All posts tagged: spirituality

The 3 images

August 31, 2015 Merlin Gonzales blog, Message

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 Merlin Gonzales blog

Similar to the sign, the girl's experience a backstage.

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

Lord, what have I got myself into

June 17, 2015 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, blog

Last Saturday, June 13th, 2015 I woke up around 7:30am and remembered that I was to help my daughter move out from her apartment. I rushed to get ready because I wanted to finish her move before the expected rain around 3pm.

Expecting that I would be doing some physical work during a 90-degree weather day, I ate a good healthy breakfast. With a tank full of gas, I proceeded to drive my F150 from Noblesville to Greenwood.

I needed to catch up with my devotional, so I plugged in my iPhone to my truck’s radio to listen to my audio Bible while driving. My attention was focused on the verses of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles as I was exiting from the freeway, trying to absorb whatever I could while driving safely to my destination.

While looping through the exit and listening intently to the verses, I saw a woman walking on the side of the road with her hand waving to catch a ride. I have never stopped to pick up riders before, but before I knew it I suddenly found myself pulling over to give her a ride. She opened the truck door and flicked her cigarette butt before hopping in my truck.

Since it was my first time to pick up a rider, I was very cautious in her every move. I noticed that she immediately put her purse on the floor, placed a large black-covered book on the seat and realized it was a Bible. She proceeded to buckle the seat belt. I turned off my audiobook. After a few seconds, I asked her what happened to her vehicle. She said that she does not have a vehicle and she walks everywhere.

I asked her where she’s going and she told me that she needs to go to a place which is about 5 miles away from where I picked her up. “I have not slept for a few days“, she said, “so I am going to that place to sleep“. I told her that I will not be able to bring her there since it is out of my way and I have to be somewhere immediately. She said that it would just take me 2 minutes to bring her to her destination. I complied silently.

Suddenly, she told me that she was raped just a few days ago. “I asked the guy to pay me $25 for sex since most of them do not want to pay more than $25 but this guy just does not want to pay me; so he raped me“, she said. I thought to myself “Lord, what have I got myself into” and prayed as soon as she finished her sentence.

Stay tuned for the next segment of the story…

God bless,

Merlin

Getting to the root…second dose

June 10, 2015 Selena Design Blessings blog, Message

Many years ago, I was a part of our church’s Prayer Team. After Sunday service, my wife and I would be stationed at a place in the sanctuary to pray for people. We had this weird experience that almost every week, the same person come forward asking for the same prayer request. After praying for her each week, she seems fine but the following week, we see her again. And guess what, she would ask to pray for the same issue.

Temporary Relief

Our prayer appears to give her relief temporarily and then, we’re chasing after the same issue again the following week. We spin around the bush and go after the same usual suspect. The same weeds in her life keep cropping up. They’re like dandelions and crabgrass. We nuke them to the ground with weed eater but in a few days, they come back again.

Finding the main root

As I shared with you 2 weeks ago, we need to deal with the root of the problem to realize healing. All of us deal with this, whether you are a client or a volunteer at a food pantry; it does not discriminate. We see this same pattern at the food pantries that FHL incubate. There are people who are not only in crisis but in chronic crises. They operate their lives in constant emergency and finding themselves in the same situation as before. Why? The main root is too deep and it has countless root hair or root stems that manifest themselves in endless different ways.

Pluck it!

The Lord created us and He knows the root of the problem. When we find ourselves getting stuck in the same deep-seated issue, we should ask God to give us grace to identify the root cause. Once we identify the root, we pray in the Name of Jesus. The Holy Spirit, our Advocate, will walk us through to pluck the root of the problem to bring us to healing.

Although there may be countless root stems, once we pull out the main root, every fiber of the weed will die out. This is the reason why we teach the pantries to help others beyond food. No, we’re not counselors but we try to walk along side each and every person to Jesus through prayers and by presenting the Gospel of Christ. If the person is willing, God will reveal the root issues of their hunger, both physically and spiritually.

No matter how big the root is, God is bigger. And one more thing, food is not the answer to hunger, God is.

PS. You may have already received a call from FHL to thank you for your support and to offer prayers. We just prayed for you yesterday at our weekly staff meeting. Please let me know if I could be of assistance in asking God to getting (if any) to the root… He can pluck it. He is the Gardener and He is the Healer.

God bless you and I thank God for you,
Merlin

Image source: Mango tree root system, wikimedia commons

I’m ready to quit now…

June 8, 2015 Selena Design Blessings blog, Message

“…but I can’t“, says one of the Pastors I met this morning.

As soon as he entered the office, I saw that he needed encouragement and prayer. “Something bothering you?”, I asked. He said that his hip has been hurting but I also see in him that he is discouraged. I have been discipling him for several years and we are now good friends. He trusts me and I trust him.

The reward is out of this world

I told him that serving God is the best thing we can ever do in this life but it will cost us everything. It is not easy but quitting is not an option. Sometimes, we struggle with relationships, finances, spiritual and physical ailments. However, we have to endure because the reward is out of this world…literally.

God said in John 14:1-4, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ²My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴You know the way to the place where I am going.” – NIV

I remember when God used me to negotiate on his behalf regarding the house that he was renting to own. The detached garage caught in fire and damaged one side of the house. God put in my heart to help him. After a series of conversations, the landlord gave him the house plus a few thousand dollars to repair it!

After I reminded him that he will not be paying house payment soon, he perked up. Before he left the office, my wife and I prayed for him. He left the office encouraged and felt

the joy in the Holy Spirit.

Full of promises

Today is a new day full of promises. The Bible says, dwell in the things of heaven rather than the world’s because our final destination is eternity with Jesus.

If you feel discouraged or defeated, I would like to encourage you to speak with someone; you’re never alone. If you want to know more about the promised eternal life, speak to a Pastor or contact me at 317-578-3370.

Quitting is not an option.

God bless,

Merlin