Visions

God has given me four visions in my life, each for a very special purpose. The reason that I call them visions instead of dreams is that they are as clear to me today as though I had just woken up and was reflecting on what I had just dreamt. Dreams are fuzzy and unclear and take place in odd places. The visions are very clear, the locations very clear and they all had very clear messages. I received the first vision in the mid ‘70's, the second (and most important vision) in the mid '80's, the third vision in the mid ‘90's and the fourth in the mid 2000’s.

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The First Vision:

This vision is very simple in which God just gave me a bit of knowledge. Dave and I were sitting under a tree and the "light" appeared. We stood up and the knowledge that "the light" gave me was "You will be together ALWAYS." (Exact words) An unexplainable peace came over me with this knowledge.

On Thursday nights Dave and I had archery league in Davenport, ND. (30 miles away) After league I would drive home with the other wives and the men would stay and late drink. Often Dave would not come home until 3 or 4 in the morning. I would worry and think the worst…….car accident, etc. After receiving this message in the vision, the message (and peace) would come back to me and I would know that he was not dead in the ditch someplace because "we would be together always." This message got me through many times. It was very comforting.

Now what is different about this vision compared to the other visions is that even though I can reflect on the vision, and it's always very clear………there is something in the scene that changes. Later when remembering the dream I discovered some pods to my left. I couldn't really make out what they were. Then Jason came along. I knew that the closest pod was our new son. I was able to recall the vision any time that I was worried about Jason and the same comforting message (and unexplainable peace) came to me each time: "You will be together ALWAYS".

Knowing that this "pod" in the vision was our son, I would try to count the number of other pods…….I was wondering how may children we would have. (You have to remember here, while you snicker to yourself that this vision gave me the gift of knowledge…it was not just a mind game as I'm sure that you're thinking at this point) Anyway, it was not for me to know. With the birth of Jamie and Jenny, the pods became little people, not pods. One odd thing is that one of the children/pod is a little farther away from us. Dave is to my right, one of the children is very close, almost under my left arm, one is an arm's distance to the left and the third child/pod is farther away. (I feel comfortable in interrupting it as Jamie and Jenny living close by us and Jason us living elsewhere…..but our love is close)

Something interesting happened after the kids grew up. The message has changed slightly. Now when I replay the vision I hear the message: "I will be with you ALWAYS." Now the vision has changed the focus for me. Now I have the assurance that Jesus will be with me always. That's the message that gives me the peace I desire in all situations.

"And surely I will be with you always….."

Mathew 28:20

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My Second Vision

First let me make a comment. Dave and his sister, Lorie, in this vision, I believe, are representative of non-believers. In actuality, I do hope that they have made the decision to accept God as their own personal savior.

My husband Dave, Lorie and I were at our lake cottage, standing by my mom’s peonies bushes talking when we saw in the distances which seemed to be a thick flock of large white birds coming. They were getting closer and higher. The closer the flock came you could see that it wasn’t birds but people who were covered with bandages. And the bandages were falling off. (These loose bandages gave the look of wings flapping….thus the incorrect thinking that it was a flock of birds)

As this “flock” of people got closer I realized that besides losing their wounds, they were becoming as children. I knew that they were being raised from the dead. I was so joyful and I remember saying, “Yes! Yes!” …kind of congratulating the kids. Usually when you congratulate a child they smile back and smile a proud smile, but not these children. They were focused on their designation. I (or my praise) meant nothing to them.

God was at work here. I was so joyful…. experiencing a joy that I have never humanly felt before. The joy was so strong. It was my soul inside of me praising God…not something that I was making a choice of doing….but had it been voluntarily I would have chosen to. I was so happy for those kids….

This joy was so full…. like a bubble inside of me. It actually lifted me in the air. I found I was being lifted up with these kids until I realized it and smiled and voluntarily went back down.

The kids were getting higher and higher the closer they came to us. They were gone by the time they were over the hill of trees behind us. Wow! I was so excited! Speaking to Dave and Lorie I was talking faster than ever. “Did you see that?!! Wow!! Neat!! Did you see that?!!”

Dave’s reaction was different than mine. He looked unsure, reflecting, he said that he thought he saw something like this before once when he was duck hunting. He was non-committal.

Lorie on the other hand was bold and denied seeing anything. I didn’t see it! Shaking her head, arms crossed, repeating I DIDN’T see it. (Almost scared.) Obviously she had or she would have asked what we saw…. but instead she was saying, “We are Not going to talk about this!” Total denial.

Here are some Bible verses that pertain to this vision:

“And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18: 3 (explains why the people’s bodies were being changed.)

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” Romans 8:11 (notice that we keep our same body)

“who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like is glorious body.” Philippians 3: 21 (not wounded or sick, anymore)

“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (Now I understand how we will be lifted up during the rapture. It is through the unexplainable joy within us.)

“…..’You will be ever seeing but never perceiving.’ For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn and I would heal them.” Acts 28: 26-27 (I think that this verse describes how Lorie’s character.)

“But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. Your are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” John 8:23-24 (No Decision is a Decision. This would be shown by Dave’s character. Although he didn’t reject God, he also had not made a decision for God…..which is the same as rejecting God. Notice, he did not experience the same uplifting joy that I had)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

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My Third Vision

This vision gave me strong instructions.

I had dropped off my young children at my mom’s house while I bought groceries. I entered the grocery store and was choosing a cart when everything went dark. Everyone ran to the large windows. I could see a light starting to appear in the rolling clouds. I knew immediately that Jesus was coming back. The thought crossed my mind “Now I understand how we’re all going to see him when he returns.” Instead of being “joyful” I prayed “God, not yet! My children won’t know what’s going on. They’ll be scared!” God answered my prayer saying “I’m giving you this time to prepare the children.” The skies opened up and everything became light and normal again.

“At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.” Mark 13:26-27

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My Fourth Vision

This was a dream that I had in 2006. Jen was in bad shape. She was taking drugs. She lost weight. She was unhealthy. She was living with Kerry who beat her up physically and also mentally. I was lost on how to change things….or would I be able to? I prayed a lot!

I dreamt that there was a withering plant hanging in a dark hallway. I thought, “ I’ve got to move this plant or it won’t survive.” God said, “No she doesn’t have to be moved. Nourish her and nurture her. I will provide the rest. She will thrive.”

I woke up thinking…yes the plant would survive given nourishment and nurturing and light. I realized that God had given me the gift of knowledge that He (the light) would take care of Jen. I was not to worry. All I had to do was nourish and nurture her….in other words be Mom. God’s word, thrive, gives me such comfort!

This vision is different from the other visions in that it is fading. Jen is coming around. She’s off drugs. She has a job and is meeting good people. She is still living with Kerry…but maybe he’s changed, or maybe this is just temporary. God has a reason for Kerry to be there right now. He did get her off drugs. God has his fingerprints all over Jen’s situation. I can see them. This dream is almost complete. Once it is, I won’t need it anymore and I feel that it will be gone…having served the purpose that God gave it to me.

“Don’t be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch, and you will wee the wonderful way the Lord will rescue you today.” Exodus 14:13