Keys on the Table
Hi Friends,
Today, I have four visions to share with you. Several months ago, the Lord spoke to me. He said, “Finish strong!” And nearly three years ago, I had a vision of a man (a circuit riding preacher) on horseback. He turned around in his saddle and looked directly at me and asked me, “Are you coming?”
Both of these statements I knew were about the Great Commission. No matter who we are, we are commissioned to reach the lost and to preach the gospel. Just a couple of weeks ago, I heard a voice while praying. The voice said, “We are going to the nations.” And shortly after that, I had a vision of keys on a table.
I believe that God is about to open a door of opportunity to preach, or witness to those that are lost. Where? I don’t know. Where does the Lord say to go?
And he said, “Go into all of the world and preach the gospel.” Mark 16:15
"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
In all three passages above, the Lord said to go into all the world, and to the ends of the earth. The Lord will provide the means to go. We simply need to be willing.
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8
This is what we are to do–volunteer, be available, give ourselves to the Lord, to do with us, as he sees fit. We must remember: “You are not your own. You were bought at a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
The Lord asks us as believers to hold nothing back. We belong to him. It may seem like a hard thing to do, yet, it is necessary to surrender our wills to him. How can we say that we love God, if we do not care about those who are lost?
“We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:19-21
The Visions
A House on a Hill
In this first vision, I saw a single story, wood clad house, stained a golden brown. It had a front porch running the entire width of the house. The house sat on a hill, with trees in the distance. On the grassy slope of the front yard, was a deer. The deer looked as if it was interested in the grass, but deer are not generally considered grazing animals. They will eat young spring grass, but only when there is nothing else available.
In the vision, there were trees all around the house, but at a distance. Why would a deer come so close to the house that is out in the open, where he would be easily seen by predators? There was nothing to attract the deer to the house–no fruit trees, no berries, no garden with vegetables, and no crops like soybeans or corn. There was no water source, or block of salt. Yet the deer was at ease.
What or who does the deer represent?
I have noticed when walking on nature trails within communities, public gardens and arboretums, that deer are very relaxed around people. They understand that people generally leave them alone. I have called gently to them and they seem to respond, and will come a little closer. I believe that the deer represent people like us. We can be relaxed and at peace when we feel safe and protected.
What does the house represent? The house can represent a nation or a people, as “The House of Israel, or the house of God.”
I believe that the vision concerns our nation. Right now in our economic, social and political environment, there is a general lack of peace, and lack of stability. Everywhere, people are a bit edgy, and apprehensive about the future. We hear of oil and fertilizer shortages. We see prices for food, gas, goods and services going up everyday. Rents are increasing, and people are wondering how bad inflation will get.
But peace is available. The deer found contentment, and peace near the house. We can find peace with the Lord and in his house with his people. “Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
And, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3
Two Children
In this second vision, I saw a close-up of two children’s faces, a boy and a girl. They were both smiling as if they were posing for the camera. They each wore glasses.
A scripture that came to mind, as I thought of this vision:
“And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” Joel 2:28-29
The glasses on the two children represent the ability to see in the Spirit: “Your sons and daughters will prophesy.” Even this past week, I heard my grandson say, while wearing my husband’s glasses, “I have a vision.” I hope that some day he will truly hear and see what God would show him.
Luke, who wrote the Book of Acts, quoted the prophet Joel, prefacing it with the words: “in the last days.”
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my menservants and maidservants I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” Acts 2:17-18
The glasses also represent wisdom, understanding, and a knowledge of God and his word. We see that God himself imparts his wisdom to us, and gives us understanding to equip us to do his will. Everyone, prophets, teachers and all believers are made to commune with God. When we wait upon him, he speaks to us and gives us visions. He told me once, “The more you know my word, the more I can reveal to you.” So we must commit ourselves to reading his word, the Bible, and speak with him throughout the day.
His Word to Us
As I was praying, I heard a voice say: “We are going to the nations.” This is The Great Commission. It is for all who will accept it. Each of us has a sphere of influence, right here in our neighborhood, our Jerusalem. We can have lunchroom conversations at work. We can have opportunities to share the gospel with someone we meet at the gym, or at sporting events, and other places where people gather, like a coffee shop or restaurant. Sometimes, if we are sensitive to those around us, the Lord will ask us to sit next to someone who is hurting.
I remember a time, as I came out of the library with a few books, I heard the Lord say to me, “Go and sit next to that man.” I noticed a man sitting on a bench on the lawn of the library. I first went to the car and sat down. I knew that this was a divine appointment, and that I was not to leave, until I did as the Lord said. So I placed my books on the passenger seat and left the car. I walked over to the man and asked if I could sit down. I told him the Lord wanted me to talk with him. He told me, that for a long time, he had been in poor health, and his wife had always taken such good care of him. But now that his wife was ill, she needed his help. He didn’t know what to do. I prayed with him, and for his wife. His feelings of being overwhelmed, and helpless, changed. His countenance changed. Praying and leading someone to the Lord is what is needed everywhere. All we have to do is be willing. God has divine appointments for each of us.
