Three Queens and a Flask

Hi Everyone,

I hope you and your loved ones are well.  I have four visions to share with you today.  I believe they concern the stresses of the day and how we as a people are dealing with them.  Everyone of us is given freewill, the right to choose for ourselves how we will live our lives.  We  can choose to live for God and live lives of self control and godliness, or we can live for ourselves and indulge our pleasures and our whims.  But whichever we choose there will be consequences for our decisions and our actions.

The Visions

Three Queens

As I was praying a couple of weeks ago, I saw the hands of a person holding only two playing cards—a pair of queens.  Then the person picked up another card, which was also a queen, and added it to the hand.  This made a grouping called, three of a kind.  

It so happens that my two sons and my husband and I were enjoying a game of cards the evening before called “Five Crowns.”  It is similar to rummy, where a player must collect a minimum of  three of a kind or three in a run of the same suit.  The deck consists of cards from five different suits and several additional wild cards.  

If we apply the rules of the game to the two queens in the vision, we see that they were worth nothing by themselves.  They needed a third matching card in order to complete the required three as a book or set.  As I saw the vision, what was needed was another queen, and what was added to the hand was a queen.  So I see this as a vision of the Lord’s provision.      

Just prior to receiving this vision of queens, my sister had called for prayer.  I believed that the vision was given to show my sister, that God knew her circumstances and that he was going to provide for her.  

The hand having two similar cards, represented her current circumstance.  Then the other hand picked up an additional card, and was found to be exactly what was needed:  another queen. This I saw that as the Lord’s provision.  “… for your Father knows what you need before you ask.”  Matthew 6:8 

When we play cards it is simply a game of chance.  But in life, our heavenly Father knows everything, and if we trust in him, we will not be leaving our circumstances to chance.  We will be leaving our circumstances in the Father’s care.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord for he is good!

The Hip Flask

The next day while praying, the Lord gave me a vision of a polished metal container without its cap. The container was about 6”h x 4”w and 1”d.  The rectangular container was curved to appear more attractive and more ergonomically designed to fit the hand. 

I saw the hand caress the top edge of the opening, seemingly enjoying the visual and tactile shape of the container.

As I contemplated the vision as to its meaning, I thought of the container’s purpose, what it held inside and why was this container important.  I believe that the container is to hold an alcoholic beverage.  I have seen them in the movies, as well as in person at football games.  It is compact and can be brought into ball games without the attendants scrutiny, as some may consider it discreet.  It is called a “hip flask.”  

As I considered the vision, I believe that God was pointing out that some people enjoy the consumption of alcohol to such an extent, that they will go out and buy a special container, so as to not be without alcohol at social outings.  

When I receive visions like this, I know that the Lord is dealing with sin and our values.  What are we willing to do to accommodate our sin?  And why are we not ashamed of our sin and our indulgences?  “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”  Isaiah 5:20

“Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.”  Philippians 3:10   

When I thought of the hand caressing the edge of the opening, I thought of this scripture:

“Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!  In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.”  Proverbs 23:31-31

And this one as well:  “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”  Proverbs 20:1

And one more:  “...nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”  1 Corinthians 6:10

We need to pray for those who are bound to alcohol and any other addicting substance.  Addiction starts somewhere, and probably most do not realize just how easily they can become trapped by their indulgence.

Lord Jesus, you came to set the captives free.  Please help these individuals to see that to indulge the flesh is to open the door to physical addiction and spiritual bondage.  All sin begets more sin.

“And Jesus answered them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.’”  Luke 5:30-32

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  Luke 4:18-19

So Jesus came to set the oppressed free.  Those that are in bondage to addictive substances and to lifestyle sins can be set free through repentance and deliverance, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and in the name of Jesus, that is above every name! 

A Sink

I saw a corner counter top in a dark brown plastic laminate. Installed in the counter top was a small oval stainless steel sink.  It was installed in a haphazard fashion, not centered in any direction.  It was an improper sink for the size of the counter top, and its shape suggested that it was meant for a bathroom vanity rather than a kitchen counter.

This vision shows errors in design, in specifying and in installation.  Basically everything about the installation was wrong.  The vision shows a lack of understanding of purpose.   It exemplifies  poor judgment and poor implementation.  It is a red flag for a bad decision.

Before I discuss its application, let me share the next vision:

A Truck

I saw a truck coming from the right and going towards the left.  It was traveling at an “in town” speed, crossing an intersection in front of me.  The truck’s driver-side window and door were entirely covered with a half sheet of raw plywood, so that the driver could not see through the window, nor open the door.  Painted on the plywood were designs resembling “hippie” graffiti.

I believe these two visions are meant to be viewed and interpreted together.
The first vision had “error” written all over it.  And the second vision of a truck with its side plastered over with plywood, represents utter foolishness.  How can a driver see out a window that is entirely covered?  How can the driver get in and out of his truck, except by climbing over the center console, into the passenger seat and then out the passenger side door?

