Dorcas and Dad In A Dream

Hey Friends,

Thank you for stopping by on this beautiful Tuesday. Did you catch yesterday's post? I shared an update on the latest GoodNews Christian School building project. You can see that post by clicking here.

Recently, I was compiling the photos for yesterday's post when I came across a picture of my dad and our precious friend Dorcas from Nigeria. 

Many of you all remember Sis. Dorcas. She was saved during one of the outdoor crusades my dad preached in Nigeria. He told her testimony for years. Dorcas drug herself through the dirt and grass to the altar, because she knew she needed Jesus! Actually, she did it two nights in a row until she felt like she got what she needed.

It greatly moved our family! When Dad realized her condition and that she was dragging herself to the altar, he got down and crawled to meet her!

I was on that trip, and I was able to meet Dorcas. We gained a friend for life! 

She actually became an honorary member of our family. She called my parents, mom and dad, me her sister and even wrote letters to my grandparents calling them grandma and grandpa. It really was special! Each trip that my parents made back to Nigeria She would have gifts waiting on them. Also sending some home for me. We would exchange video greetings through my parents during their trips.

Dorcas became my hero! She had to overcome tremendous obstacles to live with her disabilities in Nigeria. No other country makes life easy on someone with a disability like America does. We tried to help her with wheelchairs and other things. 

Every single day was more of a struggle for her than I could ever imagine. She lived life with a smile on her face and was thrilled to be a Christian. I know her life was never easy!

My parents were with her during their 2023 trip in Nigeria. She sent handwritten letters home with them. 

Shortly after their trip, Dad had a stroke. Later, we found out Dorcas had her own sickness, around the same time. God chose to call her home. Dad wrote a post about it here.

Our hearts were broken to lose one of our Nigerian family members! Yet we also rejoiced, knowing that she no longer had the struggles that life had given her. In Heaven, she would be completely healed! She would never suffer again.

Less than a year later, Dad joined her in Heaven. I knew that is one of the many people he would be reunited with! I rejoice knowing that they are worshiping our Lord together.

I hope you are ready for the story of a dream. A few weeks ago, I had a fleeting dream of Dad. I have had a handful of those through the months. Most of the time, I do not remember all the details. They are usually over before I realize what's going on.

On this one occasion, I had a quick dream in which I knew Dad and Dorcas were both in the location. I do not remember details of the location. It was shocking really, because I did not remember thinking of Dorcas before my dream. I did not get to speak to her. 

In the dream, I talked to my dad. He said your sister is healed. She  does not need her wheelchair anymore! I knew that he was meaning my Nigerian sister, Dorcas!

In an instant, the dream was over. I woke up rejoicing, knowing that they both were healed! No more wheelchairs, or any of the aids to help them live life. I was happy for the reminder that there struggles were over. 

The ache of missing them was there strongly! I am so grateful for the blessed hope and the promise that we will see them again! I look forward to the day that we can all be together in Heaven.

Thank you for reading, as I share what is on my mind today.

Odie

My Mind Is Dangerous At Night

I am a vivid dreamer. Kelly Jo tells me I need to write novels or movie scripts from some of the ideas that wander through my head when I am trying to sleep. I am often neck-deep in adventure or preaching or driving or flying without any assistance or running for my life or shooting a gun that will not work.

No wonder I wake up so tired some mornings.

A reoccurring dream that I have involves getting up to preach in front of a large crowd and I can not find my scripture text. Recently, I dreamed I was asked to preach the first service of a new camp meeting aimed at the lost in the inner city. The host introduced me very kindly and I went to the pulpit.

I opened my leather notebook to find my Bible and iPad were gone. What in the world? I looked around on the platform at all of the preachers and a few of them were smiling at me. Someone had taken by Bible and notes and the grinning preachers knew it.

Thankfully, someone asked to testify and that gave me a few minutes to gather my thoughts. The trouble was, my thoughts would not gather. At that moment, I was not even sure of my name.

I started sputtering to the congregation that my Bible had been stolen and I woke up! Whew!

That reminded me of a nightmare I had years ago. We were somewhere preaching revival and I got a call from a church that I have never been to before. I did not know anyone from the church and no one knew me, at least I thought no one knew me.

The call was from the head deacon. He was calling to tell me the church wanted me to be their Pastor. I asked him when they wanted me to start and he gave me a date about six weeks off. I told him we would be there.

I never heard another word from him or anyone else in the church for the whole six weeks.

The appointed Sunday morning came and we walked in the door feeling as foolish as we could be. We wondered if they were even expecting us. No one greeted us or welcomed us or said a word to us about being the new Pastor.

After the singing, the deacon got up and introduced me as the new Pastor and told me to come and preach. I walked to the platform, opened my Bible and could not find my scripture.

Here I am, the new Pastor, no one there has ever heard me preach and I can not even find my scripture. I do not know the end of the story. Thankfully, I woke up before they threw me out on my nose.

Be careful sleeping out there. It is a dangerous world.

Thank you for stopping by Mile Markers today.

Davy