Dreams, dreams and more dreams....

Dreams, dreams and more dreams....

I dream a lot of the time. most of the time I don't remember what it was about in the morning, I just know I dreamed.  Or I wake in up the middle of the dream and think this is so good, I will remember it and don't later on....one night this spring, I dreamed, it seemed all night. I awakened, knowing that I had dreamed but only retained the message...

Then there are dreams that i wonder how does my mind work that way...so many pieces out together....or things I don't remember ever seeing or thinking or reading about are there, both good and bad.....or people from different times of my life coming together at one place...like the Norman Rockwell painting with all the people looking forward....

Or places  I have never seen, then driving by them and thinking I have seen that place before, but it was in a dream....I rarely have  bad dreams, but occasionally I do. I can't watch or read intense movies or books before bedtime....

When I dream, I know I won't  have as much Fibromyalgia pain.   When i don't dream for several night or have the impression that I haven't d reamed, I know there will be more pain...so I like dreaming.....just to rid the pain and the sleep is deeper, more restful.

In the Bible, it speaks of dreams early on...or deep sleep...Adam slept while God made him a wife...Joseph, gideon,and Daniel were interpreters of dreams for leaders....various people were warned in dreams to do or not to do certain things. Other saw visions that are recorded through its pages...

Both Joel and Acts speak of the last days...

Acts 2:17

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

There are array of books about dream interpretations....that hasn't been on my bucket list to read...I don't need something else to analyze  right now...and I want truth from God's word....

So dream away...enjoy the ones He gives you, the rest that comes, the message that may come....rest in Him.....

Isaiah 29:8a

as when a hungry person dreams of eating, but awakens hungry still; as when a thirsty person dreams of drinking, but awakens faint and thirsty still....

Jeremiah 23:28a

Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. 

Daniel 7:1

[ Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts ] In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.

Matthew 1:20

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 27:19

While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

Okay...so you are a steward....

Okay, so you are the steward......

I have to admit, I was complaining to God about the amount of paperwork estate stuff takes, accountants, lawyers , bankers, stock companies all have their own forms, questions, decisions  that need to be filled out, answered, with appointments for each...time, time, time..pens, pencils, paper clips, computer, phone calls....holding on phone calls, more decisions....more paperwork....why , why, why....

His answer, simply, " you are a steward...."....how profound is that......

We are stewards in all that we do, say, are,. We steward the talents that we are given, the resources, the time, the thoughts,   The children, the spouses , the families, the minds, the bodies,.....the faith, the homes, the paperwork.......everything....everything....

Then the thought that, what kind of steward am I .....faithful, unfaithful....complaining, thankful, good, bad...

Adam was a steward in the Garden  of Eden; his sons-their two different vocations; Joseph with the various jobs he did; Moses with all the people, his leadership, resources of Egypt; Ruth, with the grain she gleaned and the relationships she had; Ezra; Nehemiah; the levites and the tabernacle; David; Solomon, with his wisdom; and on down the the line of history.  We all have a variety of things to steward, it may be little, a grain of wheat or much; it maybe writing , speech, prayer, smiles, a helpful hand....a resource of something that God has given  one of us....but He expects us to use it for good, for increase of the Kingdom....

Even our weaknesses, can be given over to a better steward, Jesus...we are stewarding by delegating.....

Am I a good steward?   Quit complaining.....move forward, do what He wants, doing it to the best of my ability...with his help... It is a paradigm shift, an oxymoron, a wonder.  We are stewards, but The Creator stewards through us by us giving Him the opportunity.....

It puts a whole new light again on the work (opportunity) to serve , without complaining , but with purpose....thank you for Your quietly spoken Word....help me to see the joy that is set before me in service to others, to my family..to You.....

Genesis 2:15

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Genesis 30:29

Jacob said to him, “You know how I have worked for you and how your livestock has fared under my care.

Genesis 39:4

Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.

Numbers 1:53

The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.”

Deuteronomy 32:9 For the Lord’s portion is his people,

    Jacob his allotted inheritance.

10 In a desert land he found him,

    in a barren and howling waste.

