“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33 (NLT)

Often we are blown away when hard times come into our lives.  Being a Christian does not mean we will walk a carefree road.  Many think that people of faith say that Christians should never have troubles, but that is not true.  In fact, Jesus told us we will have trials.  But, He also said to be of good cheer (take heart) because He has already prevailed!

Troubles are afflicting many of us these days.  High gas prices, home foreclosures, an unstable roller coaster stock market, and more are hitting many of us.  People are being tried and pressed in from all sides.  What is our response, as Christians, to be?  We have two choices.

We can go through these times in misery or we can go through them in joy!

We can choose to murmur and complain, acting in fear, or, we can be of good cheer and trust in Him!

We need to focus on the solution – the Lord and His promises.  We must not focus on the troubles.  Now, this does not mean we deny the trouble – that would be silly.  We cannot be ignorant of what is going on around us.  But, we don’t have to major on the trouble.  We don’t have to listen to the naysayers.  We can turn off CNN (Constantly Negative News).  We can shun bleak conversations in which others are moaning and groaning.

God said He will deliver us!  He said He will meet our needs!  He said He will pick us up when we fall!  He said that He will never forsake us!  WOW!  What more do we need?

He made a promise to Abraham and that promise extends to us, Abraham’s seed (Galatians 3:29).  That promise says that He blesses us, He curses our enemies and that our families are blessed!  We must focus on the promises of God.  He is our provider!

I encourage you today to turn off the gloom and doom; refuse to participate in it.  Turn up your faith, and turn on the Word and the promises of God!

For God may speak in one way, or in another, but man does not perceive it.  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep slumber falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction.    Job 33:14-16

God is speaking to us all day long, but with the noises of the world it can be hard to hear Him.  While we are sleeping and our souls are quieted, He can speak into our spirits. 

Many people pooh-pooh dreams and believe they have no useful meaning.  They are wrong!  God guides us through dreams.  He also counsels, warns, and instructs.  He heals us through dreams.  He impresses His plans for us upon our hearts.

I have kept a dream journal for many years.  I keep the book on my nightstand, along with a pen and a flashlight, so when I wake up from a dream – even in the middle of the night – I can immediately write it down.  I have found many answers to life’s problems in what God speaks to me in my dreams.

Over 90% of your dreams will be about you, even though other people are in the dream.  These people will represent some aspect of you, your personality, or your life.  Your dreams will speak to the issues of your heart – things that are troubling you, decisions you need to make, fears, expectatons, etc.

Dreams have to be viewed through a “symbolic lens”, as they are usually not literal.  After keeping record of your dreams for awhile you will be able to build your own dictionary of dream symbols.  Here are a few I have found in my dream life:

Car - A car, or other type vehicle, is representative of your life.  If the car is beat-up and broken down, it could be saying something in your life needs fixing.  If the car is crashing, it can mean you feel some aspect of your life is out of control.  Are you driving or is someone else driving?  If it is someone else, you need to see what part of your life it is in which you are giving others too much reign.

Road – A road indicates the direction your life is taking.  A nice wide super-highway?  Smooth sailing!  A windy country road?  Lots of twists and turns in your life.

Older Man – If the man has good characteristics, he can be representative of God or Jesus.

Older Woman – Very often symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

Baby/Pregnant/Giving Birth – Usually represents something new in life is about to happen or is happening now.  Perhaps a new job, a new ministry, or a new thought pattern is emerging.

For a comprehensive listing of dream symbols to help you get started, click here:  http://www.tehillah.org/dreams5.shtml

One must beware of new age dream symbol websites and interpretation forums.  As with all things created by God, stuff of dreams can be recreated humanistically, removing God from the equation.  One should always pray to be given the interpretation directly from the Holy Spirit.  However, if you get stuck, a good Spirit-filled dream board is here:  http://www.tehillahdreams.com/board/  You can post a dream for which you would like some input as to how to interpret it biblically.  

Pray today to be open to receiving from the Lord in your dreams.  Keep a notebook by your bed.  Ask God each night before going to sleep to bless you with dreams.  He will do it!

Keep the faith!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.  Psalm 103:2

You know what is so great about this scripture?  Notice that it says “benefits”, not “benefit”.  God didn’t only provide forgiveness for our sins; He provides so much more for us – if we choose to receive it all.  The best part of God’s benefits is that they are FREE, and you don’t have to wait 90 days before they kick in like you do when you start a job!

A reading of the rest of Psalm 103 tells us what He provides for us:

He forgives our sins.

He heals our diseases.

He redeems our lives from destruction.

He crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies.

He satisfies our mouths with good things so our youth is renewed.

He executes righteousness and judgment for us against oppression.

He sets us free.

He makes His ways known to us.

He gives us His grace and mercy in times of need.

He doesn’t give us what we deserve and doesn’t punish us.

He removes our transgressions as far as the east is from the west.

He knows us, knows how we are made.

Just because something is provided for does not necessarily mean it is automatically possessed.  What must we do to appropriate all He has provided?  This same psalm tells us.  Verses 17 & 18:

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.

What does it mean to “fear Him”?  Are we to be afraid of Him?  Hardly.  The word “fear” here means to be in awe of, to respect, and to have reverence for.  When we put Him first, when we spend time with Him, when we align our lives with what He says, and when we are doers of the Word, we fear Him and we are keeping His covenant.

Those who have read this blog so far know that the one thing I stress most of all is the need to spend time alone with God.  It is in these times that He teaches you, comforts you, shows you the way to go, prunes you, tells you His plans for you, and so much more.  Go to Him today, sit a spell and let Him tell you about the benefits He has for you!