Gaining Insight ~ Commonly asked questions I have been asked about; Sweet Dreams: Healing at the feet of Jesus

      

     What is your favorite part of the book?  Chapter 12  Good Morning Giant Slayer

 

(Excerpt from the book)  “He did it again, I saw Him look toward his Father. Why is that? I thought. Dare I ask? I mean, this is the giant slayer. I saw a glow come over him as he began to speak. I could see what God had seen in him as a boy when Samuel was sent to his father’s house to look for the anointed one. He was kind and gentle, but stood firm with the boldness God had spoken of.  “I look to my Father for everything,” he said, “because I am not capable without Him. I learned this in the places of desperation; the cave, when I lost my best friend, and when I slept with a married woman. I cried out for Him, and He always came through. I look at Him out of gratitude and appreciation. But most of all, I know that when I look away too long, I get into trouble.”

  What was the hardest part to write in the book?  Chapter 21 The Hall 

My husband and I were in Colorado visiting good friends, when God birthed this vision. I remember sitting at their dinner table reading portions to my husband and friends, as tears poured down my cheeks. Laurie, my friend, read the rough draft of Sweet Dreams, to which she stated she now knew why it had been so hard on me. The intensity of walking  down the hall seeing the mangled faces of those that I had hurt was gut- wrenching. But I never felt condemnation from God. However, I did feel responsibility. 

     What are the main points in your book that you want to talk to readers about or what  is the overriding theme that you would like to discuss? 

* God speaks to His children

* He is not the villain He is made out to be.

* We are to sleep in peace. ~ Psalm 4:8

* He died so that we may have life. Even more, He rose again so that He could live it with us. Life is  to be lived now.

            * There is nothing we have done or had done to us that He cannot heal.  

* God has bigger dreams for you than you can imagine. 

 

* One thing that I love about this book is every chapter can speak to someone. Wherever you are in your walk, God will show up. 

* He loves you. 

Passion for Life

  

I wanted the abundant life that Jesus speaks of in John 10:10. The one He died for had to be far better than the one I was living. I was stuck in a life of isolation, yearning for His life of celebration. I wanted to live! Yet, I was afraid of my own shadow and even more fearful of others. This could not be what He had planned, living a life merely waiting for it to end. No, this is not our home but are we supposed to dread, even be miserable, every day until He calls us home? No, that can’t be. That wasn’t the God I believed He was. So, I cried out, “There has to be more!” And child of God, there is! Glory to God, thirteen years later He is still answering that question with a resounding “YES!”

Life here is supposed to be fun even in the mist of trials. And yes, there will be tears this side of Heaven, but as James said, “count it all joy.” But how could that be? I heard people say it was possible. To be honest, I was a skeptic, until I read in Romans that God shows no favoritism. If that was the case, then that meant I could have it too.

 As I drew near, He began to show me my misconception of what joy is. I thought joy meant always being happy and when I didn’t feel that way, I felt guilty and condemned. Strong’s Concordance defines joy, translated from the Greek word, chara, in John 15:11, as a “calm delight.” Ahhh, just the sound of that is relaxing. From someone who thought you had to always be doing, what a relief it was to learn that our joy is in Him and that it isn’t jumping off the ceiling, but calmness.

Don’t let my smile fool you. I had had become the queen of wearing a mask, but now it is for real. How? Because of Jesus. He died so that we may live. Even better, He rose again so that He could live life with us.

Oh, dear friend, as your eyes meet these words, I pray that if you are not already, then you will become sold out, totally in love with Jesus. When He knocks, answer. Let Him open up this whole new world for you. It will be the best decision you will ever make, not only for eternity but every day. His companionship is better than your favorite dessert or the most exciting roller coaster ride you can imagine. He is fun, loving, and a real hoot. The more you get to know Him, the more abundant life becomes. Don’t wait until Heaven to experience what you can have today. Now that I have tapped into this abundant life, I want everyone to drink from it too. Oh, let me shout it from the roof tops, “Life is meant to be lived!”

Peaceful Sleep ~ The promise of Psalm 4:8.

I woke with a heavy burden this morning. God's people are not sleeping well.  I was one of the non-sleepers. I would dread bedtime. The thought of having to lie down would bring fear. When I did doze off, I would wake in a panic. This went on for years, until God showed me per His Word; it is not supposed to be that way. Psalm 4:8 says; “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” The Cross made it final. We are to rest in peace!!  I did not know that. I assumed my tormented nights were normal. In fact, they had become my normal. But I want you to know it is not NORMAL. Peaceful sleep is!  In my book Sweet Dreams: Healing at the feet of Jesus; God takes me through a journey that starts off revealing that what happens to us during our day goes with us when we go to sleep. As I began to allow Him to reveal my fears and exchanged them with His perfect love; my rest became peaceful. Now I know when I wake in anything other than that peace, something has crept in. He loves each one of us including  when we sleep. I pray today that we will take back our slumber!! I love you all and want you to have everything Jesus died for on the Cross. Sweet Dreams are possible.  

