Thursday, January 16, 2020

Demons in my Dream

Demons


I had a scary dream last night. I was fighting a half a dozen demons in my bed.  One was on my chest and one was around my neck.  I couldn't breath. I kept trying to call out to Jesus.  They wouldn't let me. I found that all that came out of my voice was the word Jesus...but pronounced with a short "e" sound. Finally I got out "Save me Jesus". The next thing that I remember is that the demons now looked like nasty children that I was able to order to leave in the name of Jesus. Even though they looked like children...they obviously weren't. One that looked like a little girl whimpering at the side of the bed...I yelled at her to get out.  She stopped whimpering and glared at me. They obeyed me as I sent them out...thru the wall. As they were leaving a dozen more came through the bedroom door. I said "Oh No...Get Out!" and they exited through the wall also, glaring at me.

Thinking back over the dream, I remember that our bedroom looked like our bedroom.  Usually in dreams the rooms are distorted. It was like I was actually battling the demons in real life. Scary!


The Bible verse that comes to mind is:


 Proverbs 16:7
"When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone's way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them."

Saturday, September 7, 2019

My Dream

My Dream


God gave me a wonderful dream. He gave me a glimpse of  what it’s going to be like in Eternity. 

The dream was in two parts.  The first part of the dream was of Dave and I entering eternity together. At the time I thought, “This is wonderful! I want to remember this dream, I want to remember” ...but... I can’t recall it other than the fact that Dave (my husband) and I were together. The second part of the dream I remember clearly. (That is why I think that it was a gift from God.)

Dave and I were entering eternity together. Jesus was there by our side, but I don't remember looking at Him. I just felt his presence. (Which didn't seem unusual but very familiar.)

We were welcomed and Jesus told us to “Explore and Discover”. I knew that He would answer our questions as they came up.

There were many people there but it wasn’t crowded. All of the people were busy but not rushed. Someone told me that I’d want to check out a play that my former classmates were putting on.



We went to an outdoor theater to watch the play. There was a young girl ahead of us in line.  She reached into her bag and she pulled out couple leather credit cards. I looked at the woman who was greeting us as we came through the entrance of the theater. I asked her, “Do we need money?”  I felt like I knew that no one needed money here, but the young girl’s actions confused me. The woman smiled and answered that the little girl enjoys pretending. 

We entered the outdoor theater area and Jesus pointed out to me: “Linda (my best friend) is here.” He pointed to the bleachers across from us. My brief thought was that the bleachers are full.  There is no way that I’d get to Linda before the play starts...but then I was there.

LInda seem to know that I was coming.  She smiled and said, “I brought us a couple of hats.” She pulled two silly red umbrella hats out of her bag and handed one to me. I was embarrassed to put one on and then realized that no one would judge me. Then it briefly rained or sprinkled on us. (That part of the dream confuses me)

The next thing that I remember is that the play was over and everyone was leaving the play. The ground was shiny like it was wet. I told Linda, “I don’t know where I’m supposed to stay.” Just then a friendly smiling man drove up on a three wheeler and tossed us a couple bundles. When the bundles hit the ground they opened into pup tents complete with cots. I realized that I had plenty of time to find my dwelling…..we had unlimited time. I felt that all my needs were provided for. I also felt that our jobs in eternity are to serve one another.

I did not see golden streets or pearly gates.  I think that this was on purpose. It would have been too overwhelming to see all of this at once.  Our instructions were to “explore and discover.” 

This experience showed me more of what was NOT there rather than what IS there.

This is big. Satanic darkness was not present. I have always known that Satan or his influences will not be with us in eternity, but I never thought about how it will FEEL. The heavy darkness is replaced with love and acceptance ...no negative opinions or snarkiness.  Plenty of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and gentleness ...and busyness.

I wondered if the young girl in the dream was a granddaughter of ours. She was not, but the love - that I felt for her was as strong as the love - that I feel for our granddaughters.  In fact that strong, unconditional love was everywhere! 

You know how it is now.  We talk to Jesus and we feel his presence. Sometimes we seek His guidance. Well it was the same in my dream.  Jesus is and will always be right here by my side, guiding me.

This dream leaves me with such a warm glowing feeling that I welcome it every time that it comes back to my thoughts.
Kirk Cameron wrote an interesting article answering the question "Do you Believe in UFO's?" I think he had a good answer. I wanted to write it down his answer so that I can refer back to it...so here it is:



Do you Believe in UFO's? by Kirk Cameron
http://kirkcameron.com/do-you-believe-in-ufos/

Occasionally at conferences, someone will ask, “Do you believe in UFOs?”
I usually answer, “Absolutely! Any flying object that can’t be identified is a UFO.”
I then continue, “But do I believe in UFOs piloted by Vulcans, Klingons, or Cardassians? The answer is a definite no.” Sorry, Star Trek fans!
But if I don’t believe in aliens flying around in UFOs, does that mean I reject the idea that intelligent life could exist in outer space? As one of my friends once said, “Looking at the mess people get themselves into in this world, sometimes I wonder if there’s intelligent life on earth, let alone outer space.”

Extraterrestrials and the Bible

A good friend of mine, Dr. Clifford Wilson, author of the million-copy bestseller Crash Go the Chariots,1 did a lot of research on UFOs. He once told me that he concluded that, by far, the majority were either misunderstood natural phenomena or misinterpreted manmade objects. However, he did conclude there was a very small percentage that couldn’t be explained, and he allowed the possibility of some supernatural origin — albeit evil. But regardless, he, like me, does not believe in intelligent physical beings on planets other than our earth.
A number of leading evolutionists, like the late Dr. Carl Sagan, have popularized the idea that there must be intelligent life in outer space.2 From an evolutionary perspective, it would make sense to suggest such a possibility. People who believe this possibility contend that, if life evolved on earth by natural processes, intelligent life must exist somewhere else in the far reaches of space, given the size of the universe and the millions of possible planets.
One can postulate endlessly about possibilities of intelligent life in outer space, but I believe a Christian worldview, built on the Bible, rejects such a possibility. Here is why.
During the six days of creation in Genesis 1, we learn that God created the earth first. On Day Four He made the sun and the moon for the earth, and then “he made the stars also” (Genesis 1:16).

