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Unexpected
There many things in life that do not make sense.
The ministry that I founded, Faith Hope and Love Community celebrated it’s 11th “Mission Trip in Your Own Backyard” during the last full week of July through a week of community services with churches and ministries. Through food pantries, block party and other outreaches, hundreds of people were blessed.
A day after the week of missions, my wife and I were at a restaurant overlooking a lake to celebrate what God had done. Suddenly, we saw the dark heavy clouds moving in our direction. Just a few hours before this happened, my wife and I checked the forecast and there was no trace of rain for the day! The wind picked its speed and the waves got higher. Within a few minutes, we saw an incredible amount of rain poured like waterfall from the sky. It was amazing to see that kind of rain over the lake.
As we were mesmerized by the nature, we remembered that our office is in a flood zone and my 2 vehicles were parked near a creek. We rushed to our office while battling the downpour. By the time we reached our office complex, the parking lot looked like a rushing river. I saw both my vehicles in the flood path and decided to rescue them.
An unexpected downpour
I was able to start my truck and moved it to a higher ground. My van started but stalled after driving several feet. After letting it dry for a week, my friend and I changed the engine oil which was mixed with water. We tried several ways to start it but finally gave up. The van had high mileage and it has only third party insurance coverage which means that we lost a good running vehicle from a flood.
I asked God why He allowed it to happen, we just blessed hundreds of people and cannot afford to buy a replacement vehicle. We checked the forecast and we blessed the vehicles before this unfortunate incident happened! So many things ran through my mind. Maybe I should have just left it in the flood and let it dry later or I should have not left my vehicles in that parking lot! Maybe God will replace it and He is about to bless us with a nicer and newer vehicle.
It took me a few weeks to let it go and to stop asking why. I finally accepted that it happened and there’s nothing else I can do to bring back my van.
I was now looking forward to perform the marriage of one of our friends!
My wife had been busy for several months in the preparation of the wedding since she was the wedding planner. The bride and groom got us a nice hotel room for 2 nights so we could be close to the venue. Since the wedding started at 6pm, I had time to visit the town and to exercise at a gym. I stopped by Walmart to purchase weight lifting gloves.
I had a great time at the gym; I felt stronger and had more endurance. I went back to my hotel room, took a shower and had lunch at a fast food. Afterwards, I went back to the hotel and worked on my message for the wedding and reviewed the flow of the ceremony. I felt good!
It was now time to get dressed and go to the wedding venue. After putting on my clothes, I noticed that I was not wearing my wedding ring and my cross ring. I looked around the room and checked with the front desk! I called the gym and checked the room again but no one had seen my rings!
I was devastated to find out that I lost my rings – they represent my commitment to my wife and to the Lord! This loss was more than my van, not financially but emotionally! How could God allow this happen especially just before I officiate the wedding of my friends!
God gave me the grace to temporarily forget the lost rings during the wedding and the reception. 
It was a beautiful wedding and a magical night.
There are unexpected things and events that happen to us. Things that are good and things that are bad. We live in the tension between light and darkness, good and evil, choices and decisions. It is through those events that our faith is tested. Whether we think what’s happening to us is good or we perceive it as bad, our faith should be unwavering.
Think about Abraham, the father of faith. He left his home town to go to an unknown place. Joseph who had good intentions was sold as a slave by his own brothers and was put in a dungeon for doing what the right things. John the Baptist who proclaimed the coming of Jesus and was beheaded.
Hebrews 11:1-2, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.“
Please be encouraged that no matter what your situation is, God is still Sovereign, He is in control and He is God! Unexpected things happen to all of us and we do not have the answers to all of them, however, God does NOT cause bad things to happen. He is for us, not against us. Perhaps He would give us answers to all the unanswered questions we had here on earth when we see Him in the fullness of time.
PS. I will be doing a Book Signing on Saturday, October 17th from 11am to 2pm at The Living Truth bookstore located at 17665 Cumberland Rd, Noblesville, IN 46060. If you are in town, please come and visit me; I’d like to meet you in person and sign my book for you.
