I Dreamed a Dream of Time Gone By....

….I had a dream about Mom last night. It was one of those ‘the way things should have been’ dreams. I guess they’re inevitable. Those thoughts will just keep popping up for the rest of my life, huh? Gotta just push them back down. Oh, well!

I loved Mom. It happens when you love someone, I guess.

This past week in DTS they’ve been teaching us about prayer and meditation, and how to do intercessory prayer for others. I kept thinking how Mom had already taught me these things. It was like they were being ‘re-confirmed’ in my life.

Mother was so wise in her love for God. I’m sorry I didn’t listen more. But God’s still given me the opportunity to LIVE that life. I don’t know why He’s spent so much time on me, but I cannot help but believe that He has some special purpose for me in mind. I don’t know if it will be something great and recognized, or if it will be something quiet and unnoticed by others, but I just feel like there’s something BIG I’m supposed to be doing….

I’ve had 30 years to plan for His ministry. Had I obeyed and studied I would have been ready to begin at age 30 just like Jesus. But I didn’t. And I realize [now] that that’s okay. As much of an honor it would have been to walk in Jesus' sandals.... I REALLY don't want to be crucified when I'm 33.

 

I kind of like the story of Joseph in Genesis better. Actually, I believe God led me to Joseph's story years ago. Joseph is one of the few people in the Bible where it actually tells you how old he is during each major event in his life. When I compare our ages and situations together, I realize how similar mine is to Joseph's. I still have a long way to go to develop a devout heart of faith like he had, but there are still such similarities.

 

....................................

 

*Joseph led a pretty happy childhood, but he did have some conflict in his family.

 

*At age 17 his brother's cast stripped his coat and sold him into slavery. He had to work and serve Potiphar, and became the head of the household (in service). I imagine several years must have gone by, and things started looking alright... until Potiphar's mean wife tried to hit on him and then lied about it when he rejected her. He spent several years in prison too, but even then God was still with him and took care of him.

 

*At age 28 he interpreted the cupbearer and baker's dreams. But he was forgotten and it would be two more years before he was brought before Pharaoh.

 

*At age 30 Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream, gave wise advice on how to prepare for the famine, and was made high in the kingdom above everyone expect Pharaoh himself. (I bet Potiphar's wife had to cringe a bit on that!)

 

*From age 30-37 Joseph lives and grows in prosperity. He also is given a wife by Pharaoh and has children. But he also prepares for the famine that will come, and makes sure that a fifth and any excess of every harvest is stored.

 

*At age 39 Joseph is given the chance to reconcile with his brothers and see his father again. He provides for his family and ALL of Israel's children come to live in Egypt where they are provided for.

----When Joseph presents his father Jacob/Israel, Pharaoh asks Israel, "How many years have you lived?" Israel replied, "My pilgrimage has lasted 130 years."

 

*At age 56 Joseph's father, Israel, blesses his sons, and Joseph's sons, and dies. Joseph returns to their land and buries him.

 

*At age 110 Joseph also dies after living a long and prosperous life (but also one of great servitude).

 

.........................................................

 

*I had a happy childhood, but there were some conflicts in my family.

 

*At age 17 we discovered my mother had heart problems and was disabled. Things were already hard for us, and I was helping to pay the bills, but at this point I became the soul income earner. (Getting benefits takes a long time, and then it would be small because she was a housewife.)

------Shortly after 18 my parents finally divorced. There were many ups and downs during the next few years - Just like Joseph's. But through all of it, God provided and took care of us.

 

*I jumped ahead on the ages, but God gave me a chance to reconcile with my family when I was 24. (In my defense though, people don't live as long as Biblical days. I had to hurry the process up!) ;)

 

*At age 28, ironically enough, (shortly before my 29th birthday) a friend told me about a dream that really disturbed him. And I completely doubted myself for a long time but... I was actually given the interpretation of that dream!!! ...It still took me almost a year before I finally talked to my friend about it. (And it was still legit!) *We're still trying to sort out the reaction to that interpretation. I didn't exactly get a welcome response. But then again.... The cupbearer forgot Joseph too... But then again.... when a person waits A WHOLE YEAR to tell you they understood what your dream meant- what kind of response do you expect???

--- And there was no three days later of being raised up or being beheaded (which I'm very glad of)!

 

*Age 30 has been a difficult time. Mom's health finally took a deeper turn for the worse, and God took her home in Aug 2013 -much to everyone's surprise. She had been sick for so long, but it really was not expected.

-But also during this time I finally quit fighting God's calling and have moved into a place where I can better serve His kingdom. I don't believe He has raised me to govern everyone else (MUCH to my relief), but He has called me into servitude and to minister and help others. -Very much like Joseph did, not just for the Egyptian's and his family, but for ANYONE who came to the kingdom hungry.

 

***I'm obviously not gonna try and skip ahead for the next seven years. (I'm still trying to figure out how to survive my 31st birthday coming up this summer! Yikes!) And I'm CERTAINLY NOT going to skip ahead to 56!

I'll just take it all one 'year at a time.'

But since I have found myself in a school that is preparing me to become a prayer warrior and ministry..... I have a feeling the next seven years are going to be an amazing time of learning and growing and serving!!!

 

I especially love Jacob/Israel's response to Pharaoh's question about his age. He referred to his age as the number of years he had been on his 'pilgrimage.' It brought a smile to my face to read that.

I take it as another confirmation that I am doing what God wants me to do.

I am sorry for the things that will never be, but I rejoice for the beautiful things that are yet to come!