Seizing Windows of Opportunity

Seizing Windows of Opportunity

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Thu, 01/21/2010 - 3:34pm

Lately I have noticed the theme of ‘windows’ popping up everywhere.  When this happens, I try to pay deeper attention to every time the phrase or picture crops up—perhaps God is speaking something we do not want to miss.  Upon some symbolic reflection, some thoughts come to mind:

 

1.    Windows of opportunity:  Many prophetic voices are telling us that a huge spiritual shift is happening at this time.  Can you sense it?  The U.S. economy seems to be improving, but further shakings, financial and other, probably lie ahead.  It would be wise to take advantage of this window or season to pare down, slack back, get our affairs in order, get out of debt, etc., so that we are better prepared for events to come. 

 

2.    Microsoft Windows vs. Mac: More and more folks are asking the question regarding making a switch from something more familiar to something more dependable, and they are counting the cost. (I confess I am a devoted Mac user). Think symbolically—sometimes we have to choose a different ‘operating system’ that is unfamiliar but may serve us better in the long run…even though our choice may require change in perspective and a price to pay.

 

3.    Go Window shopping:  It is time to dream about options, qualities and assets you want to incorporate into your life.  Watch for ideas that God puts on display to grab your attention, then make plans for how to afford and obtain them.

 

4.    When God closes a door, he opens a window:  If plans don’t work out the way you imagined, or if you feel blocked, look for other possibilities that could be your outlet or answer--something in another shape, direction, or form.  Look for where the Light is!

 

5.    Out the Window:  Deal with your issues as they come up.  Clear out the clutter in your life and get rid of it.

 

6.    Be a Window Washer:  I actually did this in most of my house last week—dusted blinds, laundered curtains, cleaned windows—as an act of faith as if to tell the world, “I am ready to see clearly, without any hindrances.” 

 

When we look out our ‘windows’, we can observe what is coming our way—people, deliveries, activities, sunshine, storms.  We are better prepared with our advanced notice for when Life knocks on the door. 

Poisonous Perils of Perfectionism

Poisonous Perils of Perfectionism

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Tue, 01/12/2010 - 11:07am

Years ago, I realized I had been allowing myself to be taken hostage by a cruel master called ‘perfectionism’.  At the time, my primary objective was to display a ‘perfect’ external disguise to cover internal wounds and damage—thus, theoretically preventing any peering persons from observing negative stuff in my soul that could be judged or rejected.

 

I spent nearly all my energy attempting to project the image of ‘having it all together’.  Friends praised my neat house, home-cooked healthy meals from scratch, well-behaved kids with homemade clothing and toys, my ‘perfect’ marriage, and perfect figure and appearance. 

 

I knew it was all a lie—inside I was miserable and scared.  My perfect world was fear-based, solely focused on self-protection.  It was an effort to maintain outward control when I felt inwardly chaotic and out of control.  And my fantasy world required increasing efforts to maintain the façade.  Eventually, it all began to fall apart—thanks to God!

 

The turning point was one day when a friend with two young children, (like me at the time), confided that she vacuumed her WHOLE house 5 to 6 times every single day because when her family walked on the carpet and messed up the vacuum lines, she felt she would go nuts.   

 

I saw her ‘prison’—and recognized my own.

 

Conviction set in as I realized the messy misery I was needlessly imposing on my family with my unreachable high standards and expectations. My self-protection constructed a fortress that kept me locked-up lonely inside. 

 

Once I realized the full extent of my dilemma, nothing short of tearful repentance would work for me—renounce, denounce, surrender, cease and desist, find another way to deal with the insecurity I was covering.  My husband and I declared ‘perfectionism’ a dirty word around our house, and went to war against it.

 

It was a difficult journey.  Funny thing though—I discovered that people actually like me better when I make mistakes and can admit them.  Or when they visit my messy house—and I don’t feel the need to apologize. I also began to fathom that God really is in control and he can indeed be trusted with every situation.  Everything works out better when placed into his hands.

 

If you work on your ‘internals’ (deal with your stuff) and allow your sharpened character shine through your ‘externals’, you reveal the REAL treasure of YOU inside—including weaknesses and warts—thus releasing people around you to just be themselves as well. 