This is nonsensical—idiotic.  Yes, in a word—foolish.

I know what the Lord is saying. He is speaking to me personally.  But to all who read this, please take warning and do not follow my example.

If you have read a few of my former posts, you may remember that there is a portion of my life that is still not entirely submitted to the Lord.  I have struggled in this area for several years, but I want to share this with you so that you may not make the same mistake.

For the last few years, my husband and I have entertained the idea of going into full-time RVing when he retires in two years.  It has been a dream of his for a very long time, for he had purchased books on the topic that are now thirty years old.

In regards to my background, I spent twenty years as an interior designer in the Chicago area.  As my husband dreamed of traveling, I was caught up with the idea of tiny houses.  I have always been a minimalist at heart, enjoying uncluttered space, and the freedom it brings to owning less.  He of course tried to convince me that an RV as a small home on wheels was by far better than a stationary tiny house.

In these last couple of years, we began watching YouTube videos of couples traveling around the United States with their home on wheels.  We traveled with them to their remote destinations virtually.  It was a way to conveniently travel and see the sites, from the comfort of our own home.  

The designer in me enjoyed looking at the RV’s and seeing how they were built.  I have always been a student, for learning is a great pastime.  We have watched construction videos in all the phases of the build, and videos of all the various systems: plumbing, electrical, solar etc.  I have spent hours drawing up plans and making sketches.  

But all along the way, I knew this did not please the Lord.  He had taken me out of the design business years earlier saying: “I don’t want you to do.  I want you to be.”     

I tried rationalization— “I am just going to watch, but not actually do it.”  However, the more videos I watched, the more I wanted to watch.  I went along with YouTube presenters to see what they were doing, where they were going, and what rig they were considering buying, etc.

I tried to stop watching the shows, because I could see that I was becoming obsessed.  So I would give it up for a while.  Then, because our dining table is directly in front of the television, and my husband and I have very little to talk about, we would watch TV during  dinner.  I tried focusing on the news while avoiding the RV shows. It was an easy transition, because I believe that being up to date with international events and political news helps us to intercede for our country more effectively.  

Most of us believe that we are living in the end-times, because we see scripture being fulfilled. “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”  Matthew 24-10-13

The wickedness in our nation is increasing at an alarming rate.  And with the political and social upheaval that is currently underway, we need to be seeking God on behalf of our nation.  

I know that the RV lifestyle is not the Lord’s plan for our lives.  I believe that it would take me away from my time with the Lord.  The videos are already consuming my time and my focus.  And if I am entirely honest, I do not have a strong desire to travel.  I am actually a homebody, for after four days away from home, I am ready to go back!

I am also a minimalist, and I know that my husband is not.  He loves to shop and try out new things and new hobbies.  He wants to have the latest gadgets, and the “right tools for the job.”  I am afraid that to live in tight quarters with an “a-minimalist” is not going to work.

I have to come to terms with my husband, as I have already acknowledged many times to myself, that this lifestyle is a recipe for failure.

The Lord has shown me more than once, that the plan to RV would undermine my relationship with him.  On one occasion, I heard the Lord say, “Leave the cubical!” He was talking about my time spent drawing up plans for building out a van. And with these recently given visions, he is declaring the notion to be utterly foolish.  

I heard the Lord say to me a month or two ago, “Finish strong!”  He is trying to redirect my focus towards his plans and his purpose in these last days.  Every soul matters.  People who are living without the Lord, will not enter heaven.  Their destiny will be hell.  We cannot afford to be wasting precious time chasing a dream that is not to be ours.

I know that these last two visions were really meant for me, but perhaps you might relate.  Perhaps there is something in your own life that has distracted you, and kept you from fulfilling God’s purpose for your life.  

I thought that the RV lifestyle might enhance our marriage and that my husband and I would be on the same page.  And I had thought that a vision the Lord had given me just a few years ago would come to pass as a result of this lifestyle.  The vision was of a circuit riding preacher on horseback who turned to me and asked me directly, “Are you coming?”   I thought that the Lord was calling me into the ministry of evangelism or church planting.  And the idea of a circuit riding preacher is to visit different towns and villages weekly to teach and encourage others with the gospel. So it seemed reasonable. But now I have come to believe that the Lord  just wants me to seek him and spend time with him.  He wants me to pray for revival and to witness to those he sends my way.

So I need to pray for obedience and self control.  I need to pray that God will change my husband’s heart as well.  If you care to pray for me—please do!

And please pray for our nation—that we would experience the out pouring of the Holy Spirit in a nationwide revival. Let us pray for salvation for all people everywhere. Let us pray for the church to awaken, to fulfill its purpose, and to prepare for the Lord’s return.

The Lord wants us to help him gather in the end-time harvest.  “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest.”  John 4:35 

Jesus said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:37-38

God bless you all.  And keep the faith!  The Lord will be coming soon, so let’s not get distracted by doing our own thing and going our own way.  Let’s instead be obedient to him!  Come Lord Jesus!  Maranatha!