimes satan comes in with an evil blast and exerts force on those branches and they fall.  It is my desire that every family tree would stay strongly rooted and growing in me.  I wish for all to be saved.  But each must choose for themselves.  You must care for your family tree.  Nurture the new young shoots so that they are drinking deeply from the living water in the roots.  Let them flourish under the protection of the older branches.  Show them the best direction to grow towards the sun. But if there are ones that turn the other direction or that bring in unhealthy food or disease, they must be cut off.  For the health of those young ones.  I have seen your heart and know your care for the new life.  Do not despair over those that seem lost.  For I can graft back any who wish to grow toward the son!  Celebrate my protection and my plan.  Bask in the shade of my love and care.  Rest in the security of a house that is serving me.  Guard your doors and do not let any distraction keep you from me. Close your windows to keep the winds of destruction away from those who are vulnerable.  Draw close to me and be at peace.  For I am the living tree of life.  And I love you.  

I think I will just leave this blog with that.  As I said, there is more, but this is quite enough for one day.  Just let it sink in and consider all that is in that.  I love that Jesus spoke to me through this dream, using a tree.  A family tree.  And the tree of life.  The picture on this blog was actually taken yesterday, while I was at the playground with Lia, Ellie, Zeke and Anna.  But all I could see were the trees.  And I was thinking about this word.  I am praying that everyone who reads these words, hears the message for themselves, through the Holy Spirit.  Breathe in and then go and look at a tree!

Jesus, thank you so much for speaking to us all through everyday things.  Thank you for dreams and words that help us understand and wonder and know more of your great love.  Holy Spirit, help us all to rest in the security of that great love.  Thank you for hope and grace.  And thank you for trees!  Amen

Connection to the past..........and into the future

I have mentioned that I am the youngest of five children in my family.  I was born in Watertown, South Dakota and my mom and dad had lived there for a long time.  My mom graduated from high school in Watertown and met my dad there.  And, except for a few years, they had lived in Watertown.  I always felt a bit out of the loop in my family whenever the conversation turned to Watertown.  All of my siblings have lots and lots of memories of Watertown.......except me.  We moved away when I was just 3 years old.  I only have a couple of actual memories of Watertown (a fact that my mom could not believe).  I remember the front porch of our house (and sadly, I can't visit it or get a picture because the house was torn down in the 1960's).  And I remember the Library!

I discovered that the building that I knew as the Library, is now the Codington County Historical Museum.  I remember going down those stairs on the side, into the basement, to the children's section.  I have very clear memories of rows and rows of books.  It was certainly a happy place for me.  My love of books and going to the Library did not end when we moved away.  I spent hours and hours at the St. Paul Public Library (downtown) - BY MYSELF - from the time I was in early grade school.  The arrival of the Bookmobile at my neighborhood shopping center was a big treat.   My nose was almost always in a book.  After my own kids were born, we often visited the library.  Thirty years ago our community had a very old building with a very tiny library.  As a matter of fact, the children's books were stacked on the steps to the second floor!  But we had "district" borrowing privileges at several towns near to us.  My kids grew up going to the Library on a weekly basis.  So it was no surprise that today, I visited the Library with Gwen and the kids....

 They have a wonderful children's room at their local library.  All of the kids picked their own books.  There were board books for Anna, picture books for Zeke, early readers for Ellie, and "chapter" books for Lia.  Zeke spent time doing a very large alphabet floor puzzle (with a little help from Ellie), and Anna walked up and down and around all the rows of books (with Grandma following closely behind her)!  Before we left, all four kids spent time at the computers!

And we left with 20 books!  Five for each kid.  And their loft is filled with books that they own.  And there are books in each of their bedrooms and books on their kindles.  Yes, we are a book loving family!

In thinking back to my love of books, it is really interesting that I really didn't OWN many of my own books.  As a matter of fact I think I could name the first 5 books that I owned!  I am so thankful that one of those five was my first Bible, which is still on my book shelf.

Last night I had one of those dreams.... the kind that I know have meaning beyond the dream itself.  I have been "dreaming" in my awake hours of going to the beach.  It looks like the beach might be a lake for us this year, rather than the ocean.  But I am longing for a body of water.  Since I spent every summer of the first 20 years of my life at a lake, this should not be a surprise!  My dream last night started with the realization that I was in a small row boat, out on a lake.  As I looked around I didn't see anything that seemed familiar.  But I was not at all afraid.  Even when I realized that I did not have the oars and there was not a motor on the boat!  I was calmly floating around in that little boat.  I remember that at one point in the dream, I put my head back and just looked up at the clear blue sky.  It was so restful and so calm.......so peaceful.  Exactly what I blogged about yesterday.  Peace.  Easy, not worries, just calm and peace.  What a great dream.   Jesus was totally in charge and I was just floating along.  Yes, I need to bring that dream into my life.   I don't have to understand.  I don't have to have all the tools I think I might need.  I just need to look up and breathe deep.  And let life take me where it will.  Because I know that my little boat, my life, is not on an aimless path.  There is a plan and purpose and destiny to my journey. And Jesus is in charge.  Yes, I need to just stop, take that deep breath and be in peace.  One thing is certain, that possible lakeside vacation is sounding better and better!

