God's Love and His Amazing Grace

Hi Friends,

Today I am writing about the love of God.  Sometimes, I see The Lord as so tender, so caring.  This is a sweet vision that he gave me a couple of Fridays ago, when I was in prayer.  It is such a wonderful thing to know that we are loved. We have been truly blessed by his love.

The Vision

I saw a man walking two dogs on the opposite side of the street from me.   Neither dog was on a leash. A small white dog was walking in front of the man, and a larger black dog was bringing up the rear.  The man stopped and turned around to pet the black dog behind him. He placed his hand on his head, and then scratched him gently under the chin.  The man lifted the dog’s head, and looked into his eyes. The dog responded with a happy expression on his face and a tail that began wagging. Then the man turned again to continue his walk down the street.  The black dog followed close behind with a lively gait. He seemed very happy.

What I believe the vision means

The white dog was small, and walked in front of the man.  The color white symbolizes purity, and righteousness. So the little dog represents those in the church who are living right, and have a right standing with God. 

The man I believe represents our Lord Jesus.  He is the Christ, the Messiah, the one sent by God the Father to suffer and die in our place.  He is gentle, as he speaks of himself:  “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Matthew 11:28-29

I saw that the small white dog was walking ahead of the man.  This reminds me of what John the Baptist did, to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord:  “This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him”’”  Matthew 3:3 

We as the church prepare the way of the Lord through prayer.  As we pray for the lost, we prepare the ground of their hearts to receive the Lord Jesus as savior.  Even though it may take years for some to believe, if we do not give up we will see their salvation.  

We know that the church must also prepare herself as the bride of Christ, and be ready when the Lord comes a second time.

In the vision, the man walking the dogs, also reminded me of the Lord being a good shepherd:  “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside the still waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”   Psalm 23:2-3

In the book of the prophet Isaiah, he tells us that the Lord will be our rear guard, when we please him by following his example: feeding the hungry, providing the homeless with shelter, and clothing those in need.   “Then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.”  Isaiah 58:8

The Lord leads us, guides us, and promises to be our rear guard.  He said “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5  

What an awesome, faithful God we serve!

In the vision, the man stopped and turned around to pet the black dog that had been following him.  The color black can mean death, sin, darkness, and the devil. But in this vision, I believe that the black refers to sin and death.  The large black dog represents the unsaved, those who are bound by sin, lies, and unbelief. It says in the Bible that those who do not believe are dead in their sin or dead in their trespasses.  And that if they do not repent and believe, they will experience the second death, which is hell.  

The black dog is not on a leash, but is following the man.  Many people are seeking freedom and relief of the bondages they suffer.   Yet, many do not know that it is the Lord who can give true freedom. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”  2 Corinthians 3:17

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:32

  “I am the way the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”   John 14:6

By repentance, which means to turn away from sin, and to turn to God, people can be saved, healed and delivered.  This can bring about a tremendous change in a person’s life. That is, of course, what it means to be born again. It is a radical departure from a life of sin, to a life filled with the Spirit of God.

The man’s gentle caress lifted the head of the dog.  When their eyes met, there was an exchange, and an acknowledgment of a new relationship that the man had with the dog.  This caused the dog to feel accepted, loved and elated. A dog represents loyalty and faithfulness. A dog represents unconditional love and devotion.  This is the relationship that the Lord seeks to have with us. A relationship based on trust. The dog was happy, perfectly content to follow the man wherever he went.

I would like to share a couple of stories of people I have met that gave their hearts to the Lord and were immediately changed.

Several years ago, before I ever prayed with people on the street,  I had volunteered to walk the grounds and pray at a Convoy of Hope event in Newark, NJ.  I thought I was just going to take a walk and pray on my own, but they actually wanted us to partner with someone and pray with people standing in line.  Oh boy! I was not really happy about this, being somewhat unsure of what this would involve. However, I partnered with a wonderful woman from my church.  As we were walking, she saw two women and began speaking to them. I looked around, and thought I should do something myself, so I saw a lady with a shopping cart.  I came up to her and said, “We are here to pray for anyone who would like to have prayer.”   