Construction Sight Ahead

He Knocks at the walls we have built.   

     I have fond memories of my daughter and niece when they were younger, asking me to construct them a fort. I would gather an old sheet and drape it through-out the kitchen.  My husband and I would play along yelling through the pretend wall asking permission to enter. Looking back now, it gives me a chuckle knowing that they could see us yet wanted the feeling that they were separated from us. Little did I realize the very walls built to separate them would be a representation of how we, as adults, pretend we too have separated ourselves from others? What was an innocent game as a child can become a dangerous way of life.

   Many of us have spent years constructing a handmade wall to protect our heart from hurt. Brick by brick, mortar after mortar, each one representing someone who has penetrated our hearts leaving a pain that feels as if the very beat your heart is taking will be your last. Out of protection, we started building. Now, we stand back, often proud of the handy work we have crafted, until we realize the very wall we constructed has not only kept others out but barricaded us in. Even worse, we have shut God out too. He is a gentleman. He stands at the door knocking, (Rev. 3:20) waiting, hoping we will let Him in so He can begin to chip away at the wall we have meticulously built.  

Where did things go awry? What are we to do when we know that offense will come? (Prov. 18:19). I believe we can find peace in Proverbs 4:23:

Above all else, guard your heart,
   for everything you do flows from it.

God’s word says to guard our hearts not build forts imprisoning ourselves into a life of isolation. I asked a good friend of our family, Chris Ferris of the United States Army what did the military consider a guard to do? To my question this is what he replied:

1.            "Guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved."

This is great insight. We need to stay within our own limits when it comes to our hearts. I like to say, “stay in our own yards.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11 instructs us to “mind our own business.”  Then there is “when properly relieved,” to which Philippians 4:7 comes to mind. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Did you catch that? God is going to guard your heart. Praise Jesus!! We have been properly relieved!! 

2.                  "Obey my special orders and perform all my duties in a military manner."

God has given us special orders through His Word in the form of commands. We seek to preform them in a godly manner, one that reflects Christ and thus pleases God.

3.               "Report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to the Commander of the Relief."

This is a big key to demolishing our wall and any further construction. Report it to our Commander and not take it into our own hands.  God is our vindicator. (Psalm 135:14). Can I get an AMEN! He will see that our hearts are healed and our troubles are paid back double. (Job 42:10).  

Did you hear that? It is the knocking of our Lord Jesus Christ standing at the door with pickaxe in hand,hard hat on, ready to embrace your broken heart. Will you let Him in? You have nothing to loose but bricks and mortar while the most loving relationship  you can ever experience to gain.

Cheerful Giver

I recently stood in line at CVS waiting to print a few photos. As I stood waiting, the woman in line in front of me asked how many pictures I planned to print. After answering her with, "only a couple," she proceeded to offer for me to go ahead of her. She admitted that she had many to print and still needed to edit and make her selections. Graciously I thanked her and began the touch screen process. Only moments after I began her phone rang. Standing near her I could not help but over hear her telling the person on the other end of the conversation how the woman in front of her was taking forever to print her pictures and that she would be late due to her. Seeing that it was me she was discussing, I proceeded to ask her why she had offered only to complain about letting me go in front of her. This innscodent brought to my mind 2 Corthinthains 9:7 of God's Word:

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

A cheerful giver does not apply only to money. It can be our time or even our place in line.  God says we should take time and decide what to give and if it is done cheerfully then it pleases Him. So if a cheerful giver pleases God what does a complaining one do? I want to have a heart not only that seeks to give but puts a smile on Gods face too. Blessings my sweet friends. May our giving make God smile.

Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3

Often times the church is quick to quote, “Honor thy father and thy mother, with failure to remember what the Apostle Paul said first, thus confusing the meaning. Paul states that we as children are to obey our parents, in the ways of the Lord. Obey means to carry out or comply. In essence we are to carry out what God has said in His Word when our parents have instructed us in His ways because it is right. If what our parents are asking us to comply with does not line up with God’s commands then we are at a cross roads. One of being disobedient to God which leads to Exodus 20:3, that states “you shall have no other gods before Me.”

When honoring our parents, God is saying to live a life that brings honor to them. By definition honor means a good name or reputation. The best example of living a life that honors a father and mother is in 3 John 1:4, “I have no greater joy then to hear my children walk in truth.”

Honor and obedience are not the same by definition. Their similarities comes in the act; the act of walking in the ways of the Lord. When we obey His Word we bring honor to our parents and in turn, we are also obeying them.

The enemy has duped us long enough. God’s Word is freeing, not controlling. To manipulate any scripture is not how it was spoken. It is time that we stop allowing this scripture to bring condemnation to children and control in the hands of the parents.

Whether we as children have God seeking parents or not is not the issue. We can still obey in the Lord and honor by walking in His Truth.

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in my blog. I pray that each time your eyes meet the words written on this page, you will be inspired to be all God created you to be. For, it is from Him, through me, to you that I pray these words are written. Check back soon to see what He has inspired me to share with you. Until then, may your day be filled with the warmth of the Son. ~ Dena