He shielded him and cared for him;

    he guarded him as the apple of his eye,

11 like an eagle that stirs up its nest

    and hovers over its young,

that spreads its wings to catch them

    and carries them aloft.

Psalm 65:9. You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.

Proverbs 27:23

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;

Matthew 25:21

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

John 21:16

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

1 Timothy 6:20a

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. ....

1998 magazine.....

1998.......

In going through some papers, again, I found an article, "How to be your best", which my dad had torn out of one his agriculture magazines....

1. Take positive control of your thoughts.

2. Set and achieve goals for a balanced life.

3. Look for the "gold" in people and yourself.

4. Show sincere appreciation and give recognition for results.

5. Develop a high set of values..

6. Smile!

7. Take time to listen to the birds sing---to smell the roses.

8. Establish and follow a good health program with proper diet, exercise and rest...

9. Give thanks daily for your country..

10. Believe in....in yourself, you are special; in your fellow human beings, they are special also; in your country, it is the best there is; in God.

This was my dad, he did all these things...he wasn't perfect as no human is...but he was positive...

But in looking at these suggestions.....stored  away in a magazine,  they follow so many Christian values....

2 Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Philippians 3:12

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 35:18

I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 37:7a

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; 

Psalm 46:10

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

Titus 3:1Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

John 12:26

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Thank you, for your words,even in a secular magazine.....You shine through when we are looking for You.....help me to exemplify your Word....

Burnt toast.....

Burnt breakfasts....

The aIr was  filled with e aroma of burnt toast...that smell as well as freshly brewed coffee, ...burnt popcorn.....barbecuing... Are so distinctive of manmade  cooking smells....some good and others not so good......some, hard to get rid of, while others are pleasing to smell . Making your mouth water, ready to taste the delectable food or drink.

Another smell, that of cinnamon buns in a mall, Where they are baking, enticing the customers from all over to come and taste.....my husband was hungry for those when he was in the hospital.   So we went and purchased a whole box and shared it with the nurse's station nearby......that aroma....huuuuuummmmmm so good....the whole hallway smelled good....a breath of sweetness over the hospital fare....

...there are many people I have met over the years who are the pleasing aroma, their enticing personalty, smiles, care, drawing others to Christ by their words, hugs, countenance ....you just want to be where they are.......I want to be that pleasing aroma to others drawing them to Christ .....  Not the one that is thoroughly pushing people away, stinking.

In the Old Testament ,there are many references of  offering's aroma that were to be pleasing to The Lord...specific...

Leviticus 6:15. The priest is to take a handful of the finest flour and some olive oil, together with all the incense on the grain offering, and burn the memorial portion on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

Numbers 29:6These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are food offerings presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma.

The other was the alters inside the tabernacle or temple which held the incense, burning, reminding us of the prayers ever going upward.....how they reach as a sweet aroma of fellowship, mindfulness of God's answers....

Revelation 8:4

The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.

Corinthians 2:14.  But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

2 Corinthians 2:15. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

2 Corinthians 2:16b.....to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

help me to be that sweet aroma that draws others to you.......thank you for Your drawing .....your desire that none should perish.....

Birds of the Bible.....

Birds in the Bible......

This is a different one topic....I just wanted to see how many times the subject of birds was mentioned, hope you don't mind......I have several birds in my yard and around, as well, as we saw a variety of birds in Australia and New Zealand...

Some are fun to watch others, I wish weren't in my yard.  Yesterday morning I looked out my kitchen widow. And there were about a dozen quail in my bird bath and on the ground eating.   They trooped over to the fence, hopped up and through, marching toward the empty land and disappeared.  The starlings arrived, victimizing the finches, hungrily taking over the whole area and the food provided.  The doves arrived a little later, cooing the fluttering away as a car drove by.

Anyway, having red through the Bible several times, I knew that there are birds mentioned in a variety of places.  

1. There are birds that are considered unclean for eating....

Leviticus14: 13 “‘These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle,[a] the vulture, the black vulture, 14 the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15 any kind of raven, 16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

2. There are several times when a place will be abandoned , destroyed...and owls are mentioned as the inhabiters........

Isaiah 34:11

New International Version (NIV)

11 The desert owl[a] and screech owl[b] will possess it;

    the great owl[c] and the raven will nest there.

