1. Dreams: God's Forgotten Language?

"Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."1

Dreams not only give valuable personal insights but also have given many creative insights. Some inventors, for example, have received profound ideas from dreams. I recall reading how the inventor, Elias Howe, designed the first sewing machine. He was having great difficulty in conceiving a workable needle. When he was close to running out of money, he had an unusual dream. He dreamt that he was about to be executed because he failed to design a sewing machine for the king of a strange country.

In his dream he was surrounded by guards, all of whom held spears that had been pierced with holes near the tip. Howe woke up and immediately rushed to his workshop. The perfect concept for the sewing machine needle came to him in this dream. Within a few hours the first sewing machine design was well on the way to being completed.

I have heard it said that the theory of relativity came to Einstein in either a dream or a vision. Apparently he saw it on a beam of light. I have also read that the design for the first radio tube came to the inventor in a dream.

Was it time for these discoveries to come into the world and did God give them to the persons who were trained to understand them and put them to use? Or did they just happen by chance? I prefer to think the former.

So whatever we think about dreams, as we said yesterday, they are a God-given gift in that he gave us the ability to dream. Whether we repress them as many do, ignore them as most do, or use them for creative purposes as some do is entirely up to each individual.

If you want to remember your dreams, keep a pen and pad at your bedside and record any dream that makes a strong impression on your mind. Speaking personally, dreams have given me some valuable insights for growth and recovery.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the God-given ability to dream. Whenever I have a dream that is meant to help me grow, resolve an issue, do a good deed, help someone in need, or gain a valuable insight, please help me to interpret it correctly and use it for the purpose for which it was given. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Joel 2:28 (NKJV).

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The Rapture and Jesus' Return to Earth

Over the past couple weeks, God has been saying time and time to his people to get ready, prepare ourselves for his eminent return. There is a great urgency in his admonitions. He is coming soon, very soon.

I have purposed in my heart and by the grace of God that when he returns for his bride I am ready to go with him because I really don’t want to be like the foolish virgins, when the bridegroom came, they were found lacking the extra oil and they went to get it but by the time they received this oil, it was too late, the door was shut and the wedding feast began.

(Matthew 25:1-13).

I don’t want to be caught lacking the extra oil.

Further more I don’t want to be left back in the great tribulation or in the millennium. You choose.

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man [Jesus] will come [again] at an hour when you do not expect him."1

When one of my nephews was only five, he heard me talking about Christmas being the time when we celebrate Jesus Christ's coming to earth. He wanted to know if Jesus would come back to earth again. I assured him that Jesus promised that he would come back again.2

According to Bible scholars the return of, or second coming of, Jesus Christ is called the Rapture which comes from the Latin word "Rapare" which means to take away or to snatch out.

Following Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, he was "snatched away" and taken up to heaven. While Jesus' disciples were standing there looking up in amazement, two angels appeared to them and said: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."3

Jesus' first coming to earth 2000 years ago is an undeniable fact of history. His second coming is just as certain. The critical issue is to be ready for Christ's return. According to God's Word here's what will take place at the rapture: "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we [true followers of Jesus] who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."4

Jesus is coming again just as he went. It could be today. He said that he would come at an hour when we do not expect him.5

To be absolutely sure you are ready for the rapture be sure to accept God's invitation for forgiveness and his gift of eternal life. To do so click on the God's Invitation" button below or for further help click on the "Know God" button or on: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, again I thank you for the promise of Christ's return. Thank you for your great salvation and the promise of a home in Heaven for all who believe in and have accepted you as their Savior. Help me to be sure I am ready today for Christ's return by having repented of my sins, asked for and accepted your forgiveness and received Jesus as my Savior. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

NOTE: For an interesting depiction of the Rapture click on: http://www.youtube.com/v/SmLhyPjHVes.

We do not endorse any of the other links on this page.

1. Matthew 24:44 (NIV).

2. See John 14:3.

3. Acts 1: 11 (NIV).

4. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV).

5. See Matthew 24:44.

Weep With Those Who Weep

"When Jesus saw her [Mary] weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

'Where have you laid him [Lazarus]?' he asked. 'Come and see, Lord,' they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, 'See how he loved him.'"1

Chuck Swindoll in his book Killing Giants, Pulling Thorns, tells about "a little girl who lost a playmate in death and one day reported to her family that she had gone to comfort the sorrowing mother.

"'What did you say?" asked her father.
"'Nothing,' she replied. 'I just climbed up on her lap and cried with her.'"

What did Jesus do when his friend Lazarus died? He wept.

Rare is the friend who knows how to weep with those who weep.

Also, know when to be silent.