Jesus, thank you so much for speaking to us in dreams.  Holy Spirit, you connect us from our past into the future.  Jesus, thank you for books and libraries and words on a page.  Thank you for information and stories and testimonies that challenge and encourage us and educate us.  Remind us all that the best way to spend our days is floating along, letting you do the propelling!  Amen

Spring (and Sunday) is on the way!

So after some warmer weather today, Ken and I noticed these buds on our tree.  We are hopeful that this year we will have a blast of those white blossoms in a few weeks.  Last year, sadly, the tree did not fully bloom.  We treated it (for some kind of fungus) last year in the hope that it would stay healthy and happy this year.  So fingers crossed, there will be pictures in the future!  Spring is on its way! And so is Sunday!  Yes, I am looking forward to Easter.

It seemed like no matter where we drove today there was an Easter Egg Hunt.  As I was sitting in the car waiting for Ken to take some pictures at the Morton Arboretum, I got to thinking about this.  The first thing that came into my mind was the dream that is really the beginning of my testimony.  The dream happened when I was around 4 years old.  I was walking with Jesus in an amazing garden with beautiful flowers and trees.  Jesus was telling me all about who he was and what he had done for all of us on the cross.  He looked right in my eyes and told me "Easter is not about candy and the bunny, it is about ME and the new life that anyone who believes in me will have".  He went on to tell me that I should tell everyone about this!  I should share what Easter is really all about.

To say that this changed my life is an understatement.  I am not sure that I have yet to do what Jesus asked me to do!  I have not told everyone about this.  As a matter of fact, I would tell you that I don't feel like I am "called" to evangelism.  I have only begun to understand that what I heard in that dream is exactly the point of the Gospel message.  We are ALL charged with this task.... with the duty...to share the good news of Jesus and what he accomplished on the cross.  It is so easy to fall into the trap of believing that it is someone else's job to do the "telling".  And satan just loves to keep us in this place of keeping our mouths shut!  So not only do we not tell EVERYONE, we don't tell ANYONE! And it really doesn't matter if we think that we don't really have anyone we could tell.  The truth is we have more opportunities than we realize to spread the good news.

A long time ago, I was challenged to start every day with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to put someone in my path that I could tell about Jesus.  I thought it was just a silly thing to do.  But I remember how surprised I was that this actually started happening!  I don't know why I stopped doing this.......But I plan to begin this again.  Starting tomorrow.  Will you join me?  And I would love to hear from you about some of those "God-incidents" that begin to happen and how you shared this story.

Yes, I think this is the wonder and the hope of Easter.  It is the anticipation of the JOY and the MIRACLE of this story.  So, for tonight I am going to rest in the memory of my dream from so long ago.  And I will begin my Easter tomorrow, with a prayer asking for a chance to share!

Jesus, thank you for reaching me in a dream even when I was just a little child.  Thank you for walking and talking with me and for looking in my eyes and holding my hand.  Holy Spirit, keep bringing us all the encounters with people that can change their life.  Thank you for springtime and the promise of flowers and buds on trees bursting forth and for Easter.  Amen

A bit of a throwback...Monday and an interesting dream!

So one of the things I found this weekend, while cleaning out those closets, was lots and lots of pictures.  Some had been in frames on our walls at one time.  Some were just loose pictures.  I found this great shot above and given the week...Halloween... I felt that it was appropriate!  Don't you just love the looks on those faces?  And why does it seem like just yesterday that I was watching this pumpkin carving?  Now, in typical "mom" fashion, all I can think about is that shirt that Doug is wearing!  He LOVED that particular shirt and he wore it ALL THE TIME!  I got so sick of seeing that shirt in the wash.  I was so glad when he finally outgrew it.  But I am glad that I have this photographic reminder of that piece of clothing.  I also love seeing all of the stuff on the curtains and freezer.  We certainly did display the kids artwork.  I think the kids were 6 and 9 in this picture, but I'm not exactly sure.  I'll have to check with Gwen.  At any rate, it is a LONG time ago.  But this makes me smile!

Last night I had one of those really interesting dreams.  I woke up and started writing it down so I wouldn't forget any part of it.  First of all, there were so many angels that I couldn't count them.  It was as if my eyes were opened to see what had been there all along, so when I looked out the window I just saw legions of angels.  There were so many that I could not actually take it all in.  At one point I shut my eyes because I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all.  But then I saw ABOVE all of these angels, a huge map like "thing" that was covering the entire sky.  It kind of reminded me of being at a planetarium when they project the constellation map on the ceiling.  That giant map was the "instruction board" for those angels.  They would observe the plans, get their assignments and off they went.  As I was watching all this activity (which was sort of like watching a very busy downtown traffic area),  several angels approached me.  They were not at all scary in any way and they were smiling at me. As quickly as they had come to me, they were gone.  I found a paper in my hand and it said  .....  'SKY SIGHT IS YOUR RIGHT ..... MAKE SURE YOUR EYE SIGHT IS SKY SIGHT"

At first I just thought, "well that's interesting".  But the more I thought about this message, the more I saw that this is a really big deal!  It was another reminder to be sure where my focus is.  And it needs to be on Jesus.  I know that I have not been expecting to see in the Spirit.   I have not asked to see angels and I have not seen them.  This dream is just an encouragement for ALL of us to be seeing what is happening in the Spiritual realm that is all around us.  And even more than an encouragement, it is our RIGHT to see into the Spiritual happenings all around us.  As I have been thinking about this, there have been plenty of reminders and nudges give to me about my EYESIGHT.  I haven't really understood what that was about.  And quite honestly right now, I just know that I need to be asking for revelation of the Spiritual Realm, and I need to be keeping on looking up!

