This will not be the usual light hearted funness that this blog has mostly been thus far. However, it is very serious, and I really need to get this down in writing before it becomes less than that.
Last night, I had some very interesting dreams. I think I started out in a live action Halo game, which I'm not very good at in real life (IRL), so you can imagine my performance here. I got a couple of "head shots" but in the end, of course, my weapons jammed and I was no longer playing.
I was then transported to another dream in which I was riding around with friends and we found this great little ice cream place that was trying a new form of advertising to get business. Basically, they'd call you everyday for about a week asking if you wanted ice cream... or something... (probably dreampt that 'cause we had ice cream for dessert last night)
Third dream was a little nicer. I think we were in the Azores, visiting my grandparents (at least my grandfather was there, so maybe we were somewhere else... I dunnno, but it was tropical!) And by "we", I mean myself and my brothers. We just swam around, hanging out, turned a boat into a floating apartment for my grandfather, stuff like that. Pretty light. It was beautiful, too. Lots of mountains on the coasts, crystal clear waters, sandy beaches... ah, it was nice.
The last dream I remember is what prompted me to get up and write. I was with a group of people... I think we were on a boat or something. I don't know how, but I was related to the main guy in this dream. I don't know if I was his sister, or close friend or what. I just know I wasn't his wife (he wasn't Jeremy, so I'd better not be!).
Anyways, there were probably about a dozen people/things on this boat. I say things because Big Fella was there, the only one I recognized from my own life. There were other characters there, like Dolly Parton, and then just random people. Well, thoughout this dream, the main guy (don't know his name, we'll just call him... Steve) was furiously going around to people, trying to get them to turn their lives over to Christ, and become a follower of Him. I'm not sure why he was doing it, but I think Satan (not Big Fella) had been lurking around there, and he noticed. Not all like, red with horns and a spiky tail... Like this monstrous, evil being, but only Steve and I could see him... Everyone else was oblivious.
He must have made it obvious (or maybe not) that he would be back for those who didn't follow Christ very soon, because Steve was awfully anxious. He pleaded with everyone, numerous times, but it's like they couldn't hear him--no one would listen. His most earnest attempt was with his wife... He begged her to listen, to make a decision, because no one knows how long they have to make that choice.... But she couldn't. She couldn't yet do it. Why? I dunno. I just remember how his face fell when she turned his God away.
After a while, Satan did show up. He kinda whirled everyone around until they were lined up on either side of him. I was S-C-A-R-E-D! Looking back I was such a wimp, but I didn't know what I could do. These people had made their choices, and now they were being judged (which I know will happen by God, but I guess my dream just rolled that all into one). One by one, he'd pick them up, they'd give their defense of how they were a good person, and Satan would tell them why they weren't and they deserved to be his, and he'd throw them down into a spiraling abyss, until they were sucked up and no more.
I watched this, yet I only remember what happened with two people. I know Big Fella got his, but I don't remember his defense or why the verdict (I can guess why, but that's for another blog). I do remember Dolly Parton, though (yeah, weird, I know). She told him she was a good person, and how she doesn't belong with him, and to her he said, "Yes, but the man you love is not your husband, and you've been living with him for months." Off she goes, down into the spiral, until she was gone.
Finally, it was time for Steve's wife. Now, Steve had been pleading with her the whole time to change her mind, even trying to take her by the hand and saying, "C'mon, honey, it's time to go home... let's go..." but she wouldn't move. When Satan picked her up, Steve gave it one last shot and yelled, "Please! Don't do this!" as tears streamed down his face... And her reply before being sucked down was, "I'm sorry..."
And then it was over. We walked around comatose, gathering our things, so we could leave. I cried and cried and cried in my dream, and woke up right after, on the verge of tears... and it got me thinking.
I need to change. How many people do I know that don't know Christ, that don't know He is the only way to eternal salvation? How many people do I not talk to because I'm too scared, or I don't want to look stupid or sound preachy or whatever the case may be? I've resorted my life to being the bare bones Christian, in that I know the truth, I've accepted it, been baptized, go to church, go to small group, and yet I doubt that people I encounter on a day to day basis, unless I come right out and say it, know I'm a Christian. That's unacceptable. Jesus himself tells us, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19) How can I go out and do anything, if I'm not living the life Jesus has called us to live to begin with?
