Walk awhile with me. Enthralled by this crossroad. Entwined in the passion that springs from the heart of God. Enveloped in His Words that strike a unified cord in our hearts to nourish and encourage us in life’s journey for this moment in time.
A dream. A realistic dream. A dream that remains alive and vivid hours later. A week later. What about you? Ever had such a dream? Did you dismiss it? Miss it? Or forget about it?
In the early hours of last Tuesday morning, I had such a dream. I’ve never put much stock in dreams. But this one—so lifelike, so clear, so intense.
Monday night I went to bed mulling over a problem and the dream opened with me telling two men about my problem. One, a dear friend, the other the pastor of the church where I grew up—Dr. Homer Lindsay, Sr.
As I finished stating my problem, Dr. Lindsay got up out of his chair, came over, and put his arm around me. He leaned close to my ear and said, “DiAne, you remember Jeremiah 29:11, don’t you?”
I replied, “Yes sir.” And we quoted it in unison, his voice recognizable and intelligible. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
The dream ended, my eyes flashed open, and a sense of comfort and hope that only God can give wrapped around me and carried me through the morning with a renewed sense of security and joy.
Until four A.M. the following morning when my husband woke me. “DiAne.” He spoke in a voice I’ve come to understand means trouble. “We have a problem. It’s my heart. I want you to drive me to Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas”.
We were in Longview, Texas—two hours away from Dallas and Presbyterian Hospital.
I sprang from the covers and pulled on yesterday’s jeans and a shirt. “O Lord!” my mind raced and my heart quaked. “What’s he thinking? I can’t drive two hours with him. In the car. About to have a heart attack.”
Another thought zipped through my mind. Look at his color. I turned on the light and looked at his face. His color was good. Warm. Not the pasty gray of a heart attack. Immediately the dream of the previous night flashed across my consciousness and the peace of God took control of my terrified heart and I heard drive him to Presbyterian in Dallas.
We made the drive—in record time. And for the next thirty-six hours the medical staff at Presbyterian Dallas accomplished the necessary tests to confirm that my husband did not and was not having a heart attack. His previous by-passes and stints were unchanged and blood was coursing through his arteries as it should be.
For once in my life I rested in the promise God confirmed to me the night before all this transpired, and reminded Him of that promise during that two hour drive Wednesday morning. I traveled through those thirty-six hours at peace with the knowledge God was in control—not me.
Almost a week has passed and I paused this morning to contemplate how many times I’ve missed or dismissed God’s instructions and warnings. Choosing instead to race ahead of the stresses and strains of life. Always running. Refusing to be still. Neglecting to rest in Him.
My prayer is that I remember. Remember to listen and heed God’s Word and His warnings. Remember that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. And remember God thinks of me. All the time.
“How precious are Thou thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with Thee” (Psalm 139:17-18 NAS).
Love this post and love the beginning words to the blog 🙂
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Lori, thank you so much. Without God, you and the Literati none of this would be possible.
DiAne
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I have learned many time that if I listen to my heart, I will do the right thing. Whether it be in a major decision or every day activities. That voice that comes from my heart is the voice of God! Trust your feelings they are God speaking to you.
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Barbie, you are so right. But how many times am I so busy I don’t even have a clue my heart is telling me something. Then again, how many times do I hear my heart speak but decide to do things my way? More often than I’d like to admit.
Thanks for joining the conversation.
DiAne
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DiAne & Barbie,
Jeremiah also says the heart is exceedingly deceitful (17:9). What I appreciate about DiAne’s latest blod is that what God gave her in the night was scripture! So, DiAne could rest upon the promise of God, even when she felt her husband was having a heart attack. Sometimes the evil one can twist scripture in hopes of having us do the wrong thing (Lk 4). Therefore, I think it is much wiser to advise: ‘Listen to your heart, but comb everything through scripture and prayer’. Or, ‘Listen to the Spirit, His promptings that are in line with scripture.’ The voice that comes from the heart is not necessarily the voice of God. Even the Apostle Paul did not trust his feelings (Romans 7:21-24).
DiAne, your blog brings up a larger question. Does God still operate in dreams and such today? Cessationists say no He does not since the Bible is complete. I think you now know – beyond a doubt – that yes He does!
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Steve, thank you so much for your words of wisdom straight from the Word. I believe scripture also tells us that in those last days that people will see dreams and have visions. We are seeing that happen especially in the Middle East where a great number of Muslims are coming to Christ Jesus and they give witness of Him calling to them in a dream. We must never attempt to put God into the box of our understanding. But you know that far more than I do.
DiAne
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DiAne: God has given you a tremendous gifts for writing and you are using it well. Jeremiah 29:11 is what I needed today. Reading many of your blogs bought me to the point of realizing that I am not delegently staying in the place what God has placed in my heart to write to parents.
Your blog presentation is exceptional. The picture you utilized exudes a place of peace and calm. Because of what I see you have accomplished it reinforces to me that I must stay focus on the things that God has placed in my heart for parents and not allow myself to be distracted. I have established a website for my book http://www.hecallsthemblessed.com, but a blog will create the platform I need for my book to be published. Lord forgive me for centering on things that are totally in God’s hands and start centering what you given me to share with others.
DiAne again thanks and continue to be blessed as you bless others.
Your New York Friend
Shirley Roberts
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Shirley, thank you so much for your kind words and if my words inspire you it’s the Spirit in me speaking to the Spirit in you. God just allows us to come along with Him in what He is working out in the latter days of this age. You and I–we’ve earned the scars to speak and have felt enough of God’s comfort to be credible when we give testimony of what He’s done for us. Thank you for being my “New York Friend”.
DiAne
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Diane,
The opening paragraph of your blog serves your message well. For me, the second “shoe drops” when you show us the rest and peace His message provided facilitated the experience of it. Faith manifested. I love that. I love Paul’s point in Galatians where he asks us if we will finish by the flesh what began by the Spirit. Dreams and visions are one of the most common ways in the Bible that God coached His spokesmen. In contrast, our Western mind set prods, “Try harder, jump through these hoops,” and the hoops constantly change. Thanks for the good word that resting in Him is His genuine leading.
Much grace,
Polly Eckert
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Polly thank you for joining this conversation. My hope and prayer is that each one of us would be still and quiet before Him, listening for the prompting of the Spirit and His Words of instruction and direction in the everyday problems of our life.
DiAne
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DiAne i could feel the calmness of your spirit as I was reading your blog it made chills crawl all over my body. All you did was listen for direction from our father above. When we stay in touch with him he’s always in touch with us. At 4:00am in the morning i know he covered you fully and directed you all the way to Dallas with a safe arrival. Diane just as you said Gods word and warnings are always true ad all we need to do is just STAND and be still. His voice is so calm and soft all we can do is listen. I love this blog
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Audrey, you are so right. The Lord God Almighty was in charge that day as He is every day we surrender our heart and mind to Him. Wish I could say I always did. But I don’t always be still and listen. However, I’m better than I used to be thanks be to Him. Thank you for your reply and for joining our conversation.
DiAne
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