Mary's Dream about the Community

Written between January 1 through 9, 2016; and delivered on January 9, 2016

Mary C******** A*****'s dream on December 30-31, 2015

As posted on Mary’s Facebook page, December 31, 2015 at 4:51 AM

“I dreamed last night about towering tsunamis looming over my head coming from all directions. I dreamed of an evil man tossing a dead father, clutching a beautiful dead infant into the water. I watched them sink and knew both that the (father and – sic) the child held the secret to a wonderful future but also that someone would find the secret, but not for a long while. I should not read articles about climate disruption, crazy weather and corruption before I go to bed. I also suspect that this dream is about my business anxieties (evil men drowning my “baby” who don’t pay my business the money they owe). I need to read something inspiring tonight! I want to start the new year with faith and happiness.”

Rose's Interpretations:

Evil man = someone who goes against God. Who thinks he doesn’t need God. Who thinks he can ascend above God. Who thinks he can conquer God. Who doesn’t want to recognize and submit to God’s authority over all creation, time and life. Who seeks to destroy through violence and subtle things like lies, manipulations, half-truths. Who wants to hurt God by keeping His creation, His children, His people away from Him causing people to walk away from Him. Who doesn’t love God with all of his heart (intentions/desires/will), all of his mind (thoughts/dreams/plans) and all of his strength (ability). Nor does this man love others like himself, in spite of himself, above himself, in place of himself, even if the people are undeserving of love. (Loving others means you benefit others instead of benefitting yourself.)

Tsunamis = overwhelming oppression, the motives, intentions and purpose of a man’s heart, words spoken and actions from those motives

Father and child = God the Father and Jesus His Son

Hold the secret to a wonderful future = an abundant life with purpose here and now on earth, freedom to recognize and pursue God, freedom to step into all that God planned for our lives. In the afterlife, to live in God’s kingdom, His garden called paradise with Him forever where there will be no sin, no corruption, no oppression, no hate, no jealousy, no lies, no pain, no imperfection, no sadness.

Scripture studied; impactful Scripture:

Mathew 8:26, 14:26-30

2 Samuel 22:5

Psalm 18:4, 46:2-6

Proverbs 18:4, 20:5

Habakkuk 3:10

Luke 8:25

Mark 4:41

Isaiah 60:5, 43:1-13

Revelation 12:15-17, 17:1-2

Micah

Relating Scripture:

Proverbs 20:5 “The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.” (purposes = motives)

Proverbs 18:4 “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.”

Words of a man’s mouth = shows the intentions, motives, beliefs of a man. Matthew 12:33-37 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of a man’s heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored in him. But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Wisdom = God’s knowledge of something and what to do with that knowledge, how to act upon that knowledge as God would act

Brook = living water, the Spirit, sooths, refreshes, nourishes, gives life, sustains life. Revelation 21:6, 22:1-6, 22:17; John 3:5; Ephesians 5:26; 1 John 5:6-8, 7:17; Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:8. John 7:37-18 “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.” Righteousness = God’s right standard and rule.

Dear Mary,

The day I read your Facebook post, I knew in my heart that you had a vision from God. It was disturbing to me as well because lately, my dreams have been of me drowning or being trapped under water and under ice. However, your dream and my dreams were opposite in appearance as to what God has been speaking to me through Scripture about the great plan He has for our community. The questions became, were these dreams relevant to God’s vision for the community or were they a separate vision about something else happening? Were the dreams a warning, a correction or change to the revealed outcome? God allowed us to have these dreams; He gave them to us, therefor He could tell us the meaning. Honestly, I was nervous to approach you about your dream being from God and offer to ask God what it meant.

Sometimes people think this is all mystical when it’s just a Dad and daughter having a conversation. And yet, I doubted God would reveal the meaning of your dream to me and checked the intentions of my heart for offering. But, I remembered that Joseph and Daniel were ordinary people who asked God what were the meaning of dreams. And, I thought God was encouraging me so why should I doubt Him on this? What spurred that thinking along further was the recent lesson I listened to from Pastor Andy Stanley called Resolution where he asked “What breaks your heart?” These messages are about helping those around us over being self-focused; it mirrored God’s plan for our community. www.resolutionseries.org

 

So, I spent the last couple of weeks praying and studying, asking God to reveal the meaning of your dream, and this is what He led me to share with you. Forgive me for this explanation sounding all churchy or loaded with Christianese. I tried to be as straight forward as I could.

