I had some snapshot dreams the other day and the first one was I was putting up a tent, people where helping me, but then I was left alone to look after it at night.
Then the next day I was walking with others through a town that had had a flood come through it and I noticed that some houses had been completely wiped away, some had their foundations of the house on a lean and people were still in them but were looking at alternate accommodation because their houses were going to be condemned and yet others were not even touched by the flood.
Then I was doing this quiz with other people but I was on my own and hadn't fully understood the question yet I thought I had it sorted and so when the time came to hand it in I was completely on the wrong track and the people let me know. I felt a bit stupid, but there was this sense it's okay, you'll get it next time.
In reflecting on these snapshot dreams I realise that the tent is our human dwelling, that people help us establish the truth & reality of God in our lives, but then there comes a time when we are left on our own to look after the dwelling that has been established.
The second dream makes me think of Luke 6:46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who build a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
The second dream I believe is talking about a time of testing of our foundations, things are going to come at us that is going to challenge our foundations of what our 'house' or tent if you like, is built on. Is our house built with solid foundations that will withstand even the strongest flood or will our house need to be condemned because the foundations have not withstood. The Lord has been taking Jim & myself through a process of ripping up the carpet, the layers that are on the original foundations to see what is actually there and I believe it leads into the third dream about being tested.
In the testing we find out sometimes what we thought was right actually is not right and we go through a time of lifting up old carpet or old things have to get done away with that have come on top of those original foundations. You feel a little silly sometimes and embarrassed but the Lord would say, don't feel condemned about it, convicted yes perhaps, but remain teachable and willing to learn because he has placed people around us to help us, but sometimes we are too individual and think we know the way and therefore find ourselves going down a path that is not right, but when we are in relationship with other people it opens the door for us to learn different things and to find out the truth that keeps us strong and steadfast in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 10:12 "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it".
God has taken me through great testings at times in my life (and continues to) that challenge everything I have believed in, everything that I have put my hope in, but I want to encourage you that he has always provided a way out for me to stand up under whatever testing has come my way. I have totally felt at my end at times but in that place the Lord has come in where I could not find a way through, and he has made a way through as I have trusted and waited in him being unable at times to do anything else.
Some of those things that might test us or I know has been a challenge to me is our heart toward giving to others, or our family relationships that don't bring honour or respect, or our financial situation, a promise of the Lord still not yet coming to fruition, or relationships with people who have hurt me or stolen something from me, physical sickness, depression etc - all and many more are ways of different testing in our lives that can show us where our foundations in the Lord are really at and the truths that we actually believe. The Lord has help in each and every situation that we are in - whether its through other people who we need to listen to their advice about something, whether it is through supernatural provision, whether its a word from scripture that brings hope and faith into something, all is from God. Lets be a people who are willing to learn, remain teachable and know that our foundations in the Lord are firm! Bless you all.
Then the next day I was walking with others through a town that had had a flood come through it and I noticed that some houses had been completely wiped away, some had their foundations of the house on a lean and people were still in them but were looking at alternate accommodation because their houses were going to be condemned and yet others were not even touched by the flood.
Then I was doing this quiz with other people but I was on my own and hadn't fully understood the question yet I thought I had it sorted and so when the time came to hand it in I was completely on the wrong track and the people let me know. I felt a bit stupid, but there was this sense it's okay, you'll get it next time.
In reflecting on these snapshot dreams I realise that the tent is our human dwelling, that people help us establish the truth & reality of God in our lives, but then there comes a time when we are left on our own to look after the dwelling that has been established.
The second dream makes me think of Luke 6:46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who build a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
The second dream I believe is talking about a time of testing of our foundations, things are going to come at us that is going to challenge our foundations of what our 'house' or tent if you like, is built on. Is our house built with solid foundations that will withstand even the strongest flood or will our house need to be condemned because the foundations have not withstood. The Lord has been taking Jim & myself through a process of ripping up the carpet, the layers that are on the original foundations to see what is actually there and I believe it leads into the third dream about being tested.
In the testing we find out sometimes what we thought was right actually is not right and we go through a time of lifting up old carpet or old things have to get done away with that have come on top of those original foundations. You feel a little silly sometimes and embarrassed but the Lord would say, don't feel condemned about it, convicted yes perhaps, but remain teachable and willing to learn because he has placed people around us to help us, but sometimes we are too individual and think we know the way and therefore find ourselves going down a path that is not right, but when we are in relationship with other people it opens the door for us to learn different things and to find out the truth that keeps us strong and steadfast in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 10:12 "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it".
God has taken me through great testings at times in my life (and continues to) that challenge everything I have believed in, everything that I have put my hope in, but I want to encourage you that he has always provided a way out for me to stand up under whatever testing has come my way. I have totally felt at my end at times but in that place the Lord has come in where I could not find a way through, and he has made a way through as I have trusted and waited in him being unable at times to do anything else.
Some of those things that might test us or I know has been a challenge to me is our heart toward giving to others, or our family relationships that don't bring honour or respect, or our financial situation, a promise of the Lord still not yet coming to fruition, or relationships with people who have hurt me or stolen something from me, physical sickness, depression etc - all and many more are ways of different testing in our lives that can show us where our foundations in the Lord are really at and the truths that we actually believe. The Lord has help in each and every situation that we are in - whether its through other people who we need to listen to their advice about something, whether it is through supernatural provision, whether its a word from scripture that brings hope and faith into something, all is from God. Lets be a people who are willing to learn, remain teachable and know that our foundations in the Lord are firm! Bless you all.