PPS. Let me know if you are interested in participating to “Living in God’s Dominion Here on Earth” class based on my book, “The Kingdom In Our Midst“; I will keep you posted as the class develops.
God bless,
Merlin
The Interpretation of my dream
This exercise reminds us that God speaks to us in dreams. If you read my dream from my last posting, you would notice the details and the vividness of events. I would like to encourage you to keep a dream journal next to you so you can capture God’s messages more accurately. Don’t wait for several hours to write them, otherwise, you may forget some important details.
Most of the dreams are personal. The dream I had (posted previously) is personal but it also include some messages about the ministry that I founded. This is very important for me because God had shown me some of the events that will transpire (many of the events already transpired as I was writing this blog).
I am sharing some of the interpretation of my dream but since most of it is about my personal life and ministry, I deleted most of the interpretations. However, I left some of it so you can see that God’s instructions can be very detailed and we need to pay attention to what He’s saying.
It is my prayer that this dream and it’s interpretation would inspire you to ask the Lord for answers. He speaks to us in many ways and one of them is through our dream.
God bless you, Merlin
Merlin’s Dream – The 3 Images – August 31, 2015
Dream Date 8-31-15
Eight is the number of man’s ability to transcend limits of physical existence; resurrection power, to make fat; the teacher; new birth or beginning; abounding in strength; circumcision Ps. 119.
Thirty one is the number of divine perfection; offspring the name of God; deity.
Fifteen means energy of divine grace; resurrection in the glory; deity; rest; mercy delivered from death; the bride of Christ; reprieve and pardon.
People in Dream:
Merlin – self
3 enemy soldiers – represents attacks from satan (the enemy); things coming against you
Patel – a man of India decent – represents Merlin
refugees – children, parents, grandparents – no relation – represents those in your life looking for your guidance and protection
African American lady – teacher – represents Holy Spirit
Randy Clark – a Christian Apostolic Leader – represents the Lord who gives wisdom and is our shield
Before the Dream and Symbolism
This morning, I woke up at 2 am and couldn’t go back to sleep because I had an allergy attack.
Two is the number that means separation; division; contrast; split; war; testimony from a witness and support; blessing; judgment; ruin multiplication of death; revelation; harmony, incarnation; the Living Word.
By 3:30am, I was still awake sneezing and blowing my nose. Then, I asked God if He has a message for me since I am staying awake. I propped up my head with another pillow. I finally fell asleep – maybe around 4am. Then I dreamt.
4:00 is the time that spiritual doors open to bring revelation knowledge to dreamers. Morning is considered to be from 3:00 to 6:00 am. These dreams are from a divine or godly origin and bring the incense of heaven. We are able to gain inspiration from divine revelation outside of the constraints of earthly time.
The Holy Spirit can reveal things from the realms of eternity past, present or future. This is the best time to present yourself before the Lord to hear revelatory instruction, words of wisdom and gain redemption.
Jesus made a practice of awakening while it was still dark. The revelation God brings to our spirit will enhance our total life. The Holy Spirit shows us how to achieve and exceed our greatest potential. The Spirit of Truth guides our daily decisions and develops strategies to defeat every enemy and destructive force.
The Dream and Symbolism
I found myself in a war zone. There was all kinds of noise and commotion. There was 3 enemy soldiers who were coming at me. I had a rifle in my hands; I aimed and pulled the trigger. BANG, the enemy went down. However, 2 more were coming at me but I didn’t know how to cock the rifle. The enemies were coming fast so I used the bayonet and killed both of them.
A war zone is where we receive wisdom, strategy, instructions for planning battles and warfare through prayer and heavenly communication.
The enemy always tries to make a lot of noise to bring confusion.
There are three specific things you are fighting:
One you are able to kill off at a great distance because you know how to shoot an assault rifle. A rifle often represents a goal you have set your sites on; hitting the mark; focusing on reaching a high distant aspiration; to sort through a lot of information or thought processes.