On the question of what breaks my heart, it’s seeing people either not stepping into a better future or, even more so, those who want to step into a better future yet are being prohibited by someone who is blocking them through a barrier of sorts. Some people know they are being blocked and cannot find a way around that barrier and just lose hope. Some don’t know they are being blocked and just know they are trapped in a life of less-than-it-could-be. Wanting to see people become all they can drives me through my work.

You have a passion for the community. Your passion is evident in your efforts within your business, your business relationships, your work projects, your work partners, whom you mentor, whom you coach and cheer. You want the best for your community. You’re involved and available. You have good intentions because they are intentions to benefit others and not just yourself. So, knowing this, the question is, “What breaks your heart, Mary? What is motivating you to move forward each day? What needs to be done around you?” This is where you may consider spending time reflecting with God for in that reflection, you will know who you are with God and without God. You will recognize that God given purpose for your life and what is driving you. You will noticed that you’re feeling what God is feeling for our community and the people He has placed in your life. You will recognize that God is calling you to walk with Him and participate with Him in benefiting the lives of others. You’re being called to a great opportunity with God – the abundant life.

God has led me to believe that your dream was meant for both of us. One; because I kept asking God to tell me why I was drowning in my dreams. Why? I also think God wanted you to understand what He is doing in our community, through you, through me and through others so, when it occurs, you will know that it was Him – the One, True and Only God – and that He loves you, cares for you and for those around you; those He placed in your life. He has a plan for all of us and He wants all of us to be a part of His plan and included in the outcome. He wants you to join in with His plan. There is hope in your dream.

In 2009, I said ‘yes’ to God and haven’t regretted the decision yet. It’s tiring; there are challenges, maddening frustrations and struggles. Yet, my struggle is with myself and how I view those that oppose God’s plan for our community; with those who continue to fight it through corrupt means and those being manipulated by the corruption. Where I struggle is asking God to give His best for them recognizing that He loves those who are currently fighting me. He does not want to lose them anymore than He wanted to keep from losing us. The opposite reaction I struggle with is watching them choose to be God’s enemy knowing they will eventually suffer for that choice. I don’t want to be the one watching their judgement knowing in my heart that I could have participated in their salvation. I think a portion of your dream was this reaction; your sadness watching this destruction. God is the one who saves but He has called us to love each person as He loved us. It’s difficult to choose to benefit or help someone who doesn’t think they need the help, doesn’t want it or, in my incorrect mind, doesn’t deserve it. Perhaps in my dreams, I am experiencing their outcomes because, in my reluctance to help, I will share in their guilt. Who knows? I think in your dream, you saw what would happen if you don’t step into the God-offered opportunity. You must have a key role in the community outcome. However, if you say ‘no’ then know that God will call the next person.

In your dream, you are seeing two different things. First, you are seeing the ultimate, spiritual battle between God and Satan where Satan is ultimately hoping to conquer and destroy God. The motives of Satan’s intentions are seen as the tsunamis; they are the deep waters of destruction. The reason why you knew the dead father and infant child held the secret to a better future, is you know that God through Jesus has given us the way – the path, the opening, the gate and bridge – to a better future. Yet, you knew that someone would eventually find that secret after a long while. None of us come to a saving knowledge of God through Christ in a flash, an instant, a moment. We find God after a long while. Actually, we acknowledge Him after He has pursued us in His patience, faithfulness and persistence, for a long while overcoming our reluctance, selfishness and pride. Our only act in the salvation process is acceptance; He does the rest.

The second thing you saw in your dream is the present situation of our community and the undercurrents happening to try to prevent people from moving into better lives. The spiritual is always worked out in the ordinary here on earth. It’s why we don’t recognize it readily. We expect God to show up in extraordinary and miraculous ways. Many times, God moves through the mundane, the discipline of those who work in faith. He created all of us and saved us so that we would feel His heart towards humanity, towards our neighbors, be appreciative of what He did for us, know His truths and act upon those things to benefit others over ourselves. You are seeing the evil corruption that is within our community and how it is attempting to drown out God and His good plan. That corruption is the motives of people’s hearts and they purpose to destroy for their own benefit. 