God will stretch out over Edom

    the measuring line of chaos

    and the plumb line of desolation.

3. Several comparisons...

Job 39:13-18

13 “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,

    though they cannot compare

    with the wings and feathers of the stork.

14 She lays her eggs on the ground

    and lets them warm in the sand,

15 unmindful that a foot may crush them,

    that some wild animal may trample them.

16 She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers;

    she cares not that her labor was in vain,

17 for God did not endow her with wisdom

    or give her a share of good sense.

18 Yet when she spreads her feathers to run,

    she laughs at horse and rider.

Lamentations 4:3

3 Even jackals offer their breasts

    to nurse their young,

but my people have become heartless

    like ostriches in the desert.

Micah 1:8. Weeping and Mourning

8 Because of this I will weep and wail;

    I will go about barefoot and naked.

I will howl like a jackal

    and moan like an owl.

Matthew 23:37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

And the most memorable ....

Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

4.  Sacrifice

Leviticus 5:7

7 “‘Anyone who cannot afford a lamb is to bring two doves or two young pigeons to the Lord as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.  

5. Provision , care....

Numbers 11:32 All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers.[a] Then they spread them out all around the camp.

Psalm 105:40 They asked, and he brought them quail;

    he fed them well with the bread of heaven.

Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!

Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

6. Songs

Psalm 104:12 The birds of the sky nest by the waters;

    they sing among the branches.

Ecclesiastes 12:4 when the doors to the street are closed

    and the sound of grinding fades;

when people rise up at the sound of birds,

    but all their songs grow faint;

Song of Songs 2:12 Flowers appear on the earth;

    the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves

    is heard in our land.

This is by no means an exhaustive study, but interesting....as God cares for, provides for the birds....so are we...He gives us new songs....He teaches us through so much...even the birds which He created.....thank you....for Your care of even the smallest ......You saw that is was good...You gave us life..through your breath ...Jesus....your Holy Spirit......yourself...

Heart in my car....

Heart in my car....

As I stepped into my car yesterday morning, there on the floor was a little red heart.....giver unknown....I thanked God for His yet another reminder of His heart after ours.....He loves me....no matter what...didn't know he dealt In little foamy hearts, but since He can do anything , anyway He wants, why not a small reminder....am sure He smiled at His thought....don't we all like to give joy to another....

Genesis 43:25a

They prepared their gifts .....

Deuteronomy 16:17

Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.

Ecclesiastes 5:19

Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.

Matthew 2:11

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 7:11

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:7

I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Ephesians 2:8

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

1 Peter 4:10

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Thank you for your reminders, your gifts....serving me...blessing me......

Peace in the garden.....

Peace in the garden.....

"......the peace of the garden seeped into her bones and calmed her as nothing else ever did.....no wonder God created a garden to wander in of an evening....." Snelling .

As I read that recently in a civil war novel about a divided family, it touched my heart as well.  I walk in the early morning and the evening.  The scents of each are different.  The feeling of each are different.  The morning walks are a prelude for the day, thinking through the things that need and /or desire to do .   Planning ....taking time to see the new blossoms, the early morning wildlife, the sunrise on a new day....what may be...for that day.

The prayers for those who may need it. ...or not...

The evening walks are little slower paced.....reviewing.....usually talking or thinking through the day, the what happened that day events......quieter....contemplating.....the thankfulness ....of another day of life....the end of that day's journey....

In the evening, the scents are deeper, the new mown grass or hay....the flowers, warm from the sun are heavier, aromatic. The birds are quieter.....people are more willing to stop and say hello or visit awhile...

Genesis 1:31

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Genesis 3:8a

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, ....

Genesis 24:63a

He went out to the field one evening to meditate, ......

1 Chronicles 23:30

They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening

Psalm 65:8

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

Thank you for each of the days, the evenings, ....You planned them all.  Help me to thank you for each....as day ends and the days begin....knowing the You know the beginning from the ending of everything....

Rest.....

Rest......