I always thought you had to have the gift of evangelism to be effective at bringing people to Christ. But I realize that it's much more than hearing someone spouting off scripture and changing your life because of it! Y'know, I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I've got plenty of friends and family who won't sit down and listen to 'no preacher being all godly and high and mighty and such', but will sit down with me and let me talk. Even if they don't agree with what I have to say, because they respect me and love me because I'm me, they might just sit through some stumbling and babbling on about how there's overwhelming evidence to believe Jesus when he says, "I am the way, the truth, and the light. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
And then I started thinking about specific people, like my grandfather. What about him? He's getting old and he's not too well, mentally, and I don't know where he stands with God, but gosh darnit, I'm concerned! I hope that he's already made his peace, but if he hasn't, I don't know if what we say will even get through to him. Is it to late? I'd like to think not, but that's something I need to do some serious praying about.
I'm not sure what I'm trying to communicate through this post... And I'm not sure if anyone's still reading at this point, but if you are, can I ask you something? Are ya worried? I mean, personally, I know where I stand with God. I admit I haven't done the best job of living out the life I told Him I would live, but I turned my life over to Christ, commited to following Him instead of the ways of this world, and made it public when I was baptized 4 years ago (I'm still not sure if anyone really knows for sure if you must be baptized in order to be saved... All I know is that Jesus did it, He told us to do the same, so there's no reason to argue.) Now, I know it was a dream, but when Satan showed up, I would not go anywhere where I might catch his attention. I stayed behind him, or to the side where he couldn't see me, 'cause I didn't know what would happen. Granted, it was a dream, but I can't imagine acting much differently IRL. I know John says that greater is he that is in you than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4), but that's one of those 'easier said than done'.
Okay, I'm on a tangent now. No more. I know this probably sounds really strange to some of you... and that's okay. All I know is that I've been really convicted about how I handle my salvation, and that keeping it to myself is not an option I have. So I guess the main thing I'm trying to communicate is, are you worried about who you're going to spend eternity with? And if you're sure it's with Christ, who haven't you told yet? Who needs to know? God wants everyone to be with Him. His heart breaks for everyone who's not... My heart breaks thinking of those who may not get to spend their eternity in paradise because I was too afraid to speak up.
No more.
Last night, I had some very interesting dreams. I think I started out in a live action Halo game, which I'm not very good at in real life (IRL), so you can imagine my performance here. I got a couple of "head shots" but in the end, of course, my weapons jammed and I was no longer playing.
I was then transported to another dream in which I was riding around with friends and we found this great little ice cream place that was trying a new form of advertising to get business. Basically, they'd call you everyday for about a week asking if you wanted ice cream... or something... (probably dreampt that 'cause we had ice cream for dessert last night)
Third dream was a little nicer. I think we were in the Azores, visiting my grandparents (at least my grandfather was there, so maybe we were somewhere else... I dunnno, but it was tropical!) And by "we", I mean myself and my brothers. We just swam around, hanging out, turned a boat into a floating apartment for my grandfather, stuff like that. Pretty light. It was beautiful, too. Lots of mountains on the coasts, crystal clear waters, sandy beaches... ah, it was nice.
The last dream I remember is what prompted me to get up and write. I was with a group of people... I think we were on a boat or something. I don't know how, but I was related to the main guy in this dream. I don't know if I was his sister, or close friend or what. I just know I wasn't his wife (he wasn't Jeremy, so I'd better not be!).
Anyways, there were probably about a dozen people/things on this boat. I say things because Big Fella was there, the only one I recognized from my own life. There were other characters there, like Dolly Parton, and then just random people. Well, thoughout this dream, the main guy (don't know his name, we'll just call him... Steve) was furiously going around to people, trying to get them to turn their lives over to Christ, and become a follower of Him. I'm not sure why he was doing it, but I think Satan (not Big Fella) had been lurking around there, and he noticed. Not all like, red with horns and a spiky tail... Like this monstrous, evil being, but only Steve and I could see him... Everyone else was oblivious.
He must have made it obvious (or maybe not) that he would be back for those who didn't follow Christ very soon, because Steve was awfully anxious. He pleaded with everyone, numerous times, but it's like they couldn't hear him--no one would listen. His most earnest attempt was with his wife... He begged her to listen, to make a decision, because no one knows how long they have to make that choice.... But she couldn't. She couldn't yet do it. Why? I dunno. I just remember how his face fell when she turned his God away.