The destruction comes through ordinary means and it is evident by the motive. If people are justifying their actions to gain an outcome of control through manipulation, that is evil intent. Evil isn’t always Hilter, Jeffrey Dahmer and such. Evil is evident in subtle ordinary actions such as lying and manipulating. God’s plan is simple, free people from what is oppressing them so that, in their freedom, they will know that it was God who freed them, turn around to follow Him and, out of love and appreciation, want to do for others what God did for them. God is building community. He is unleashing hope. You saw the wickedness that is trying to stop it. 

The wickedness is coming from many different directions and for those caught in its midst, it is overwhelming, inescapable and insurmountable. The wickedness is laced within laws, ordinances, codes, and how those items are enforced (the process); it is found in what is preventing community and people having access to life. Some of the people involved in this destruction are willingly doing this. Some are blindly following. Some of these folks are people who are our friends and their actions are causing us to question their motives and the validity of the friendship. Yet, these people really don’t know they are involved in a spiritual battle. They are just doing what they believe is right which is why we are to pray for them.

On a personal level to me, this dream coupled with my dreams mean that I will come under attack again from the opposition. You may agree or not agree but, I believe this will happen next and it will be personal.

Overall, what your dream means to us, is a reminder that the outcomes we are working towards have eternal implications as well as earthly implications. People can have access to an abundant life of purpose now as well as in eternity. We can choose to go onward within this freedom effort or we can stand back and watch those within our community drown in the oppression. What breaks your heart, Mary? What breaks, my heart? What needs to be done around us? Are we going to stand by and watch or are we going to walk out on the water and join God?

We are not to lose hope and also know that God has already defeated Satan so, his (Satan's) plans are in vain. God is also equipping us to carry out our role within His plan for the greater community and each person within it. We are not alone nor are we without resources.

Several pieces of Scripture will hopefully encourage you. (Psalm 18:4, Isaiah 43:1-13, Matthew 8:23-27 and 14:26-30) Perhaps you may want to either start or finish your day reading and praying with these Scriptures to see what God may say to you.

Mary… thank you for letting me share my faith with you. I appreciate who you are.

-Rose

Psalm 18

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

I love you, Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.

The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.

In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help.

From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears.

The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because He was angry.

Smoke rose from His nostrils; consuming fire came from His mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.

He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under His feet.

He mounted the cherubim and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.

He made darkness His covering, His canopy around Him — the dark rain clouds of the sky.

Out of the brightness of His presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.

He shot His arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning He routed them.

The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at Your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of breath from Your nostrils.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.

They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.

He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.

The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has rewarded me.

For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God.

All His laws are before me; I have not turned away from His decrees.

I have been blameless before Him and have kept myself from sin.

The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless, to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the devious You show Yourself shrewd.

You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

With Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him.

For who is God besides the Lord?

And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights.

He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You make Your saving help my shield, and Your right hand sustains me; Your help has made me great.

You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.

I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.

I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.

You armed me with strength for battle; You humbled my adversaries before me.

You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.

They cried for help, but there was no one to save them — to the Lord, but He did not answer.

I beat them as fine as windblown dust; I trampled them like mud in the streets.

You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; You have made me the head of nations.

People I did not know now serve me, foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.

They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.

The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!

Exalted be God my Savior!

He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies.

You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man You rescued me.

Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of Your name.

He gives His king great victories; He shows unfailing love to His anointed, to David and to His descendants forever.

Isaiah 43:1-13

But now, this is what the Lord says — he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’

Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth — everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.

All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble.

Which of their gods foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things?

Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.

Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.

I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.

I have revealed and saved and proclaimed — I, and not some foreign god among you.

You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”

Matthew 8:23-27

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Matthew 14:22-30

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

P.S. An additional scripture given by my friend Jacob Larson that fit this explanation. Jacob said God is always present in the deep waters bringing order where disorder exists.

Genesis 1:2

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.