With Our Eyes Wide Open

So many things have changed in such a short amount of time. I look around and I can hardly recognize America. It is so different from the America I grew up in. I was born in 1958 and it was a much softer, gentler time. There were no cell phones, in fact, many people did not even have land lines (for those younger than thirty, ask your parents). Technology has definitely changed our world – some for the good, some for the bad.

I remember walking to and from school every day. I never felt afraid or concerned. Maybe I ought to have but it was a time when neighbors looked out for each other and each other’s children.

In school, teachers taught us to be good citizens, good neighbors, and good friends. They also taught us to love our parents and to love our country. We were afraid of getting into trouble because there were real consequences for bad behavior. If you got in trouble at school, when you got home you got reprimanded again.

In 2008, I had a dream. It impacted me so much that I can remember every single detail today as if it was just last night. I have often thought of this dream as I have watched it unfold before my eyes. I am going to share this dream with you because I believe it is a warning for our nation. So here goes:

In my dream, my husband and I are in the front yard of a very large house. We are having a church get-together (small group). There are tables set up with food. People are standing around laughing, talking, and visiting. In the back yard, I see two children – a seven year old and a two and a half year old. There is a large pool divided in the middle with a concrete wall that has a large round hole in it. The children are jumping in and swimming back and forth through this large hole. As I am observing the children I realize that no one is watching over them. I am concerned that they will get hurt or drown so as I am mingling and visiting I am trying to keep an eye on them. A man drives up in a beat up old car (very tarnished). He gets out and his hair is sticking up and he is dressed rather slovenly, like a bum and is somewhat dirty. My husband goes up to him and introduces himself and welcomes him to the event. He is not one of us (not a believer) but we want him to feel loved and welcomed. He begins to mingle and visit, eating our food and drinking our drinks. Everyone is smiling and nodding trying to be very polite. Then I hear someone yell, “The baby is gone!” I run to the pool, looking for her, thinking the baby has drowned but I do not see her anywhere. Then someone else yells, “The strange man has taken the baby!” I run down a long hallway trying to catch him. The double doors at the end of the hallway are wide open and the man is gone and so is the baby. The realization that the baby is gone forever has overwhelmed me. I am extremely upset. A large angel, dressed all in white, steps in front of me and gives me a bow and arrow (military style bow). He puts it in my arms. I step back and ask, “What am I supposed to do with this? Am I supposed to kill the man?”

As I woke up from the dream, with tears streaming down my face, I asked God, “What does this dream mean?” In my heart, I heard the Lord say, “America, with her eyes wide open has let the enemy come in and steal our children through various sources such as: the television, the internet, the movies, etc. We are all going about our business talking, laughing, smiling, and being very polite while the enemy has slid into our lives and is taking our children and some are gone forever.”

The more I thought about the dream, the more revelation I received. The children swimming in the pool through the large hole represents dabbling in the world. Parents are not watching their children to even know what they are exposed to. The people smiling and nodding and being polite represents the church afraid to confront evil, instead we smile and nod because we do not want to offend, all the while evil invades our homes, our lives, and damages our children.

Our culture in America has changed so drastically, I am concerned about the life my grandchildren will have and the future they can expect. I want to encourage you to be strong and courageous. Do not fear what man will say but be vigilant about warning your children and sounding the alarm when evil is trying to invade. In Deuteronomy 31:6 it says, “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."

America can be saved, but it will take the church, rising up like a roaring lion, taking back what the enemy is stealing. We can no longer stay silent. It is time to put on our armor and take a stand for righteousness and holiness.

Here at The Beautiful Basics, we are cheering you on! Be bold, be strong, be courageous! You are loved!