Breakthrough!

She came downstairs, rubbing her eyes and yawning into the new morning. We met in the kitchen, and she said, “Mom, I keep having this recurring nightmare. It’s just awful. I want it to stop.”

“Can you tell me about it?” I asked. My antenna had gone up at the word recurring. I was really curious to hear what it was that her mind continued to play over and over as she slept.

Her first response was that she didn’t want to talk about it; too depressing. Then she just couldn’t help herself, I guess, and out it all came.

“It was a little different this time. This time the kids were in it with me….. We were in this … place … it was all concrete and it didn’t look like there was a way out; but somehow I could see through an opening or something, and I could see trees and grass and stuff.”

I began to cry, and she looked at me with a curious expression on her face. “What else?” I asked.

“Well, there was a war going on,” she told me. “At one point I was trapped at the old restaurant where I used to work and the only way to escape the enemy was to run across the street, through four lanes of traffic. And all my friends…well, not really friends—acquaintances, like I have on Facebook—were all getting killed. I was trying to get away, trying to make sure the boys were right with me and hang on to them. At one point Andre disappeared, but then I found him again.

“Then, all of a sudden, the kids and I were in a car. Nate was driving, for some reason, and I was in the backseat with the boys, and we were driving out of the concrete place. Then we just stopped. I was sitting in the backseat crying and some police officers came up to us. They handed us a box of chicken and said, ‘Here, eat this and we’ll take care of all this. Just sit still.’”

By now, I was crying really hard. Because God had answered a prayer I had prayed for YEARS for my daughter by giving her a dream.

I told her what I felt the dream meant (as in, the Holy Spirit gave me the insight). Where her life for years had felt “trapped” behind a wall, God was opening up the door and showing her a new life (the trees, grass, blue sky, etc.). It is a new and positive way of living that is going to affect not only her, but the boys as well. The “friends” dying means that there may be friendships she needs to give up, so that she doesn’t stay weighed down by them. And the fact that she had to fight the traffic to get away means it may not be so easy to give up some of the ways she lives or some of those friendships; but it may be necessary.

Why Nate was driving, I have no idea. But if you know Nate… well,‘nuff said.

Okay, so why is this dream such a big deal? I’ll tell you why. Remember who is telling you this, also, and if you know my personality very well at all, you know how fantastic it is what I am about to tell you.

Several years ago, God did something in my life that has never been repeated. He gave me dreams. Not just any dreams--you know, those random thoughts that pile up during the day and jumble together during the night. No, the dreams He gave were packed with meaning. And what is really special about that is that during this brief time He sent the dreams, He also sent the interpretation.

Now that you are thinking I’ve certainly lost my mind, let me tell you one of those dreams. This is the first time I think I’ve related this to anyone but my husband. When I told him, he cried, so I didn’t talk about it anymore.

The dream was about our daughter. She and I were in a large, well-lit room. I’m not exactly sure what we were doing—maybe talking—I don’t recall, and it’s not important. The point of the dream is that she suddenly went blank on me, as if she were in a trance. She turned and headed for a very long hall at the end of the room. The hall was dark—so dark. I got up and called to her, but she just kept walking. She walked out of that well-lit room and I watched her step into that dark hallway. I ran to the end of the lighted room and looked down the hall. I couldn’t see anything. It was pitch black. I watched and called for a few seconds, and then I woke up.

The understanding of the dream was immediate. I imagine you have it figured out yourself. Years did follow when the precious child that I had known disappeared behind the darkness, and I couldn’t find the soul of her. It made me sad then, and it still affects me as I tell it. For years I thought about this dream. For years I prayed that God would bring our girl out of the darkness. Just within the last week or so I was remembering my dream and praying the same prayer yet again.

So you see now why the dream Jenni had affected me so. It was the answer to years of prayers for her—a reminder that she had never been out of His sight and He was going to bless her; that He was making a way out from behind the wall and bringing her to it. And what is really, really so cool is that God gave the dream to her!

What followed after Jenni related the dream was a few moments of both of us crying as I assured her that her dream was actually a positive dream, even though it was frightening at points. Spiritual warfare is like that, isn’t it? Some moments seem hopeless, but then God gives us a glimpse of the victory ahead, and we pick up the sword again and continue the fight.

The battle isn’t over for Jenni. I’m confident it will continue to rage, because the enemy doesn’t take losing well. But the battle belongs to the Lord. It’s all for Him, it’s all about Him. Onward!

Yep, I’m still crying. Like you had to ask.

