What Dreams Are Made Of
Did you know we dream 5-7 times a night? Rarely do we remember these dreams, but they are there. Have you ever had a dream so vivid that you find yourself awake, sitting up in bed, and telling yourself over and over, “It’s just a dream”? I sure have! Dreams are one of those topics I look forward to having a conversation with God about. Why do we have them? How did He create a brain capable of coming up with such stuff?
“Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.” (Genesis 37:5)
Now, this wasn’t one of those kinds of dreams. Joseph didn’t have a dream where he forgot his locker combination or the recurring dream of showing up to class having forgotten to get dressed. This was a message. The Lord had a message for Joseph; but just like many of us, Joseph twisted it up and let his own “humanness” put a filter on the true message.
Remember, this Joseph was the spoiled boy of the household. I can see him coming down to breakfast with his new colorful coat and commanding the attention of all the family. “Y’all, I had a dream last night! We were wheat, and my sheaf rose above yours; and all of you bowed down to me!” Yeah, I can see where the hate grew. I mean, he certainly hadn’t learned to read a room.
Jacob, the father, was familiar with God speaking through dreams; so this wasn’t a new idea for this family. It wasn’t the message, but the delivery. This dream was indeed calling Joseph into leadership. What he didn’t know was the path he’d have to take to learn the lessons he’d need to become a great leader. If he had, I feel certain his proclamation would have been fueled with much more humility … if he chose to share it at all.
I have zero idea if God uses dreams to speak to us today. But I do know He speaks to us and shares messages in a handful of ways. He speaks to us through His Word, through prayer, through our church, through others, and through our circumstances. In these verses about Joseph we learn not only our ability to hear from the Lord, but our responsibility to dig deep into what we hear and how we share that message.
Lord, we long to hear from You. Use every minute of our day, every device in our hands and every person we come in contact with to connect and hear from You. In Your precious Name, Amen.
By Carrie Peterson
“Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.” (Genesis 37:5)
Now, this wasn’t one of those kinds of dreams. Joseph didn’t have a dream where he forgot his locker combination or the recurring dream of showing up to class having forgotten to get dressed. This was a message. The Lord had a message for Joseph; but just like many of us, Joseph twisted it up and let his own “humanness” put a filter on the true message.
Remember, this Joseph was the spoiled boy of the household. I can see him coming down to breakfast with his new colorful coat and commanding the attention of all the family. “Y’all, I had a dream last night! We were wheat, and my sheaf rose above yours; and all of you bowed down to me!” Yeah, I can see where the hate grew. I mean, he certainly hadn’t learned to read a room.
Jacob, the father, was familiar with God speaking through dreams; so this wasn’t a new idea for this family. It wasn’t the message, but the delivery. This dream was indeed calling Joseph into leadership. What he didn’t know was the path he’d have to take to learn the lessons he’d need to become a great leader. If he had, I feel certain his proclamation would have been fueled with much more humility … if he chose to share it at all.
I have zero idea if God uses dreams to speak to us today. But I do know He speaks to us and shares messages in a handful of ways. He speaks to us through His Word, through prayer, through our church, through others, and through our circumstances. In these verses about Joseph we learn not only our ability to hear from the Lord, but our responsibility to dig deep into what we hear and how we share that message.
Lord, we long to hear from You. Use every minute of our day, every device in our hands and every person we come in contact with to connect and hear from You. In Your precious Name, Amen.
By Carrie Peterson
Recent
Archive
2021
January
New BeginningsBe a LightPraying for the Gospel to AdvancePraying for Church LeadershipPraying for RestorationPraying for the Persecuted ChurchPraying for Our NationBridging the GapJesus UnderstandsYour Spiritual TankMade to WorshipProtection and WisdomDeliver Us From TemptationWholly Following the LordDistinguishing Characteristics of a True Disciple of ChristLoving Others as God Loves UsOvercoming Resistance to the GospelHow to Love Your EnemiesWinning Influence with Reciprocating LoveF-O-C-U-SA Job Rejection
2020
March
I Am The Good Shepherd Shepherd LeadershipI Am the Good Shepherd that Keeps the GateShepherding the TeamI Am The Good Shepherd: A Note from a Thankful SheepTime OutFour DaysUp from the GraveResurrection LifeThe Shadow of DeathMore Than an Empty TombLet\'s Not Get DistractedThis Is No Time to Be TroubledJesus Christ Is The Way
April
Jesus Christ Is The TruthJesus Christ Is The LifeAn Inconvenient TruthPalm SundayI Am The VineJust Do ItI Am The DoorCuttingsThe StruggleGood FridayThe DoorAbundant GraceAbundant SalvationAbundant SecurityAbundant LifeThe Thank You NoteBreakthrough PrayerLetter to the ChurchA Time for Great ThingsPrayer for a BreakthroughThe Day of ChristAs Far As the Eye Can SeeLoosen the ChainsNothing to FearOn the Same SideWhat Are You Living For?