Jesus, thank you for dreams and revelations that help us to walk through our day.  Holy Spirit, you are the communicator and the one that helps us "chew on" all that you bring to us.  Thank you for all of those ministering angels that are surrounding us and doing your bidding, Jesus.  Thank you for opening my eyes to "sky sight"!   Amen

Interesting way to start a new year!

So quite a bit ago I shared this picture on one of these blogs.  It doesn't matter that I already shared this, I need to share this again.  Today.  I have just gotten home from a meeting that was really life changing for me.  I suppose that it is bold (and possibly a bit stupid) to announce that truth.  Yet, there it is.  On paper.  For all to read and consider and judge.  Tonight, that just doesn't matter to me at all.   That red stamp, on the flyleaf page of my very first Bible, is part of tonight's story.  It has been part of my life since 1962.

The meeting tonight began with a prophetic song that contained these words...

Enough is Enough! Enough is Enough!  The Lion of Judah is about to play Rough!

I have certainly felt that enough is enough, many many times.  Haven't we all?  I love this truth!  Jesus, the Lion of Judah is about to play ROUGH!  Can't we all think of "stuff" in our life, or around us or in the world.....things that Jesus needs to play ROUGH about?  This song set the tone for the night.

And then the guest speaker for the night came to the front.  I had never heard him before, but I had heard "OF" him.  He has an unbelievably big ministry in China.  Yes, China.  And his message tonight was to activate the anointing in each of us.  Not to anoint us, but to ACTIVATE the anointing that has already been sown into us.  How could I not think about that stamp in my first Bible? That red stamp from a missionary to China. Something that I have never forgotten.  That was the first time that someone spoke an anointing over me.......someday you will be a missionary. 

Okay, moving on.  This man shared many really amazing thoughts that I know I will be thinking about, meditating on and considering over the coming days.  He spoke clearly that the church in America is moving into a new season.  It is happening right now.  And we need to have all of those anointings within us activated so that we can fulfill our destiny in this new season.   And he spoke about the call on women.  I can't remember the last time (or if ever) I heard someone speak more clearly about Jesus promoting women and using women very powerfully in ministry.  As he was speaking these words about anointing on women, he walked up to me and put his hand on my head.  WOW!   He said that Satan is after the women because he knows exactly how powerful the women are.  At the end of the meeting, he literally walked around the entire room and prayed for every person to activate their anointing.  He prayed the apostolic over me.  

After this, several other people prayed for me.  All of these prayers were powerful.  Really more than I can begin to write about tonight.  And then, just as I was walking out of the room, the speaker turned to me, pointed at me and said "Rivers run deep and clear.  Streams of living water running out of you".  

Well, that just about does it for me.  That tag line about the streams of living water is my own very special "key" that announces to me that this message is a true message for the Lord.  That message from John 7:38 is my life verse and the meaning of my name.  

So, yes, I believe that something very real happened tonight.  I don't know exactly what that means, but I am sure that it was very true and powerful.  

This message is not just for me.  It is for each person reading this blog.  There are many, many prayers that have been prayed over you and for you.  There have been anointings and promises and dreams and visions that have been sown into you.  This is the time for all of those things to be activated and ignited in you!  I encourage you to stop right now, and receive the activation of all of these things deep in your spirit.  Say YES! to all that Jesus has for you to do.  This is a new season and it is a time for us to get up and get going!  

Jesus, thank you for providing the exact message that I needed!  Thank you for bringing this speaker to my area.  Give us all the grace to receive this activation and to move out and do as we are instructed.  Amen

Gifts from the heart..........

I am sure that every Grandma (and every mom) has gotten some of these special "gifts from the heart" for various special occasions.  Yesterday, I received these very special, just for me, gifts from Lia and Ellie.  Lia made me that special bracelet and ring on her Rainbow Loom and Ellie created that picture frame for me.  She painted and decorated it by herself.  We had a wonderful day, just being together.  It was a really good way to celebrate my birthday.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been having some really interesting dreams.  Usually I know on waking up, that the dream has some meaning beyond what seemed obvious in the dream.  I have felt a bit like I've been seeing "previews" of "coming attractions".  It's been a bit frustrating since I would really like to start my new year with a new word!  What I have pieced together from these little glimpses is 1. This is a real time of a new beginning.  I am not quite sure WHAT is starting, or exactly WHEN, but all signs are pointing to this season being a time of new starts.  2.  Everything that I have thought I was walking towards, has faded away before I could actually reach it.  This is not a problem, however, since these things were not what I was supposed to reach for anyway!  3. This is the time when all of those words, dreams and visions will begin to manifest. (In this little dream sequence I was actually in the story of Joseph and his brothers. At first I woke up thinking that this might be a time of famine coming.  But then I realized that the tone of the dream was about the provision that Joseph had, as well as the fulfillment of his dream).

And then today, I saw a short little video on Facebook.  The title was "when it is just not your time to go".  I tried to link it to the blog, but was not successful.  This 50 second video shows a small plane doing some stunts (like you might see in an airshow).  About 35 seconds in, the plane loses its right wing!  It continues to circle and then comes in toward the ground and flops around and finally comes to rest, upright with no crash!  The pilot gets out of the plane.  Yes, after watching this video, you understand the title.  It was just not that pilots time to go!  That little short video reminded me of all those dreams I've been having.  Short.  Kind of scary.  Surprising endings.