The woman with the cart, said, nothing--but she reached down into her cart where there was a magazine.  She opened its pages and pointed to the words, “drug abuse.”  

I told her, “We can pray for that.”  For some reason, I felt like squatting down and placing my hands upon her feet.  I started praying for healing, and suddenly, her arms flew up into the air, and she began shouting, “Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!” She left her cart behind, said nothing to me, but walked away continuing to shout praises to God!

Wow, that left me dumbfounded.  I thought to myself, God must have delivered her!  Wow!

Here I was--afraid to pray with anyone, and God came with power.  Wow! When we are weak--He is strong!

I have another story I would like to share with you.  This is about my husband’s uncle who was dying with cancer.  I had come to his house several times, bringing food, looking for an opportunity to pray with him.  Every time, he had guests, and I didn’t feel it was the right time. On the third visit, I came by myself, and only his wife was present.  I could see he was in a lot of pain, for his face would grimace, and I could see that he was truly suffering.  

I began to tell him of a time when I was in Florida, picking up a rental car in Fort Meyers.  I had to drive it back to Naples by following my sister in her car. The car I was driving was a foreign car that did not have a single English word on the controls.  As I followed my sister, the rain became so heavy that I could hardly see through the windshield. I had my wipers going, but, I couldn’t see the road. I knew I had seen a great drop off on the shoulder, as we were driving to Fort Meyers an hour or so before.  So, I needed to pull off the road. I looked for my flashers, but with the lack of English, I couldn’t tell where they were. I needed the defroster, because the condensation was also heavy. In my panic, I accidently turned off the wipers, and I saw nothing but water sheeting on the window.  I had already begun to pray--but when I lost all view, I simply yelled, “Help me!” 

Instantly, the sky turned blue with white puffy clouds!  I saw my sister’s car in front of me.  Then I heard the Lord speak so clearly, “Here’s your wipers; Here’s your defogger; and here’s your flashers.”   I looked up in the sky through my driver’s side window and saw a small circle in the clouds. It was the Lord making an “OK” sign with his fingers as the cloud!

I just cried all the way to Naples, to my sister’s house.  What a wonderful, and tender, loving God we have! Jesus I love you, and I will never forget all the things you have done for me!

Well, I told that story to my husband’s uncle.  When I finished, I asked him, “Would you like to pray with me?” 

He said, “Yes.”  So I walked up to his bed and began to pray.  I stopped and asked him whether he would like to pray a prayer for the Lord to forgive him of his sins, and receive salvation.  Again, he said, “Yes.”     

When we were finished, there was such a change in his countenance.  He had a look of peace where there had been pain. His wife who was in the room and next to the bed, while I had been praying, asked him, “Would you like me to call the priest?”

He responded with such peace, “No, dear, I don’t think that is necessary.”  

Uncle Matt, gave his heart to the Lord, and received his peace and true reconciliation with God.  

We are truly blessed to know that the Lord loves us!  He forgives us, and restores us to himself!

There is just one more thing about the vision that I saw.  The white dog was small, and the black dog was large. I believe that this is significant and the following scripture describes what I see.

“Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

Many are represented by the large black dog, and few are represented by the small white dog.  This should concern all of us, for we see that salvation is nothing short of a miracle, when someone comes to the Lord, we should celebrate this as a true miracle, for someone’s eyes that were blind can now see!

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that save a wretch like me.  I once was lost, and now I am found, was blind but now I see!” This is a beautiful song, I know you will enjoy it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDdvReNKKuk

Amazing Grace Hymn

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun refuse to shine;

But God, who called me here below,

Shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we'd first begun.

I hope you will share this with someone who needs the Lord in their life.  God is good, and he wants none to be lost. Thanks for reading and sharing.  God bless you.

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