Hi Friends,

Today I am writing about a dream, and a two part vision God gave me the same day.  These were both given to me as a gentle rebuke.  God is rarely harsh with me, I am thankful for that. “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”  Proverbs 3:11-12

Even though the rebuke was for me, I am sharing with you, because we all do the same things.  “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.”  1 Corinthians 10:13

This is the dream, just before I awoke:  

A young woman looked at me directly, and said, “You need to wash your face.”  I looked at myself in a small mirror, (like a rear view mirror), and couldn’t see my entire face.  What I saw, didn’t seem to be dirty, so  I went on my way.  And other person came up to me and said, “You need to wash your face.”  So I thought there must be something there.  I looked around and saw a small oval booth, which was made of material that was perfectly clear, totally transparent.  I opened the glass door to the booth and stepped inside.  There was only a sink in front of me with a cabinet below, and a towel to my right.  I thought to myself, “There is no privacy, I’ll just have to wash in front of anyone who comes by.”  So I washed my face and dried it.  

Later that same day at prayer, I received a vision.  I saw a jar filled with a pale, gold spice (like onion or garlic powder) being poured out onto the counter.  Then I saw myself taking another jar, also filled with a spice.  With both hands on the ends of the jar, I gave it a strong, hard shake.

I believe the dream and the vision are meant to be interpreted together, since they occurred only a few hours apart, and I was in both.  

This is what I believe it means:

When I was told to wash my face in the dream, I was at first unaware of it needing to be cleansed.  I thought, maybe I wear too much makeup, and God wants me to fast makeup.  

Then I was reminded of the scripture:  “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others.  Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”  Matthew 6:16-18

Two Sundays ago, we talked about fasting in Sunday school, and I shared my experiences with fasting.  And this past week I encouraged two or three people to fast as a discipline, as well as using fasting to heal the body. (One of the people had diabetes, and another was suffering with breast cancer.)  But, I never appear to be fasting, because I always have extra energy when I fast.  I workout as usual, and do everything I normally do when not fasting, so I don’t think this is what the Lord meant by “needing to wash my face.”

Probably the most common idea of cleansing, is cleansing from sin.  So I thought there must be a sin in my life that I am not addressing.  Something for which God does not want me to ignore.  

It seems, that I quote this scripture often:  “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”  Psalm 51:7

“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?  Who may stand in his holy place?  The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.”  Psalm 24:3-4

So I am convinced, that what God was showing me, was the fact that there is sin in my life, and I need to rid myself of it.  And as I thought about the vision, I came to see what I already knew existed.  I just didn’t know how to work through it.  I have been praying about this most of my adult life.  I knew it was wrong even before I was delivered and baptized in the Spirit.  But I never seemed to be able to overcome it.  Now, I find it difficult, but I know I have to give it the boot!  

In the word, it says, “If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who give generously without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  James 1:5  

I know the power to overcome sin has been there all along, but do I, or you, have the willingness to submit ourselves to what it takes to really get rid of it?

No more mysteries, I will tell you what my sin is:  It is the lack of love, and a critical spirit which manifests as selfishness and a desire to have my own way.  I was fighting this even this morning.  Somehow we think, that if we didn’t have to deal with other people, we could be “perfect.”  We would behave so much more lovingly, and have more patience with people, if they weren’t doing things that were counterproductive, or even irritating.  

But actually, God places people in our lives to be just that - irritating and annoying.  These people God has hand picked for us to cause us to grow spiritually.  We have to be confronted with our sinful, human nature, to put it to death.  “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them….Be very careful, then how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”  Ephesians 5:11; 5:15-17

In the vision, the first jar was poured out.  This represents whatever is in me, comes out when I am confronted with conflict.  I try to maintain a degree of self control, but I usually say something about it, rather than walking away and dropping the matter.  “Why not rather be wronged?”  1 Corinthians 6:7  

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  Romans 12:18

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:21

These are scriptures I tell myself all the while in a conflict. But it takes more than saying these things to ourselves.  It is a good beginning, to see the problem, and recognize the error in thinking, but we need to do more than that.  We need a change, a complete overhaul of the Holy Spirit!

In the second part of the vision, I am holding both ends of jar with my hands.  I give it a good, hard shake.  This is the action of judgement.  It is not God’s righteous judgement, but my judgement against another person.  With a critical spirit, I have judged someone, I have feelings of resentment.  God is terribly displeased by this. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”  Luke 6:37

You may say, as I have, “But I have forgiven them.  I try to walk in love.”  Yes, and I believe that to be true.  But at some point, we must get serious, take the bull by the horns, and say, “This must end.  This does not please God.  I must change my attitude towards _______.”

God promises that he will help us overcome.  We must want to change enough, that God sees our earnestness, and steps in to “make a way." 

I have two short stories, about God’s ability to help us.  

I had a long history with my father.  He was an attorney, and when I was in highschool, he put me on “the witness stand” at dinner.  He wanted my ideas and values to be identical to his, but I was a person who did my own thinking.  I would defend the opposite viewpoint, as being valid, and at times, I would leaving the table upset, hardly having taken a bite.

Then at the age of 24, I left a weekend visit with my family, telling my husband, “I never want to see him (my father) again!”