Earth — The Center Stage

From these passages of Scripture it would seem that the earth is very special—it is center stage. Everything else was made for purposes relating to the earth. For instance, the sun, moon, and stars were made “for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” (Genesis 1:14).

Sunday, March 22, 2015

A Message that Everyone needs to Hear

Pastor Matthew St. John gave a great message at Bethel Church.  
I would love for all my friends and family members to hear it.  

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Rumors about my death

"One day you will hear that I have died.  Don't believe it. On that day, I will be more alive than I will ever be!"  This is a quote from Billy Graham...but true for me as well.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

The Bible was written by God


If you've ever wondered about what is truth,  who wrote the Bible - man or God, or does God change...... you have to watch Pastor Doug's message from 3/10/2013:

http://www.calvarycommunity.net/media.php?pageID=29


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

My Visit with Dean

I picture my final days on earth, if I know that I am going to die, as days pondering the trip that I'm about to take to heaven. Spending most of my time anticipating my first time SEEING Jesus. Also the new health that I would have and seeing family members that are already in heaven. I also suspect that during my final days I'd feel closer to God - more than any other time in my life.

I talked to both my Grandma and my Dad just days before they died. I wondered if they felt the presence of angels or even Jesus. I should have asked them but I didn't. We didn't speak of their upcoming trip to heaven. We mainly had small talk and sat in denial of what was happening. I've regretted that.

I feel as though I missed the chance to hear what was on their mind. Actually, was it rude to not talk about what was mainly on their mind possibly.... their upcoming trip?

Now my husband's brother, Dean, is dying. Dean and I have had a relationship where he has talked to me about his faith. One time he shared his frustration with his parents' Catholic beliefs. He had tried to tell them basically that they weren't automatically saved through baptism .... that they had to have a personal relationship with Jesus. He was at the time attending a Baptist church with friends. So..... even though I doubt if Dean has attended any church for years, I know about his faith in God. So I set out tonight to have a conversation with Dean. No regrets this time......

On my way to the hospital I started doubting my decision to do this. I didn't want to make Dean uncomfortable. I didn't want to preach or give him the illusion that I was going to preach  - that was my plan. So I started praying. I asked God to put the right words in my mouth. The words to make Dean comfortable  and allow Dean to teach me what it's like to die..... and  let him talk about what's on his mind.

This is what happened:

I entered the elevator with strong doubts about the purpose of the visit. When I found Dean, there was a nurse attending him. He was glad to see me. We talked very little while the nurse worked. I could tell that Dean was in a lot of pain. His eyes were closed most of the time and he'd grimace occasionally as the nurse worked. I was tempted to say "Well Dean, I just stopped by to say Hi. I'll let the nurse do her thing and maybe I'll stop by another day." (That would have been so easy.... and I'm sure Dean wouldn't have minded. He didn't look like he felt like talking anyway.)  But I stayed......

When the nurse left, I pulled up a chair to Dean's bed side. Small talk was awkward and pointless. So I came right out with it. This was our conversation, best as I can remember it. (By the way, I felt God's help and the most of the conversation flowed and was comfortable.)

Me:  Dean, I know you have a heart for God. I am so glad that you have your faith to get you thru this. You look like you are in so much pain.

Dean: Yes. I've repented all my sins. I know that I have to do that. And I told God "You've got to help me through this Buddy." (Dean was wide awake now and very talkative making constant eye contact.)

Me: One of the reasons that I came to see you is to see what you are feeling.....experiencing. I feel that you have knowledge, wisdom  insight (I couldn't find the right word) that you can teach me. You are going through something that the rest of us have never experienced.

Dean: (Chuckle) I've never experienced this before either.

note: now big doubts just set in and I felt like I was putting him on the spot. He obviously was thinking about his pain..... not heaven. I became uncomfortable.

Me: (apologizing) I am probably wrong. I just thought that you might have something to share with me....like a feeling of closeness to God right now knowing that you will be taking a trip to Heaven. Just think, you will be pain free, running and jumping, seeing our Lord! and even your dad.....

Dean: I thought that I DID see Dad the other day... walking down the hallway. I called out to him. It wasn't him.

I laughed.

Dean: I always remember your laugh. ..... A guy wrote a book about heaven.....(Dean started fumbling with the remote control) Here can you see where the mute button is?

I muted the TV.  Obviously Dean was liking our conversation and wanted to talk more.  (relief on my part, but unfortunately because of the distraction Dean forgot to finish his story.)

We talked about Dean's pain and I asked if we should pray about it. Without hesitation Dean loudly answered yes. I took his hand and we prayed..... not for healing but for easing some of the pain.... and that Dean will feel God's presence and comfort....etc)

After the prayer ended, Dean held onto my hand for a long time. We talked more small talk and I said that I should get going. He motioned that he wanted to give me a hug. I bent down and hugged him and told him that I loved him. (Brother-sister love of course) As I left the room, Dean said Barb I love you. Come back when you can. (I got the feeling that he'd like to talk again soon)

I am looking forward to our next conversation.


Note: That next conversation never took place. Dean died shortly after I posted this message.