So I don't really have a clear word right now.  But I am feeling very excited about what the next year has in store.  Even though these little dreams have seemed kind of fuzzy, they have gotten me interested and expectant for what is ahead.  I don't know about you, but the news I see is downright depressing right now.  It seems that fear, terror, war, unrest, are the only thing being talked about.  So I am so glad that I have something else to think about.  

I really think that my two special gifts are part of the revelation for me.  The bracelet reminds me of an old message about a rubber band.  If you just hold a rubber band and then drop it, it doesn't go very far.  But if you stretch it over your finger and then let go, it will go a long way!  All of the stretching helps us to reach those far off goals.  I'm feeling better about this seeming tough period of stretching!  And that heart......well how good of a reminder is that frame of the amazing love of Jesus for us?  I can't help but smile when I look at that frame.  I love the random placement of the decorations.  I love all of the LOVE that I see in that frame.  It just makes me smile.

Jesus, thank you for speaking to me in my dreams.  I would love a bit more revelation, please.  Thank you for the reminder of your love even when we feel like we are in the midst of the shaking and the stretching.  Help us all to hang on to your plan and destiny, even when things seem so dark. Holy Spirit, bless us all with dreams and visions that will guide us in the year ahead.  Give us eyes to see and ears to hear your word of direction.    Thank you for your gift of children and grandchildren.   Amen

Dreams and Visions restored

On Sunday evening, I was at a meeting with wonderful worship.  During the worship set, there was a point when the leader stopped the worship. He said that he had the sense that there were people in the room who had given up on their dream.  They might have had a dream or vision or prophetic word prayed for them, but it had been a hard season and the dream seemed just impossible.  And then he asked for anyone who felt this speaking to them, to raise their hands.  Others gathered around them to pray for the release and restoration of all these old dreams and visions. 

I had my hand raised, and boy were there some powerful prayers prayed over me!  One women spoke as if she knew my entire life (isn't the Holy Spirit just awesome to bring revelation like this)!  I certainly felt the power and presence of Jesus during this remarkable prayer time.  I confess that this has been a season of wondering what the dream even was!  So much so, that I don't think I even know exactly what the dream is anymore!

During that prayer, this women prayed that more than an "old dream restored" that I would receive "a brand new vision" that would propel me into the new and higher and different season of my life.  She said that she sensed that everything had changed for me and I had been turned in a new direction.  And even more than turned, I had gone up higher, like a circular staircase. 

As I have been thinking about this prayer time, I confess that I didn't have an immediate "Ah Ha!" moment when I knew exactly what this new dream was!  I remembered the time I saw this amazing double rainbow in the picture above.  It was much clearer and brighter than you see in this picture.  And both rainbows were full arc.  And I heard that there was a double blessing on the path that Jesus had for me.  I have not really seen a "double" blessing since I saw these rainbows back in 2005!  And the fact that the Holy Spirit brought this back to my mind, tells me that this is for now!  So now I am expecting!  I can't wait to realize exactly what the new dream is, as well as knowing that there will be an extra anointing on this new thing.  I love that even though the women praying for me said that it was something totally new, the Holy Spirit reminded me that, in fact, it was a restoration of this older word about a double blessing. 

Please pray that I will have clear direction and revelation of this new dream!  You can be sure that it will be shared here on this blog as soon as I have something to share! 

Jesus, thank you for powerful worship and leaders that are sensitive to the moving of your Holy Spirit.  Bless all those who were bold enough to ask for prayer during this service.  Thank you for those who stood with me and prayed for me.  Holy Spirit, would you please guide and direct me towards this new dream.  Help me to continue to walk in the correct path towards this new thing.  Thank you for your great love!  Amen

Sharing Part 1 - where my testimony begins

So based on my post yesterday, I am going to spend the next few weeks sharing small bits and pieces of my testimony.  Some of what I will share may have already been on this blog, but I am going to assume that there is someone out there who may need to hear this today!  All day today I've been thinking about how powerful it is to hear someone's testimony.  I was remembering the many, many times that I was encouraged and uplifted hearing about the large and small miracles that happen around us day after day.  Today I decided to share my first encounter with Jesus when I was 4 years old.

I know exactly how old I was when this happened, because we only lived in Aberdeen, South Dakota for a few years.  And I was not yet in school.  One night, I had a very powerful dream that has never left me.  I was walking down a path in very beautiful garden.  Very much like the photo above.  Suddenly Jesus was with me.  He was holding my hand as we walked along.  He told me, in a way that a four year old could understand, who he was and the entire Gospel message.  I remember very clearly my surprise when Jesus said that he had died on a cross.  He assured me that it was okay, since his Daddy had brought him back to life so that all of us could live forever.  The last thing that he said to me was that Easter was about HIS story, and not the Easter bunny.  And I needed to tell everyone the truth about who Jesus is and what Easter is all about. 

I remember telling my mom about this dream, shortly afterwards.  And I remember very clearly her reaction!  Very simply it was, "We don't talk about things like this.  Don't tell anyone about this dream".   So I did as I was told.  I never said a word to anyone.  At least not until I was much older. But here's the thing! When I talk about this dream, I can still feel the way my hand felt as he was holding it.  I can't explain the powerful influence that this dream had on my life.  Shortly after this I received my first Bible.  I spent many, many hours reading that Bible.  I loved the "red letters" - everything that Jesus said.  I knew, deep down in my spirit, that Jesus was walking with me, that he loved me and cared about me.  I also knew that he had given me an important message to share. 

