Tag: dream

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

Dream, dream, dream

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 40 and 41.

I know I do a lot of dreaming, but I hardly ever remember them when I wake up. If I do, I’ll write them down, but that rarely happens.

Dreams are such an important part of Joseph’s life. When he was younger (Genesis 37) he used his dreams to antagonize his family. Later, his interpretation of dreams will get him out of prison and into a new position under the Pharaoh.

But it’s not all about Joseph. “Do not interpretations belong to God?” (Genesis 40) God used them to communicate important truths to other prisoners and eventual to Pharaoh.

When I do remember a dream, maybe I should ask God, “What was that all about?” I wonder if he’ll have any insights for me. People have written volumes about dream interpretation. I guess some of it makes sense. However, some stuff is way, way out there.

I know, I know, God speaks to us through his Son, the Word. I’m not waiting for a dream revelation. Again, I just want to know, “What’s that all about?”

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

“What are you doing here?”

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Sam Solomon on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 27 and 28.

“The Lord is certainly in this place, and I did not know it” (Genesis 28:16).

I think it’s interesting that Jacob thought that he was leaving God behind when he ran away from home. After disguising himself as his Esau get his father’s blessing, his older brother is ready to kill him. Mom says, “Why don’t you go away until he cools off. You can go visit your uncle Laban.” (Genesis 27:43,44)

When Jacob wakes up from a vivid dream about angels, a ladder, and God himself, he’s amazed. “How about that? I never expected to find God out here in the middle of nowhere.”

When someone mentions a “house of God” I immediately think of a church building. But sometimes I talk to him while I’m out walking the dog. Yes, the dog will sometimes glance up at me like I’m crazy. I have to assure her, “Just keep walking; I’m not talking to you.”

I’ll chat with God in the car, imagining him riding shotgun. With the way other people are driving, I’ll often ask for a couple of extra angels to get me safely to my destination.

I’ve heard folks comment that they feel close to God when they are out walking through the woods or sitting out on the beach watching the ocean, or looking up into the night sky.

Jacob, however, wonders, “What are you doing here?” Rather than feeling blessed, Jacob’s deception has made a mess of his life. In moments like that, you might think that God really doesn’t want anything to do with you. But that’s never the case. Rather, he’s the one we can be certain will never abandon us.

Posted in dreams, Stories

Expensive chocolate!

Posted on by William Douthwaite

As my friend and I chatted over the last of our coffee, I absent-mindedly peeled open one of the foil wrapped chocolates the waiter had left on our table and popped it in my mouth. “Wow, that’s delicious!” I said. “Want yours?” He shook his head, so I went ahead and enjoyed the second one.

The breeze gently rustled the umbrella over our poolside table. Our waiter took our plates and left the check. I picked it up, quickly glanced at it, but then took another, longer look. Seventy dollars? That can’t be right. Oatmeal, omelette, side of bacon and a couple of cups of coffee. There must be some mistake. When our waiter passed by I asked, “Are you sure this is right?” He took a quick look and pointed out that the chocolates were $25 each! Really? They were good, but not that good! I thought they were free, just like the little Andes mints at Olive Garden.

When I took the check up to the register to pay, I mentioned that the price of those chocolates was a bit steep. The manager pointed to a little sign by the register in very tiny print, “Chocolates, $25 each.” Fine. I handed him my card. He slid it through the machine, handed it back to me, and then said, “Uh-oh. I’ll have to slide that again.”

“Not so fast,” I said. I pulled out my phone and opened up my bank app. “No way I’m going to pay for this meal twice!” I want to see if that charge was on my account before I let him try again.

And then I woke up. Yes, it was another of my recent, vivid, unusual dreams. I think taking melatonin to help me sleep also revs up my mind’s dream factory. But I’m always going to check twice before I eat some chocolates!

Posted in Stories

“I need you to open the safe.”

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Alexander Nachev on Unsplash

I thought I had the place to myself.

I usually do. I get up early on purpose, because I want to have the room to myself. I want to practice my sermon in an empty sanctuary before I deliver it to a living, breathing congregation. I need to hear my voice. I need to listen to the stories. I have to know what it sounds like before worshipers gather to sing, pray and receive my message.

I’ve got my routine. Unlock the doors, turn on a few lights, fire up the sound system, and fill up my water glass. I could do it in my sleep.

Five minutes into my rehearsal, I saw him. Back row, left side, on the aisle. Who in the world would be here this early? The musicians aren’t even here yet. I didn’t stop. I continued making points, adding illustrations and pointing out applications.

As I finished, I turned off the timer and walked back to meet this predawn arrival. Before I could say, “Hi,” he said, “I need you to open the safe.”

If was still a little sleepy before, I was wide awake now. “Well,” I said, “First of all, we don’t have any money here. Second, I don’t even know the combination.”

As you can imaging, my answer was not well received. He growled, “Well then, you better call someone who does!” I didn’t see a weapon. Maybe he had one in his pocket. I was still about ten feet away. No one else would arrive for at least half an hour. What were my options? Run? I can run. I would leave this guy in the dust. Give him my wallet? Sorry, no cash in there either. Stall? Sometimes the local deputies meet in our parking lot. When I glanced out the window, though, I didn’t see any cars. Call someone from the congregation who knew the combination and use a code word so they would call for help? I don’t think we have a code word.

Startled, I woke up. First the buzzing then the soft thudding my my phone alarm was going off. I reached over and turned it off. 4:30 am. My heart was racing. But it was a dream.

For the next several weeks, I carefully scanned the parking lot before I got out of my car in the predawn hours of a Sunday morning. I kept all the doors locked while I prepared for morning worship. I thanked God for the deputies conversing under the portico. I was also grateful for those long days of summer, when the sun arrives before I do.

Why were my dreams filled with such images in the middle of the night? I’ve never had a problem, never been threatened, never even thought about the possibility of being in danger. I’ve probably been watching too much police and detective TV, where such things happen daily in the lives of innocent people.

Anyway, if you were going to rob a church, wouldn’t you do it after the offering?

Posted in Advent devotions

The Cast of Advent: December 12 – the angel who came to Joseph

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

“An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  (Matthew 1:20,21)

We aren’t told the name of this angel. It may have been Gabriel, messenger to Zechariah and Mary. Or it may have been another. Another who got the short straw. 

How would like to take this message to Joseph? It’s out there to say the least. Even though it goes against every nuance of the law, go ahead and marry Mary. Even though this isn’t your son, he will save his people from their sins. 

I can imagine Joseph waking up the next morning breathing heavy, covered in sweat, thankful that it was just a dream!  Or was it? Was this one of those dreams where God is actually communicating with you? Or your worst nightmare?

The other angel got to announce an answered prayer to Zechariah and God’s favor to Mary. This angel comes to Joseph looking for a favor. “Can you just go ahead and marry her? She’s going to need a husband and he’s going to need a dad.” And that’s exactly what Joseph does. 

I wonder if the angel was relieved that Joseph responded in this way? Imagine if you had to go back to God and report, “He won’t do it.” 

Thanks, Lord, for Joseph’s positive response to an unusual dream and an angel’s words. Amen.