But you need to become more familiar with the weapons of your warfare as you were not able to reload to take out the other two enemies. This allowed them to move into your territory at a close proximity instead of keeping them at a safe distance.
Hand to hand combat places you at risk even though you took them out with the bayonet. A bayonet is a short sword on the end of a gun that represents a frontal attack with stabbing, jabbing words that cut and wound while one is trying to defend one’s beliefs.
Soon, I ran away from that place to hide from the enemies. I saw buildings abandoned, streets were ravaged by bombs and total chaos all around. I found an abandoned building and tried to hide behind a wall while several people were passing by. There were a few other people hiding with me; they said that the people passing by are not enemies.
The enemy’s job description is to kill, steal and destroy. You notice the destruction of a chaotic city that has taken place due to the ravages of war and bombs. You go into hiding in an abandoned building behind a wall.
People are passing by which can indicate you feel hidden or that advancement or opportunities are passing you by because you are walled in.
There are other people with you who are in the same situation and looking for community or escape from the enemy.
Judges 9:51-52 But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower.
Buildings represent oneself or the body; a church; a corporation; attributes of personality and functions. Positive progress, awareness, and understanding is being made if one is on upper levels.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.
Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him.
Psalms 143:9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I take refuge in You.
The name Patel is found primarily in people of India descent. It is derived from the word Patidar, “Pat” which refers to a piece of royal land. “Patel or Patil” refers to one who was tasked with taking care of or farming that piece of royal land.
The refugees were children, parents and grandparents.
Refugees in dreams represent a need to rest in God; place other’s needs before your own, being generous and benevolent is of utmost importance because you will reap what you sow. We are told to bless the foreigner. Refugees can also indicate one is trying to escape instead of confronting issues especially if basements are involved in the dream. The person may be feeling socially rejected, emotionally isolated or that they do not belong. (Amos 9)
Children: the future or next generation; a person between birth and puberty, juvenile, offspring, increase, prosperity, joy, spiritual inheritance or fruit, blessings, childlike or immature, a son or daughter, a descendant, someone or something for which you are responsible, spiritual inheritance.
Parents and Grandparents speak of multiple generations of families.
They were all sleeping in beds made of plywood, around 7 of them.
The number seven means completeness; wholeness; fullness; spiritual perfection and development; purification; consecration; weapons of self defense; the number of days of creation; forgive 70 x 7 seals and trumpets; the priest trumpeted at the walls of Jericho for seven days.
The beds represent of place of rest or intimacy in close quarters.
There being made of plywood can speak of a need to be flexible or pliable in a difficult situation. Build something new to honor the Lord from your spiritual inheritance of leadership and wisdom. God is your high tower and support for the new structure. Plywood is a standardized structural member used to build and construct facilities.
Each bed is full of people lying in opposite directions to allow them to fit in the bed.
People are trying their best to ‘fit in,’ even if it means they have to lie or do something that is uncomfortable or opposite to the norm.
Later, I met an African American lady, she’s the refugees’ teacher.
In dreams women often represent the Holy Spirit or the Church who is sent to comfort and teach.
She comes on a regular basis to teach them for about an hour, then she goes back to her place.
This movement can represent the move of the Spirit.
As I was talking with Mr. Patel, the Lord showed me 3 images. I asked the Lord what they represent. Towards the end of my dream, the answer was revealed.
Three is the number of the Holy Spirit; perfect witness & testimony; union; approval; completeness; fullness; kindness; entirety and Divine perfection. Spirit life, resurrection and the Godhead’s mighty acts. Jesus ministered for three years. The time dimensions of past, present and future.
Then, I saw Randy Clark was one of the leaders (a well-know apostolic Christian leader)
The name Randy means guarded shield.
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
The name Clark means enlightened spirit of a scholar.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
I followed him and he showed me a large generator.
A generator is a machine that coverts mechanical energy into electrical energy to generate vapor or gas. Vapors often speak of the Holy Spirit who is source that generates all power.
