I dreamt I was at a camp somewhere like the one in Harvest Haven, Gopeng. It was the last day and people were packing to go home. But I was carrying a child, walking around the grounds outside, and enjoying the child. When I finally went to pack up, I found my wallet all cleaned out: not a single note, coin or card remaining. Then, the regret came over me: why oh why was I so careless, why did I leave my wallet in the handbag lying there just for someone to pick up? How was I to get home without a card or cash to fill up petrol in the car? And oh, the inconvenience of having to make the police reports and apply for new IC and other cards.
David had driven off and I was talking with Chin Hoe about how I should tell the caretaker of the camp and call all the staff to investigate the theft. Mercifully, it was then that I woke up: it was 7.30 am and it was a dream! Oh, what a relief I felt!
But then I knew there was a message for me: Beware, be careful, lest you lose all that is dear and valuable to you. A little carelessness and all may be lost. "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man." Proverbs 6:10,11
We have been listening in church to John Piper (DVD) teaching us that we must Fight for Joy or faith which are synonymous: it's a struggle, a war, a fight that is hard. We must be alert and always vigilant, with enemies without and within. The goal is to finish well, to fight the good fight, to finish the race, to keep the faith, not to lose that first love and grow cold, but to stay HOT, HOT, HOT!
And I have been memorising the book of James, after coming back from the church camp in Gracehill Lodge, Bukit Tinggi, and I've finished Chapter 1. It tells me to not merely listen to the word and so deceive myself, but to do it, to look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continue to do this, not forgetting what I have heard, but doing it. It tells me to humbly accept the word planted in me which can save me. Otherwise, I will be deceiving myself and my religion will be worthless.
Father God, thank you for speaking to me through your word and through the dream. Help me to awaken and renew my commitment and zeal for you. Forgive me my laziness and carelessness, and forgive me the sins of my tongue and my mind. Please forgive my family too, and my church, for our lukewarmness or coldness, and for sinning against one another and against you with our tongues and with our deeds and omissions. Father, please awaken us all to love you and to seek you with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength, to be zealous for you, to burn for you, or else we will die in our self-deception and worthless religion.
In Jesus' name, I do pray and ask all these and more.
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