I don’t often remember my dreams, but this past Tuesday morning when coming back to consciousness, for I do sleep hard and deep, I had one of those split-second strange ones—the kind that seems to almost jolt you from drowsiness into fully-throttled awake.
In my dream, my left hand was holding a pen as if ready to write, but what followed, what caused me to gasp in my sleep, was I watched the pen being lifted from my hand. My first thought upon awakening, “Oh no, Lord. Please don’t take writing away from me. Yes, I grouse, whine, and get stressed when a deadline is ahead, but please don’t take it away.”
When things like that happen, it gives you pause. It’s those moments that make you stop, assess and reassess what matters. And what became so clear is that I’m thankful—for what I do and where I am, even amidst the times of having to be alone to write, and of deadlines that are always on the next horizon.
So, it was with great relief, that as the morning progressed and as I thought on the dream, I realized through Scripture and prayer the Lord was not taking writing away from me but was calling me to step away from the ordinary to spend time with Him.
My time with Him didn’t end up happening at all like I thought it would. I initially supposed I should go off by myself to fast and pray. But on this morning, that was not to be. Oddly enough, I ended up with lots of other people at a local coffee shop, Just Love Coffee. And instead of fasting, I found myself happily scarfing down a hash brown, bacon, and cheese waffle while enjoying a wonderful, hot latte.
The Bacon Tater
Photo Courtesy: Just Love Coffee
Not really knowing how to begin this time with the Lord, especially because it was looking so different from what I imagined, I started reading a few of my favorite devotionals, which lead me first to the Psalms and then to the book of Revelation.
It was in the latter book when reading the verse that follows, that I smiled with great delight and strange as it seems, realized it was why I was sitting in that coffee shop. It says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (See Revelation 3:20.)
As the old saying goes, you could have knocked me over with a feather! Jesus wants to dine with me??? Happily stunned by what I just read, I really could have fallen sideways off my chair, right there in the eatery.
But He wants to do that with all of us. He says so.
He wants to dine, share thoughts, encourage, get closer, discuss life, open up on a heart level, strengthen the bond of friendship—all the things you do when you share a meal. Going beyond what we can ask or think, He is our Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, our Mighty God.
When we hear His voice, all we have to do is open the door.
If you don’t know Jesus and have even the slightest hope, the smallest inkling to want that, I encourage you to invite Him in. And if you already know Him, but in doing life are feeling anything but refreshed, spend time with Him. In the 23rd Psalm, Tree of Life Translation, it says,
Adonai is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for His Name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me:
Your rod and Your staff comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of Adonai forever.
In His love,
Kimberly
