Tuesday, August 25, 2015

A New Dream For A New Season

So, I want to share a dream I had a couple nights ago. And before i start, I want to clarify that I don't dream often. And if I do, I never wake up remembering it. So the fact that I remember it in such detail is pretty significant to me. I believe God gave me this dream to share a message with you all.

The dream starts off with me at a wave pool. Before I could even get in, I ran into my old tattoo artist and good friend from Wisconsin. He had a booth set up there and told me to come by. When I did, he told me to sit down and he was going to give me a free tattoo. About half-way through the tattoo, he has to get up and go do something. So, I'm left with half a skeleton hand tattooed on my forearm.

I waited for awhile and he wasn't returning so I went to go get some food. I took my bicycle and rode it a couple blocks away. I was worried about my bike getting stolen so I brought it around back and hid it in the basement. I go upstairs and see, unexpectedly, some friends of mine merch table set up. Surprised they were around, I knew this wasn't where I was trying to go so I went right back downstairs to grab my bike and it was gone. I was confused, but never panicked as I scoured the basement for my bike. It wasn't to be found.

So, I headed upstairs and found my mom sitting comfortably at the bar watching my dad play guitar in the band that was there. I told her about my bike being stolen and my intent to walk back and get my free tattoo finished. Before she could respond a man sitting in front of her turned around and told me to wait while he made a phone call. He came back and said that it was his kids who stole the bike and he would get it back to me.

I gave him my phone to punch his information into and he did it while looking the other way. There was something supernatural about him and in the dream I was pretty sure he was an angel. Before he left he asked me what it would take to get the bike off my hands. I thought about it and told him $1,000. He said ok! And handed me the money. And the dream ended.

Now that can seem really random and pointless, but let me give you what I believe the interpretation of it is. First off, there were so many unexpected surprises in the dream. At every turn I was getting free stuff or running into people I had no expectation to see. The wave pool represents seeking the presence of the Holy Spirit. Water is often used to describe the presence of God and my intention was to seek him. That's where I was headed when I ran into my friend who had a blessing for me. I believe God is revealing to us that he has blessings waiting for us as we seek him. "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you."

The tattoo of a skeleton hand to me represents resurrection power.  It being tattooed on me represents an outpouring of a new level of power. God is imprinting us with a new level of his power. "And you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you."

The interruption of my friend in the middle of the tattoo I believe is the enemy coming to steal or delay what God has intended to pour out on us. The same with the bike being stolen later in the dream. "The thief has come to steal, kill, and destroy. But I have come that they may have life and life abundantly."

Seeing my parents at the bar was very significant because that's not a place they are usually seen. My Dad plays guitar in the worship band at church. Seeing him play in the bar represents the kingdom being taken into the world and demonstrating Gods power and glory and carrying his presence from the place of worship into the darkness to change it. "You are the light of the world."

The father of the children or angel, as I perceived, was significant because God is releasing his angels right now to bring justice and restoration of all that was stolen. In the dream I knew the bike was around a $150 bike. So 150 x 7 = 1050. The enemy has to repay 7 times what he steals from us.

I am very excited about this dream and what God is saying and declaring. It is a season of suddenlies and unexpected surprises. It is a season of advancing and having influence in new territories. It is a season of repayment for all the enemy has stolen. Expect abundance. Expect release. Expect power and favor. But the most important part is that this all comes through intimacy with the Holy Spirit.

Love you all! Hope this is encouraging!

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Do Not Fear the Storm

So, currently my commute to work consists of an hour walk to the bus stop in the morning. Before you all freak out, it's not as bad as it sounds. It's great prayer time and it's much needed exercise as I sit at a desk all day. Today, I walk out of the house at a little before 5, aaaannnddd it's raining. Great. 

So, I start my normal routine of praying in the Spirit as I walk. About halfway there, as all these cars are passing me I start "nudging" God with things like, "Hey, I wouldn't mind if someone gave me a ride to the bus stop today." Or maybe something a little bit more subtly manipulating, "God, I thank you for giving me a ride to the bus stop today and getting me out of this rain." 

Somewhere in here I start to see lightning and hear the thunder. I keep walking. Getting more wet by the minute. And then the most amazing thing happened. (No, I didn't get a ride. That would make this story far less interesting.) A song started coming off my lips. 

Do not fear the storm
Do not fear the storm 
You were made to rise above
You were born to overcome 
Do not fear the storm 

I sang it over and over again. As I continued to sing Holy Spirit began to speak to me and remind me about the time Jesus came to the disciples walking on the water. He was above the storm. The storm wasn't above him. The next thing he showed me absolutely floored me. He said, "Do not fear the storm, for the storm fears you." Wow! If we understood, truly understood who we are in Christ, the storms around us wouldn't bother us. 

As I was nearing the end of my morning journey, it started to downpour. Haha. I guess he wanted to see how well I had learned what he just taught me. Sure, I'm still pretty wet as it is, but it's just water and I'll dry off. And now, as I'm typing this, the rain has completely stopped. Mere minutes after I've arrived at the bus stop. It's as if when the storm could no longer touch me, it stopped. When it could no longer affect me, it stopped trying. So it is with storms in life. The longer we give the storm power, the longer it rages. But as soon as we realize who we are and stand in it unafraid, it tries one last time to regain the power of your fear (the downpour), and then stops if you stand firm. 

It's amazing to me how I was so desperate to get out of the storm this morning and now I'm glad I experienced it. I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm actually thankful for the storm this morning. I've got a better picture of who I am and what I'm capable of and hopefully you do too. The only cost was some damp clothes and being willing to listen to Holy Spirit when he spoke. 

I hope this encourages you and causes you to rise above the storms in your life right now. 
Until next time, 
God bless