Just a short time later, a friend of mine was dating a Gestalt therapist.  She told me, that I should talk with him about my “father issues.”  So, I knew I needed help getting this problem handled, so I went to talk with him.  He had me pretend, that he was my father, and I was to tell him everything, that I was never able to say to my real father.  Well, I did just that, and I went away a changed person.  As I was pouring out my heart to my “father,” I discovered that he loved me and he only did, what he did, because he wanted the best for me.  Suddenly, all my anger towards him was gone.  I realized that I really loved him too.

From that day on, my father could say anything, and I would look at him and think, “Aw, that‘s my dad!”  He couldn’t do anything wrong in my eyes.  My love for him was not conditional - not based upon his actions or words.  I just loved him, because he was my dad!

What happen?  Did my father change?  No - I did!

The funny thing about this, is that I have a friend whose dad was very abrasive, and somehow, God gave me the same love for this man as he did for my father!  God is good!

This is another story about how God changed me.

My two kids were invited to go to church for a 5:00 morning prayer with their youth pastor.   I asked if I could go too, after all they didn’t drive!  Well, I found out that it wasn’t just for kids, but a few of the other pastors met  there to prayed every Friday morning.  So this was the very first time that I actually prayed with other people in the room.  The head pastor, groaned, in the Spirit, in a very deep low voice - almost the whole time!  The administrative pastor was constantly walking up and down the aisle!  I thought to myself, how can I ever pray with all this going on?

However, as distracting as it was, it didn’t change my desire to come.  I wanted to pray, so I asked the Lord, the next Friday:  “Would you please make it okay with me, that they do all this when they pray?”  God immediately answered my prayer!   A bomb could have gone off in the room, and it wouldn’t have mattered to me.  The presence of God was so wonderful, nothing else mattered.  

Even today, nothing distracts me in prayer.  Except, occasionally, when someone is praying on a microphone, while at the same time, we are praying for someone individually.  It is very hard not to lose focus.

I have asked God to help me overcome my irritation with a particular person, and It may have lessened to a degree, but obviously, if God has to point out the fact that my face needs to be washed again, I am not yet free of this.  

I don’t know if you have an issue, or personality weakness that gets you into trouble, but we have to give it to God.  It says in the word, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

This is my prayer:

“Lord forgive me for wanting my own way.  Forgive me for criticizing others and believing my way is better.  Help me to live at peace with them, and love them as you have loved me.  Cleanse my heart of my desires to control my environment, and let me give others the freedom to be themselves without judging them.  Help me to tolerate the things which are irritants to me.  Just like you gave me the ability to pray with noise and distractions, please let me tolerate the things in my life that I dislike.  I need help in this Lord, I cannot see clearly to change this.  But with you, all things are possible!  Thank you Lord for your faithfulness.   Amen!”

I know God will hear this prayer, and I hope, really hope, that God changes me, because I have tried for too many years now, and it seems impossible for me!

I truly believe, that this vision is important.  God is asking me to change now.  Because I had to wash in a clear, transparent booth, God was showing me that I had to come clean before others.  And that we all must live in a transparent way before everyone.  I have always prayed, “Whatever is hidden in darkness be brought to the light.”  When sin is exposed, it can no longer be a used by the enemy to condemn, or manipulate us.  Things that are exposed are no longer a threat to our egos, or cause concern for how others see us.  This is the fear of man.

“But we must be more concerned for the fear of God.  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10

“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Matthew 12:36-37

My Full Life Study Bible, edited by Donald C. Stamps has an article entitled “the Judgment of Believers.”  In this article he points out a few things that I would like to include:

(4)  The Bible speaks of the believer’s judgment as something solemn and serious, especially since it includes the possibility of damage or “loss.” (1 Co 3:15; 2Jn8), of being ashamed before him “at his coming” (1Jn2:28) and of burning up one’s whole life’s work (1Co 3:13-15).  The believer’s judgment, however, will not involve a declaration of condemnation by God.

(5)  Everything will be made manifest.  The word “appear” (GK phaneroo, 2 Co 5:10) means  “to be revealed openly or publicly.”  God will examine and openly reveal, in its true reality, (a)  our secret acts (Mk 4:22; Ro 2:16), (b) our character (Ro 2:5-11), (c)  our words (Mt 12:36-37), (d) our good deeds (Eph 6:8), (e) our attitudes (Mt 5:22), (f) our motives (1 Co 4:5), (g) our lack of love (Col 3:18-4:1), and (h) our work and ministry (1 Co 3:13).

(6)  In sum, believers will have to give an account of their faithfulness or unfaithfulness to God (Mt 25:21, 23;  1Co 4:2-5) and of the deeds in light of the grace, opportunity and understanding made available to them (Lk 12:48; Jn 5:24; Ro 8:1).

Below you will find the whole article.

This article will help you transition from having the fear of man,  to having a healthy fear of God.  The fear of man, keeps people following the culture, not wanting to stand out, or be different.  The fear of man keeps us in our pews with our hands folded, never wanting to "rock the boat," or look foolish for God.  The fear of man keeps us from stepping out in faith and living for God.  It is always easier to go with the flow, to follow the crowd  - unfortunately the crowd is on the wide road that leads to destruction. 

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;  all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise."  Psalm 111:10   

The fear of the Lord, causes us to worship him, to honor him, to respect his word, to cherish his promises, and to shudder at his power.  Paul encourages us: "work out your salvation with fear and trembling."  Philippians 2:12  

I hope this vision speaks to you, and that you take seriously, the necessity of keeping your face clean with God!  Love you all.