It was a strange dream...

 Yeah... I had a really strange dream last night and I'm actually grateful that hubby doing his midnight nightly ritual of going down the hall woke me from it.  Let's see what I can remember of it.....  My children were small.... there was a man there (unknown who it was) who was arranging airlines for me to go somewhere. All of a sudden, we heard a loud noise and I run to a window and look out - and see what appears to be a flock of 'birds' - only they aren't birds!  I'm talking like about twenty rows with 8-10 across!  Lots of these things!  We are watching out the window when they hover near the ground and then start running across the ground - and working their way into the house!  THEY ARE RATS!!  (Yes, I know, rats do not fly) (I don't think)... They are coming into the house and under the door.  We try stepping on them, but it doesn't do anything .... and then it came to me.... "these are lies that will come up against you.  The rats are the lies."  Then hubby got up and I awoke.

Now that is a scary thing to dream, and I have no idea what it is about.  Is someone going to start spreading lies against me and my children, my family?  I was actually afraid to try and pull that dream back up to continue it.... but I did lay awake for a bit and ponder what it could mean.  And, again, I felt what I heard was the rats are lies that will come against us.  What in the world could that be all about?  I have no clue.  A very strange dream.

I got a reminder from the church administrator yesterday that our classes start on Monday night.  I checked, then sent her a note back that no one has signed up for our discipleship class, so no, I do not have a class starting on Monday.  I checked again this morning, and still no one has been added.  I did ask that I meet with her 1:1 and talk about this.  I have a couple ideas that might help to get people involved, such as a 'ministry fair' where all of the small group (heart crew) leaders could meet people and explain what their group is about.  I think there is only two of us at our location who are doing book studies; the others are doing the message the pastor gives.  Another thought I had was type out all the heart crews our location is having and hand out the paper as people came in on Sunday so that they could see who to contact if they would like to join a group.  I have mixed emotions, really, now that the date is here and no one has signed up.

1) Is the timing wrong and God doesn't want us doing it right now?

2) Is the cost of $28 for the year's book pushing them away?

3) Because I am asking for every week attendance versus ever other week as the others are doing heart crew - does that make a difference?

4) Our home location - is 20 minutes from the church too far for them - or they think it is too far?  Yes, I'd rather be at the church, but I got told there were no rooms available on Monday nights.  

So maybe I'm not to facilitate a group at all.  Maybe something is in the future that will take up my time (I do still have messages to prepare for the RV parks) that I need to be available.  I don't know.  But - it's all good and I'm not going to stress about it.  And, moving on...

Today I am having lunch with a friend from my office.  We met once last year and last fall we had to cancel due to meetings and never got back to it.  So just before the holidays we chose this date to meet - and confirmed it yesterday.  It will be nice to catch up and get out of the house with my friend.  

I Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV):  "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

All of us deal with times of temptation.  How many times have you been 'tempted' to 'speak your mind' to someone and tell them exactly what you think?  LOL  I know, lame example, but that is the thought that came to my mind first.  Often we see or hear something from someone and think "oh no, you aren't going to get by with that comment!" and we voice our opinion.  When, in reality, all our response did was lead to an argument that escalated into far more than it needed to. We both are guilty of that.  Instead, hold your tongue.  Pause and process what words you want to say.  Ask yourself, are then encouraging?  Are they correcting? Are they loving words and am I saying them in a loving tone?  If I just blurt out what I'm really thinking..... it creates chaos.  But if I pause, and think about what to say, I can (sometimes) change the way I say what I want to say, and it doesn't escalate into WWIII.  Know what I mean?

We parents are really good at telling our children what they should - or shouldn't do.  I learned a long time ago to just keep my mouth shut.  They will do what ever they want to do and it doesn't matter what I feel or think.  That's how they learn what is good and true, right and wrong.  But I can pray for them, and that - at times - can be more effective than my voicing my opinion.  And I don't feel hurt because my words were not acknowledged.  

Just got notification that Cafe Zupas just opened (today) a new place at 3225 W Peoria.  They have great salads, sandwiches and soup.  The one up in my area seems to not be too busy at times. I like it - I always say they have 'foofoo salads' as they cut the lettuce thin.  But they are delicious.  Their sandwiches are great too. It's a little pricey, but you get what you pay for.  I enjoy going there some times.

And.... I need to quit talking about food.  (sorry, Ralphd00d).  I need to get the body moving and start getting ready for work.  Hope that you all have an amazing day!

Blessings!