A Dream

A Dream

Life truly is a roller coaster isn’t it? The highs and lows come swiftly too. If you are like me, you wish that the highs would hang around a little longer and the lows would skedaddle, at least to give me time to recover from the last one. Dark circles under my eyes usually reveal an untold story and invariably someone will say, “Are you tired? You don’t look like you feel well.”

That always helps.

Then there are those times when it seems that life comes crashing down on all sides and you feel yourself drowning. While pulling your hair out, you scream…

God, why does life have to be so hard…?

I need a break! I can’t take anymore…

About eight years ago, I went to a Beth Moore conference that was life changing for me. The first night she used a verse to paint a very vivid picture of how the enemy of this world works to cause chaos in our lives.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1Peter 5:8

Beth said, “I want each of you to stop and imagine your sweet little house that you love and adore, with a white picket fence surrounding the back yard.  Unknowingly, a lion approaches your humble abode. He starts to scratch a single plank ever so slowly.”

At this point, she had us envision an argument between you and your husband; one where your feelings were deeply hurt and you couldn’t let it go.

“The lion continues to scratch until one plank falls in,” she continued.

The argument with your husband leads to another and now you find yourself at odds about most things, including finances, the children and sex.

“Another plank fell.”

You are now sleeping in separate rooms.

“Then another…”

Your husband tells you he wants out.

“The lion has now entered the yard to devour and destroy all that is good.”

I had sat in many sermons that included verses about the devil, but it wasn’t until I heard Beth, that my eyes opened to the plot and schemes of the evil one. I became hungry to understand and leaned upon the verse,

“…Greater is He who lives within me than he who is in the world.” 1John 4:4

Many times in the Bible, God used dreams to speak to people. You may or may not agree that God still does so. I’m truly not one to argue this point; I’m not a theologian, just a lover of Jesus. However, I will tell you that a dream I had during some hard times, comforted me like nothing else possible.

One night as my man and I slept comfortably, I dreamt that I was sitting on the back row of the small church where I grew up in Bumpus Mills. The preacher was finishing his sermon and asked the question, “Is there anyone here that would like to have a closer personal relationship with God? If so, raise your hand.” Ever so cautiously, I raised mine.

In my dream, the hand of God extended from Heaven and grabbed onto me. I was holding on as tight as possible, all the while screaming, “Don’t let go! Please don’t let go!”

Troy started to shake me, “Rhonda, wake up! Your having a nightmare.”

I was physically crying and unbeknownst to me, I had been yelling the words, “Don’t let go” out loud. I have to say, I was pretty upset with my man for waking me, but he had no way of knowing that I felt sure I was holding the hand of God. Sleep was impossible after that. Finally, at about five in the morning, I arose and nestled in my living room chair. Tears quickly returned. I could still feel God’s hand upon mine. I whispered again, “Please don’t let go. Don’t let me go God.”

To which I heard, “Rhonda, I’ve got you.”

I pray that whomever is reading this right now might also know, God has you too…

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9 Comments

  1. Tina Shelton Steele on February 13, 2018 at 5:00 pm

    Oh my goodness Rhonda! I’m sitting in the radiation oncology waiting area. Bill is starting his chemo/radiation today. God wanted to to see this today. Why You ask? Because I have putting off reading this blog “until I had time to enjoy it”. And I stumbled on it his fb. Please do not stop post it to fb or is there a way I can get updates another way???
    Love you.

    • RhondaMadge on February 15, 2018 at 9:47 am

      Bless your heart Tina. I know this day was not an easy day for you or Bill. I pray God encloses Bill before and behind and lay’s His hand upon him. Hold on to His promises that He will not leave you nor forsake you. In other words, He’s got you!

      Tina, if you go to rhondamadge.com you will see a place to enter your email address. When that is received, every week when a new blog post comes out, you will receive it via email. It’s pretty easy actually. Then you don’t have to rely on Facebook. It is also very helpful to me. I have a book that’s ready to be published, but a publisher wants to know that there are people who will buy it! When I get followers on my website, it indicates to them that I have an audience who indeed would read the book. It’s all so out of my comfort zone, but I understand their perspective. I appreciate you more than you know!

      • RhondaMadge on February 15, 2018 at 9:47 am

        I love you too!

  2. Patti White on February 14, 2018 at 9:53 am

    Words from the song, “draw me close to you, never let me go, I give it all to you” is my theme for 2018. Thanks for sharing Rhonda. To God Be the Glory!

    • RhondaMadge on February 15, 2018 at 9:49 am

      I love that Patti! I’m singing that in my head right now–not outloud. I might scare the dog. Love you!

  3. Jon Whiteside on February 17, 2018 at 3:00 am

    Rhonda,
    Signing up to get your blog via email, because I don’t want to miss one word!
    In the past, I had mentioned to several people that I looked forward to our District meetings/POAs because I knew that I would get to hear about what God was doing in your life.
    Keep riding (and writing!) on His strength.
    Jon

    • RhondaMadge on February 22, 2018 at 7:06 pm

      Jon Whiteside! You have made my day! You are so sweet! Our conversations at meetings were a highlight for sure! I miss seeing your smiling face! I pray blessings over you and your family. May God anoint you for the greater things…

  4. Sandra Ford on February 18, 2018 at 3:21 pm

    Rhonda, I Love reading your blogs, and I look forward to reading each new one. You are truly such a blessing. By the way, I gave your information to someone at my church, in hopes of getting to hear you speak. Bless you.

    • RhondaMadge on February 22, 2018 at 7:04 pm

      Wow! How awesome that would be! Thank you so much for your encouragement. I continue to pray for you Sandra. If you ever want to meet for coffee let me know!

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