my dream last night

i woke up in the middle of the night.. wanting to write down my dream, but was too lazy. so here i am almost 24 hours later trying to remember.. so i'm sure i forgot some but the feeling was surreal. i also must say when i fell back asleep i wanted to continue dreaming but this was not the case...

to set the scene it was almost an out-of-body like feeling.. i think most of my dreams are. i can see myself walking.. it is dark and stormy outside..

i am approaching a REALLY long brick rectangular-shaped building. i open the door and there is room after room after room going down in this whole building. no doors, just smaller doorways that separate each room.

on the right side of each room are characters. i cannot see their faces. there is only 1 or 2 people, 3 at most in each room and they are still.. mannequin-like. i think they represent a variety of stages in my lifetime so far. or just since i been married. not too sure. on the left side of each room are huge glass windows, covering almost the whole wall of every room. It is dark and stormy and you can hear the rain...

the farther i walk down the hall past these rooms there is a variation in the weather.. it is always somewhat stormy but it clear a little then it storms a little harder.. i get to a room. there is a lady and there is an empty spot next to her.. this is where i am supposed to be... i find this out later.

i kept on walking to the next few rooms and they are completely empty. nothing in them. zip. nada. blank. no lighting either so i cannot see what is coming ahead.. sometimes lightening strikes and i may catch a glance, but by the next bolt of lightning it has slightly changed..

every time the lightning strikes i feel more uneasy.. i eventually end up down the hall in the blank rooms and the lightning picks up...

i just start yelling out JESUS every time the lightning hits.. it was so natural to call out for help when it got to be too much.. i felt so lost but every time the lightning struck and i called out "Jesus" I was led back to the last room where there was something.. it felt so good to feel like i was being led back on track.

i ended up next to this last lady and the storm grew so strong. together we called out to Jesus and the huge glass window in this room broke and glass shattered everywhere. The weather instantly broke and the sun came out..

it was such an AMAZING feeling. a calming that cannot be described.

as for me trying to interpret it, i think it is just a reminder to keep calling out to God especially when things get tough. he knows the future by putting my trust in Him he will make a new door open where we don't even think. Jeremiah says it best: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans not for evil or to harm you, but plans for a future and a hope!!

Lecrae- Send Me

TWO TIM v1.0

i started reading second timothy again because of its realness of current day ministry... not to mention it is easy to read the whole book in one sitting (that helps)... by "current day ministry" i guess i mean to say any christian life.

i was reading an article this past week that used the term "inactive church member" WHAT? that makes no sense... that is an oxymoron.

once you are "saved" you are called to serve in some capacity. fact. you are called to ministry.

also, you have a gift. fact. "but to each one is given the manifestation of the spirit for the common good." 2 Cor.

no matter where you are or what full-time job you are working at, you are called and are enabled with a gift from God... this may sound basic, but paul reminded timothy of this in 2 Tim. "i remind you to fan into flame the gift of God"

when paul writes 'fan into flame', i imagine that means timothy must have to develop his gift(s). we must too find our gift and develop it. we are equipped but that doesn't mean it will be easy. paul talks about suffering for the gospel as well in the 1st chapter... are you ready? look at paul- he is in prison and still optimistic about spreading the gospel- he is passing the torch to timothy- what would you be saying if you were rotting in prison in rome... waiting for execution...?

we have all been called... not just to volunteer at church (although that is great) but we have been entrusted with the gospel... and are gifted to serve...

what are you doing today to serve him? ...is it inconvenient? ...we have been gifted to fulfill the great commission in the church and in the world.

what are you doing today? try to realize what gifts you have been given and develop those gifts for a greater purpose. develop those gifts because you have been entrusted with such.

Welcome

Well- Here I am. I have finally caved in to the blogging community. My blog name is based off of my name, the blog link too. Joel is the 29th book and is known as a Minor Prophet. It is minor because it is based on the size of the prophetic book of the bible- its not lengthy like Isaiah...

So feel free to stay connected. I will probably blog on numerous things such as what random thing is happening in my life, what I recently have seen or read and my recommendations on such things, and where my life is headed, maybe some reflections too...

I find writing in a blog (not journal) is relaxing and it helps me organize my thoughts a lot too! So hold on, you never know what I might write about tomorrow..

P.S. It helps if you understand my randomness, humor, and sarcasm to fully appreciate me. I enjoy myself and you should too.