There was a problem in it but he quickly fixed it. He commented that it seems like you have to do the mechanical things more than being a spiritual leader. It made me think – why did he say that?
Most people function in the natural or carnal realm rather than moving by the Holy Spirit and power. Randy is known for his healing ministry that fixes broken people and puts them back together again so they can be powerful once more.
We walked back towards the refugees’ building that seemed concealed.
God is our hiding place those who run into Him are safe and concealed from the enemies view.
It is inside a compound with a large gate in the front.
Gate: entrance; threshold; passage from one chapter of life to another; increased levels of maturity, power and authority; entering destiny; something new and different; holds within; hindrance; Hell. Gateway to Heaven; portal Ps 24:7, 122:2, 100:4, 107:16; opportunity; cities; kingdoms; promotion; life; salvation; death. Gen 19:1; Heb 13:12; Mt 16:18.
Small Vehicle: represents a personal ministry or church; light and easy yoke; cramped and in need of expanding ministry.
From the look of it, I think the hard soil to the side of the gate was wide enough only for a motorcycle.
Motorcycle: an ability to go off road, escape the regular paths of life to experience adventure, freedom and to explore the unknown. Youthful drive, motivation and ambition, an ability to quickly out maneuver those around, physical energy, restlessness, daring, adventurous, demonstrates an ability to stay in control, fast acceleration propelling you past others; loner; personal, quick moving ministry; rebellion; pride. 1 Kings 12:18; 2 Kings 2:11–12, 10:16; Ps 104:3; Acts 8:28–38; 17:28a; 1 Thes 2:18. (Harleys, Hogs, Choppers, etc. and sport bikes) a great ability to overcome obstacles and physical skill to go off road to out of the way places; or maneuver through traffic on highways and byways; to feel the Holy Spirit wind and follow His leading.)
Mr. Patel being seated upon a Chair represents a comfortable place of rest; enables a person to communicate from a relaxed position; joining in or fellowshipping with; an invitation to lead, as in chairing a meeting; a position of authority; seat of office, favor or position. Ps 107:32; 2 Sam 23:8.
I was still half awake in my bed trying to wake up. I asked the Lord what the 3 images represent. Quickly, I got the answer – CHURCH, SCHOOL and MONEY. We need to have those during calamities. As I was starting to type this dream, I wondered why food and water were not listed. My answer was delivered to me right away – the Lord will provide.
Church: community of Christian believers; the ecclesia; an assembly; Body of Christ; Bride; five–fold ministry; called to serve; moral belief system; fellowship; relationship with God. Mt 16:18; Gal 1:13; Ep 1:22; 5:27. Church building: can indicate you are acting in a religious structured or legalistic manner instead of moving through life full of love acting as the living temple of God. Jesus said he would build His church on revelation. Mt 16:18.
School: preparing for a test; school of the Holy Spirit; place of promotion from lessons learned; student or teacher of the Word. Spiritual teaching and ministry training; discipleship; instruction in a skill or business; college, institution or university; higher learning; planned curriculum for years; educational; “the school of hard knocks;” “of the old school;” “tell tales out of school;” “old school tie;” “well–schooled;” aquatic animals (especially fish) swimming together. You are in the need of knowledge and wisdom; place of learning and acquiring skills and talents to succeed in life; anxiety from feeling insignificant or inadequate. It is time to overcome childhood insecurities or performance challenges; walking out the lesson of life or acquiring anointings and learning how to operate spiritual gifts and abilities; skipping class: means you are not open or receptive to the philosophy that is being taught; learn from past mistakes and failures. Mt 11:29; Acts 19:9.
