Look Up

This literally happened this weekend. I don't typically share dreams or other spiritual visions unless I feel like Jesus wants me to and if so, I know it is for a purpose. I feel that there is someone that must need this encouragement today too. <3

I had a dream. Chris and I were on a trip and we were on a long stretch of highway when we saw dark, ominous clouds that looked to be one of the largest tornadoes ever seen. And inside it looked to be several small twisters wrapped inside. I remember in my dream I said there were “eight” twisters inside. The sunlight turned to rain and we took a detour into some woods where we found a house that others were hiding out in. We grabbed our pets and went in to find shelter, all the while praying. The next part is blurry, but it seems as though, we had just gathered our things and gone inside the old, wooden log cabinesque home, when before we had time to look for somewhere to take cover, we noticed the sounds of the storm had stopped. I noticed people standing on the balcony, so I joined them. As I made my way toward to open French doors, sunlight met me and there was not a storm cloud to be found. In fact it was silent and beautiful. While everyone was looking around, taking it in. I looked up. I saw what used to be funnel clouds reformed and shaped to be a part of some sort of picture. My eyes widened and my head tilted further back to take in the entirety of the picture. There were even new colors I noticed. My whole being jolted and my heart beat rapidly, overwhelmed. Without removing my focus, I said to the others “do you see what I see?” Conversations interrupted, they each looked up as well and echoes of awe and wonder could be heard. The storm clouds were reshaped to take on the form of Jesus. The twister clouds took shape into a strong and mighty torso and the other clouds chiseled his face and hair. This picture took up the entire sky. His eyes were piercing and His being was beaming peace and joy down on us. I remember His smile and His eyes very clearly. It was an expression of “peace” but also power and authority somehow wrapped into Fatherly love as if to say “I’m proud of you”. The next day, I hadn’t really thought much about this dream, there was a lot going on and it wasn’t until I saw some rain clouds outside that I was reminded of it. I began to tell Chris “I had this crazy dream last night…” and it wasn't until the moment I said “ and the storm stopped and was replaced with Jesus’s figure” that I realized this was a dream given to me by My Jesus. I immediately knew in my heart that this was His reminder that this storm is will pass. But I continued praying to seek what other things the Lord might be saying...Jesus calmed the storm in my dream as we took shelter. But, maybe the storm was still going on…and we just didn’t notice because we were looking up. The storm took on a new shape and formed into our Protector and our Defender. He took up our entire sky and gave us peace and joy. For Chris and me the Lord has been giving us words and starting to reveal open doors. And even though He does not even have to, is showing us why some doors have been shut, thus revealing His protection. He is reassuring us that our promised land is near. But even more importantly than that, this

dream is a picture of our journey through the storm. We were on our way to a destination, but heavy storms came and Jesus rerouted us. We were scared at first, but before we had time to try to hide, He encouraged us to come out and play in His peace and His joy. We quickly saw that if we keep our eyes up, He is bigger and greater and in control of this storm. We might not have known how long this particular storm would be, but He wanted us right here, under His rays of sunshine while we walked through it. This is a picture of all us. The testimony is the sustaining us, the building us, the deep wells of character and truth, the deliverance and the protection through the storms of life. Knowing that He’s for you no matter what. The testimony is what happens from the time the storm comes to the time it passes…not just

that it passes. This is what encourages, inspires and takes authority over the powers of darkness. In this world filled with hopelessness and despair where people are turning to pills, alcohol, their own fleshly desires to make them happy and whole; In a place where bad things happen and evil “seems” to be winning….this world needs to know how powerful their Creator is. They need to look up and see. They need to taste and see. They need a testimony of someone that has walked through it, felt all of the same things, thought all of the same things, but has a Savior that replaces lies with truth and demonstrated His provision and love time and time again. They need the unedited testimony and that every step of it, He was faithful and just to do what He promised. And always will.

Being in the "No"

When things don't make sense on paper. When 2 +2 doesn't seem to equal 4. When things that have worked in the past don't seem to be working this time and friends' advice has been exhausted. Yeah, that.

Yet, I have this abiding faith within me, this glorious hope that gives me joy that I have no right to have. When things in our life have seemed crazier and crazier and just don't seem to let up... this means my faith has to be even crazier than that. I've set my sights on My Way-maker and My "Puzzle-put-togetherer". I've been doing this for so long now that when I look only at my circumstances, I get lost. I don't even know where I am, because it only makes sense from His perspective.