Most of the last 25 years I have been sharing one main message -  Children can and do hear Jesus speaking to them and God has a destiny and a plan that he will reveal for each child.  This life changing message was birthed in that dream, so long ago. 

So, this is the very beginning of my "walk" with Jesus.  I am so grateful that I had been brought to church as an infant, and became part of the family of God through Baptism.  It was a blessing to have been in Sunday School and church so that I knew who Jesus was, when I met him in this dream. 

I know that I have said this before, but here is another reminder.  God has a plan and destiny for each one of us.  That includes everyone!  Even those little children.  And more than that, Jesus wants to share this plan and destiny with us!  All we have to do is ask, wait silently, and listen!   Pick up a pen and write down those thoughts in your head.  Sketch out a picture.  Flip open your Bible and wait for a verse to come alive.  And the next time you have a chance, ask a child what Jesus has been saying to them!  You just might be surprised! 

Jesus, thank you for your presence with us! Holy Spirit, continue to empower us to share our stories.  Give us courage and boldness to testify about the miracles and wonders that happen each day.  Thank you Jesus, for this blog and all that take time to read these words.  Bless them with assurance of your presence with them.   Amen

Stay with me today.  Last night I had a very odd dream.   A strange dream.  And I have spent the entire day trying to figure out exactly what was going on....what was the real meaning of this dream.  Now I didn't have much time to ponder today.  It was a very busy day at work.  Lots of kids, rain (so no outside) and then to add to the "normal busy" we are getting 3 new kids on Monday and it was the beginning of the month.  The new kids mean making new name tags, cubby markers, file folders, etc. And with the beginning of a new month all of the cubbies get new name tags, the calendar has to be changed and bulletin boards need to be changed.  So it was while I was on my way home from work, that things started to "click" about this dream.  And, I am showing my age, I doubt that most of you will remember the crazy show that was the story line of this dream...

I very clearly remember watching this cartoon in the morning, before school.   I was a "latch key" kid and I was responsible for getting myself out the door to the bus stop and this show was my "alarm".  When it was over, I had to leave the house.  I looked it up on the internet and found out that it began airing in 1960.  There were 59 episodes and I found it very interesting that each episode was created in 6, 5 minute blocks.  It was intended to run one segment each day and then rerun on Saturday as a full 30 minute show. And that last 5 minutes held the solution to the problem.  So you had to watch on Saturday to find out what happened.  Clutch (the white haired guy) was quite the adventurer.  He was part 007 and part explorer.  The little boy, Spinner, and his dog Paddlefoot always went with him on his adventures.  Swampy provided the "information" that was needed to complete the mission, but always in some odd way.  This show had TERRIBLE animation.  Anyone who saw this show today would wonder why we had even watched it.  However, there was a real educational component to this show.  Every episode took you somewhere around the world.  And there were great things learned through every show.   Anyway....here is my dream, and what I think I am supposed to take away from this dream.

 

I was on a Clutch Cargo adventure.  I don't know exactly where we were headed, but we were in that amazing plane that he always had (just a note, that plane was one of the best things about this show). The interesting thing was that Paddlefoot was talking to me!  And the only thing he said was "your mission is to go to the nations".  Okay, I understand this message, but why Clutch Cargo? And why Paddlefoot?  Here is my first thoughts on this dream.   I believe that I need to hang on to the earliest message that I received from Jesus.  (Get it??? CLUTCH - hang on to CARGO - the message, the word).Especially important in this is that my first very clear encounter with Jesus happened around the time that this show began to air.  And the message I received was that Jesus was real, I had walked with him in a beautiful garden, and I needed to tell everyone about this.  And I believe that the reason it was the dog that spoke to me in the dream, was to remind me that messages come in very different ways ...... expect the unexpected.   

 

I'm not sure if this is the entire word behind this dream.  But tonight I am feeling a bit nostalgic for Clutch Cargo.   But more than that, I am so thankful for that early dream I had and the way the Holy Spirit has continued to use this dream to speak to me.  And I am very grateful that I have plenty of time to ponder this dream.

 

Jesus, thank you so much for using everything - even a silly old television show - to get our attention.  Holy Spirit, thank you for speaking to us in sometimes hidden ways.  Help us to ponder these things and go deeper, rather than just dismissing them.   Thank you for your message to all of us to go to the nations.  And keep us expecting the unexpected.   Amen



Putting the shell to my ear.....

Today, Lyn, we believe God wants you to know that ...

big decisions need time and space.

To make a big decision, give yourself time and space away

 from the mundane so that the sacred can emerge

 

 

So once again, this crazy online devotion has hit the mark.  After yesterday and considering what, how, and where to go on vacation, I saw this today.  I realized that I have had so much going on in the last couple of weeks that I do need to give myself some time and space to just re-center and refocus.  I am committed to seeking Jesus and finding his plan for me.  And that means that I have to set aside all the other stuff and just spend some time being.  I have been working lots of hours in the last month.  They have been short staffed and I agreed to help out.  I am so happy that starting next week, I will have a day off.  I am using that time to help Gwen and spend time with my grandchildren.  I know that in that time away from my day to day, I will begin to see and hear Jesus in new ways. 