Sunday Sunday

Here we are the beginning of another week. We are already almost finished with January. Can you believe it? This past week was not without its drama, but by now, my life would seem so meaningless if we didn't have some drama, you know?

Started out great. Jenni began her new job on Monday. She had been sick all weekend and rested as much as possible. Loaded herself up with medicine and headed out. I didn't work Monday, and the boys were out of school, so we hung out at the house.

Other than working out some afternoon details for the boys, we had it mostly figured out. Jenn seems to like the job, and it appears the other workers there like her.

Wednesday, Jenni ended up in the emergency room after describing symptoms that sounded very much like an aneurism in her head. Scary. He dad took her to Prime Care and then to the ER. That was about 3:30 in the afternoon. They got back home at 11:30 that night. Her cold from the weekend had become acute viral sinusitis, which caused her to experience a migraine headache. They gave her meds through an IV to take care of the headache, but told her she'd just have to load up on ibuprofen for the viral infection. She called her job and they let her come in late the next day. It appears her job is not in any danger. For this we thank God.

She still feels a little punk, but she's a trooper--keeps on moving forward. I'm proud of her.

****

Saturday, I spent the day washing clothes and doing some much-needed mending. That was actually fun. No, really. It was. I love being able to be in my house and get stuff done, and I've been needing to get that mending done for a while now.

Didn't get my nap today. After church, I had to get ready for a training session for the jail volunteers who work with our ministry. That kept me out of the house until 5 or so. Too late to take a nap. So I'll hang out and watch football for a little bit and then I'll just turn in early.

I know. Ho hum. But this is my life.

So what good can I accomplish this week? What sort of impression will I make? What witness will I leave with folks? Stay tuned.

Today, Life is Good

I know, I know, life is always good. And you would be right to say so. I believe this.

But this day--today--is especially good. On this day, I have both of our children in our home. Josh and Mel are down visiting from the beautiful state of Pennsylvania; and Jenni, who is my precious girl, is here as well. Well, actually, Jenni and the boys live with us, so she's always here with me. And a blessing to have, I tell you. She knows how to get it done. So it's going to be a great weekend.

For the last nine months or so, Jenni has been without a job. She had a part-time thing that ended and then just couldn't find anything else. She was also in school at the technical college and taking care of her three boys. Lots of responsibility for a single mom--the same that many other single moms do every day. The good news in her life these days is this--in December she completed her studies in Accounting and will receive her Associates degree at her graduation in May 2012. She is rightly proud of herself for having accomplished this goal.

Then, just last week, she spent a day filling out job applications online. She called and told me she had sent out 13 of them. And within an hour of doing so, she had a phone call and an interview set up with one of the companies the very next day! After her SECOND interview with this company, she came to my work very excited and told me how hopeful it all sounded.

Then the waiting. Two days passed with no phone call. At one time I suggested that she might call them to check on their progress. She didn't want to do that, and after a moment's reflection, I realized we just had to let this be God's timing for it to be right. "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul." (Psalm 94:18-20). So we waited some more; this time with a greater peace that God would handle it.

Yesterday, Friday the 13th, the call came, with the offer of a job. This is not a part-time job--this is a full fledged FULL-TIME, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, with BENEFITS job! We haven't stopped rejoicing.

God has taken care of us so faithfully. He is our Great Comforter and Provider. Blessed be His Name.

And even if this job had not worked out, the same is true about God even then. I may not always understand why we wait so long for things (humanly speaking), but I know that God will ultimately provide. His timing is perfect, perfect, perfect.

Have a good day, my friends.

(Oh, and about that 13th thing, I'm not even close to superstitious. Folks would say that 13 is an unlucky number. Thirteen is just a number. For us, it was just a good old day!)

And So We Pray

Jenn has been out of work for nearly a year now. With three boys to care for, this has been very difficult for her. And when you count "deadbeat" dads who don't support their children, or only throw a little money in the pot so they don't end up in jail, it just adds to the stress.

She went on a job interview a few days ago. It appears very promising. Please help us pray that job down for her. I have stormed the gates for several days now. I won't quit. It's actually a perfect job for her. It's also important to get her out there in the working world, not just for financial purposes, but for the importance of her self-belief. I KNOW she can do this job. I believe God to give her the opportunity. Please pray with me.

Saturday

Even though I started off the weekend feeling bad from a cold, I got a few things done today. Let's see.... I cleaned the kitchen, washed a couple loads of clothes, straightened the dining room and living room, cleaned out a closet. All the time feeling like I was functioning inside a barrel.

Ugh.