Yesterday,  I left my "growing up hometown" for my present home after 6 days of nonstop activity....basically two memorials for my father...I drove for two hours down the road and had to stop to wonder around a farmers market to wake up...then drove two more hours....desperately trying to keep awake, stopped again to wander.....finally deciding this was the stopping place for the day even though I could have made it home....walked on the  treadmill again to keep awake.....finally succumbing to sleep....10 hours straight.....that is so unusual for me....

There are just times when we need that rest that God has built into our bodies.....and we have to take it...use it....and feel the refreshment on the other side....we may fight it, try to put it off ,but we still need it....there can be dire consequences if we put it off.....

Reading through the many verses on rest, there are over 200, some talked about rest from your enemies...gave me pause.....I have been saying that I am ready for a summer of life As the enemy, death, has been prevailing these last four years...

I know that my mom, husband, and father are with The Lord, but we, the ones left behind are still grieving which is energy depleting. It has felt like a battle at times.  Tiredness has been there....

So I find solace that God can and will give rest from our enemies, rest for weariness , rest from the labor....He can give strength , refreshment, His presence, hope, quietness...

Thank you, Lord, for yourself, which In itself is enough....help me to recognize your rest, your care...your refreshment....I pray that you give these to those others who are needing that confidence that You care, strengthen, refresh.....

Isaiah 40:29

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Jeremiah 31:25

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

Exodus 16:30

So the people rested on the seventh day.

Exodus 33:14

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

1 Kings 5:4

But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.

Psalm 62:5

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

Proverbs 19:23

The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mark 6:31

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

1 John 3:19

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:

In sweet remembrance.....

..in sweet remembrance....

Photos rolling slowly one by one....music playing those old hymns or western tunes....

Loving family, grandsons, granddaughters, daughter , great children, nieces , nephews, widow, long time friends, longtime business associates, long time neighbors, fellow church friends...traveling buddies .....

All frames, sizes, ages.....from stooped to standing straight and tall....from white haired to colors of various colors......

Reminiscing, quietly crying or holding back the tears to later, laughing, napping....quiet....smiling .....regretting,....celebrating....thinking....listening......

The music, from singing to guitar to harmonica to congregational .....ever in remembrance .... 

The eulogy, some mispronounced words, others a history of a life well lived, a tribute to times past,  pieces of history, glimpses of life.....

A well spoken message of life and how to live it eternally....thank you...well said....

A few memories shared.....

 A meal provided by loving hearts and hands....

Hugs all around, remembrances ......again...and again....sweet, poignant ....

These are thing times to remember , the caring, the love.....the family sharing .....through it all.......the ups and downs, the real.....

Thank you for being there....being real...loving us through this new phase of life....holding our hands, enfolding us in your arms....speaking to our hearts....God... You are the rock, the helper, the comforter....our hope.....

Psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 21:6

Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

Acts 2:28b

 you will fill me with joy in your presence.

Psalm 116:15

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.

Revelation 21:4

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Grace.....

 Grace.......

There are books and books written about grace....definitions, exhortations, theological dissertations,  thesis', .....none better than the Bible itself...God In His  unmerited favor reached out to man, whom he created....gifted him with a favor that is far more than we can define Or imagine...

He favors us,  and so much more.....

How can we in our favored state offer anything else to others... The irony of it....

There are times, when I am resentful, stressed, unforgiving, judgmental, preoccupied, angry, hurt...I am not good company, period.....the I have to look up and say, "here I am,   Help me  in this grace thing..I don't understand it, but I know that You make it work, help me, work in me to show You in all I do".   

Thank you for your unrelenting desire that none should perish , showing your grace to all...no matter what ....through all time...

Luke 11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,[a]

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come.[b]

3 Give us each day our daily bread.

4 Forgive us our sins,

    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.[c]

And lead us not into temptation.[d]’”........

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Ephesians 1:6

to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

A definition     "A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.  Mercy; clemency.

A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence. a reprieve.

Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people.

The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God.

An excellence or power granted by God.

A short prayer of blessing or thanksgiving said before or after a meal "

"In Christian theology, the unmerited gift of divine favour, which brings about the salvation of a sinner. "