Last night I was dreaming of being on a beach.  This was no surprise because of all my vacation thoughts and attempts at trip planning.  The interesting thing was that I saw this amazing shell way down on the beach.  I started to run towards this shell, but as fast as I ran, the further away the shell seemed.  When I stopped running and just slowly walked towards it, it was right in front of me.  And then when I stopped, It was laying at my feet.  When I bent over to pick it up, I realized it was the shell that sits on our mantel!  This is the shell...........

As I held it in my hand and turned it over, and then held it to my ear, I heard so clearly.......

Slow down, stop, and listen.  There are beautiful and wonderful things for you to discover.  Don't hurry past all the wonder in each minute of each day.  There are miracles in the mundane.  There are glories in the muck and mire.  There is joy in the junk.  Look for the miracles and the glory and the joy.  Then you will see the answers. 

I love that it was when I stopped running I was able to get what I wanted.  I love that even in this odd dream, there was such an important lesson.  If I want to hear and get direction, I need to stop racing around and take the time to listen.   And I will be remembering this every time that I look at this amazing shell sitting on my mantle.

Jesus, thank you so much for speaking to me and answering the questions I didn't even know I was asking.  Holy Spirit, thank you for giving me hope and joy today.  Jesus, I know that I am not alone in my preoccupation with the day to day stuff.  Help us all to slow down and see the miracles, feel your glory, and express your joy no matter what our circumstances are.  Thank you for leading and guiding me every day.  Amen


Night of interesting dreams.....after my last post!

I didn't really expect to have a night filled with amazing and interesting dreams, but that sure was the case last night!  I posted a picture of a church from Aberdeen, South Dakota.  Well, in addition to being the first church where I attended Sunday school, it was also the church at which my sister Karen and brother-in-law Roy, were married!  My family's time in Aberdeen was actually very short - only about 2 1/2 years.  I started Kindergarten there.  And my mom also always talked about her "most crazy busy time ever".  This was the last 4 months we lived in Aberdeen.  In those 4 months my sister Julie got confirmed, my brother Jerry graduated from High School, and my sister Karen got married.  PLUS we were preparing to move and our house was for sale! So we had a constant parade of visitors for the various, aforementioned activities, including many aunts and uncles.  Since I was just 5 years old, I don't remember a lot of this time, but apparently there were some buried memories from that time.....

So last night I had a dream that started in the narthex of that church.  I was standing there just looking into the sanctuary.  Suddenly, it was filled with light and there was a dramatic hush that filled the building.  As I looked up, the ceiling was filled with angels and there was singing - beautiful singing in every corner.  At some point in this "dream" I realized that this had actually happened!  When I woke from this dream, I was remembering the very day this happened.  My mom was a leader for my brother Greg's boy scout troop. There was a "blue and gold" banquet that was being held in the church basement.  We were at the church before the event so that my mom could set up.  I had wandered upstairs and was standing looking into the sanctuary.  And that is when I saw and experienced this.......   Now here is the funny thing about this.  At my sister's wedding, I was the flower girl.  I had a really great dress that had a "hoop" in the skirt so that it stood out.  I loved that dress.  But when it came time for me to walk down the aisle during the rehearsal, I froze and refused to walk down.  I had always just assumed that I just got scared (I was only 5) but actually, I was remembering seeing those angels. 

Yes, there was something so special about that church.  After I heard the story of Easter for the first time at Sunday School in that church, at 4 years old, I had an amazing dream.  I was walking with Jesus in a beautiful garden.  There was a winding path that we were walking on, and there were flowers all around.   Jesus held my hand and told me that the story of Easter was true.  Every part of the story.  That he was alive and he was real.  If I close my eyes, I can still feel him holding my hand.  That dream influenced the rest of my life.  And now, I remember this amazing time of hearing and seeing the angels.   I am so thankful for that church and these memories. 

Jesus, thank you for speaking to us in dreams and visions.  I love that you speak to children and open their spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear things that adults may miss.  Holy Spirit, give us all increased and clearer vision and better hearing so that we don't miss this kind of amazing moments.  Jesus, thank you for reminding me of that amazing time. Holy Spirit, remind everyone of those special moments of seeing and hearing they may have experienced.   Continue to bless that church and all who worship there.  Amen

Added another of my favorite Christmas ornaments.  I made these angels as part of my Children's Ministry program in 1994.  My mom helped assemble them.  Special angel memory!

Dreams that are not impossible..........with Jesus

Yesterday at the 50th Anniversary event, we heard about "Why it is important to celebrate church anniversaries".  One reason given was to pass on the traditions of the church.  The pastor used the reading from Deuteronomy 7.  In these passages, Yahweh reminds the people that they are HIS people and that it is his working that has brought them to where they are.  As a matter of fact, one verse actually says, you are not the largest or the greatest of the people - but you are MY people.  The pastor reminded us all that it was the "oral tradition" of story telling from one generation to the next, that birthed the Bible as we now know it.   Just last week, my daughter pointed out to me that this blog is important because the stories and pictures that I am sharing here, will be preserved for her children and the generations beyond.  Yes, that puts a whole new spin on the importance of this blog. But the primary reason for this blog, was and is that I felt called to share all that I was hearing from Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. 