After a while, Satan did show up. He kinda whirled everyone around until they were lined up on either side of him. I was S-C-A-R-E-D! Looking back I was such a wimp, but I didn't know what I could do. These people had made their choices, and now they were being judged (which I know will happen by God, but I guess my dream just rolled that all into one). One by one, he'd pick them up, they'd give their defense of how they were a good person, and Satan would tell them why they weren't and they deserved to be his, and he'd throw them down into a spiraling abyss, until they were sucked up and no more.
I watched this, yet I only remember what happened with two people. I know Big Fella got his, but I don't remember his defense or why the verdict (I can guess why, but that's for another blog). I do remember Dolly Parton, though (yeah, weird, I know). She told him she was a good person, and how she doesn't belong with him, and to her he said, "Yes, but the man you love is not your husband, and you've been living with him for months." Off she goes, down into the spiral, until she was gone.
Finally, it was time for Steve's wife. Now, Steve had been pleading with her the whole time to change her mind, even trying to take her by the hand and saying, "C'mon, honey, it's time to go home... let's go..." but she wouldn't move. When Satan picked her up, Steve gave it one last shot and yelled, "Please! Don't do this!" as tears streamed down his face... And her reply before being sucked down was, "I'm sorry..."
And then it was over. We walked around comatose, gathering our things, so we could leave. I cried and cried and cried in my dream, and woke up right after, on the verge of tears... and it got me thinking.
I need to change. How many people do I know that don't know Christ, that don't know He is the only way to eternal salvation? How many people do I not talk to because I'm too scared, or I don't want to look stupid or sound preachy or whatever the case may be? I've resorted my life to being the bare bones Christian, in that I know the truth, I've accepted it, been baptized, go to church, go to small group, and yet I doubt that people I encounter on a day to day basis, unless I come right out and say it, know I'm a Christian. That's unacceptable. Jesus himself tells us, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19) How can I go out and do anything, if I'm not living the life Jesus has called us to live to begin with?
I always thought you had to have the gift of evangelism to be effective at bringing people to Christ. But I realize that it's much more than hearing someone spouting off scripture and changing your life because of it! Y'know, I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I've got plenty of friends and family who won't sit down and listen to 'no preacher being all godly and high and mighty and such', but will sit down with me and let me talk. Even if they don't agree with what I have to say, because they respect me and love me because I'm me, they might just sit through some stumbling and babbling on about how there's overwhelming evidence to believe Jesus when he says, "I am the way, the truth, and the light. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
And then I started thinking about specific people, like my grandfather. What about him? He's getting old and he's not too well, mentally, and I don't know where he stands with God, but gosh darnit, I'm concerned! I hope that he's already made his peace, but if he hasn't, I don't know if what we say will even get through to him. Is it to late? I'd like to think not, but that's something I need to do some serious praying about.
I'm not sure what I'm trying to communicate through this post... And I'm not sure if anyone's still reading at this point, but if you are, can I ask you something? Are ya worried? I mean, personally, I know where I stand with God. I admit I haven't done the best job of living out the life I told Him I would live, but I turned my life over to Christ, commited to following Him instead of the ways of this world, and made it public when I was baptized 4 years ago (I'm still not sure if anyone really knows for sure if you must be baptized in order to be saved... All I know is that Jesus did it, He told us to do the same, so there's no reason to argue.) Now, I know it was a dream, but when Satan showed up, I would not go anywhere where I might catch his attention. I stayed behind him, or to the side where he couldn't see me, 'cause I didn't know what would happen. Granted, it was a dream, but I can't imagine acting much differently IRL. I know John says that greater is he that is in you than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4), but that's one of those 'easier said than done'.
Okay, I'm on a tangent now. No more. I know this probably sounds really strange to some of you... and that's okay. All I know is that I've been really convicted about how I handle my salvation, and that keeping it to myself is not an option I have. So I guess the main thing I'm trying to communicate is, are you worried about who you're going to spend eternity with? And if you're sure it's with Christ, who haven't you told yet? Who needs to know? God wants everyone to be with Him. His heart breaks for everyone who's not... My heart breaks thinking of those who may not get to spend their eternity in paradise because I was too afraid to speak up.
No more.
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