I've been running this particular stretch for so long, that I've become used to it. Used to it's sights and smells. I know when I need water now, so I have the right amount by my side. I know when it's time to walk it off, take a breather, stretch. But not for too long, because I'm going somewhere. When you begin a rigorous workout routine... whether it's running, weights, yoga, squats...it's so hard at first you want to throw up. But when you keep at it, your legs can bare more weight, your arms take definition, your core is strengthened...you can see the progress and it encourages you not to quit. Your body begins to respond to the level of health it was always designed to have and we become the healthier selves, we were always created to be. Particularly when I'm running, I like to know how many miles I've run. (Wait. MileS... plural? Who am I kidding?) I like to know how far I've gone, the progress and how much further I have to go so I can give myself a mental pep talk. I can see an end and I can encourage myself all the way to the finish. But in this spiritual race, that's been part of the challenge. I can see how far I've come. I can see the progress, but I

have no idea where the end is. I'm not one of these runners that just "loves a good jaunt" and doesn't even keep track of distance. " I don't know, I think I ran like 14 miles. It just felt so good, I didn't even notice." Nope. Uh-uh. I need to know the end and encourage myself every step of the way. I don't see an end in sight, yet I can hear the crowd cheering. I don't know where this path is taking me, but I know the promises that are waiting for me on the other side. I hear my Jesus. He is right beside me on this path of disappointment. On this path filled with adversity and He is encouraging me to keep going. "But, I don't know where I'm going!" I'll say. "I do...and trust Me, you want to get there."

Chris and I have had about 20 months now of more "no's" than I thought we could ever handle. More disappointments than I ever thought I would endure. It's been so long since we have heard a "yes" that we see how precious open doors are and how very valuable they truly are. When I worked in sales, we always talked about the law of averages. "For every 10 'no's', you'll get a 'yes'." Well in this real life stuff, that ratio doesn't quite carry over. But in the midst of the "no's", in the midst of adversity, we keep our eyes set on the One Who never disappoints. Although events in our life have questioned that, He's come closer to us than He ever has. He has lifted us up and with His purposeful and gentle care has put broken pieces back together. He's apart of this journey. He's the reason for it. We are a cord of three that cannot easily be broken. We don't know where we're going. We don't have ANY answers, but we know that He has asked us to journey into the promised land. We know, that just like Joshua and the Israelites, we have to put one foot in front of the other and trust that He will open up the way before us. Just like the bleeding woman, we have to be filled with determination to carry ourselves to Him, knowing His presence is all we need. We need to be like Mary Magdalene, who filled with despair and confusion after Jesus' crucifixion, knew only one thing...she needed to be beside Him.

When things don't make sense on paper. When 2 +2 doesn't seem to equal 4. When things that have worked in the past don't seem to be working this time and friends' advice has been exhausted. Yeah, that. It can only mean one thing. "This day I will magnify thee in the sight of Israel , that they may know that , as I was with Moses, so I will be with Thee. " (Josh. 3:6) We need to make our preparations, we need to get ready, purge things we don't want to take with us and polish things we are taking with us. We need to hear, believe and obey. I've learned in these trials that if there is a door that God doesn't want opened, no man will be able to pry it open. And honestly, it has only given me the assurance that with every door He DOES open, no man or enemy in Hell will be able to stop it.

This is what I know when in the midst of "no" land: more commonly referred to as "the wilderness". I can see how far we've come. He took my wobbly legs that stood with tenacity after crushing disappointment and made them enduring legs. I can see the form, shape and definition of my spiritual self which I hope comes out to others. I can look back and see this faith filled journey and all of the fruit that has sprung while in the valley as I become the healthier, stronger me, He created me to be. 'One that will not shut up about His goodness. No matter what.

"I've got all these plans piled up sky high
A thousand dreams on hold
And I don't know why,
I got a front row seat
To the longest wait
And I just can't see
Past the things I pray
Today

But when I fix my eyes on all that You are
Then every doubt I feel
Deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
All my worries fade
And fall to the ground
Cause when I seek Your face
And don't look around
Any place I'm in
Grows strangely dim" - Francesca Battistelli