In the same book Chuck tells about Joe Bayly who lost three of his children. He quotes from Joe's book, The view from a Hearse. Joe writes: "I was sitting, torn by grief. Someone came and talked to me of God's dealings, of why it happened, of hope beyond the grave. He talked constantly. He said things I knew were true. I was unmoved, except to wish he'd go away. He finally did.

"Another came and sat beside me. He didn't talk. He didn't ask me leading questions. He just sat beside me for an hour or more, listened when I said something, answered briefly, prayed simply, left. "I was moved. I was comforted. I hated to see him go."2

This visitor and the little girl were being as Jesus to hurting people. May God help us all to be and do likewise.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me a tender and sensitive heart and help me to be as Jesus to hurting and sorrowing people. Help me to be silent when I need to be silent, speak kindly when a tender word is needed, and to weep with those who weep. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. John 11:33-36 (NIV).
2. Today's Daily Encounter is taken from I Hate Witnessing-A Handbook for Effective Christian Communications, by Dick Innes (2003 edition), p. 89. Available at: www.actscom.com/store.

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Learning to Be Upfront

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."1

The story is told how a good friend of Henry Ford was very upset because Ford didn't buy a large life insurance policy from him.
When he asked why he had purchased the policy from a total stranger and not from him, Ford replied, "You never asked me."

When somebody wants something from me, I want them to ask me directly, and not beat around the bush or try to manipulate me, etc., etc.

According to the words of Jesus, God wants us to do the same—to be direct, detailed, and determined; that is, to ask directly for what we want—"For he who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

I wonder, too, how many of our personal contacts would come to Jesus if only we asked or invited them to—even if it is through giving or sending them an attractive and appropriate piece of gospel literature, or sending and recommending the web address of a suitable gospel web site. For help see the article, "Too Important Not to Share" at: http://www.actsweb.org/announce.php

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to be direct and up front in all my communications with you—and my closest friends. Help me to ask for and earnestly seek every blessing and good gift that you long to give me. And give me the courage to invite my friends and family to accept you as their personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Jesus, Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV).

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I'd Rather Have Jesus

The Apostle Paul wrote, "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."1


On a recent TV program Joy and I saw George Beverly Shea, now 98, being interviewed by Bill Gaither. Close to the beginning of the Billy Graham Crusades back in 1947 (made "famous" in 1949) Mr. Shea has been the BGC team soloist.

Over the years I've attended several Graham Crusades in both Australia and the U.S. When in Chicago, I and a few other college students "cheated" a little. We joined the choir so we could get a great seat and observe the evangelist close up. We were reasonably good singers back then anyhow. In every one of these crusades it was always inspiring to hear Bev Shea with his rich baritone voice sing his signature song which was, "I'd Rather Have Jesus"

I didn't realize it until I heard Shea on the TV interview that he wrote the music of this well-known gospel song—the words of which are a devotion in and of themselves.

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I'd rather be led by His nail pierced hand.

Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway,
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.


I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause;
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause; I
'd rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,
I'd rather be true to His holy name.

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He's sweeter than honey from out of the comb;
He's all that my hungering spirit needs,
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, grant that I, too, will always be able to sing from my heart, and truly mean it, the words of the song, 'I'd Rather Have Jesus.' So help me God. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Philippians 3:8 (NIV).

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Does God Care?

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."1

My twenty-something son came to see me last night. He was terribly distraught over a broken relationship that triggered a lot of pain from the past. As I hugged him, he sobbed his heart out on my shoulder. I am so thankful that he felt safe enough to do this knowing that it is always okay to share his feelings with me no matter what those feelings are.

At times like these I have little to say—I feel my silence and giving him my presence speaks the loudest. I do, however, assure him of my love and acceptance no matter what.

Unfortunately—usually more by men than women—when our kids or anyone else is hurting, we want to fix them and wax eloquent with unsolicited advice—advice that is totally divorced from the need of the moment and totally misses the opportunity to be as Jesus to one who is hurting. What people need when they are troubled is a listening ear, an understanding heart, and a shoulder to cry on.

At a time like this the question is often asked, "Where is God when our heart is breaking ... does he care? Strange enough, right while my son was sobbing his heart out, the following gospel song was being sung on my computer. It brought tears to my eyes.

Does Jesus care when my heart is painedToo deeply for mirth or song,As the burdens press, and the cares distress,And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain: Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when I've tried and failedTo resist some temptation strong;When for my deep grief there is no relief,Though my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care when I've said "goodbye"To the dearest on earth to me,And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks –Is it aught to Him? Does He see?2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you do care when my heart is breaking. Help me to always remember this and sense your comforting presence knowing that when I commit and trust my life to you, you will, in time, turn my mourning into rejoicing and I will become a richer, healthier, more caring person. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT).
2. Frank E. Graeff, 1901.

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