For weeks following Hurricane Irma, my sinuses were congested and my body dragged with fatigue. The emotional sights of all needing cleanup translated fatigue to my physical body. The removal and mulching of countless trees and brush from our neighborhoods accounted for watering eyes and sneezes.
But one recent early morning found me waking from an encouraging dream. I was riding my motorcycle, (yes, I used to ride one) through the beautiful heavens on up into God’s amazing throne room. Seated on the throne was Jesus, and I stopped my motorcycle right at his feet. He kindly gestured for me to come sit with him awhile.
I sensed he knew all my concerns and challenges. Rest, rejoice and receive were the words filling my consciousness as I sat tranquilly at Jesus feet. The dream ended and I awoke with a kind of knowing peace that said, “As you bring your concerns to me, I will deal with them. Your job is to rest, rejoice and receive from me.”
Those instructions seemed easy enough. Were these easy instructions going to cleanup our beautiful islands, bring much needed affordable housing and a thriving economy? I sense I need to give these huge needs to God and believe he is taking care of them as I rest and rejoice in him and expect to receive his restoration for our community.
Would you consider joining me in this life giving resting, rejoicing and receiving from God who wants to spend time with us? Together we are better and stronger as we partner with him. I think amazing strategies of success for individuals, families and communities will be received to free and restore in the face of impossible situations.
A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So he took no chances but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! (NLT: Acts 16: 22 – 26)