Day 151 If I Should Die....

 

6/1/2026

 "If I should die before I wake, I pray Thee, Lord, 

my soul to take."

Running, running, running, always running to catch up to some "to do" item! My head is swimming from all the incessant activity of the day, and it has only begun! After a nice, relaxing two Sabbath day rest weekend, I should be easing out of the starting gate, not at full gallop! I think I have something else God needs to teach me.

For me living my life is a continual refresher course, but that's good, because I love re-runs! Reading through the Bible each year has taught me how little I know, but then daily learning and seeing scripture come alive is what the life hidden in Christ is all about. I just finished reading the book of Job, and today I began reading the Psalms. Actually, I live in the Psalms, as I read them daily. There's so much transparency and true feelings expressed by David and others. The authors were not afraid to say how they felt, and God is never hesitant to speak back. I don't know why, but sometimes when I'm praying through lists or while I'm reading the Bible and praying, if I close my eyes, God will give me a vision. Today I kept seeing people hurting. At one point I had to put on worship music to get my focus back on the Lord, I was so distraught about some things I'd seen, and I did not understand. I heard the words from the song,  "so forget about yourself, concentrate on Him, and worship Him," and that snapped me back to reality.

So while praying for our nation, focusing on health and healing, several people on the church prayer lists came to mind, and I began to consider Job's dilemma, thinking about other times when people were in fearful circumstances, needing a word from the Lord. The Lord is always present with us in storms whether we are aware of it or not. Jesus came walking on the water when the disciples were in the storm. They thought He was a ghost at first, then Peter had to test it out. Jesus rebuked the storm, then got in the boat, and He reminded them of the miracle they had just witnessed - the feeding of the 5,000. Nothing is impossible with God. When Jesus and the disciples were crossing over to the other side of the sea after another busy day of preaching, a storm arose while Jesus was sleeping comfortably in spite of the rising water that was filling the boat. When they woke Him up, He silenced the winds and rain, and asked them about their shallow faith. He was right there with them, and they were fearful. God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice after He'd shaken the mountain, blown wind around, then asked Elijah why he'd come. Moses met God in a burning bush in the middle of the wilderness while tending sheep. He even made His presence known as Commander of the Armies of Heaven before Joshua marched around Jericho. His ways are mysterious, but He never fails us, and He definitely knows how to make an entrance!

The visions I had today every time I closed my eyes were glimpses, mere shadows. I guess I was tired, although I had rested well, and it was early when this happened. In the first vision I saw someone I know or knew, as she passed on to heaven not too long ago. Whoever it was, she was crying, in despair, and there was a puppy trying to console her, but even so, unable to help, more was needed. The Lord spoke then and said, "Do not forgive...a staunch, knowing position of hope. Maybe not all, but some will believe. Look how far God has brought you!" The next image I saw was a woman being held in strong arms, mourning, grieving, almost inconsolable. The other was someone at the church, calling out for help, not asking, expecting. And the last image was of a woman, again distressed, and I was talking with her, possibly about advocacy for her need? Where does all this come from in a short space of time. I was reading the Psalms and praying for America. Maybe that should be a clue. Our nation is in desperate need of prayer.

Dreams and visions are not unusual for me, and two of my children have also had dreams. I don't speak about the spiritual realm in this light often, because people are afraid of what they don't know. I've been reading through some of my earlier journals, hoping to find some answers I need for my book, if I ever get it in print. It's interesting when my then eleven year old son tells me God has spoken to him in a dream about getting his life straight. The spiritual warfare has been so brutal lately that I have found it hard to concentrate, and my notes have not been understandable, written in phrases rather than complete sentences. That's why I'm behind in some things, especially posting my blogs. But the notes are here, and I'll get it done. I promised, so I will. Good night.