March 8, 2008, Praises Along the Way- The Dream

I've been waiting on the Lord to speak to me about what to write and this morning I had a dream. I didn't want to write just to write or because people were expecting me to, I wanted the Lord to speak, to inspire me.My dream started in Italy. I was with my children and we were at a hospital on the side of a beautiful mountain. We were visiting the hospital and it was so new they were still doing work on it in various areas. We came upon a group of nurses who were trying to set up their stations. A technical person, a lady, was setting up the computer systems for them. She had a big place on the top of her head where it was obvious that she had had brain surgery of some type. She began to share her story with the nurses and we were all in tears. Then I shared a bit about my situation but the nurses didn't seem interested so I stopped sharing and went on touring the hospital.

I feel like I'm baring my soul for some reason. Anyway, the dream went on and we continued to tour the hospital until it was time to go back to where we were staying. We got lost down a winding flight of stairs. I don't know where my middle daughter was but I wasn't worried about her because she was safe somewhere. I have three children, 19 (girl), 14 (girl), and 10 (boy). Danni, my oldest, took her brother, my youngest, and they ran ahead of me on the stairs. The staircase was small and wooden, roughly made and very small with tight turns. I lost them.I didn't know what to do. I searched and searched. I called to them but they were gone. I followed the stairs to a river, the water was swiftly moving so I turned around. I knew they wouldn't have gone in there and I went back up the stairs looking for a way out of the staircase. There was an opening to an apartment so I slipped through. Across from the stairs I could hear a child in a room behind a door. It sounded like the child was getting ready for bed. I knew there were people in the house so I ran to the basement. There were many rooms down there; they were painted in shades of pinks and blues.

I hid in a closet surrounded by clothes, but I didn't have any on. Next thing I knew. people were having a party in the room in which I was hiding in the closet. A small woman reached into the closet and put her hand on me. I cried out to her and said, “Please, help me. I've lost my children," and I wailed. It was a sound I had never heard myself make. They ignored me and I realized they weren't going to help me.I awoke and I heard the Lord say, "It’s time to write."My thoughts went to the fact that I have my children with me. I know where they are. But what about the woman who doesn't know where her child is or the woman who has had an abortion. The woman who has had to give her child up for adoption and wonders daily if the child has everything he or she needs, if the adoptive parents are doing as they would have done. The agony they silently bare inside must be terrible. I thank the Lord for my circumstances. I'm sure that other parts of the dream refer to my feelings of helplessness – my feelings that no one can care as I do; my thoughts of the coming week and the uncertainties that lie ahead; losing Danni, and remembering things my son has said about not wanting her to die.

I can't even imagine what the women above feel or experience, but I know the Lord has a plan for them too. A purpose for the pain they are going or have gone through. The Bible says in Revelation 12:11: "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." Interestingly enough, this chapter also speaks of a dragon (the enemy) seeking to devour a woman's child who in childbirth.

I don't know why bad things happen to our children sometimes, but I know for me that I will use the "word of my testimony" to overcome the enemy of our souls to reach as many people for Christ as I can.

My mother's heart breaks for those of us who have to deal with things out of our control where our children are concerned, but I want you to know that God sees everything, and in all the mess, He does love us. Turn to him and let him use you in a powerful way with the word of your testimony to overcome the evil the enemy has sought to bring into your life! Work with God to turn it for good and get as much glory for him and help as many people as you can to find rest in him.If you've had experience in the area I've spoken of today, you have a powerful testimony within you. Release it so others can find their way, so others can be healed and you'll find that God will heal you in the process.I can't imagine how God feels, seeing the state of so many of his children who don't yet know him, knowing how much he loves them and how lost they are to him. The cry from his heart must be enormous, the pain in his heart unbearable.

God, help me to be an overcomer, help me to reach your children who are lost, who don't yet know you and help them find their way to you. You are merciful, God. I worship you.