 

Life is too short and we are each too valuable to spend significant years hiding and pretending to have it all together. If we embrace each others’ imperfections and lovingly challenge each other in encouraging ways to tackle our issues, we make room for God's glory to radiate Perfect freedom and peace.  

DreamCatching by Journaling

DreamCatching by Journaling

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 12:06pm

When I tell people that I interpret dreams, one of the most common responses I receive is, “I don’t remember my dreams.”  Folks usually continue on with, “I know I’m dreaming, but I forget my dreams after I wake up.”  Indeed, dreams slip away from our memory quicker than a breathtaking sunset morphs on the western horizon. 

 

God’s voice is quite similar—we may dismiss what we hear almost before we even recognize and register that we even heard.  If we are not alert, we may miss the fleeting glimpse of divine revelation that flashes through our mind and spirit.

 

Discouraging dilemma, simple solution:  first thing, write those dreams down! 

 

1.    Just jotting down a few key phrases before you get out of bed will jog your memory when you write the whole dream down. 

 

2.    Use a journal that works well for you as a place where you can keep all of your dreams in one place.  You can use a binder and loose leaf paper, a blank book, a voice recorder, or something online (check out our free, private dream journal). I’ve also designed some worksheets with leading questions to assist serious, dedicated dream interpreters—contact me if you are interested.

 

3.    Date and title your dream.

 

4.    Write as a story, draw pictures, doodle, diagram, whatever method best helps you express the dream.  Try to record as many details as you can remember. 

 

5.    Make note of any significant changes, decisions, or events that you are presently facing in real life--chances are good that your dream may be timely relevant. 

 

6.    As you write, pay attention to 'thoughts' or impressions—because often in the journaling process and giving the dream a title, the interpretation may become clear.  Log anything you sense as you work through the dream.  Take time to ponder and pray, asking God to put the puzzle pieces together for you.  If he gave you the dream, it honors him for you to value the deciphering process. And, the more you do it, the more he will answer—the more you will receive and understand, and you will avoid Dream Drought.

 

If you need further help remembering your dreams, try these helpful hints.

 

If you don’t understand a dream right now, you can go back to your dream journal weeks or even years later to gain insight by hindsight.

 

To keep a dream journal is to keep a ‘spiritual growth’ record of your life--an ever-changing process of understanding God's night-time dream love language to us.  Incorporating dream interpretation into your life-tool-chest equips you to live each day increasingly wiser and better prepared. You will never regret the time and effort you invested in understanding the meaning of your dreams. 

New Beginnings and Perfect Timing

New Beginnings and Perfect Timing

For Christmas, I received a beautiful clock for a gift.  It is quite an eye-catcher, with a moving pendulum, muted jewel tones, punctuated with a rose design, and it says “Dream” on it—perfect for a dream interpreter who loves color and roses. 

 

Problem is, the clock doesn’t work. The hands do not move at all.  (Yes, we even installed batteries—the right way).  The pendulum swings and the clock ticks, but it doesn’t tell time. After several days of fiddling with the clock, we exchanged it for another one exactly like it.  The new one doesn’t work either.  

 

Odd happenings like this often pique my attention, prompting the familiar question, “If this situation were a dream, what would it mean?”

 

The clock looks and sounds like it is working—the power source is active.  There is potential for movement but the reason for the stoppage seems hidden from our understanding.  And yes, the clock is accurate at least twice a day.

 

Our family is currently in a season of transition, desiring to make deliberate decisions in right timing---not outside of God’s timetable.  Celebrating the beginning of a new year and another birthday for me seems to usher in a fresh perspective for goals and schedule.  

 

I believe I’m being shown that the gift of time has been placed in my hands…and that I have more options regarding freedom, timing, and presentation of my life than I would have realized without a deeper consideration.  There is more going on ‘behind the scenes’ than I may be aware of right now.

 

So, for now, my phenomenal prophetic clock displays 8:00—representing ‘new beginnings’. I place my life ‘timing’ into the hands of God, who never changes, but is always the same.  We will keep ‘watch’ for shifts in rhythm or course so we can be alert and punctual when stepping into prime, timely opportunities…not too early, nor too late.

 

If we keep in step with Spirit, things like time don’t ultimately matter much anyway.