Okay.......... more truth telling here.  For over 10 years I have felt that I had heard and understood something that needed to be shared with..............well everyone.  This seemed like a really impossible and unrealistic "Dream".  First of all, what could I possibly have to say that would make a difference?  And then who would even care about this?  I am so grateful for the chance to reach so many people.  I truly thank God everyday for the people who stop and read this blog.  Because I know that Jesus is a God of the Impossible!  For me, he has made so many of my "impossible dreams" work in ways that I never expected. 

I think that it is interesting that I have precious items like the one pictured above.  In spite of the fact that I was the 5th child and my mom was very busy, she made it a point to create something for me that I cherish to this day.  She bought a small 5 X 8 ring binder and saved all of my Sunday School papers from Kindergarten through Second Grade.  This is the first page in that binder, from my first week of Sunday School in 1959.  We didn't have "Children's Bibles" in our house, but I had this binder of stories and songs that I was constantly looking at.  This was my "scrapbook" long before my mom knew how important this would be for me.  Those 48 separate papers in that binder, helped to shape my adult desire to work with children.   Even though my mom did not really understand the powerful encounter I had with Jesus at age 4, she knew that these pages were important to me and to Jesus.  I love that Jesus used these pages to speak to me.  And I love that Jesus also uses the words on this page to speak to others.   Because this dream is becoming a reality through this blog, suddenly it feels "possible" for other dreams to come into being.  I love the fact that the Holy Spirit is constantly showing me how He was active in bringing me to this point in my life.  Before today I never really thought about those little Sunday school papers as part of the path to my dream. Now I am seeing with new eyes.  Looking at the path BEHIND me helps me to see that path AHEAD of me.   When Jesus is in charge, all is well and the impossible is POSSIBLE!  

 

Jesus, thank you for giving me peace about the direction of my future.  Holy Spirit, you have a wonderful way of getting us to understand things, just when we need them.  Help all of my friends to glance back on their life, to get a better view of the way that you have been working things out for them.   Jesus, give us all confidence to continue to walk out in the directions that you are sending us.  Holy Spirit, encourage all who feel "stuck" right now to look around and see the wonders that are around them.  And Jesus, give them a glimpse of the amazing things that are yet to come.  Amen

A short life with a long Spiritual heritage....

 

On this really "normal" Saturday I've just been reflecting on my week.  I went back to last Saturday. and finding out that my new expected grandchild is a girl!  I am sure right now that you are wondering why the very grainy, bad picture above is even on this page.  So, here is the story of how Jesus spoke the name of this new precious little one.  Gwen and Tim had always planned on having four children.  As a matter of fact, Gwen had always announced that she would have "two girls, a boy and a girl" when she grew up.  It seems like somewhat of a stretch to imagine that a little child would know the make up of their future family.  But, in Gwen's case, it seems to have worked out.  Each of Gwen's children has a very special and meaningful name.  Names are extremely important to Gwen and Tim and they spent a great deal of time making the decision on the names of each of their children.   Lia - Aurelia Nora.  Nora was my Grandmother (my mom's mom that she never knew).  Ellie - Elliana Lyn Louise.  Ellie's middle names are for me and her other grandma.  Zeke - Ezekiel Timothy.  Timothy is for his father, and how he got the name Ezekiel is a LONG story for a later blog.  Earlier this spring Gwen told me that she and Tim had settled on a girls name, in the event that she actually had a girl for their fourth child.  The name is Annaleigh.  They would call her Anna.  Now our family tree is loaded with the name Anna.  It is certainly a family name.  But Gwen said that they could not come up with a middle name that made sense.  Then on May 17, 2013 - before Gwen even knew that she was pregnant, I had a dream.

 

I know that I have said those words more than one time on this blog.  But I frequently have dreams that contain a message or a word from Jesus.  The dream that night was very brief, but when I woke up I knew that there was a message in it!  I saw Gwen, very pregnant and she was standing holding a large photo in a frame.  The frame was facing towards me.  Gwen was smiling and the picture in the frame was the picture above.  While I was wondering exactly what the meaning was of this odd dream, I was thinking just that Gwen would indeed get pregnant and have a third girl.  Then when I arrived home, I went up to my scrapbook room and dug around until I actually found that photo.  And I stared at the names Ellen, Nora and Louise.  And then I knew that Ellen was the chosen middle name for Annaleigh.  Lia is Nora, Ellie is Louise and Anna would be Ellen.  WOW!  This is particularly interesting because Ellie's middle name is, in fact, after Tim's mother. Yet, she has the name Louise!  Isn't Jesus so amazing?  He can make sure that HE chooses our names and seems to work it all out!  So I texted Gwen that I thought I knew what Annaleigh's middle name was!  She wasn't even surprised when I told her the dream and the story. So I am anxious to meet Annaleigh Ellen.  Her name means Gracious Field & Light!   But I will be waiting until the end of January/early February to meet her! 

