Monday, November 30, 2009

Strength for Today

I tend to remember my dreams. I'm also a firm believer that what our subconscious mind is thinking about often comes to fruition in our dreams. And, I believe that God will speak to us in our dreams. Of course, sometimes it is not at all clear what He is trying to say. My dreams are sometimes so bizarre that my wakened mind can't even recreate or imagine what my sleeping mind seems to be able to do, let alone pick up any kind of message from it.
Saturday night I had one of these bizarre dreams. I dreamt that my good friend, Susan and I were at an amusement park. Of course it wasn't a normal amusement park by any stretch of anyone's imagination but, nonetheless, an amusement park. As we walked through the park, we would have to go through different turnstyles. Each turnstyle would require that we have change to put in a slot to get through to the next spot. Everytime I approached a turnstyle, I never had enough money. I would be frightened to approach and uncertain as to what to do. But then, all of a sudden, I would see a dime on the ground or a quarter, pick it up and, lo and behold, I would now have just the right amount of money to get through. Another time I got all the way up to the turnstyle and I knew I didn't have enough money and nothing was materializing on the ground. But I went ahead anyway, and just starting pushing my change into the slot. By doing this it unleashed change into the return slot and I then had enough.
What does this say to me? God's grace is sufficient for each day and He will grant me the strength that I need to move forward to the next spot. And even if I don't feel like I have the strength, like I didn't have the money when I got to the one turnstyle, I still must go ahead, trusting that somehow God will provide for me even though I have no idea how He will do it.
"Great is they Faithfulness" keeps running through my mind and the line "Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow" is my mantra today. Lamentations 3:22-23 says "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

11 comments:

Jeff Mercer said...

Your dreams make much more sense than mine ... I keep thinking back to a dream I had with dancing hard boiled eggs in an oven with birthday party hats on ... I don't think I want to know what that means... =)

praying for you...
JEff <><

Shelley said...

Amazing dream. Awesome God.

The Family Press said...

Keep sharing dreams, realities, Joyce. I need/want to see God working amazingly in your life!
Love you - Jeanne

sam said...

I love it, Joyce. Thank you. I was encouraged by your message today.

sam said...

I just noticed I am Sam. Sam I am. It's actually Kate. Fuller. Sam's mom. :)

Tom Anderson said...

I am drawn to your blogs...but i know everytime i will cry....your apparent strength is evident to me even now...please keep writing it is good for all of us to know what u are thinking
Love Janel

DeBoer Days said...

Awesome message Joyce. You should write a devotional. I feel like your blog inspired and encouraged me more than my devotionals have lately. He is a great, great God. We're praying for you!

stillwaterchar said...

brings to mind the next line- "Blessings all mine, with 10,000 beside" - Not only is God giving you bright hope for tomorrow, You can count on his many blessings...You are one of His many blessings to me.

Melinda said...

I find it incrediably awesome and humbling how the person that needs to be encouraged and strengthened is the one that does the most encouraging and strengthening! God's plan for you Joyce is so obviously bigger than any of us can immagine! You and your whole family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Jill said...

I agree with Lisa. That was a pretty amazing and profound dream. God is awesome and is doing amazing things through your testimony.

Phyllis said...

Joyce,
Your dream is amazing! Your interpretation is wonderful! God does give us grace on an needs basis.
He is always there. When Les was in chemo, we felt that so much. He sustained us on a daily basis.
You are in our prayers daily.
God Bless,
Les and Phyllis