May
Stand Firm in One SpiritOur God of CertaintyWhy Desire Humility?The Joy of HumilityHumility in ActionThe Ultimate Example of HumilityThe Glory of HumilityThe Faith of a Mom and a GrandmotherKeep OnCelebrate Your DecisionLet Your Light ShineHow Are You Being Poured Out?Be an EncouragementManna from HeavenSafeguarding Your HeartThe Proper Way to BoastHaving Nothing to Offer GodChrist Is All I Want and NeedOn Knowing ChristNo Greater LoveBiblical ObedienceBiblical MaturityBack to ShoreEnemies of the CrossA Bridge to HeavenIt's About Time
June
A New Way of ThinkingThe Lord Is at HandWait to WorryReal PeaceRight ThinkingSuch a Time as ThisA Lesson from Homer SimpsonHesitationThe Power RangerPep TalkSea Billows RollDo You See Them as Gifts?The God QuestionA Hopeless JourneyThe Hope of GraceDon't Miss the PartyThe Joyful GodWho's Listening AnywayThe InheritanceWhat Do You See?Give Me, Give Me, Give MeTearful PrayersFaithfulnessGo and DoIt Seems GoodTrust the Creator
July
Welcome His PeaceLet Us SingGod Is AbleOur Dependence on GodJealousyWhat Dreams Are Made OfServant LeaderChoosing ForgivenessCourage To Be TransformedHeaven and Earth ReuniteHope ReachesA Hope EternalA Hope InheritedHope RebuildsHope UnseenThe Promise of HopeOur Hope Comes From The LordThe Lord Takes Care of His PeopleFree from HarmThe Protective Hand of God\'s Loving CareThe Security of God\'s Watchful LoveThe Traveling TabernacleCommunityCommunityThe FloodThe Cool KidOpposites Attract
August
Open Our EyesThe Call to DiscipleshipA Strategy to Change the WorldImitators of ChristGrowth in Uncertain TimesA Legacy of DiscipleshipHard QuestionsQuestionsThe Answer, Part OneThe Answer, Part TwoThe Answer, Part ThreeThe Answer, Part FourUsing What God Has Given UsBest Laid PlansLive Without LimitsWhat Do You Want To Do?Unlimited SupplyJust A ... ?Who Is Jesus To You?Why Do the Wicked Prosper?Living By ConvictionThere's No Price Too HighAn Epoch BattleConfusion: A Sign of Trouble AheadDay and NightBuilding Brave
September
The Faith GapWhen Bravery CallsFor Such A Time As ThisBravery In The SilenceOpen Our EyesThe Cheese Stands AloneDreamThe StandoffStrengthFather Knows BestAmbassador for ChristPapa BearBest Seat In The HouseWaiting On The LordThe Last Chapterin God\'s Tender CareDo Not Be AnxiousFinish The PlayA New DecreeThat All Might KnowThe Formula For BraveryHow Will You Respond?Stepping Out In FaithHappily Ever After?P.S.Superlatives
October
The Final Curtain CallBraveLet Your Light ShineThe God Who SeeksI Once Was Blind But Now I SeeSalvation for the Chief of SinnersA Picture of RepentanceJesus Is The Son of GodThe Red BinGoAllInAlwaysJesusOur Identity In ChristThe Christian Duty to ForgiveJesus Paid Our Sin Debt In FullThe Power of Forgiveness ExperiencedThe Consequences of UnforgivenessThe Freedom of ForgivenessDo Not Be Conformed to the WorldBetter Than I DeserveGrace Considers Us WorthyGrace Seeks OutGrace ExtendedUnconditional GraceNovember 3, 2020 | HopeGod Is ConsistentNovember 2, 2020 | Never Alone
November
November 4, 2020 | Stand the HeatNosy NeighborsUnintended ConsequencesCultivating a Biblical View of Sorrow in the Midst of a Global PandemicIt's About MoneyBeing ShrewdAre You Rich?PrioritiesThe Big IdeaThe Bigger PictureDifficult SilenceDifficult AnswersReverent HonestyHumble WaitingFrowning ProvidenceLove One AnotherGod's Love Is...Write It DownTalk It OutPandemic FatiqueHappy Thanksgiving!Stuff-MartSilenceFocusing On The EternalKnowledge of God is a Prerequisite of Faith
December
Praising God by Remembering His FaithfulnessThe Relationship Between Fear and FaithThe Transformation of Affirming FaithThe Freedom of HumilityFaith In The StormThe Adventure of AdventA Sure FoundationA Long SilenceA Divine MessengerA Doubting ResponseGod RemembersChristmas Is Still Worth CelebratingNothing New Under The SunNazareth?Highly Favored OneNow THAT'S An Understatement!He KNOWS You!Mary's SongReading Like An Ancient HebrewGo Tell It On The MountainWonder In The FamiliarOur High PriestThe Horn of SalvationTo My Grandmothers, With LoveMerry Christmas!Hope In JesusThree DaysNow I Can Die in PeaceWait, What?Rejection