A Set of Keys
In this vision, I saw a set of keys on a table. I could tell that they were car keys, house keys and a few other miscellaneous keys. The Lord was saying to me, “Go. I am sending you.”
I am not shy, but there are certain circumstances where I feel extremely uncomfortable. I hate parties where people are drinking and/or dancing in provocative ways. I have to turn my head, I can’t watch them. I would rather spend the evening in a bathroom or outside on a porch far away from the crowd. I would rather be a million miles away than to be in a bar, a club or a party.
Sometimes I question myself, “How can I reach people if I hate going into those places?” And of course I know the answer: God will give me the grace to do what I need to do. And I will concentrate on meeting people in hospitals, nursing homes, on the street, in stores and on library benches. I am certainly willing and capable of sharing the good news of the gospel.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!” 2 Corinthians 3:17 Hallelujah!
And “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
Now that the keys are on the table, I ask the Lord, “Where Lord? Where do you want me to go?”
I believe that God will open doors, when we allow him to direct us.
A Dream
I have to share a dream that the Lord gave me, perhaps 18 or so years ago. I saw myself walking into a restaurant that was empty, with the exception of a waiter and a waitress talking to each other at a table off to the side. Suddenly, I knew that I didn’t belong there, so I left.
I then went down the street to a building that was wedged shaped, being built between two intersecting streets, at a sharp angle to each other. There was only a single door where the sides of the building converged. I opened the door and walked inside. Suddenly I found myself in a hair salon. Every eye turned to me. I knew that I didn’t belong there either, so I left.
Next I found myself on a train. Everyone on the train was dressed in the color beige. Everyone had the same hair color. I noticed that I was dressed in beige and looked like everyone else. It was then that I knew that the train was moving but going nowhere.
God was trying to show me that if I only went to places where I was comfortable, I would be going nowhere at all. I would be stuck on a train that just went around and around in utter futility.
Hallelujah! I am no longer stuck on a train. It is possible to hang out there for a while, but the Spirit of God won’t let me stay there!
Even though the vision showed me that I was conforming to please my comfort level, I know that the Lord has given me a love for people. I seem to be attracted to people of all different races, but the strongest attraction is for the Jewish people. It has to be a God thing. I have had quite a few friends that were Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim. I have had numerous Spanish speaking friends, black friends and many Jewish friends and former clients.
I have discovered that many Spanish people like to fast and pray, and worship for hours— it’s a good fit for me. Hallelujah! And because I speak in tongues, I can sing and worship without needing to know Spanish. Currently, I attend a Filipino church at 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday mornings for prayer. It is wonderful!
Even becoming a vegetarian 35 years ago, must have also been a God thing. Because I eat no meat or fish, I do not worry about whether my food offends others, or their food offends me. I am able to eat with Jewish, Muslim and Hindu friends, and entertain them with no objections. Hallelujah! God knows all things and plans all things! He loves all people, and wants none to be lost.
There is no doubt that the Lord is orchestrating my life. I seem to have a supernatural attraction for Jewish people. I have many Jewish friends. And most of my design clients from Chicago were Jewish. I love every one of them. And I am hoping and praying that they will all be saved. So far, not one has accepted the Lord, even though one told me, “Yes, I think about it all the time.” Well, I am getting up there in age, and most of my clients are several years older than me, so there is not much time left. I know that the Lord will do something to water the seeds that I have planted, for scripture tells us:
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44
And, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6
So it is that the Father will draw people to Jesus, and then through Jesus, they come to the Father. So our job is to witness and to pray. And to keep praying. It may take years of prayer before people are ready to turn to the Lord, and make a break with their traditions and ideologies.
I have sent Bibles, and letters, to many, but only one came back in a shoe box, with a note saying, “No Thanks.” I hope that they do not hold the Lord at a distance for much longer. It is important that everyday we pray for the lost. We do not want a friend or loved one, and those we have never met, to go to hell. Hell is for an eternity. But today is the day of salvation:
“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works.’” Hebrews 3:7-9
“But encourage one another every day, while it is called today, so that not one of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13
Please be faithful to pray for the lost. They need the Lord. Where would we be without him? The Lord rescued us, I believe he will rescue them too! God is faithful!
Please share this post with others. It is so important just like the scripture I just quoted: “Encourage one another everyday, while it is called today, so that not one of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13
God bless you and keep you under the shelter of his wing. I pray that you learn to soar on eagles wings as you wait on him!
God bless you and your loved ones!