Money: favor being given if money increases or favor lost if money is taken; inheritance; prosperity; blessings; saving; investment; power; fear of loss or theft; greed. Power; prestige; wealth; medium of exchange; measures value; property and assets; precise, “on the money”; finding money: small troubles will result in happiness and change; to steal: danger of lack and deceit; roll of dollars
INTERPRETATION
Merlin your dream is a call to prayer and intercession. Ask God for wisdom and His end time ministry strategy. You are called as a leader in this difficult time to bring comfort to those who feel lost or abandoned due to the chaos and confusion that is shaking the world right now. God will supply all of your needs according to His riches in Glory.
The Lord is reminding you to know your spiritual weapons and put on the full armor of God so that you can be prepared for all circumstances whenever the enemy comes against you.
The 3 Images represent a focus on the body of Christ, discipleship and the Lord’s Provision through relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The 3 images
August 31, 2015
This morning, I woke up at 2am and could’t go back to sleep because I had an allergy attack. By 3:30am, I was still awake sneezing and blowing my nose. Then, I asked God if He has a message for me since I am staying awake.
I propped up my head with another pillow. I finally fell asleep – maybe around 4am. Then I dreamt.
My dream:
I found myself in a war zone. There were all kinds of noise and commotion. There were 3 enemy soldiers who were coming at me. I had a rifle in my hands; I aimed and pulled the trigger.
I fired at the enemy
“Bang”, the enemy went down. However, 2 more were coming at me but I didn’t know how to cock the rifle. The enemies were coming fast so I used the bayonet and killed both of them with it.
Soon, I ran away from that place to hide from the enemies. I saw buildings abandoned, streets were ravaged by bombs and total chaos all around. I found an abandoned building and tried to hide behind a wall while several people were passing by. There were a few other people hiding with me; they said that the people passing by are not enemies.
Next, I found myself in their camp. I saw an abandoned building where they house refugees – about 30 of them in the basement. I got to know some of the top leaders of the group. A man name Patel allowed me to see inside the building.
The refugees were children, parents and grandparents. They were all sleeping in beds made of ply wood, around 7 of them. Each bed is full of people lying in opposite directions to allow them to fit in the bed.
Later, I met an African American lady, she’s the refugees’ teacher. She comes on a regular basis to teach them for about an hour, then she goes back to her place. I later found out that she lives close by the building. Her place was the only one standing in an apartment-like building. Through the window, I saw that her place has electricity, a desk where she studies and a couch in the living room. However, the rest of the building was dilapidated.
As I was talking with Mr. Patel, the Lord showed me 3 images. I asked the Lord
what they represent. Towards the end of my dream, the answer was revealed.
Then, I saw Randy Clark was one of the leaders (Randy is a well-know apostolic Christian leader who has played a major role in bringing the Toronto blessings in the mid 1990’s when the Holy Spirit came in power upon a congregation calling out to the Lord.) I followed him and he showed me a large generator. There was some problem in it but he quickly fixed it. He commented that it seems like you have to do the mechanical things more than being a spiritual leader. It made me think – why did he say that?
We walked back towards the refugees’ building that seemed concealed. It is inside a compound with a large gate in the front. As you enter the gate, the entrance seemed like a quick sand. It was like a big mud hole and only small vehicles can go around it. From the look of it, I think the hard soil to the side of the gate is wide enough only for a motorcycle.
As we enter the building, we had to slide ourselves through a square hole on the side of the building since the door is impassable. I thought – how can the teacher go through that small opening? I thought that she was not fit and small enough to fit through it, but I was wrong.
I noticed that the enemies were marching on the side of the building but they didn’t seem to notice the building. An answer came to me – when the Glory of God is over you, the enemies cannot touch you.
This time, the refugees were awake. Mr. Patel instructed the leaders to line up the refugees in rows across the yard out side the building within the compound for the teaching of the day. It was a sunny day. He sat on a chair, grabbed a fresh donut in a box and he took a big bite. He said to have the refugees do the same. I was about to ask him “Why”, but he saw that I was going to ask it so he said that they should experience the enjoyment of eating a donut like the people in France during peacetime.
I saw that the leaders were so busy most of the time in the compound and I asked myself why they don’t raise new leaders to help them in running these band of people. I was about to offer my assistance to the leaders, but then I woke up.