 

Over the last few years, I have been reminded over and over that there is a purpose for looking carefully at my ancestors. There is a spiritual heritage that has been sown into our generations and the seeds come forth in our life in many, many ways.  For me, my grandchildren are expressing the growth of branches of our spiritual family tree.  As I was looking at the picture tonight, I came across a letter that belonged to my mom.  It was written to her by her Aunt Effie.  Effie is the sister of Nora, Louise, and Ellen.  When I was in high school I begged my mom to write to her aunt to find out more about her mother.  For some reason she had never considered doing that.  So, she wrote the letter and we waited.  Finally we received a LONG and detailed letter that was actually written down by one of Effie's daughters.  By the time this was written, Effie was in her 80's and physically not well.  She actually died a year later.  But the information that she shared in that letter, has blessed my family in amazing ways.  I really believe that Lia has the middle name Nora partially because of that letter.  Effie gave us insights into who Nora was.  She was well liked, active in church and had a love at first sight experience with my grandfather.  She had an incredible soprano voice that was so powerful it could be heard several miles away (when she was singing in church on warm nights, with the doors of the church open). She chose to marry a man who was outside of the expected!  He was German and she was Norwegian.  As a matter of fact, when she met my grandfather's family, they spoke only German and she spoke only Norwegian!  What courage and strength she had.  She was very musical and played the piano and organ.  She cared so much for her family, that when her own mother died (when her sister Effie was only 9 years old), she brought Effie home and treated her as a daughter.  Effie told my mom in this letter, how much she was like her mother, Nora.  I remember that my mom said she had never heard that before.  Effie said that my mom looked very much like her mother.  As Gwen grew up, I began to see how much she was like me and my mom.  And really so much like Nora.  Anyone who has heard Gwen sing knows that she does NOT need a microphone to be heard! And she has so many of those same character traits that Nora had.  What a blessing that she used Nora's name.  Even though Nora's life was short, Jesus has used mightily, the deep spiritual heritage she sowed into her family. While she only lived 32 years, her impact on her generations continues on. 

 

Jesus, thank you for family.  Holy Spirit, it is amazing how you show us what is really important in our life.  I love how you remind us to look beyond our present circumstances and see things from your perspective.  Thank you for using this special dream to weave our new little granddaughter into the fabric of our family.  Father, you planned for families when you planned creation.  How wonderful and wise you are.  Help us all to see our generations as beautiful growing organisms.  And remind us that who we are and what we do, has an eternal impact. Thank you Jesus!  Amen

More to the story..........

Starting off today's post with a correction!  The Disney Junior "short" is called Fuzzy Friends!  And here is a screen shot to give you a better idea of what it looks like!

Moving on......So I knew that there might be more to the vision I had about the five fold ministry.  And I was correct!  Last night I had a dream.  In the dream there were five persons (I could not tell if they were male or female) standing shoulder to shoulder.  The tallest person in the middle was wearing a shirt that said "APOSTLE"!   I was glad that there was some identification because I was wondering (even in my dream) who these five people were!  Then just as quickly these five figures, once again, became the fingers on a hand.  The order in the dream was pinkie finger - evangelist, ring finger - pastor, middle finger - apostle, pointer finger - teacher and thumb - prophet.   (As an aside to Ken, it looked like these titles were written in Sharpie on each finger!)  In my dream as I was considering this vision, I saw a hand with just a pinkie finger.  And there wasn't much that it could accomplish without the other fingers.  And then, in order I saw a hand with only one finger.  The thumb had the most success alone, but even that was minimal.  Then, just as suddenly, I saw those same five persons standing apart.  There were large spaces between them and they were not looking at each other. 

When I woke from this dream I was thinking about how there is often separation between the very prominent, well known people in the Christian world. With all of the unrest and turmoil and shaking in the world, we need to draw closer to one another and support each other.  And more importantly, we should be LISTENING to each other.  Sometimes it seems like some ministry leaders get so involved in their own current revelations that they forget to listen to what others are saying.  I truly believe that it is TOGETHER that we have the whole message for today. 

So this morning I was meditating on this dream.  The apostle was the most prominent of the persons in the dream.  But even though it was the most visible, tallest, biggest - when they were standing alone, they couldn't do very much. The evangelist as the pinkie is the one with the least "protection".  They are out there on the front lines, making themselves vulnerable.  The pastor as the ring finger - known to be special because it is called the "heart" finger (a direct connection to the heart) - yes, pastors are the caring/feeling part of the 5 fold ministry.  The pointer finger as the teacher.  Yes, the teachers point the way to the truth.  And then the prophet as the thumb.  The thumb is the helper and the empowerer of the hand.  Each of the other fingers can function alone IF there is a thumb as a helper.  And each of the other parts of the 5 fold can function better if there is a prophet standing with them.  This is because the prophet brings accountability and keeps each of the other persons in line with the Lord. 

After thinking about this dream and the results of my meditation on the dream, I am wondering what Jesus is really saying to me about this!  There are many, many books and articles written about the five fold ministries, by people much more knowledgeable than I.  But going back to yesterday's blog, I am understanding that this message is really for ALL of us.  Because it is our responsibility to encourage those that we know who are Pastors and Evangelists and Teachers and Apostles and Prophets to surround themselves with the others from this group, established in the Bible.  I believe this is even more important that yesterday's message that we need to support the five fold ministers among us.  All of us in the "other" hand, need to carry this message to those who most need to hear it! 

Jesus, I don't really understand why you are speaking this to me today, but I am sure that you have a plan and purpose for this word going forth.  Father, I pray that you would encourage those operating in the positions of the five fold ministry to surround themselves with your planned support system.  Holy Spirit, thank you for giving me insight into my dream and continued revelation on this subject.  Would you give us all courage and boldness to share this message with those in our sphere of influence.  Give us the correct words and the perfect timing to share and encourage the pastors, prophets, evangelists, apostles, and teachers around us.  Amen