I was still half awake in my bed trying to wake up. I asked the Lord what the 3 images represent. Quickly, I got the answer – CHURCH, SCHOOL and MONEY. We need to have those during calamities. As I was starting to type this dream, I wondered why food and water were not listed. My answer was delivered to me right away – the Lord will provide. Then I was reminded of the Israelites when they crossed the desert – although they had bread and livestock when they left Egypt, those were not enough to last them all through the 40 years of wandering. It was through the powerful hand of God that they received manna and water in the desert.
Next, I will share with you what we think is the interpretation of the dream.
God bless you,
Merlin
Lord, what have I got myself into Part II
July 10, 2015 blog
Similar to the sign, the girl’s experience was a backstage.
As I took the picture above, I wondered how many people are taken advantage of on the side of the highway. The Backstage billboard on the road reminded me of behind the scene activities that are happening just around the corner.
Let’s continue with the young woman’s story:
“I’m so tired“, she said. “I have a little baby. She’s with a friend right now“, the young woman muttered. I continued to drive so I could drop her off as soon as possible because I was on my way to meet my son who was helping me move my daughter. The road was clear but it was a cloudy day.
The young woman told me that her fiancee kicked her and her baby out of their apartment to make room for his boyfriend. She continued, “That’s why my baby is with my friend and I am homeless right now! My daughter and I stayed at a place for a few nights and caught bed bugs there.”
I asked her if she asked for help from churches in the area. I was startled when she said, “So many people think I am dumb! I have been to every church in the area and they would not help me except for food for me and diapers for my daughter! There was a church here that threatened to call the police if I did not leave their property! They would not give me any money that I could use to go to Tennessee to start a new life with my aunt. I don’t know what to do!” Then suddenly she said, “Turn right here and then left to the next street.”
As I followed her direction, my mind was processing different thoughts. What if she’s taking me to a crack house or if this trip is a set up of some kind? While arguing silently with myself, I heard her say to turn right in what seemed like an office complex. There were no cars around since it was Saturday. My eyes started to search the surrounding area and then I saw behind the office complex was an established subdivision or housing addition. At that time I was able to breath normally.
At the entrance of the subdivision, she pointed to her right and said, “That’s where I am going to sleep.” Across a small man-made lake (similar to many lakes in Indiana) was a small gazebo. It had beautiful flowers surrounding it and behind it was thick bushes and small trees. I looked around thinking that some people may see me drop her off and may think that I was her customer, especially since I was driving my truck with ministry logos all over it!
I asked her, “May I pray for you, Miss…” “Kristine. My name is Kristine and my daughter’s name is Leila”, she answered with no hesitation. She held my hand and I prayed for her and her daughter. I asked that the Lord would bless her and guide her. I asked for protection and grace over her life.
After we prayed, she asked if I had some money so she could buy some food for herself. I slipped my hand in my pocket and found out that I did not have any money but a few coins. “I am very sorry but I do not have money with me“, I replied. “I heard you have some coins in your pocket; anything will help me right now“, Kristine said. I gave her all the coins I had in my pocket.
Kristine, got out of my truck, picked up her purse and her old Bible and proceeded to walk to the gazebo. I turned my truck around. As I was passing by her, I saw her reading her Bible while walking towards the gazebo. She looked to me and waved her hand with her face sending a message of a big Thank You!
I thank God that He used me to minister to her even for just a few minutes. This experience has given me many things to ponder. As I continued to drive to my daughter’s apartment, I was still in a state of shock. It was hard for me to believe that I was just ministering to a broken person, abused and in an extreme state of disaster.
I thought of going back there to bring her food or help her get connected with community resources. But after 3 hours of loading my truck with my daughter’s household items I never made it back. My truck was full to the brim and my son was right behind me with his car also full of clothes and kitchen stuff.
Please pray for with me for Kristine and Leila that they would find people who will help them. Also, that they will receive God’s grace and protection.
God Bless,
Merlin